Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid method for hand gesture recognition based on combination of Haar-like and HOG features

In this paper a new method is proposed for hand gesture recognition. The proposed method increases hand gesture recognition rate and decreases false positive error rate by using combination of Haar-like and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features. Also some new Haar-like features are proposed proportional to hand posture to solve major Haar-like problem that is high false positive error rate in hand posture recognition. These features improve recognition rate to 83%. The experiments showed that hybrid method can recognize hand gesture by 93.5% accuracy which is 25% higher than previous method, and decrease the false positive error from 92% to 8%.
The effects of propofol or halothane on free radical production after tourniquet induced ischaemia‐reperfusion injury during knee arthroplasty

Background: Ischaemia‐reperfusion injury following tourniquet release is a good in vivo model for evaluating acute conditions. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of propofol or halothane anaesthesia on oxidative stress by determining malondialdehyde (MDA) levels during knee arthroplasty.
Development of a coordinated allo T cell and auto B cell response against autosomal PTK2B after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

It is well known that allo-reactive T cells play a crucial role in graft-versus-leukemia and graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Allo-reactive CD4+ T cells can mediate direct cytolysis, but may also stimulate production of IgG antibodies as helper cells. Immune complexes may subsequently be processed and presented by professional antigen presenting cells and stimulate induction of specific CD8+ T cells. As such, proteins targeted in coordinated T- and B-cell responses may represent a class of immunodominant antigens in clinical responses after alloSCT. We previously identified LB-PTK2B-1T as HLA class II restricted polymorphic antigen in a patient treated with donor lymphocyte infusion for relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia after HLA-matched alloSCT. Since PTK2B has also been described as antibody target, we here investigated whether a coordinated T- and B-cell response against PTK2B was induced. Patient serum before and after alloSCT and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) was screened for antibodies, and we indeed observed development of a humoral immune response against PTK2B. Antibodies against PTK2B were only found after DLI and, in contrast to the CD4+ T cells, recognized a monomorphic region of the protein. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a coordinated allo-reactive CD4+ T-cell and auto-reactive antibody response against an autosomal antigen.
A contextual change detection method for high-resolution optical images of urban areas

Several Earth observation satellites acquire images with different spatial resolutions, e.g., a panchromatic band with high resolution, and spectral bands with lower resolution. Likewise, we often face the problem of the presence of different resolutions when performing joint analyses of images acquired by different satellites. This paper presents a methods for unsupervised change detection of multiresolution images. The approach is based on the concept of a reference resolution, corresponding to the highest resolution in the dataset. The spatial relationships between the class labels are specified through a Markov random field model defined at the reference resolution. Data at coarser scales are modelled as mixed pixels by relating the observations to the classes at the reference resolution. A Bayesian framework for classification based on this multiscale model is adopted. The classification is performed by an "iterative conditional modes" (ICM) algorithm. A computationally efficient scheme for parameter estimation based on a combination of the ICM and of the expectation-maximization algorithm is used. Results obtained on real satellite images are presented.
The detection of elevated plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with suspected or established medullary thyroid carcinoma

Plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and calcitonin (CT) were measured in 35 normal control subjects and in 37 patients with suspected or established medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). None of the normal control subjects had elevated basal plasma levels of either CEA (>5 ng/ml) or CT (>0.25 ng/ml). However, of the 37 patients with suspected or established MTC, 23 (62%) had elevated basal plasma levels of CEA (range 9.8–7,000 ng/ml) and 27 (73%) had elevated basal plasma CT values (range 0.30–500 ng/ml). Generally, patients with clinically apparent MTC, either primary or metastatic, had higher plasma CEA and CT levels than those with occult disease. A positive correlation was found (r = 0.785, p < 0.01) when comparing basal plasma CEA and stimulated plasma CT levels in 20 patients. A marked increase above the basal plasma level of CT but not CEA was detected in each of six MTC patients following intravenous calcium or pentagastrin. These data demonstrate that basal plasma levels of CEA and CT were increased in a large percentage of patients with MTC. Plasma calcitonin levels unlike plasma CEA levels were more often elevated in patients with occult disease and were increased above basal following the intravenous administration of either calcium gluconate or pentagastrin.
Effectiveness of a home program of ischemic pressure followed by sustained stretch for treatment of myofascial trigger points.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Myofascial trigger points (TPs) are found among patients who have neck and upper back pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a home program of ischemic pressure followed by sustained stretching for the treatment of myofascial TPs. SUBJECTS Forty adults (17 male, 23 female), aged 23 to 58 years (mean=30.6, SD=9.3), with one or more TPs in the neck or upper back participated in this study. METHODS Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups receiving a 5-day home program of either ischemic pressure followed by general sustained stretching of the neck and upper back musculature or a control treatment of active range of motion. Measurements were obtained before the subjects received the home program instruction and on the third day after they discontinued treatment. Trigger point sensitivity was measured with a pressure algometer as pressure pain threshold (PPT). Average pain intensity for a 24-hour period was scored on a visual analog scale (VAS). Subjects also reported the percentage of time in pain over a 24-hour period. A multivariate analysis of covariance, with the pretests as the covariates, was performed and followed by 3 analyses of covariance, 1 for each variable. RESULTS Differences were found between the treatment and control groups for VAS scores and PPT. No difference was found between the groups for percentage of time in pain. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION A home program, consisting of ischemic pressure and sustained stretching, was shown to be effective in reducing TP sensitivity and pain intensity in individuals with neck and upper back pain. The results of this study indicate that clinicians can treat myofascial TPs through monitoring of a home program of ischemic pressure and stretching.
The patient with symptomatic chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency

Forty-nine patients with 51 chronic symptomatic ante rior cruciate deficient knees were studied retrospec tively by chart review and follow-up examination an average of 5.8 years postinjury and 1.5 years from arthroscopic evaluation, with or without arthroscopic surgery, and the institution of a conservative rehabili tation program. Subjective evaluation of function was obtained by questionnaire. At arthroscopy, meniscal lesions were seen in 37 of 51 knees, and degenerative changes were noted in 24 knees. The ACL was absent in 43 knees. Partial men iscectomy or suturing was performed on 20 patients. All patients had an average of 3 weeks of supervised physical therapy stressing hamstring strengthening. At followup, thigh girth measurements of injured and normal legs found thigh wasting in 40 patients. Seven of 33 patients radiographed showed evidence of de generative changes. About two-thirds of the patients returned to some level of athletics and had no problems with activities of daily living. Twenty were able to return to pivoting sports, but only five could return to their preinjury levels of competition. Of the 18 patients who did not return to athletics, only 8 were considering or had had a ligament reconstruction. Those patients who chose to continue rehabilitation beyond the prescribed period and who modified their activities had a better functional outcome.
Introducing a Micro-wireless Architecture for Business Activity Sensing

RFID performance deficiencies discovered in recent high profile applications have highlighted the danger of selecting only passive tags for an application because of their lowest cost relative to other types of RFID tags. Consequentially, battery-based RFID technologies are being considered to fill those performance gaps. A mix of both passive and battery-based RFID technologies can provide a more cost effective and robust solution than a homogeneous RFID deployment. However, it is easy to choose the wrong battery-based RFID technology given the confusing array of choices currently available. This paper explores the performance deficiencies of both passive and battery-based RFID technologies. A new micro-wireless technology that resolves these performance deficiencies is then introduced. Finally an application example is presented that demonstrates how the new technology can also seamlessly roam between passive and battery-based RFID infrastructures at the lowest possible cost to bridge their respective performance gaps.
Ambient noise and the design of begging signals

The apparent extravagance of begging displays is usually attributed to selection for features, such as loud calls, that make the signal costly and hence reliable. An alternative explanation, however, is that these design features are needed for effective signal transmission and reception. Here, we test the latter hypothesis by examining how the begging calls of tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings and the response to these calls by parents are affected by ambient noise. In a field study, we found that call length, amplitude and frequency range all increased with increasing noise levels at nests. In the laboratory, however, only call amplitude increased in response to the playback of noise to nestlings. In field playbacks to parents, similar levels of noise abolished parental preferences for higher call rates, but the preference was restored when call amplitude was increased to the level that nestlings had used in the laboratory study. Our results show that nestling birds, like other acoustic signallers, consistently increase call amplitude in response to ambient noise and this response appears to enhance discrimination by receivers. Thus, selection for signal efficacy may explain some of the seemingly extravagant features of begging displays.
Uso de información contextual en la interfaz de entrada de un sistema de diálogo

This paper proposes a new technique that aims to enhance the performance of the input interface of spoken dialogue systems by means of combining the advantages of the prompt-dependent and prompt-independent grammars used by these systems. The technique proposes creating a two-level speech recogniser since it contains two modules. The first one is a continuous-speech standard recogniser that receives the user voice and produces as output a graph of words. The second one is a word-graph analyser that processes the output of the first module considering the prompt generated by the dialogue system. The input interface of a spoken dialogue system has been evaluated using the technique. The experimental results show that when the in-context utterances are analysed, the speech recognition and understanding rates increase in 4.09% and 4.01% respectively. They also show that when the out-of-context utterances are analysed, the speech recognition and understanding rates increase in 87.74% and 82.04%, respectively
Adaptive Emergency Transmission Rates in Power System and Market Operation

A novel concept of the adaptive emergency transmission rates (ATR) is presented. Traditionally used discrete emergency rates developed for a fixed period of time are replaced by a continuous adaptive rate applicable for any interval of time after contingency. ATR permits increasing power transfer in normal states without degradation of system reliability by allowing the maximal safe loading of electrical facility post-contingency corresponding to the transmission loading relief available via real-time dispatch. The approach is applicable mainly to real-time operations and short term planning and allows to not only lowering the cost of the operation, but also increasing the consistency of the economic dispatch in terms of the operator's discretion.
Processing of Chinese haracters and figures in literate and illiterate subjects: A visual fMRI study

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), much knowledge has been gained in understanding how the brain is activated during controlled experiments of language tasks in educated healthy subjects and in uneducated healthy subjects. While previous studies have compared performance between alphabetic subjects, few data were about Chinese-speaking individuals. In this study, we used fMRI to investigate brain activations in processing characters and figures by visual tasks in 26 Chinese subjects (13 illiterates and 13 literates). Different activation patterns were observed in not only Chinese character judgment task, but also simple figure judgment task between literates and illiterates. We conclude that constellation of neural substrates was different for literates and illiterates and education may enhance this brain plasticity.
[Study of effectiveness of craving control with topiramate in patients with substance dependence disorders].

INTRODUCTION Effectiveness and tolerability of topiramate at 3 and 6 months was assessed in patients requesting dehabituation programs. METHODS Observational, prospective, national and multicenter study of 6 months, in patients on treatment with topiramate, who fulfilled criteria for dependence of opiates according to ICD-10 participating in therapeutic programs of dehabituation, without concomitant psychiatric illnesses and any responsible relative. Main measures of effectiveness were retention rates, alcohol consumption and other illicit drugs by urine tests (opiates, cannabis, cocaine) and treatment needs by EuropASI scale. Other parameters were HAM-D, DAS-SV and SF-36. RESULTS Patients with consumption by urine tests decreased from 94.1 % (n = 64) at baseline to 39.6 % (n = 19) after 6 months of treatment, as was seen by means of the mean score in EuropASI scale, for all substances except methadone. No consumption was accompanied by a low rate of relapse of 33.3 % at 6 months. Twenty one patients had adverse reactions (28 %). The most frequent adverse reactions were somnolence (n = 9; 12 %), paraesthesia (n = 5; 6.7 %) and depression (n = 4; 5.3 %). CONCLUSIONS In real clinical practice, topiramate showed a good response with a relevant decrease of percent of patients with abuse or consumption, and a satisfactory tolerability profile for the treatment of patients with dependence on heroine, cocaine, and other opiates, showing better outcomes than those obtained in previous trials.
A study of the menstrual cycle in Macaca irus with special reference to the detection of ovulation.

Summary. Three methods were used for the detection of ovulation in twenty-five cycles of sixteen monkeys of the species Macaca irus: (1) rectal palpation of the urogenital tract, (2) the karyopycnotic index (KPI) of the vaginal smear cytology, and (3) a simple chemical test for the ap¬ parent changes in the chloride content of the vaginal mucus. Daily vaginal smears were necessary to indicate the first day of the menstrual cycle as, in some animals, menstruation began as an occult flow lasting 1 to 3 days. Rectal palpation of the uterus and ovaries gave the precise time of ovulation and was the only method which would differentiate, with certainty, between ovulation and anovulation. Both KPI and the vaginal mucus chloride test failed to indicate accur¬ ately the time of ovulation, and in some cases gave a false indication of ovulation, but the chloride test did give several days' warning that ovula¬ tion was imminent.
Web Content Classification based on Topic and Sentiment Analysis of Text

Automatic classification of web content has been studied extensively, using different learning methods and tools, investigating different datasets to serve different purposes. Most of the studies have made use of the content and structural features of web pages. However, previous experience has shown that certain groups of web pages, such as those that contain hatred and violence, are much harder to classify with good accuracy when both content and structural features are already taken into consideration. In this study we present a new approach for automatically classifying web pages into pre-defined topic categories. We apply text summarization and sentiment analysis techniques to extract topic and sentiment indicators of web pages. We then build classifiers based on combined topic and sentiment features. A large amount of experiments were carried out. Our results suggest that incorporating the sentiment dimension can indeed bring much added value to web content classification. Topic similarity based classifiers solely did not perform well, but when topic similarity and sentiment features are combined, the classification model performance is significantly improved for many web categories. Our study offers valuable insights and inputs to the development of web detection systems and Internet safety solutions.
Numerical Solution of a Boussinesq Type Equation Using Fourier Spectral Methods

Efficient numerical methods for solving nonlinear wave equations and studying the propagation and stability properties of their solitary waves (solitons) are applied to a Boussinesq type equation in one space dimension. These methods use a pseudospectral (Fourier transform) treatment of the space dependence, together with (a) finite differences, or (b) a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme (RK4), for the time evolution. Our schemes follow very accurately single solitons, which are given by simple closed formulas and are known to be stable for all allowed velocities. However, as a parameter of the problem tends to the critical value b = 0.5, where the velocity of the exact soliton vanishes, our solutions destabilize due to numerical errors, producing two small solitons in the place of the exact one. On the other hand, when we study the interaction of two such solitons, starting far apart from each other, we find in the b1, b2 parameter plane a curve beyond which the solution becomes unstable by exponential blow-up of the amplitudes, independently of our space and time discretization. We claim that this is due to a dynamical resonance rather than the accumulation of numerical errors, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Our implementation relies on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm and no major differences are observed, when either scheme (a) or (b) is used for the evolution of time.
The ‘AIDS and MDGs’ Approach: what is it, why does it matter, and how do we take it forward?

Abstract Progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been mixed, and many observers have noted the tendency for development actors to address individual MDGs largely in isolation from one another. This in turn has resulted in missed opportunities to catalyse greater interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation towards MDG achievement. The term ‘AIDS and MDGs’ is gaining currency as an approach that aims to explore, strengthen and leverage the links between AIDS and other health and development issues. Drawing from academic literature and from MDG country reports, this article sets out three important pillars to an AIDS and MDGs approach: 1) understanding how AIDS and the other MDGs affect one another; 2) documenting and exchanging lessons learned across MDGs; and 3) creating cross- MDG synergy. We propose broader policy level implications for this approach and how UNDP and other partners can take this agenda forward. Because the MDGs explicitly locate HIV within a broader international commitment to human development targets, they provide a critical platform for development partners to galvanise resources, political will and momentum behind a broader, systematic and structural approach to HIV, health and development.
High-Quality varactors and Schottky-Diodes in SiGe:C Technology for mm-Wave and THz applications

This paper presents the design and experimental characterization of High-Quality varactors and Schottky Diodes in SiGe:C Technology. A new layout topology for differential varactor is proposed to significantly improve its quality factor up to the Ka band. This new layout topology addresses the typical trade-off that designers often face between the quality factor and the tuning range. 2x improvement of the quality factor up to 30 GHz over conventional layout topology made of multi fingers is demonstrated. On the other side, special care has been taken to minimize parasitic capacitance between anodes to keep the tuning range stable. Measured VCO with this new type of varactor shows a reduction of 2 dB in the Phase Noise at 1 MHz from the carrier. Silicon-based Schottky Diodes arrays with Cut-Off frequencies in the THz domain are designed and fabricated. Concurrent optimization of Schottky Diode arrays geometry and electrical performances (Cutoff frequency, parasitic, Quality-factor, Sensitivity, Responsiveness, etc.) is carried out based on careful modeling and experimental characterizations. Analysis of the Schottky Diode arrays including sweep in DC-biasing conditions to control non-linearities is studied. Detection mechanisms related to the non-linear behavior are studied and figures of merit are introduced for their analysis.
Phase III randomized trial comparing the efficacy of cediranib as monotherapy, and in combination with lomustine, versus lomustine alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

PURPOSE A randomized, phase III, placebo-controlled, partially blinded clinical trial (REGAL [Recent in in Glioblastoma Alone and With Lomustine]) was conducted to determine the efficacy of cediranib, an oral pan-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, either as monotherapy or in combination with lomustine versus lomustine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients (N = 325) with recurrent glioblastoma who previously received radiation and temozolomide were randomly assigned 2:2:1 to receive (1) cediranib (30 mg) monotherapy; (2) cediranib (20 mg) plus lomustine (110 mg/m(2)); (3) lomustine (110 mg/m(2)) plus a placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival based on blinded, independent radiographic assessment of postcontrast T1-weighted and noncontrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. RESULTS The primary end point of progression-free survival (PFS) was not significantly different for either cediranib alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.50; two-sided P = .90) or cediranib in combination with lomustine (HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.53 to 1.08; two-sided P = .16) versus lomustine based on independent or local review of postcontrast T1-weighted MRI. CONCLUSION This study did not meet its primary end point of PFS prolongation with cediranib either as monotherapy or in combination with lomustine versus lomustine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, although cediranib showed evidence of clinical activity on some secondary end points including time to deterioration in neurologic status and corticosteroid-sparing effects.