Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 papers

Chairing the Technical Papers program of a SIGGRAPH Asia conference is a daunting responsibility. This is a direct consequence of the prestige and recognition of SIGGRAPH or SIGGRAPH Asia publications, and the importance of acceptance or rejection for each submitting author. I had two main goals when I accepted this task: 1) ensure that the process works in a way which as fair as possible, and 2) continue the task of my two predecessors, K. Akeley (SIGGRAPH Asia 2008 Papers Chair) and N. Max (SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 Papers Chair), to establish SIGGRAPH Asia publications at exactly the same level of scientific excellence as ACM SIGGRAPH and "normal" ACM Transactions on Graphics papers. The process began in the fall of 2009, when I started putting together my Technical Papers Committee, consisting of 36 experts in all areas of computer graphics. After the deadline in May 2010, the four sorters, F. Durand, H. Rushmeier, C. O'Sullivan and L. Kobbelt came to Sophia-Antipolis in France to distribute the submissions to the committee members. The procedure followed was exactly the same as that of the summer SIGGRAPH conference, and is described in detail in the call for participation website. The committee met for two days (July 23rd/24th, 2010) just before the SIGGRAPH conference in Los Angeles. Of the 274 papers submitted, the committee selected 49, giving an acceptance rate of 18 per cent, a little lower than the SIGGRAPH/SIGGRAPH Asia average. Another 20 papers were judged by the committee to be excellent but needing extra work which required more than the one month revision period for SIGGRAPH Asia papers. These were referred to ACM Transactions of Graphics "with major revision. " If these papers are finally accepted, the authors will have the opportunity to present at a future SIGGRAPH or SIGGRAPH Asia conference. The papers accepted cover all areas of computer graphics and interactive techniques: sampling and filtering, rendering (both traditional and volumetric), modelling, reconstruction and geometric editing, computational imagery, imaging hardware as well as image and video techniques, animation for characters and crowds, fluids, flows, soft and rigid objects. In contrast to most such prefaces in previous SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia proceedings, I am happy to report that I made no major changes to the process this year. It is my opinion that the work of previous chairs (both SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia), has resulted in a process which is now quite stable. Interestingly, I did not receive a single complaint from a submitting author about a decision. I would like to interpret this as a sign that the process, however imperfect, has achieved a level of fairness that is appreciated by the community.
An MPC approach to low speed lane guidance

This thesis focuses on a low speed lane keeping problem. In particular, the objective is to constrain the vehicle motion inside its own lane on a highway, by controlling its lateral dynamics. The problem is approached with an output feedback control, as well as a Model Predictive Control. The output feedback control exceeded the constraints in some cases. The MPC achieved the control objectives. The MPC presents a simple way to handle the problem constraints. The MPC is a constrained optimal control technique that minimises a cost function subject to the system dynamics and a set of state and input constraints. The main component in MPC is a model of the system that is used to predict its future behaviour. A bicycle model is used to model the vehicle dynamics. The results presented in this thesis are obtained from simulations, in a Matlab/SIMULINK environment with the Model Predictive Control Toolbox. An output feedback controller is enough to achieve the control objectives at different velocities, without a delay. A Model predictive control achieves the control objective when a 0.3 s delay is present. Andreas Nilsson i June 13, 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor and examinator at Chalmers, Paolo Falcone for the support and advice he has offered me during this thesis. I would also like to thank Stefan Bergquist my supervisor at Volvo Technology for all the support and great insight he have given me in the vehicle industry. I would also like to thank Filip Holmqvist who have acted as supervisor and support. As well as Mansour Keshavarz Bahaghighat from Volvo technology. Least but not last I would like to thank Volvo Technology for an incredible opportunity to see and practice how the automotive industry works. Andreas Nilsson ii June 13, 2012
RAIN study: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial evaluating efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of intravenous-to-oral antibiotic switch therapy in neonates with a probable bacterial infection

Introduction High morbidity and mortality rates of proven bacterial infection are the main reason for substantial use of intravenous antibiotics in neonates during the first week of life. In older children, intravenous-to-oral switch after 48 hours of intravenous therapy has been shown to have many advantages and is nowadays commonly practised. We, therefore, aim to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of an early intravenous-to-oral switch in neonates with a probable bacterial infection. Methods and analysis We present a protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial assessing the non-inferiority of an early intravenous-to-oral antibiotic switch compared with a full course of intravenous antibiotics in neonates (0–28 days of age) with a probable bacterial infection. Five hundred and fifty patients will be recruited in 17 hospitals in the Netherlands. After 48 hours of intravenous treatment, they will be assigned to either continue with intravenous therapy for another 5 days (control) or switch to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension (intervention). Both groups will be treated for a total of 7 days. The primary outcome will be bacterial (re)infection within 28 days after treatment completion. Secondary outcomes are the pharmacokinetic profile of oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, the impact on quality of life, cost-effectiveness, impact on microbiome development and additional yield of molecular techniques in diagnosis of probable bacterial infection. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Erasmus Medical Centre. Results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences. Trial registration number NCT03247920
EzrA, a cell shape regulator contributing to biofilm formation and competitiveness in Streptococcus mutans.

Bacterial cell division is initiated by tubulin homologue FtsZ that assembles into a ring structure at mid-cell to facilitate cytokinesis. EzrA has been identified to be implicated in FtsZ ring dynamics and cell wall biosynthesis during cell division of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, the model rod and cocci. However, its role in pathogenic streptococci remains largely unknown. Here, the role of EzrA was investigated in Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, by constructing an ezrA in-frame deletion mutant. Our data showed that the ezrA mutant was slow-growing with a shortened length and extended width round cell shape compared to the wild type, indicating a delay in cell division with abnormalities of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Additionally, FtsZ irregularly localized in dividing ezrA mutant cells forming angled division planes, potentially contributing to an aberrant cell shape. Furthermore, investigation using single-species cariogenic biofilm model revealed that deletion of ezrA resulted in defective biofilm formation with less extracellular polysaccharides and altered three-dimensional biofilm architecture. Unexpectedly, in a dual-species ecological model, the ezrA mutant exhibited substantially lower tolerance for H2 O2 and reduced competitiveness against one commensal species, Streptococcus sanguinis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that EzrA plays a key role in regulating cell division and maintaining a normal morphology in S. mutans and is required for its robust biofilm formation/interspecies competition. Therefore, EzrA protein represent a potential therapeutic target in the development of drugs controlling dental caries and other biofilm-related diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Predictive Analysis Using Chemical-Gene Interaction Networks Consistent with Observed Endocrine Activity and Mutagenicity of U.S. Streams.

In a recent U.S. Geological Survey/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study assessing >700 organic compounds in 38 streams, in vitro assays indicated generally low estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptor activities, with 13 surface waters with 17β estradiol equivalent (E2Eq) activities greater than a 1 ng/L estimated effects-based trigger value for estrogenic effects in male fish. Among the 36 samples assayed for mutagenicity in the Salmonella bioassay (reported here), 25% had low mutagenic activity; 75% were not mutagenic. Endocrine and mutagenic activities of the water samples were well correlated with each other and with the total number and cumulative concentrations of detected chemical contaminants. To test the predictive utility of knowledgebase-leveraging approaches, site-specific predicted chemical-gene (pCGA) and predicted analogous pathway-linked (pPLA) association networks identified in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database were compared with observed endocrine/mutagenic bioactivities. We evaluated pCGA/pPLA patterns among sites by cluster analysis and principal component analysis and grouped the pPLA into broad mode-of-action classes. Measured E2Eq and mutagenic activities correlated well with predicted pathways. The pPLA analysis also revealed correlations with signaling, metabolic, and regulatory groups, suggesting that other effects pathways may be associated with chemical contaminants in these waters and indicating the need for broader bioassay coverage to assess potential adverse impacts.
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in two drinking water distribution systems and the role of residual disinfection.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are frequently found in chloraminated drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) due to their chloramine tolerance. NTM were investigated in the water-main biofilms and drinking water of a chloraminated DWDS in the United States (initial chloramine residual = 3.8±0.1 mg L-1) and a DWDS in Norway with minimal residual disinfectant (0.08±0.01 mg L-1). NTM and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) were quantified by qPCR targeting, respectively, atpE genes and the internal transcribed spacer region. NTM concentrations in drinking water did not differ between the two systems (P = 0:09; up to 6×104 copies L-1) but were higher in the biofilms from the chloraminated DWDS (P = 5×10-9; up to 5×106 copies cm-2). MAC were not detected in either system. Sequencing of mycobacterial hsp65 genes indicated that the chloraminated DWDS lacked NTM diversity and consisted almost exclusively of M. gordonae. In contrast, there were many novel NTM species in the no-residual DWDS. Finally, Mycobacterium- and Methylobacterium-like 16S rRNA genes were often detected simultaneously, though without correlation as previously observed. We conclude that, though residual chloramine may increase mycobacterial biomass in a DWDS, it may decrease NTM diversity.
Morphological classification of the tubercle of insertion of the transverse atlantal ligament: A computer tomography–based anatomical study of 200 subjects

Background and purpose The atlantal tubercle is the attachment point of the transverse atlantal ligament, the main stabilizer of the atlantoaxial complex. No system of classification of the tubercle exists in the literature. We aimed to develop a morphologically based classification system of the atlantal tubercle to aid clinicians who deal with craniocervical pathology. Materials and methods A retrospective review of computed tomography (CT) scans of the cervical spine was performed. The morphology of the atlantal tubercle was classified into four variants: rounded (classical), pointed, flattened, and hypoplastic. Age, presence, and morphological type were recorded. Results A total of 200 CT scans were identified and reviewed. The tubercle was present bilaterally in all patients. Patients were equally distributed over various age ranges. The following morphological types were recorded: rounded (227/400; 56.8%), pointed (13/400; 3.3%), flattened (126; 31.5%), and hypoplastic (34/400; 8.5%). The same type was seen bilaterally in 68% (135/200) of patients. Morphological types appear equally on the right and left side of the atlas. Conclusions The first morphologically based classification system of the atlantal tubercle utilizing CT is presented. Morphology type, especially hypoplastic type, may confer an increased risk for subsequent need for posterior fusion.
Technological interventions and advances in the diagnosis of intramammary infections in animals with emphasis on bovine population—a review

Abstract Mastitis, an inflammation of the udder, is a challenging problem in dairy animals accounting for high economic losses. Disease complexity, degree of economic losses and increasing importance of the dairy industries along with public health concerns envisages devising appropriate diagnostics of mastitis, which can offer rapid, accurate and confirmatory diagnosis. The various diagnostic tests of mastitis have been divided into general or phenotypic and specific or genotypic tests. General or phenotypic tests are those that identify general alterations, which are not specific to any pathogen. Genotypic tests are specific, hence confirmatory for diagnosis of mastitis and include specific culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its various versions (e.g. qRT-PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification, lateral flow assays, nucleotide sequencing, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and other molecular diagnostic methods. However, for highly specific and confirmatory diagnosis, pure cultures still provide raw materials for more sophisticated diagnostic technological interventions like PCR and nucleotide sequencing. Diagnostic ability of like infra-red thermography (IRT) has been shown to be similar to California mastitis test and also differentiates clinical mastitis from subclinical mastitis cases. As such, IRT can become a convenient and portable diagnostic tool. Of note, magnetic nanoparticles-based colorimetric biosensor assay was developed by using for instance proteolytic activity of plasmin or anti-S. aureus antibody. Last but not least, microRNAs have been suggested to be potential biomarkers for diagnosing bovine mastitis. This review summarizes the various diagnostic tests available for detection of mastitis including diagnosis through general and specific technological interventions and advances.
Rate control of VBR H.261 video on frame relay networks

The H.261 video compression standard provides an efficient scheme for the transmission of low bit-rate video traffic over high-speed networks. We introduce a modified H.261 codec that produces variable bit-rate (VBR) output for transmission over an integrated services frame relay (FR) network. We show that the quality of service requirements of VBR video can be met in the presence of inter-LAN data traffic by making use of the backward explicit congestion notification (BECN) facility, in conjunction with a modified H.261 video codec whose rate is controlled by the congestion notifications. We also show that the performance of the control mechanism is significantly influenced by a subset of network threshold and codec control parameters which is identified using 2/sup k/ factorial analysis techniques. We obtain optimal ranges of values for these parameters using mean field annealing optimization methods. Finally, we show that variable quantization rate control is more effective for this purpose than variable frame rate control and that the improvement in performance over that of an uncontrolled network is significant.
Longitudinal follow-up of a comprehensive operationalization of eating disorder recovery: Concurrent and predictive validity.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to replicate the concurrent validity of a comprehensive definition of eating disorder recovery (physical, behavioral, and cognitive indices) in a sample followed up 7-8 years from baseline, and to examine, for the first time with this comprehensive definition, predictive validity. METHOD Participants were 66 women with a history of an eating disorder and 31 age-matched controls who completed an online survey and phone interview. RESULTS In general, women who were fully recovered were statistically indistinguishable from controls and had significantly less eating disorder attitudes and behaviors than the partially recovered and eating disorder groups. Being fully recovered at baseline was a robust predictor of stability: of those fully recovered at baseline, 80% remained fully recovered at follow-up. One-third of those with an eating disorder and one-half of those in partial recovery at baseline attained full recovery at follow-up. DISCUSSION These findings support the current operationalization of eating disorder recovery, encompassing physical, behavioral, and cognitive indices, as valid and highlight that full recovery is not only possible but predicts full recovery years later. Future research should examine this operationalization in diverse samples and study trajectories of recovery to identify predictors.
Efficient failure-aware programming

Scale-out programs run on multiple processes in a cluster. In scale-out systems, processes can fail. Computations using traditional libraries such as MPI fail when any component process fails. The advent of Map Reduce, Resilient Data Sets and MillWheel has shown dramatic improvements in productivity are possible when a high-level programming framework handles scale-out and resilience automatically. We are concerned with the development of generalpurpose languages that support resilient programming. In this paper we show how the X10 language and implementation can be extended to support resilience. In Resilient X10, places may fail asynchronously, causing loss of the data and tasks at the failed place. Failure is exposed through exceptions. We identify a Happens Before Invariance Principle and require the runtime to automatically repair the global control structure of the program to maintain this principle. We show this reduces much of the burden of resilient programming. The programmer is only responsible for continuing execution with fewer computational resources and the loss of part of the heap, and can do so while taking advantage of domain knowledge. We build a complete implementation of the language, capable of executing benchmark applications on hundreds of nodes. We describe the algorithms required to make the language runtime resilient. We then give three applications, each with a different approach to fault tolerance (replay, decWork done while employed at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center.
Planning agents in JAMES

Testing is an obligatory step in developing multiagent systems. For testing multiagent systems in virtual, dynamic environments, simulation systems are required that support a modular, declarative construction of experimental frames, that facilitate the embedding of a variety of agent architectures and that allow an efficient parallel, distributed execution. We introduce the system JAMES (a Java based agent modeling environment for simulation). In JAMES, agents and their dynamic environment are modeled as reflective, time-triggered state automata. Its possibilities to compose experimental frames based on predefined components, to express temporal interdependencies, to capture the phenomenon of proactiveness and reflectivity of agents are illuminated by experiments with planning agents. The underlying planning system is a general-purpose system, about which no empirical results exist besides traditional static benchmark tests. We analyze the interplay between heuristics for selecting goals, viewing range, commitment strategies, explorativeness, and trust in the persistence of the world and uncover properties of the the agent, the planning engine, and the chosen test scenario: TILEWORLD.
Inference System for Role-Based Trust Management Languages

Role-basedTrustmanagement� (RT)� languages� areusedforrepresentingpoliciesandcredentials� in� decentralized,� distributedaccesscontrolsystems. � TheycombinetrustmanagementandRole! Based� AccessControlfeatures. �Thesubjectofthispaper� is� anoperationalsemanticsforthefamilyofRT� languages,� inwhichcredentialscanbeestablished� usingasimplesetofinferencerules. �Acredential � providesinformationaboutthekeys,� rightsand� qualificationsfromoneormoretrustedauthorities . � Theinferencesystemappliednotonlytothebasic� languageoftheRole! basedTrustmanagementfamily� (RT 0),�butalsotoothermembersofthefamilyupto� RT T,� whichismuchmoresophisticated. � RT T� providesmanifoldrolesandrole! productoperators� toexpressthresholdandseparation! of! dutypolicie s. � Amanifoldroledefinessetsofentitieswhose� cooperationsatisfiesthemanifoldrole. �Itenables �to� expresssuchacondition,�whichneedmorethanone� memberofaroletoeffectivelyfulfiltheparticul ar� task. �
When using sound with a text or picture is not beneficial for learning

Conventional wisdom tells us that two modalities (visual and auditory) are better than one modality in any instructional message. This paper describes two cases where combining audio explanations with visual instructions has had negative rather than positive or neutral effects. The results were explained as a consequence of working memory overload. Some guiding principles in the design of multimedia instruction are suggested.
Mikrobiota und Reizdarmsyndrom – eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme

Zusammenfassung Dieses narrative Review beleuchtet kritisch die Rolle der Darmmikrobiota bei funktionellen Störungen vom Typ Reizdarmsyndrom. Ausgehend von Veränderungen der Zusammensetzung und Vielfalt der Mikrobiota, wie sie oft in korrelativen Studien gefunden wurden, stellt es kritische Fragen nach Ursache/Wirkung, nach Spezifität und Sensitivität der Befunde im Vergleich zu anderen Erkrankungen und nach den klinisch-wissenschaftlichen Möglichkeiten, die Mikrobiota zu verändern. Dabei werden Prä-, Pro- und Antibiotika ebenso diskutiert wie der Einfluss von Ernährung und der Austausch durch fäkalen Mikrobiom-Transfer (FMT). Für das Reizdarmsyndrom haben sich bislang die wenigsten Strategien als erfolgreiche Therapieansätze erwiesen. Dies kann zum einen an der Heterogenität des Krankheitsbildes selbst liegen, zum anderen an nach wie vor unklaren Konzepten der mikrobiellen Forschung, z. B. dem Begriff der Dysbiose, oder an methodischen Differenzen der molekulargenetischen Forschung, die in den publizierten Arbeiten nicht sichtbar werden. Künftige Studien sollten sich auf die Identifizierung der Faktoren konzentrieren, die das Ansprechen auf solche Behandlungsarten erklären und vorhersagen können.
Hyperoxia enhances self‐paced exercise performance to a greater extent in cool than hot conditions

What is the central question of this study? Hyperoxia enhances endurance performance by increasing O2 availability to locomotor muscles. We investigated whether hyperoxia can also improve prolonged self‐paced exercise in conditions of elevated thermal and cardiovascular strain. What is the main finding and its importance? Hyperoxia improved self‐paced exercise performance in hot and cool conditions. However, the extent of the improvement (increased work rate relative to normoxia) was greater in cool conditions. This suggests that the development of thermal and cardiovascular strain during prolonged self‐paced exercise under heat stress might attenuate the hyperoxia‐mediated increase in O2 delivery to locomotor muscles.