Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continuous queries on trajectories of moving objects

Since navigation systems and tracking devices are becoming ubiquitous in our daily life, the development of efficient methods for processing massive sets of mobile objects are of utmost importance. Although future routes of mobile objects are often known in advance in many applications, this information is not fully utilized in most methods so far. In this paper, we reveal the beneficial effects of exploiting future routes for the early generation of the expected results of spatio-temporal queries. This kind of probable results is important for operative analytics in many applications like smart fleet management or intelligent logistics. For efficiently computing the high number of future trajectory points, a new index structure is presented which allows for a fast maintenance of query results under continuous changes of mobile objects. Our methods make use of specific update patterns, which require substantially less maintenance costs than the most general case of an update. A set of experiments based on a commonly used simulation environment shows the efficiency of our approach.
Assessing Beliefs about 'Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity'

Knowledge representation was used to characterize beliefs in patients with Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (EI/MCS). EI/MCS patients, allergy and asthma patients, doctors and controls made relatedness judgments on concepts relevant to EI/MCS. Associative networks showed that EI/MCS patients viewed these concepts differently from others. Multiple chemical exposure was central in EI/ MCS networks, with many links to every other concept, but was only peripherally connected in the other subject networks. Similarity comparisons to an EI/MCS prototype network discriminated EI/MCS patients from the other control populations, as did an index based on critical concept pairs. This approach shows promise for distinguishing patient groups using belief structure.
Strategic Issues in Closed-Loop Supply Chains with Remanufacturing

In this chapter we look at the strategic issue facing firms regarding whether or not to remanufacture their used products. We identify some direct costs of remanufacturing as well as some opportunity costs that should be included in a firm’s decision to remanufacture or support the secondary market of remanufactured products. We also explore how this decision may change under different competitive landscapes.
Virtual Affordances: pliable user expectations

The experience of virtual environments is often based on contradictions: the user should perceive the environment and objects as real, and yet the behavior of the environment is typically unreal; the user should accept the world as a temporary reality, yet at the same time interact with it magically. At the core of these differences is affordances and the question: Are virtual affordances the same as real affordances? This is important, as perception of a “real” environment implies that the affordances are those of the real world, and conversely, magical interactions and environment behaviors are “un-real. ” By understanding that perceptual differences may exist and what they are, we can to leverage this knowledge to improve the experience of virtual environments. In this position paper, we lay out the issue of virtual affordances, why they are critical, and what we believe are the core factors that effect the user’s expectations of virtual content.
C‐Fiber Structure Varies with Location in Peripheral Nerve

Recent advances in regeneration and pain research have revealed gaps in the understanding of normal C-fiber anatomy. In the rat PNS, C-fiber axons assemble into Remak bundles, but beyond this, features of C-fiber organization are not defined. Systematic sampling and quantitation reveals that Remak bundles exiting from the L5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contain large numbers of axons, for example, 56% of unmyelinated axons were in bundles of >20 axons. This is different from distal nerve segments such as the hindpaw plantar nerve where the median number of axons per bundle is 3. The cross-sectional area of unmyelinated axons in dorsal root was homogeneous near the DRG but variability in axonal area increased near the spinal cord (p = 0.00001) and the mean axonal area was unchanged. Unmyelinated axons in peripheral nerve were almost always isolated from one another by Schwann cell processes; however, in dorsal root 7% to 9% of unmyelinated axons were immediately adjacent within pockets containing 2 or more axons. Remak bundles in the distal peripheral nerve clustered with other Remak bundles. We observe that multiple unmyelinated axons are juxtaposed within the C-fiber/Remak bundle and that the close association of afferent axons may have important functional implications.
Temperature and Heat-Related Mortality Trends in the Sonoran and Mojave Desert Region

Extreme temperatures and heat wave trends in five cities within the Sonoran Desert region (e.g., Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States and Ciudad Obregon and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora; and Mexicali, Baja California, in Mexico) and one city within the Mojave Desert region (e.g., Las Vegas, Nevada) were assessed using field data collected from 1950 to 2014. Instead of being selected by watershed, the cities were selected because they are part of the same arid climatic region. The data were analyzed for maximum temperature increases and the trends were confirmed statistically using Spearman’s nonparametric test. Temperature trends were correlated with the mortality information related with extreme heat events in the region. The results showed a clear trend of increasing maximum temperatures during the months of June, July, and August for five of the six cities and statically confirmed using Spearman’s rho values. Las Vegas was the only city where the temperature increase was not confirmed using Spearman’s test, probably because it is geographically located outside of the Sonoran Desert or because of its proximity to the Hoover Dam. The relationship between mortality and temperature was analyzed for the cities of Mexicali, Mexico and Phoenix. Arizona.
Red Cells Responses of Professional Soccer Players Submitted to Specific Training Methods in the Intensity of the Anaerobic Threshold

This study aims to observe the effect of three different methods of training in the red cells of the professional soccer players, from 2nd division in the Rio de Janeiro Championship. The sample was composed by 20 individuals of the masculine gender, being selected of randomized form, the age of the group were of 23,42 ? 6,5 years. The athletes had controlled diet made by a nutritionist, the ambient and their temperature were controlled, they had been submitted to an evaluation the Bruce? s protocol (1976), to determine the intensity of the anaerobic threshold for application in the different protocols of training (intervaled, intermittent and of game). Different collections of blood had been carried through: 48h before initiating the study and pre-test/post-test of each protocol of training. The statistical tools used were: Shapiro-Wilk? s test and the inferential statistics used were the multi-variance analyzes Anova 3 x 3 with complementary post hoc Scheff? The value of p ? 0,05 was determinate as the significant level. Alterations had been observed at the moment before and after the tests, for the hematological profile, and a bigger alteration in the protocol of action of the game, demonstrating that it? s the method that provides the biggest physical stress.
Expression of PTTG (pituitary tumor transforming gene) in esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND Recently, a vertebrate securin [pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in humans] has been identified that inhibits sister chromatid separation and is involved in malignant transformation and tumorigenesis. Abundance of this protein would disrupt cell division, generate chromosomal instability and thereby increase cell susceptibility to acquisition of further mutations during subsequent division. Esophageal cancer is a disease with poor prognosis with early local invasion and lymph node metastasis. It is important to identify factors that influence the aggressiveness of esophageal cancer. METHODS Expression of PTTG messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 48 esophageal cancer specimens and matched normal esophageal mucosa. The data were analyzed with reference to clinicopathological factors. RESULTS Tumor tissue expressed a significantly higher level of PTTG1 mRNA than the corresponding normal tissue (P < 0.0001). PTTG1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tumors with higher pathological stage (IV vs 0-III, P = 0.0442) or more extensive lymph node metastasis (pathological N factor; N4 vs N0-3, P = 0.003). The median survival for patients with high PTTG1 expression (8.5 months) was less than that for patients with low PTTG1 expression (14.0 months, P = 0.039). PTTG1 expression was one of the significant predictors of survival on univariate analysis (hazard ratio 2.225; 95% confidence interval 1.007-4.915). CONCLUSIONS Detection of high PTTG1 expression in surgically excised esophagus tumor tissues might help to identify patients with aggressive disease who require adjuvant therapy and provide prognostic information.
Mining Association Rules from Market Basket Data using Share Measures and Characterized Itemsets

We propose the share-confidence framework for knowledge discovery from databases which addresses the problem of mining characterized association rules from market basket data (i.e., itemsets). Our goal is to not only discover the buying patterns of customers, but also to discover customer profiles by partitioning customers into distinct classes. We present a new algorithm for classifying itemsets based upon characteristic attributes extracted from census or lifestyle data. Our algorithm combines the A priori algorithm for discovering association rules between items in large databases, and the A O G algorithm for attribute-oriented generalization in large databases. We show how characterized itemsets can be generalized according to concept hierarchies associated with the characteristic attributes. Finally, we present experimental results that demonstrate the utility of the share-confidence framework.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation and motor evoked potentials in speech perception research

ABSTRACT Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been employed to manipulate brain activity and to establish cortical excitability by eliciting motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in speech processing research. We will discuss the history, methodological underpinnings, key contributions, and future directions for studying speech processing using TMS and by eliciting MEPs. Furthermore, we will discuss specific challenges that are encountered when examining speech processing using TMS or by measuring MEPs. We suggest that future research may benefit from using TMS in conjunction with neuroimaging methods such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or electroencephalography, and from the development of new stimulation protocols addressing cortico-cortical inhibition/facilitation and interhemispheric connectivity during speech processing.
LA CREATION DE VALEUR DANS UN ECHANGE RELATIONNEL : CAS DES DISTRIBUTEURS MAROCAINS

La problematique que nous traitons dans cet article porte sur l’influence de la qualite percue, et l’orientation relationnelle des entreprises sur la creation de valeur pour le client dans le cadre d’une relation dyadique client fournisseur. De meme, cette recherche vise a etudier l’effet de la valeur percue par le client lors d’un echange relationnel sur sa fidelite. La collecte des donnees a ete realisee aupres des distributeurs marocains. Les resultats de l’etude a montre l’influence partiellement et positivement de la qualite percue et l’orientation relationnelle sur la valeur percue par le client et par la suite sur sa fidelite.
Performance Analysis of Random Access Algorithm Based on Power Capture

The random access procedure of 2G and 3G mobile communication system are derived from slotted ALOHA. This paper analyzes the performance of slotted ALOHA at first, and then proves the results by simulation of the access procedure. This article proposes that the higher-power access packets would be attempted to detect after the base station detecting a collision, and analyzes the performance of this algorithm comparing to slotted-ALOHA. As results of simulation, the system throughput would increase greatly, and the access delay would decrease at the same time, if the method could be applied
Modeling of the Behavior of a Robot in a Virtual Environment in 3D

: A robot is a machine equipped with capacities of perception, decision and action which enable him to act in an autonomous way in its environment. The mobile robots are largely used in the industrial environments. The possible types of applications are innumerable. This work proposes to implement an architecture 3D and to define a general method of representation and modeling of the behavior of a robot in a virtual world in 3D. Various scopes of application, whose virtual library 3D which is an environment in three dimensions, designed to turn inside a classical web browser (provided that this one is provided with one plug-in vrml) are studied to show the founded good of the approach proposed.
Wavelet Transform Video in Quantization II Run-Length Encoding Huffman Coding Buffer Frame Memory Motion Estimation / Compensation Inverse QuantizationI

The video coding for very low bit-rate has recently received considerable attention, but the conventional coding schemes with block based transform suffer from the blocky effect for the constraints of limited bit-rate. In this paper, we present a video coding system based on wavelet transform and multiresolution motion estimation/compensation for very low bit-rate video. The proposed scheme uses the wavelet transform which is flexible to represent non-stationary image signals and adaptable to the human visual characteristics. The wavelet transformed coefficients are coded by various coding modes in accordance with the sum of absolute error after motion estimation/compensation in wavelet decomposed domain. And simple buffer control technique is applied to handle constant image quality. It is shown that the presented scheme has more acceptable image quality without blocky effects than conventional block based transform video coding. keyword: video coding, wavelet transform, very low bit-rate video
Sensorless direct field-oriented control of three-phase induction motors based on "Sliding Mode" for washing-machine drive applications

Sensorless direct field-oriented (SDFO) control of three-phase induction motors based on "sliding mode" has been studied and applied to domestic washing-machine drives. In this paper, three related techniques, sliding-mode flux observer, sliding-mode speed controller, and direct rotor-speed estimator are presented for the application of SDFO "sliding mode" in induction-motor control system. Specifically, the investigations focus on how improving speed regulation, system robustness, and some special technical issues in washing-machine drives. The complete control schemes have been developed and implemented in a low-cost digital signal processor-based electronic controller. Through a variety of system performance validation tests, it has been proved that the developed SDFO control not only achieves satisfied steady as well as a dynamic performance, but also is robust for washing-machine driving applications.
Editorial: Neural and Computational Modeling of Movement Control

There exists a gap from experimental data to the understanding of neural control of movements. This research topic was dedicated to promote computational modeling approach that can facilitate data interpretation (Niu et al.; Ranjbaran and Galiana; Pearson et al.; Sharif Razavian et al.; Malik et al.), elucidate control theories (Ueyama; Ota et al.; Takemura et al.), shed light on systemic mechanisms (Buhrmann and DiPaolo; Pearson et al.; Li et al.), suggest testable hypothesis (Loeb and Tsianos; Jiang et al.), and aid design of rehabilitation or therapeutic strategies (Zitella et al.). The 14 articles reflected these different aspects of computational modeling in bridging this gap between functions of neural circuits and observable behaviors. This research topic demonstrated that computational modeling is playing a more and more prominent role in sensorimotor control studies.
A new robust character segmentation method

This paper proposed a robust segmentation method which can adopt varied conditions. The local binarization algorithm and global binarization are used as well as the blob analysis algorithm. Based on the long line fitting algorithm, the bottom frame connected with the characters is removed; based on the characters' gradient lines and average width and height information, the left and right frames are removed. Connected characters, separated characters and lost characters problems are solved. This segmentation algorithm can process fast and accurately in various conditions. Compared with existing segmentation methods, the method we proposed is much better than others'.
Monitoring transient elastic energy storage within the rotary motors of single FoF1-ATP synthase by DCO-ALEX FRET

The enzyme FoF1-ATP synthase provides the 'chemical energy currency' adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for living cells. Catalysis is driven by mechanochemical coupling of subunit rotation within the enzyme with conformational changes in the three ATP binding sites. Proton translocation through the membrane-bound Fo part of ATP synthase powers a 10-step rotary motion of the ring of c subunits. This rotation is transmitted to the γ and ε subunits of the F1 part. Because γ and ε subunits rotate in 120° steps, we aim to unravel this symmetry mismatch by real time monitoring subunit rotation using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). One fluorophore is attached specifically to the F1 motor, another one to the Fo motor of the liposome-reconstituted enzyme. Photophysical artifacts due to spectral fluctuations of the single fluorophores are minimized by a previously developed duty cycle-optimized alternating laser excitation scheme (DCO-ALEX). We report the detection of reversible elastic deformations between the rotor parts of Fo and F1 and estimate the maximum angular displacement during the load-free rotation using Monte Carlo simulations.
Using a layered paradigm to model multimedia

This paper examines multimedia from a perspective of both data modeling and application development. It outlines a layered paradigm as a preferred approach to modeling, proposes a new layered multimedia data model (LMDM), and then demonstrates how the LMDM can be used together with a database of multimedia data to describe and support a large number of present and future multimedia applications. In addition, evaluation criteria are proposed by which the effectiveness of any new multimedia modeling approach should be assessed. The paper concludes with an attempt to evaluate the utility of the LMDM in the light of these criteria. <<ETX>>
A graphical selection method for parametric models in noisy inhomogeneous regression

A common problem in physics is to fit regression data by a parametric class of functions, and to decide whether a certain functional form allows for a good fit to the data. Common goodness-of-fit methods are based on the calculation of the distribution of certain statistical quantities under the assumption that the model under consideration holds true. This process has methodological flaws, e.g. a good ‘fit’– albeit with a model that is wrong – might be caused by overfitting or the fact that the chosen statistical criterion is not powerful enough to distinguish the particular deviation between the model and the true regression function. This causes particular difficulties when models with different numbers of parameters are to be compared. Therefore, the number of parameters is often also penalized. We provide a methodology that circumvents these problems to some extent. It is based on the consideration of the error distribution of the goodness-of-fit criterion under a broad range of possible models – and not only under the assumption that a given model holds true. We present a graphical method to decide on the most evident model from a range of parametric models of the data. The method allows one to quantify statistical evidence for the model (up to some distance between the model and the true regression function) and not only absence of evidence against, as common goodness-of-fit methods do. Finally, we apply our method to the problem of recovering the luminosity density of the Milky Way from a dereddened COBE/DIRBE L-band map. We present statistical evidence for flaring of the stellar disc inside the solar circle.
QoE Oriented Analysis for Video Quality Assessment

In day to day life the use of video streaming services with different systems has become a key factor, as the technology is tending more towards the development of digital systems. Among such systems or devices, IPTV, smart TV, Social TV systems are more popular now days, because of its prime factors like voice calling, video calling, SMS service, Internet, entertainment, e-commerce service, email service social network service, etc. That is why internet service provider is also willing to provide all the above mentioned services through a single line. Considering these facts main factors in the development of such systems is the user perceived experience, i.e. QoE In other words, the quality of experience with the system. In this paper, considering QoE factor we have determined an approach that helps to estimate the user's QoE which uses a full reference model and helps to evaluate factors that measures the video quality effectively.
Towards a Better Construction of Sentence Level Output for Malay Speech Synthesizer

During the improvement of Malay Speech Synthesizer ver2 (MSS ver2), we focused on how the selection of target syllable utterance is to be concatenated. The selection is based on the best match of phonetic context similarity between target utterance and recorded utterance. However, this approach only improves the quality of synthesized speech at the word level. We thus proposed additional attribute to be added in the speech corpus which we believe will provide better information and hence able to enhance the quality of synthesized speech at the sentence level. Additional information that is attached to the speech sound is: the pitch contour of the speech segment, sentence type, position and adjacency of the syllable in the word (phonetic context), position of the word in a sentence and pitch’s mean. We also add information of break, pauses and transition of sound in the annotation of the corpus. All these information will provide richer information of the speech corpus and at the same time, this information can be manipulated to construct a template for longer speech synthesis output. We will show what information is used for annotation and how we are going to use this information during selection to produce utterance using Praat as a synthesizer tool.