Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual-Driver Networked Fire Truck Simulator with Multimodal Display including Force Feedback Steering and Rotating Motion Platform

We describe the integration of two pairs of force displays - a force-feedback wheel (FFBW) and the c Shaire ('Share Chair'), a rotary motion platform - in a dual-driver networked driving simulator which navigates through virtual space using CVE (collaborative virtual environment) groupware. We developed a double-driver (long ladder-style) fire-truck simulation with a tiller (rear steering), driven via an integrated pair of networked driving simulator stations. Such a dual-driver system is useful to turn narrow corners rapidly and smoothly in case of (simulated) emergencies. Its FFB steering wheels display simple collision force to both drivers separately when the vehicle collides with walls or other vehicles. The technique of feeding back the effect employs programs using C++ and Directlnput, escaping to an execution file called force-manager from the driving simulator, which is implemented with Java3D. Effect patterns are changed by arguments to forcemanager. The c Shaire is rotated with a servo-motor, the rotation angle controlled via internet through the CVE. A demonstration video is posted at http: //sonic.u-aizu.ac. jp/spatial-media/Videos/DualDrivingSimulator.mov.
Time-slice Prediction of Dyadic Human Activities

Recognizing human activities from video data is being leveraged for surveillance and human-computer interaction applications. In this paper, we introduce the problem of time-slice activity recognition which aims to explore human activity at a smaller temporal granularity. Time-slice recognition is able to infer human behaviors from a short temporal window. It has been shown that the temporal slice analysis is helpful for motion characterization and in general for video content representation. These studies motivate us to consider time-slices for activity recognition. We present in Figure 1 an overview of our approach based on timeslice action prediction and contrast it with the conventional approaches which recognize actions based on either the whole video sequence (referred as “holistic” approach) or the first part of it (early recognition). Our time-slice approach studies not only the beginning of the action sequence but generalizes this to any short-term observation anywhere in the video sequence. Another key novelty is in the explicit modeling of the uncertainty occurring when predicting actions based on time-slices. TAP Dataset: We introduce a new dataset, named Time-slice Action Prediction (TAP) dataset, to evaluate our proposed feature descriptors and enable future research on this topic. The dataset was created by extracting time-slices from existing public human action datasets (UT-Interaction, HMDB, TV Interaction, and Hollywood datasets) and perform a perception study with multiple annotators giving continuous ratings for each action. The continuous ratings allow to represent the uncertainty in timeslice action prediction. 3 annotators rated each time-slice on how likely a specific action is occurring. For each time-slice and for each action, the annotator was asked to pick one of 5 likelihoods from “Definitely Not Occurring” to “Definitely Occurring”. Figure 3 illustrates how annotators rated for two example videos. Methodology: Stage 1Discriminative segments: When analyzing an interaction, we can definitely recognize the ongoing activity from specific time slices such as “two people are shaking each other’s hands” slice in handshaking activity. To extract discriminative segments from our dataset, we used Fleiss’ kappa coefficient k [2] to measure the reliability of agreement between annotators. For each interaction video, time-slices where the annotators are in complete agreement, i.e. k=1, on definitely including the interaction of interest, are selected as discriminative segments. Stage 2Predict-STIP: Existing STIP detectors are vulnerable to model the inherent uncertainty in partially observed action recognition Figure 2: Human annotation: This figure shows the average rate of 3 annotators for two video examples: hug and push. The label provided by one annotator is converted to a number on a linear scale from 0 to 1 called the average rate. This average rate will be used to evaluate the performance of our method. Time-slices between dashed lines is the discriminative segment of the interaction.
Two-Stage Biofilter for Effective NH3 Removal from Waste Gases Containing High Concentrations of H2S

Abstract A high H2S concentration inhibits nitrification when H2S and NH3 are simultaneously treated in a single biofilter. To improve NH3 removal from waste gases containing concentrated H2S, a two-stage biofilter was designed to solve the problem. In this study, the first biofilter, inoculated with Thiobacillus thioparus, was intended mainly to remove H2S and to reduce the effect of H2S concentration on nitrification in the second biofilter, and the second biofilter, inoculated with Nitrosomonas europaea, was to remove NH3. Extensive studies, which took into account the characteristics of gas removal, the engineering properties of the two biofilters, and biological parameters, were conducted in a 210-day operation. The results showed that an average 98% removal efficiency for H2S and a 100% removal efficiency for NH3 (empty bed retention time = 23–180 sec) were achieved after 70 days. The maximum degradation rate for NH3 was measured as 2.35 g N day-1 kg of dry granular activated carbon-1. Inhibition of nitrification was not found in the biofilter. This two-stage biofilter also exhibited good adaptability to shock loading and shutdown periods. Analysis of metabolic product and observation of the bacterial community revealed no obvious acidification or alkalinity phenomena. In addition, a lower moisture content (`40%) for microbial survival and low pressure drop (average 24.39 mm H2O m-1) for system operation demonstrated that the two-stage biofilter was energy saving and economic. Thus, the two-stage biofilter is a feasible system to enhance NH3 removal in the concentrated coexistence of H2S.
A curvature compensated bandgap reference with low drift and low noise

A low temperature drift and low noise curvature-compensated CMOS bandgap reference is proposed. A dual-differential input pair amplifier was employed to add compensation with a high-order term of T ln T to the traditional 1st-order compensated bandgap. To reduce the offset of amplifier and output noise of bandgap reference, input differential pairs are large-sized PMOS. With a low dropout regulator stage, the voltage reference was increased to 3V. The voltage reference's temperature curvature is further corrected by 8-bit resistor trimming network. To avoid degrading the precision, noise performance is properly taken into account. The chip was fabricated by using TSMC's 0. 35μm CMOS process. The temperature coefficient was measured only to be 2.1 ppm/°C over −40∼125 °C after trimming. The output noise is 42 μVrms from 0.1Hz to 10Hz.
The Identification of a Novel Endoplasmic Reticulum to Golgi SNARE Complex Used by the Prechylomicron Transport Vesicle*

Dietary long chain fatty acids are absorbed in the intestine, esterified to triacylglycerol, and packaged in the unique lipoprotein of the intestine, the chylomicron. The rate-limiting step in the transit of chylomicrons through the enterocyte is the exit of chylomicrons from the endoplasmic reticulum in prechylomicron transport vesicles (PCTV) that transport chylomicrons to the cis-Golgi. Because chylomicrons are 250 nm in average diameter and lipid absorption is intermittent, we postulated that a unique SNARE pairing would be utilized to fuse PCTV with their target membrane, cis-Golgi. PCTV loaded with [3H]triacylglycerol were incubated with cis-Golgi and were separated from the Golgi by a sucrose step gradient. PCTV-chylomicrons acquire apolipoprotein-AI (apoAI) only after fusion with the Golgi. PCTV became isodense with Golgi upon incubation and were considered fused when their cargo chylomicrons acquired apoAI but docked when they did not. PCTV, docked with cis-Golgi, were solubilized in 2% Triton X-100, and proteins were immunoprecipitated using VAMP7 or rBet1 antibodies. In both cases, a 112-kDa complex was identified in nonboiled samples that dissociated upon boiling. The constituents of the complex were VAMP7, syntaxin 5, vti1a, and rBet1. Antibodies to each SNARE component significantly inhibited fusion of PCTV with cis-Golgi. Membrin, Sec22b, and Ykt6 were not found in the 112-kDa complex. We conclude that the PCTV-cis-Golgi SNARE complex is composed of VAMP7, syntaxin 5, Bet1, and vti1a.
Third prize: Prostaglandin E(2)-3 receptor is involved in ureteral contractility in obstruction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We previously found that prostaglandin (PG) E2 contracts acutely obstructed ureters while relaxing normal ureters. This study investigated the procontractile effects of the PG EP3 receptor in PGE(2)-mediated contractility in obstructed and normal porcine ureters. MATERIALS AND METHODS We created unilateral ureteral obstruction laparoscopically using titanium clips in farm pigs; the contralateral ureters were dissected as sham controls. Ureters were harvested 48 hours post-obstruction, cut into 5-mm segments, and suspended in water-jacketed tissue baths in Krebs buffer. Tissues were equilibrated for 1 hour, and spontaneous contractile rates were recorded. After 2 hours of incubation in Krebs (controls) or pertussis toxin (G(alpha)i signaling-protein inhibitor [EP-3 blockade]) 500 ng/mL, a concentration- response curve (10(-9) M-10(-5) M) to PGE(2), PGF(2), sulprostone (EP 3 agonist), or 0.01% ethanol (vehicle) was created (N = 4). RESULTS In the normal ureters, PGE(2) relaxed both pertussis toxin-treated and control tissues. In obstructed segments, PGE(2) increased contractions by 60%; this was reversed by pertussis toxin to a 67% reduction in contractile rate. In both obstructed and contralateral segments, sulprostone induced contractility in the controls; this was attenuated by pertussis toxin. The PGF(2) produced a contractile effect in both the controls and the pertussis toxin-treated segments, demonstrating the selectivity of pertussis toxin for EP3 receptors. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that the EP3 receptor is involved in hypercontractility during ureteral obstruction. However, it may not be the sole factor behind the condition-dependent effect of PGE(2).
The impact of pharmaceuticals on the decline of cardiovascular mortality in Germany

The effect of innovative medicines and surgical interventions on the decline of (cardiovascular) mortality is often called into question. The increase in general economic prosperity is often seen as the main reason for the continuous increase in life expectancy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which mortality from cardiovascular diseases has been affected by pharmaceuticals and other medical interventions over the last 30 years in Germany.
Bipedal Hopping Pattern Generation for Passively Compliant Humanoids: Exploiting the Resonance

This paper describes a novel technique to analytically generate feasible hopping trajectories that can be applied to passively compliant bipedal humanoid robots. The proposed method is based on exploiting the inherent passive compliance through a reduced model, while the dynamic balance is maintained via the zero moment point (ZMP) criterion. To begin with, a computational resonance frequency analysis and a system identification routine are performed for the actual robot so as to determine the base resonance frequency, which is of special interest. Subsequently, the vertical component of the center of mass trajectory is generated by using a periodic function in which the aforementioned resonance frequency is utilized. The horizontal component of the center of mass trajectory is generated via the ZMP concept to ensure the dynamic balance. Having analytically generated both vertical and horizontal elements of the center of mass trajectory, joint motions are computed through the utilization of translational and angular momentum constraints. Applying the proposed method, a series of periodic forward hopping experiments is conducted on our actual compliant bipedal robot. As a result, we observe repetitive, continuous, and dynamically equilibrated forward hopping cycles with successful landing phases.
Mammography and sonography of pathologically proven adrenal cortical carcinoma metastatic to the breast.

Francois C, Rangachari B, Bova D etastasis to the breast is uncommon and may present as a solitary lesion or multiple lesions [1, 2]. The most common primary neoplasms to metastasize to the breast are those from melanoma, sarcoma, and tumors of the lung and ovary. Leukemia and lymphoma can also involve the breast [1, 2]. Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis [3]. The most common sites of metastases in adrenal cortical carcinoma are liver, lung, bone, and lymph nodes [4–7]. Metastases to other sites, such as the spleen, pancreas, contralateral kidney, and brain, occur much less commonly. Metastasis to the breast has been reported once before [8]. However, imaging characteristics of this lesion were not reported. We report the mammographic and sonographic findings of a pathologically proven adrenal cortical carcinoma metastatic to the breast.
Aerosol Deposition Method for Fabrication of Nano Crystal Ceramic Layer

Aerosol deposition method (ADM) for shock-consolidation of fine ceramics powder to form dense and hard layers is reported. Submicron ceramic particles were accelerated by gas flow in the nozzle up to velocity of several hundred m/s. During interaction with substrate, these particles formed thick (10 ~ 100 µm), dense, uniform and hard ceramics layers. Depositions were fulfilled at room temperature. Every layer has polycrystalline structure with nano-meter order scale. The results of fabrications, microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of oxides (α-Al2O3; Pb(Zr0.52,Ti0.48)O3 etc.) and non-oxides materials are presented.
Development History Granularity Transformations (N)

Development histories can simplify some software engineering tasks, butdifferent tasks require different history granularities. For example, a history that includes every edit that resulted in compiling code is needed when searching for the cause of a regression, whereas a history that contains only changes relevant to a feature is needed for understanding the evolution of the feature. Unfortunately, today, both manual and automated history generation result in a single-granularity history. This paper introduces the concept of multi-grained development history views and the architecture of Codebase Manipulation, a tool that automatically records a fine-grained history and manages its granularity by applying granularity transformations.
Using Context-Based Password Strength Meter to Nudge Users' Password Generating Behavior: A Randomized Experiment

Encouraging users to create stronger passwords has always been one of the key issues in password-based authentication. It is particularly important as passwords are still the most common user authentication method. Furthermore, prior works have highlighted that most passwords are significantly weak. In this paper, we seek to mitigate such an issue by proposing a context-based password strength meter and investigating its effectiveness on users' password generating behavior. We conduct a randomized experiment on Amazon MTurk involving hypothetical account creating scenarios. We observe the change in users' behavior in terms of the number of occasions where users change their password after seeing the warning message, the number of occasions where users want to learn more about creating stronger passwords, and the changes in password strength. We find that our proposed password strength meter is significantly effective. Users exposed to our password strength meter are more likely to change their password, and those new passwords are stronger. Furthermore, if the information is readily available, users are willing to invest their time to learn about creating a stronger password, even in a traditional password strength meter setting. Our findings suggest that simply incorporating a contextual information to password strength meters could be one of potential methods in promoting secure behaviors among end users.
Successive zero-forcing DPC with sum power constraint: Low-complexity optimal designs

Successive zero-forcing dirty paper coding (SZF-DPC) is a simplified alternative to DPC for MIMO broadcast channels (MIMO BCs). In the SZF-DPC scheme, the noncausally-known interference is canceled by DPC, while the residual interference is suppressed by the ZF technique. Due to the ZF constraints, the precoders are constrained to lie in the null space of a matrix. For the sum rate maximization problem under a sum power constraint, the existing precoder designs naturally rely on the singular value decomposition (SVD). The SVD-based design is optimal but needs high computational complexity. Herein, we propose two low-complexity optimal precoder designs for SZF-DPC, all based on the QR decomposition (QRD), which requires lower complexity than SVD. The first design method is an iterative algorithm to find an orthonormal basis of the null space of a matrix that has a recursive structure. The second proposed method, which will be shown to require the lowest complexity, results from applying a single QRD to the matrix comprising all users' channel matrices. We analytically and numerically show that the two proposed precoder designs are optimal.
Solidification of thermoviscoelastic melts. Part 4: Effects of boundary conditions on shrinkage and residual stresses

The solidification of a molten layer of thermoplastic between cooled parallel plates is used to model the mechanics of part shrinkage and the buildup of residual stresses in the injection-molding process. Flow effects are neglected, and a thermorheologically simple thermoviscoelastic material model is assumed. The model allows material to be added to fill the space created by the pressure applied during solidification, so that this model can be used to assess packing-pressure effects in injection molding. Parametric results are presented on the effects of the mold and melt temperatures, the part thickness, and the packing pressure—the pressure applied during solidification to counteract the effects of volumetric shrinkage of the thermoplastic—on the in-plane and through-thickness shrinkages, and on residual stresses in plaque-like geometries. The packing pressure is shown to have a significant effect on part shrinkage, but a smaller effect on residual stresses. Packing pressure applied later in the solidification cycle has a larger effect. Mold and melt temperatures are shown to have a much smaller effect. The processing parameters appear to affect the through-thickness shrinkage more than the in-plane shrinkage. While the results are presented in terms of normalized variables based on the properties of bisphenol-A polycarbonate, they can be interpreted for other amorphous thermoplastics such as modified polyphenylene oxide, polyetherimide, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
TTSF: A Novel Two-Tier Spam Filter

Spam prevention is a classic puzzle in the research area of network security. The conventional spam filtering techniques still result to high false positives and have weak on-line processing ability. This paper presents a novel two-tier spam filter (TTSF) on the basis of analyses over the conventional anti-spam techniques. TTSF on-line filters spam by using URLs and off-line filters spam using digest-based approach. Experimental evaluations from the constructed prototype based on TTSF demonstrate it can significantly raise the filtering accuracy, effectively reduce false positives and can be applied to on-line processing and heavy traffic environment by reducing the computational cost than the state-of-the-art techniques
Resonating large-angle and low-consumption micromachined optical scanner

A monolithic silicon integrated optical micro-scanner is presented. The device consists of a mirror located on the tip of a thermal bimorph actuator beam. The fabrication process is very simple and compatible with IC fabrication techniques. The device is excited electrothermomechanically at its resonance frequency, enabling large angular deflections at low power consumption. The technological process consists of basic frontside silicon micromachining steps requiring only three mask levels. The moving part is defined by selective silicon bulk etching. The bimorph beam is made of silicon dioxide and a thin film conductor. The residual stress in the two layers is used to achieve a 45 degree(s) out-of-plane rest position of the mirror. This allows optical components (e.g. laser diode, collimating lens) to be placed directly on the silicon substrate. Mirrors of 500*300 and 1000*500 micrometers 2 with resonant frequencies at 300 and 100 Hz respectively were realized. Mechanical scan angles of above 90 degree(s) were achieved. The devices are very robust and have run through fatigue tests of billions of cycles at 300 Hz and 90 degree(s) deflection. The power consumption of the device is typically 1 mW for 30 degree(s) mechanical scan angles.
Social sensors and pervasive services: Approaches and perspectives

Social networks represent a sophisticated tool for accessing the preferences and properties of individuals and groups. Thus, they potentially allow up-to-date, richly annotated contextual data to be acquired as a side effect of users' everyday use of services. In this paper, we explore how such “social sensing” could be integrated into pervasive systems. We frame and survey the possible approaches to such an integration, and discuss the open issues and challenges facing researchers.
Caveolin-dependent angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling in vascular smooth muscle.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a pluripotent hormone in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and stimulates arterial hypertrophy, a hallmark of remodeling in hypertension. These effects are mediated primarily through the G protein–coupled receptor Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R). 1 In VSMCs, AT1R-mediated signaling is biphasic, and internalization of the agonist/receptor complex into what we called a “signaling domain” is required for the tonic phase of signaling (initially characterized by phospholipase D activation) but not for the initial phospholipase C stimulation, which occurs at the cell surface.2 This evidence was consistent with the existence of spatially discrete Ang II signaling domains. We showed that sequential Ang II–induced phospholipase activation is mediated through ≥2 Gα subunits (Gαq and Gα12/13), as well as their associated Gβγ components.3,4 In addition, various nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, including cAbl and some from the Src family, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt, are activated by Ang II and mediate VSMC hypertrophy and growth.5–7 Activation of these pathways is in part dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation (transmodulation) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), which serves as a “scaffold” for the assembly of cSrc and Pyk2, leading to downstream activation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and Akt.8,9 These results are consistent with a model that requires temporal dispersion and organization of the AT1R signaling repertoire in VSMCs.7,10 Accumulating evidence suggests that receptors and the signaling molecules with which they associate are not randomly distributed in the cell membrane but are localized in specialized signaling domains. Functionally distinct microdomains, formed by the lateral packing of glycosphingolipids and cholesterol within the membrane bilayer, have been identified in plasma membranes. These domains, called “lipid rafts,” have been implicated in membrane trafficking and cellular signaling mechanisms and serve …