Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Channel and content aware 3D video scheduling with prioritized queuing

In this paper we address 3D video delivery over wireless systems based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), by considering a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer scheduling method combined with a prioritized queuing mechanism to prioritize the most important video components/layers with the goal of improving the perceived quality of 3D video at the receiver. We consider colour plus depth 3D video and we exploit its properties in terms of importance of the different components for the perceived quality. The priority values of the Scalable Video Coding (SVC) encoded 3D video are signalled from the Application Layer to the MAC layer via cross-layer signalling. All the users attached to a Base Station feedback their sub-channel gain to the Base Station periodically via partial Channel State Information (CSI) and this information is used in the sub-channel allocation process at the scheduler. Thereby, the proposed scheduler always guarantees that the most important layers are scheduled over the sub channels with higher gain at each time slot of an OFDMA frame. Furthermore, we have established a Packet Loss Rate (PLR) threshold which is used by the scheduler to drop video layers which are worst affected by packet losses to save scarce radio resources. Simulation results show that the MAC layer PLR is improved in the prioritized colour/depth layers at the cost of slight increase in PLR in the low prioritized layers. This results in a global quality improvement for the prioritized case.
The age factor in hypertension.

Hypertension in the elderly is not a compensatory phenomenon to offset the decline in organ perfusion that occurs with age. Rather, superimposition of hypertension on aging apparently leads to increased damage in the target organs: brain, heart, and kidneys. Accordingly, preservation of blood flow and function of vital organs takes precedence over reduction of blood pressure alone.
Investigations on the conjunctival goblet cells and the characteristics of the glands associated with the eye in chinchillas (Chinchilla Laniger).

OBJECTIVE To investigate the density and distribution of conjunctival goblet cells (GC) and study the anatomy and microscopic characteristics of glands associated with the eye in chinchillas (Chinchilla Laniger). PROCEDURE 12 chinchillas were included in the study. Conjunctiva (divided into four regions), eyelids, and glands were embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned, stained, and analyzed. RESULTS Highest GC densities were found in the palpebral region of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva of both eyelids (GC index: 25.1-18.2%), and lowest densities, in the bulbar and marginal region of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva of both eyelids (GC index: 1.5-0.0%). Meibomian glands extend along the entire length of both eyelids, and the whole glandular complex broadens toward the temporal canthus. This is macroscopically visible through the conjunctiva. The openings of the Meibomian glands are macroscopically not discernible. The light pink, smooth, and crescent-shaped lacrimal gland lies next to the aforementioned broadened part of the Meibomian glands in the temporal canthus. The whitish, 0.9-cm-long, smooth Harderian gland is firmly attached to the posterior part of the globe and extends nasally from the optic nerve to the equator. Furthermore, chinchillas possess two lacrimal puncta, situated on the inner conjunctival surface of both eyelids near the medial canthus. A pigmented lacrimal canaliculus originates from each punctum. The vestigial nictitating membrane is supported by a hyaline cartilage and is pigmented at its free margin. CONCLUSIONS Chinchillas possess a Harderian gland, a lacrimal gland, and Meibomian glands. The GC density in the nasal and temporal palpebral conjunctiva is higher than in guinea pigs.
Exploring the Relationship between Destination Image, Aggressive Street Behavior, and Tourist Safety

ABSTRACT Panhandlers are prominent in larger cities around the United States, but they are particularly apparent in one major Pacific Coast destination. Hotel managers believe this problem could affect their businesses however; the behaviors with which the city’s hoteliers are concerned extend beyond panhandling alone. For example, aggressive panhandling is often coupled with threatening or abusive behavior. Hotel management’s perception of safety and security for a tourist is relatively is relatively untouched in the literature. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to determine what hotel managers greatest concerns are when it comes to aggressive street behavior and tourist safety and security, as related to destination image. Because hotel managers and other tourism operators sell and promote their businesses to tourists, it is essential to know how these operators view their destination’s image, especially if there is a potential threat to that image as a result of aggressive street behavior. A survey was developed to determine which behaviors were of most concern; to assess hotel managers’ perceptions of safety, as well as their image of the city as a destination. A major finding is that hotel managers are not concerned about tourist safety and security insomuch as they are worried about feelings that tourists have towards panhandlers. In direct contrast to their limited concerns for safety, the results show that the managers believe San Francisco is not a destination that is safe or clean. Implications of this are discussed.
A low-pass continuous-time delta-sigma interface circuit for wideband MEMS gyroscope readout ASIC

This paper presents a low-noise, low-power CMOS interface circuit for MEMS gyroscope readout ASIC. Our interface circuit is composed of a continuous-time delta-sigma modulator, an anti-aliasing filter, and an on-chip reference generator. By using a low-pass delta-sigma modulator instead of a band-pass delta-sigma modulator, a frequency matching circuit is unnecessary which enables wideband operation. A switched-capacitor resistor digital-to-analog converter is exploited to reduce clock jitter sensitivity of the modulator. An anti-aliasing filter rejects the out-band signal, and a low-noise on-chip reference generator is embedded for miniaturization. The proposed circuit is realized in a 0.18 μm CMOS process. It achieves 70.3 dB signal-to-noise ratio in a signal bandwidth from 29.5 kHz to 30.5 kHz with only 0.2 V differential peak-peak input. It dissipates 2.6 mW from a 3.3 V supply.
Development of a UAV-MMS-Collaborative Aerial-to-Ground Remote Sensing System – A Preparatory Field Validation

This study proposed the development plan of a novel aerial-to-ground remote sensing (AGRS) system for surveying the land scenes of interest. Specifically, the AGRS system is composed by integrating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging system and a mobile mapping system (MMS), onboard whose platform a control station is also added. The UAV-MMS-collaboration can be classified into two modes - loosely and tightly, respectively related to two efficacy levels of the AGRS - fine-scale mapping in general and target investigating in special cases. The latter scenario can be illustrated by the tasks of fast-responses to the time-critical events, e.g., seeking the accessible roads into disaster areas. These all pose challenging issues. To ensure the premise for AGRS development, a field test was carried out in prior to examine the collaborative effect between its two RS-functional modules. Two typical topics were explored, i.e., self-indicated orthorectification of the UAV images and landcover classification based on information fusion. The final positive results have basically validated the feasibility of the development of the AGRS system.
Design and performance considerations for an on-chip jitter analysis system

In this paper we present an accurate jitter analysis method for use with built-in jitter measurement systems in serial high-speed communications. The method is based on the analysis of jitter distributions, and thus suffers from hardware design aspects, such as the amount of collected jitter samples or the timing resolution. Design equations and empirical relations are derived to characterize these key parameters, in order to provide an optimized system performance. This allows the method to be utilized on-chip for production testing or as a design for test structure.
Biofilm in endodontics: A review

Endodontic disease is a biofilm-mediated infection, and primary aim in the management of endodontic disease is the elimination of bacterial biofilm from the root canal system. The most common endodontic infection is caused by the surface-associated growth of microorganisms. It is important to apply the biofilm concept to endodontic microbiology to understand the pathogenic potential of the root canal microbiota as well as to form the basis for new approaches for disinfection. It is foremost to understand how the biofilm formed by root canal bacteria resists endodontic treatment measures. Bacterial etiology has been confirmed for common oral diseases such as caries and periodontal and endodontic infections. Bacteria causing these diseases are organized in biofilm structures, which are complex microbial communities composed of a great variety of bacteria with different ecological requirements and pathogenic potential. The biofilm community not only gives bacteria effective protection against the host′s defense system but also makes them more resistant to a variety of disinfecting agents used as oral hygiene products or in the treatment of infections. Successful treatment of these diseases depends on biofilm removal as well as effective killing of biofilm bacteria. So, the fundamental to maintain oral health and prevent dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis is to control the oral biofilms. From these aspects, the formation of biofilms carries particular clinical significance because not only host defense mechanisms but also therapeutic efforts including chemical and mechanical antimicrobial treatment measures have the most difficult task of dealing with organisms that are gathered in a biofilm. The aim of this article was to review the mechanisms of biofilms′ formation, their roles in pulpal and periapical pathosis, the different types of biofilms, the factors influencing biofilm formation, the mechanisms of their antimicrobial resistance, techniques to identify biofilms.
Selenium transport and bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems: a proposal for water quality criteria based on hydrological units.

Local water quality criteria for selenium should be based on an assessment of the degree of toxicological hazard to fish and wildlife, which is influenced by the spatial and temporal variation of the selenium cycle at the site under consideration. The physical area from which measurements are taken to evaluate selenium residues and biological effects, i.e., the database for setting site-specific criteria, must encompass more than an isolated segment of river, a tributary stream, etc. Because of hydrological connections between the various aquatic habitats that may be present in a watershed basin-wetlands, rivers, streams, and impoundments-the toxic threat from selenium contamination is also connected. For example, a criterion that is appropriate for a stream or river where low bioaccumulation occurs may result in seemingly harmless concentrations of selenium becoming a problem in downstream impoundments or in off-channel bays and wetlands where bioaccumulation is greater. The hydrologically connected parts of a basin downstream of a selenium discharge (natural or synthetic selenium source), extending to the point at which new sources of low-selenium water dominate the hydrology (e.g., confluence with larger tributary or river, spring or groundwater inflow), should be the area evaluated and given a specific criterion, not isolated components. Thus, a hydrological unit should be identified and used as the "site" for the purpose of setting criteria. Importantly, criteria derived in such a fashion will reflect the transport and bioaccumulation of selenium within the entire hydrological unit rather than simply focusing on a small, artificially designated segment of the system. Failure to use a hydrological unit approach can set the stage for significant biological and legal problems.
Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Black Tea Extract and Quercetin in Atherosclerotic Rats

Background: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with complex and multifactorial process including atherogenic lipoprotein, oxidized low density inflammation, thrombotic and fibrinolytic disorder, exercises and genetic factor Epidemiological studies have shown tea consumption inversely associated with the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The research objectives: to elucidate hypolipidemic, antioxidant effects, as well as ability to improve coronary artery's histopathology of black tea extract (BTE)and quercetin in atherosclerotic rats. Methods: the antioxidant activity was determined by using Superoxide Dismutase activity (SOD) of serum and lipid peroxidation product (Malondialydehyde) of plasma and lipid profile including cholesterol total, LDL, triglyceride (TG), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) of atherosclerotic rats. Inducing atherosclerotic, rats were given cholesterol and cholic acid in feed during ten weeks until rats were given cholesterol and cholic acid in feed during ten weeks until rats indicated atherosclerotic symptom with narrowed artery and foamy cells in the artery's wall. After rats suffered atherosclerotic, the high cholesterol feed and cholic acid were stopped and rats were given BTE 450; 300; 150 mg/kg body weight (BW) daily, quercetin 15; 10; 5 mg/kg BW daily, compared to rats were given vitamin E 60 mg/kg/BW; simvastatin 2,7 mg/kg BW, probucol 30 mg/kg BW daily for 21 days (first treatment) and 42 days (second treatment), negative control (normal feed), positive control (atherosclerotic rats). Results: BTE and quercetin could lower cholesterol total, triglyceride, LDL MDA and increase HDL, SOD were comparable with simvastatin, probucol both for 21 days and 42 days treatment, as well to improve coronary arteries histopathology. Conclusions: BTE andquercetin have hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, as well as improve coronary arteries histopathology in atherosclerotic rats.
Verteiltes Information-Retrieval für nicht-kooperative Suchserver im WWW

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Nature of Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

OBJECTIVE: We tested the specific hypothesis that the presentation of auditory processing disorder (APD) is related to a sensory processing deficit. METHODS: Randomly chosen, 6- to 11-year-old children with normal hearing (N = 1469) were tested in schools in 4 regional centers across the United Kingdom. Caregivers completed questionnaires regarding their participating children's listening and communication skills. Children completed a battery of audiometric, auditory processing (AP), speech-in-noise, cognitive (IQ, memory, language, and literacy), and attention (auditory and visual) tests. AP measures separated the sensory and nonsensory contributions to spectral and temporal perception. RESULTS: AP improved with age. Poor-for-age AP was significantly related to poor cognitive, communication, and speech-in-noise performance (P < .001). However, sensory elements of perception were only weakly related to those performance measures (r < 0.1), and correlations between auditory perception and cognitive scores were generally low (r = 0.1–0.3). Multivariate regression analysis showed that response variability in the AP tests, reflecting attention, and cognitive scores were the best predictors of listening, communication, and speech-in-noise skills. CONCLUSIONS: Presenting symptoms of APD were largely unrelated to auditory sensory processing. Response variability and cognitive performance were the best predictors of poor communication and listening. We suggest that APD is primarily an attention problem and that clinical diagnosis and management, as well as further research, should be based on that premise.
A Functional Switch in Tonic GABA Currents Alters the Output of Central Amygdala Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptor-1 Neurons Following Chronic Ethanol Exposure

The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system in the central amygdala (CeA) has been implicated in the effects of acute ethanol and the development of alcohol dependence. We previously demonstrated that CRF receptor 1 (CRF1) neurons comprise a specific component of the CeA microcircuitry that is selectively engaged by acute ethanol. To investigate the impact of chronic ethanol exposure on inhibitory signaling in CRF1+ CeA neurons, we used CRF1:GFP mice subjected to chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) inhalation and examined changes in local inhibitory control, the effects of acute ethanol, and the output of these neurons from the CeA. Following CIE, CRF1+ neurons displayed decreased phasic inhibition and a complete loss of tonic inhibition that persisted into withdrawal. CRF1− neurons showed a cell type-specific upregulation of both phasic and tonic signaling with CIE, the latter of which persists into withdrawal and is likely mediated by δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors. The loss of tonic inhibition with CIE was seen in CRF1+ and CRF1− neurons that project out of the CeA and into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. CRF1+ projection neurons displayed an increased baseline firing rate and loss of sensitivity to acute ethanol following CIE. These data demonstrate that chronic ethanol exposure produces profound and long-lasting changes in local inhibitory control of the CeA, resulting in an increase in the output of the CeA and the CRF1 receptor system, in particular. These cellular changes could underlie the behavioral manifestations of alcohol dependence and potentially contribute to the pathology of addiction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system in the central amygdala (CeA) has been implicated in the effects of acute and chronic ethanol. We showed previously that CRF receptor 1-expressing (CRF1+) neurons in the CeA are under tonic inhibitory control and are differentially regulated by acute ethanol (Herman et al., 2013). Here we show that the inhibitory control of CRF1+ CeA neurons is lost with chronic ethanol exposure, likely by a functional switch in local tonic signaling. The loss of tonic inhibition is seen in CRF1+ projection neurons, suggesting that a critical consequence of chronic ethanol exposure is an increase in the output of the CeA CRF1 system, a neuroadaptation that may contribute to the behavioral consequences of alcohol dependence.
Schneier on security

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Public services: deep cuts coming

• The December 2009 Pre-Budget Report pencilled in a real freeze in total public spending over the four years from 2011–12 to 2014–15. But spending on debt interest, social security and other ‘annually managed expenditure’ is likely to grow in real terms. Keeping to these overall spending plans would therefore require deep cuts in ‘departmental expenditure limits’ (DELs) – Whitehall spending on public services and administration (although the government could also cut welfare bills).
Radical Supply Chain Innovation - Developing a Generic and Actionable Framework

Background: The topics of supply chain management and innovation have, disjointedly, been in the spotlight for some time. However, the combined topic, supply chain innovation, have only recently begun to attract academic interest, and there is a vast gap between literature and industry demand. Most of the existing research on supply chain innovation concerns incremental innovation; little research exists on radical innovations in supply chains and how to work with it. The authors aim to fill this gap, thus the focus of this study is radical supply chain innovation. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to generate a generic and actionable model of how to achieve radical supply chain innovation. Methodology: To fulfil the purpose, a constructive approach with an embedded multiple case study was used. Conslusions: A generic and actionable model for radical supply chain innovation was created. Five types of radical supply chain innovation were identified, with consecutive outputs. The outputs were found to be competitive advantage of two kinds: added value and cost benefits. In order to achieve radical supply chain innovation, a mix of targeted innovation tools, antecedents to radical supply chain innovation, and generic innovation tools are recommended.
Near-Infrared Photometric Variability of Stars toward the Chamaeleon I Molecular Cloud

We present the results of a J, H, and Ks photometric monitoring campaign of a 0. °72 × 6° area centered on the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. Data were obtained on 15 separate nights over a 4 month time interval using the Two Micron All Sky Survey south telescope. Out of a total of 34,539 sources brighter than the photometric completeness limits (J = 16.0, H = 15.2, and Ks = 14.8), 95 exhibit near-infrared variability in one or more bands. The variables can be grouped into a population of bright, red objects that are associated with the Chamaeleon I association and a population of faint, blue variables that are dispersed over the full 6° of the survey and are likely field stars or older pre–main-sequence stars unrelated to the present-day Chamaeleon I molecular cloud. Ten new candidate members of Chamaeleon I, including eight brown dwarf candidates, have been identified based on variability and/or near-infrared–excess emission in the J-H versus H-Ks color-color diagram. We also provide a compendium of astrometry and J, H, and Ks photometry for previously identified members and candidate members of Chamaeleon I.
Soluble MICA in malignant diseases

The immunoreceptor NKG2D activates natural killer cells and costimulates CD8 T cells. The MHC class I–related MICA molecules are ligands of NKG2D and are expressed on malignant, but not on normal, cells. As NKG2D plays an important role in the immunosurveillance of tumors, studies suggest that release of MICA from cancer cells constitutes an immune escape mechanism that systemically impairs antitumor immunity. Here, we investigated the potential of soluble MICA (sMICA) as a marker in cancer. Analysis of sMICA in sera of 512 individuals revealed significantly (p < 0.0001) higher levels in patients with various malignancies (n = 296, median 161 pg/ml) than in healthy individuals (n = 62, median <30 pg/ml). Patients with benign diseases (n = 154, median 84 pg/ml) exhibited intermediate sMICA levels. In cancer patients, elevated sMICA levels correlated significantly with cancer stage and metastasis (p = 0.015 and p = 0.007, respectively). While release of MICA is thought to impair tumor immunity, determination of sMICA levels may provide useful additional information in the diagnosis and staging of cancer. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.