Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D mobile localization based on data fitting with multidimensional scaling

This paper is concerned with positioning and tracking of moving targets in 3D space. In our work, a polynomial data fitting based multidimensional scaling (DF-MDS(P)) algorithm is proposed to perform more robust, accurate and adaptive 3D localization. Within each sampling period, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based multidimensional scaling (MDS(P)) localization algorithm is adopted to make a preliminary estimation of the target's position, according to available distance measurements. Then, a polynomial data fitting method is employed to fit the result of the target's position estimation within a spell of time. The polynomial resulted from fitting is utilized to rectify the estimated result of the current position. The experimental result evinces that the algorithm proposed in this paper can achieve good performance in terms of high stability and localization accuracy.
Comparison of text-independent speaker recognition methods using VQ-distortion and discrete/continuous HMMs

A VQ (vector quantization)-distortion-based speaker recognition method and discrete/continuous ergodic HMM (hidden Markov model)-based ones are compared, especially from the viewpoint of robustness against utterance variations. It is shown that a continuous ergodic HMM is far superior to a discrete ergodic HMM. It is also shown that the information on transitions between different states is ineffective for text-independent speaker recognition. Therefore, the speaker identification rates using a continuous ergodic HMM are strongly correlated with the total number of mixtures irrespective of the number of states. It is also found that, for continuous ergodic HMM-based speaker recognition, the distortion-intersection measure (DIM), which was introduced as a VQ-distortion measure to increase the robustness against utterance variations, is effective. <<ETX>>
Celebrating the golden anniversary of anterior skull base surgery: Reflections on the Past 50 Years and Its Historical Evolution

With its inception nearly half a century ago through the pioneering work of Dandy, McLean, and Smith, anterior skull base (ASB) surgery is a relatively young discipline. It became a distinct entity in 1963 when Ketcham popularized the combined transcranial transfacial approach for en bloc resection of tumors of the paranasal sinuses extending into the anterior cranial fossa. However, because these procedures resulted in major morbidities and mortalities, alternative modes of treatment were sought. Since the 1970s, the introduction and promotion of the surgical endoscope by Messerklinger, Stammberger, and Kennedy, commenced the era of endoscopic sinus surgery. Thaler and colleagues described the utility of the endoscope for ASB surgery at the turn of the century. This allowed direct visualization and safer, more accurate removal of tumors. In 2001, Casiano reported the first purely endoscopic endonasal ASB resection, a novel technique that has been adopted by major skull base centers. The success of ASB surgery can be attributed to both the development of the skull base team as well as improvements in surgical techniques, instrumentation, and visualization technology. In this article, we review the historical evolution of ASB surgery as we approach the 50th anniversary since its recognition as a distinct entity. Laryngoscope, 2013
Mitochondria Retrograde Signaling and the UPRmt: Where Are We in Mammals?

Mitochondrial unfolded protein response is a form of retrograde signaling that contributes to ensuring the maintenance of quality control of mitochondria, allowing functional integrity of the mitochondrial proteome. When misfolded proteins or unassembled complexes accumulate beyond the folding capacity, it leads to alteration of proteostasis, damages, and organelle/cell dysfunction. Extensively studied for the ER, it was recently reported that this kind of signaling for mitochondrion would also be able to communicate with the nucleus in response to impaired proteostasis. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is activated in response to different types and levels of stress, especially in conditions where unfolded or misfolded mitochondrial proteins accumulate and aggregate. A specific UPRmt could thus be initiated to boost folding and degradation capacity in response to unfolded and aggregated protein accumulation. Although first described in mammals, the UPRmt was mainly studied in Caenorhabditis elegans, and accumulating evidence suggests that mechanisms triggered in response to a UPRmt might be different in C. elegans and mammals. In this review, we discuss and integrate recent data from the literature to address whether the UPRmt is relevant to mitochondrial homeostasis in mammals and to analyze the putative role of integrated stress response (ISR) activation in response to the inhibition of mtDNA expression and/or accumulation of mitochondrial mis/unfolded proteins.
Effect of Ge Surface Nitridation on the$hboxGe/HfO_2/hboxAl$MOS Devices

In this paper, the effect of Ge surface nitridation on Ge/HfO2/Al MOS capacitors has been studied. Low-frequency measurements indicated the presence of significant interface states in surface nitrided devices. As temperature decreased from 300 to 140 K, electron trapping increased monotonically in both nitrided and nonnitrided devices, but the interface state density didn't show a major fluctuation in nitrided devices as compared to nonnitrided devices. A constant voltage stress was applied on both samples to test their behavior under stress. Electron trapping was dominant in nonnitrided devices at lower stress voltages. After relaxation, detrapping was observed as devices recovered to their original state. Nitrided devices showed hole trapping after stress, but further device deterioration was observed after relaxation
PEEC-Based Simulations Using Iterative Method and Regularization Technique for Power Electronic Applications

The partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) method has been widely used in different industrial and scientific fields for electromagnetic analysis. PEEC-based solvers have been optimized and accelerated in order to be able to solve larger and more complex problems that arise in industry. In power electronic system simulations, PEEC models are often simplified by neglecting electric field couplings and using quasi-static model. The simplified system can be further accelerated using reluctance technique and then sparsified up to high levels without degrading the accuracy of the solution. In previous work, the sparse system was solved using sparse direct solution, while in this study, an iterative approach is employed which resulted in lower time complexity of the solution. However, since matrices achieved from PEEC equations are severely ill-conditioned, regularization techniques need to be applied to avoid numerical instabilities. The regularization is done mathematically and can be interpreted as adding a frequency-dependent pseudocapacitor to each node in the PEEC model. Because the pseudocapacitors are frequency dependent, hence frequencies close to dc are not covered in this study and have left as future work. The new sparse and regularized system can then be solved using a Schur complement technique together with iterative solvers with a novel preconditioning approach.
Association of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG expression with oral squamous cell carcinoma progression.

BACKGROUND OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG are major transcription factors related to stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. The aim of this study was to examine the association of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG expression levels with the development and prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression levels of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG were evaluated by immunohistochemistry with tissue microarray slides of 436 OSCC, 362 corresponding tumor-adjacent normal (CTAN) tissues, and 71 normal uvula epithelium tissues. The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of the OSCC patients were recorded. RESULTS OCT4 expression was significantly higher in normal and CTAN tissues than in tumor tissue (both P < 0.001). SOX2 expression in CTAN tissue was significantly higher than that in normal (P = 0.021) and tumor tissues (P < 0.001). However, NANOG expression was significantly higher in CTAN (P = 0.014) and tumor tissues (P = 0.009) than in normal tissue. Higher OCT4 and SOX2 expressions were associated with earlier AJCC stage (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001), small tumor size (P = 0.017 and P = 0.001), and the absence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.015 and P = 0.025). Higher levels of SOX2 expression were associated with better disease-specific survival (P = 0.002) even after adjustment for clinicopathologic factors. DISCUSSION OCT4 and SOX2 are biomarkers of tumorigenesis and early stage OSCC. SOX2 is an independent prognostic factor for OSCC.
Design of high gain CMOS LNA with improved linearity using modified derivative superposition

This paper presents a highly-linear high-gain low noise amplifier (LNA) based on the inter stage technique. The linearized LNA is achieved by using the linear cascode amplifier as output stage utilizing a modified derivative superposition method and functionality is analyzed using Volterra series. Using simulations in 0. 18μm CMOS technology, the IIP3 is improved by more than 37dBm reaching to +3dBm, with the cost of decrease 10dB gain at 5.7GHz frequency band. The LNA consumes 18.7mW power under 1.8V supply voltage. Compared to previously published LNA designs, the proposed LNA has the smallest noise figure of 2.1 dB, highest gain 21.5 dB, and the highest Figure of Merit of 3.15.
Pars pro toto - Das Toyota-Produktionssystem als Teil eines ganzheitlichen Modells der Unternehmensführung

Im Zuge eines weltweiten Booms hat das Toyota-Produktionssystem TPS als Vorbild fur die Organisation von Wertschopfungsprozessen die Grenzen der Automobilindustrie langst uberschritten. Das TPS ist dabei lange Zeit nur als Konzept und Instrumentarium zur Gestaltung und Verbesserung von Produktionsablaufen verstanden worden. Der Fokus auf die Produktion reicht jedoch nicht aus, um den Erfolg Toyotas hinsichtlich Fertigungsexzellenz und kontinuierlicher Verbesserung zu erklaren. Vielmehr besteht ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen Produktionskonzept und einer Vielzahl von unterschiedlichen Faktoren und Praktiken. Diese sprengen die Grenzen des Begriffs Produktionssystem. In dem Beitrag wird das TPS in ein produktionsubergreifendes System der Unternehmensfuhrung eingeordnet. Dieses ‚Toyota-Unternehmenssystem‘ besteht neben dem Produktionssystem aus drei weiteren Elementen, dem ‚Management des Wandels‘, der ‚Anspornenden Fuhrung‘ und der ‚Unternehmenskultur der Verbesserung‘.
A novel adaptive learning path method

Finding an appropriate learning path and content is an important issue to achieve learning goal especially in e-learning systems. The main challenge of these systems is providing courses suitable to different learners with different knowledge background. Such systems should be efficient and adaptive. Furthermore, an optimal adaptive learning path can help the learners in reducing the cognitive overload and disorientation. In this paper, a novel two stages adaptive learning path algorithm, which is called ACO-Map is proposed. Discovering groups of learners according to their knowledge patterns is performed in first stage. Then in second stage ant colony optimization as a metaheuristic method is applied to find learning path based on Ausubel Meaningful Learning Theory. The output of this algorithm is a concept map for each group of learners according to their needs.
How Sensor, Signal, and Imaging Informatics May Impact Patient Centered Care and Care Coordination

Summary Objective: This synopsis presents a selection for the IMIA (International Medical Informatics Association) Yearbook 2015 of excellent research in the broad field of Sensor, Signal, and Imaging Informatics published in the year 2014, with a focus on patient centered care coordination. Methods: The two section editors performed a systematic initial selection and a double blind peer review process to select a list of candidate best papers in the domain published in 2014, from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. A set of MeSH keywords provided by experts was used. This selection was peer-reviewed by external reviewers. Results: The review process highlighted articles illustrating two current trends related to care coordination and patient centered care: the enhanced capacity to predict the evolution of a disease based on patient-specific information can impact care coordination; similarly, better perception of the patient and his treatment could lead to enhanced personalized care with a potential impact on care coordination. Conclusions: This review shows the multiplicity of angles from which the question of patient-centered care can be addressed, with consequences on care coordination that will need to be confirmed and demonstrated in the future.
Visualization of Constraint Handling Rules: Semantics and Applications

The work in the paper presents an animation extension ($CHR^{vis}$) to Constraint Handling Rules (CHR). Visualizations have always helped programmers understand data and debug programs. A picture is worth a thousand words. It can help identify where a problem is or show how something works. It can even illustrate a relation that was not clear otherwise. $CHR^{vis}$ aims at embedding animation and visualization features into CHR programs. It thus enables users, while executing programs, to have such executions animated. The paper aims at providing the operational semantics for $CHR^{vis}$. The correctness of $CHR^{vis}$ programs is also discussed. Some applications of the new extension are also introduced.
Antimicrobial and mechanical properties of acrylic resins with incorporated silver-zinc zeolite - part I.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of acrylic resins containing different percentages of silver and zinc zeolite, and to assess whether the addition of zeolite alters the flexural and impact strength of the resins. BACKGROUND The characteristics of acrylic resins support microorganism development that can threaten the health of the dentures user. MATERIAL AND METHODS A microwave-polymerised (Onda-Cryl) and two heat-polymerised (QC20 and Lucitone 550) acrylic resins were used. The materials were handled according to the manufacturers' instructions. Fifty rectangular-shaped specimens (8 x 10 x 4mm) were fabricated from each resin and assigned to 5 groups (n = 10) according to their percentage of Irgaguard B5000 silver-zinc zeolite (0%- control, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10%). Flexural strength and Izod impact strength were evaluated. The antimicrobial activity against two strains of Candida albicans and two strains of Streptococcus mutans was assessed by agar diffusion method. Data were analysed statistically by one-way anova and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. RESULTS The addition of 2.5% of Irgaguard B5000 to the materials resulted in antimicrobial activity against all strains. Flexural strength decreased significantly with the addition of 2.5% (QC20 and Lucitone 550) and 5.0% (Onda-Cryl) of Irgaguard B5000. The impact strength decreased significantly with the addition of 2.5% (Lucitone 550) and 5.0% (QC20 and Onda-Cryl) of zeolite. CONCLUSION The addition of silver-zinc zeolite to acrylic resins yields antimicrobial activity, but may affect negatively the mechanical properties, depending on the percentage of zeolite.
Demographic and health surveys: a profile.

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) are comparable nationally representative household surveys that have been conducted in more than 85 countries worldwide since 1984. The DHS were initially designed to expand on demographic, fertility and family planning data collected in the World Fertility Surveys and Contraceptive Prevalence Surveys, and continue to provide an important resource for the monitoring of vital statistics and population health indicators in low- and middle-income countries. The DHS collect a wide range of objective and self-reported data with a strong focus on indicators of fertility, reproductive health, maternal and child health, mortality, nutrition and self-reported health behaviours among adults. Key advantages of the DHS include high response rates, national coverage, high quality interviewer training, standardized data collection procedures across countries and consistent content over time, allowing comparability across populations cross-sectionally and over time. Data from DHS facilitate epidemiological research focused on monitoring of prevalence, trends and inequalities. A variety of robust observational data analysis methods have been used, including cross-sectional designs, repeated cross-sectional designs, spatial and multilevel analyses, intra-household designs and cross-comparative analyses. In this profile, we present an overview of the DHS along with an introduction to the potential scope for these data in contributing to the field of micro- and macro-epidemiology. DHS datasets are available for researchers through MEASURE DHS at www.measuredhs. com.
Multiple specificities of autoantibodies against hnRNP A/B proteins in systemic rheumatic diseases and hnRNP L as an associated novel autoantigen

Spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U-snRNPs) are frequent and specific targets of autoantibodies in systemic rheumatic diseases. The abundant, functionally related heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes (hnRNPs) have later defined as a new target of autoantibodies, of which their immunochemical/immunogenic and pathogenic properties are still under investigation. Among hnRNP proteins, those belonging to the A/B type are considered as the major autoantigens targeted by antibodies in sera of patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). By performing an extensive screening using rat liver 40S hnRNP antigenic material, we document here the existence of multiple specificities of anti-hnRNP A/B autoantibodies in sera of Greek patients suffering with a spectrum of systemic rheumatic diseases. This included patients with SLE, Sjogren's syndrome (SS), Scleroderma (SSc) and a specific group of patients mostly with undifferentiated disease (UD patients). In total, four distinct types of anti-hnRNP A/B autoantibodies have been recognized. The first two referred to the known anti-hnRNPA2(RA33) and anti-hnRNP A1; the latter appearing very rarely. The third was of the new type selectively reacting with hnRNP B2 and an hnRNP A3 variant, while the fourth was a rare case of anti-hnRNP B2 alone. In addition, a novel specificity of autoantibodies against hnRNP L protein was identified in association with anti-hnRNP A/B antibodies. The co-existence within a serum of autoantibodies having variable specificity for hnRNP A/B and L autoantigens was shown. Specific immunochemical features of the identified autoantibodies are presented and a possible mechanism of autoepitope spreading within protein components of hnRNP complexes is discussed.
Differences in frequency of cleft lip among the A strains of mice.

The frequency of spontaneous cleft lip on Day 14 of gestation was examined in the A/J, A/HeJ, A/WySn, A.BY/Sn, A.SW/Sn, B10.A/SgSn, and B10.A(2R)/SgSn inbred strains of mice. A/WySn was found to have a higher frequency of cleft lip (20-30%) than A/J or A/HeJ (10%). Differences among strains in laterality of clefting and in rates of differential mortality of affected embryos were also found. Results of crosses between A/WySn and A/HeJ suggested that the difference in rate of clefting may be due to a genetic maternal effect. The results for A.BY/Sn, A.SW/Sn, B10.A/SgSn and B10.A(2R)/SgSn indicated that no association of cleft lip liability and the H-2 complex was detectable.
Politeness in Pronouns

Abstract In many languages, a person can be addressed either in the second person singular or the second person plural: the former indicates familiarity and/or lack of respect, while the latter suggests distance and/or respect towards the addressee. While in Ancient Greek pronominal reference initially was not used as a ‘politeness strategy’, in the Post-classical period a T–V distinction did develop. In the Early Byzantine period, I argue, yet another pronominal usage developed: a person could also be addressed in the third person singular. This should be connected to the rise of abstract nominal forms of address, a process which can be dated to the fourth century AD.
TAREA DE ROTACIÓN MENTAL Y ROTACIÓN SIMULTÁNEA DE LA PIERNA

Se disena un paradigma de doble tarea en el que se realiza la Tarea de Rotacion Mental (TRM) y la rotacion de la pierna simultaneamente. Si ambas rotaciones comparten un proceso comun, emergera una interaccion que tendra como resultado un aumento de los Tiempos de Reaccion (TRs) cuando las rotaciones simultaneas sean discordantes y un decremento de los TRs cuando sean concordantes. El analisis de los TRs indica que no hay interaccion debida a la rotacion de la pierna, evidenciando que no comparten el mismo proceso que controla la dinamica rotacional. En contraste, otros experimentos que usaron un paradigma de doble tarea similar, en los que se rotaba la mano en lugar de la pierna, si generaron los efectos mencionados sobre los TRs. Dado que la interaccion con la rotacion mental se produce con el movimiento de la mano pero no con el de la pierna, se argumenta que el proceso que controla la dinamica de la rotacion mental tiene su sustrato neurologico en areas motoras que realizan la programacion del movimiento manual.
What Are Friends for? Friendships and Loneliness Over the Lifespan—From 18 to 79 Years

Preventing and reducing loneliness is crucial to well-being and good health. Social relationships protect people against loneliness. Friendship qualities like intimacy and frequency of contact may vary throughout a person’s lifespan. This study explores aspects of friendship and loneliness among people in different age groups: 18 to 29, 30 to 49, 50 to 64, and 65 to 79 years old. Data are from the Norwegian Life Course, Gender and Generations study (N = 14,725). Young people see their friends most often. The proportion of people without confidant friends is higher among older age groups. However, older age groups report higher levels of satisfaction with their contact with friends. Multivariate regression analyses show that the aspiration for contact with friends is more significant to loneliness than actual contact in all age groups. Dissatisfaction with contact with friends is strongly related to loneliness in all age groups.
Polymerization Kinetics of Pre-heated Composite

Temperature affects the polymerization behavior of dimethacrylate-based materials. This study describes the influence of pre-polymerization temperature and exposure duration on polymerization kinetics of a commercial dental photo-activated composite at the top and at 2-mm depth. We used the temperature-controlled stage of a diamond-attenuated-total-reflectance unit to pre-set composite temperature between 3° and 60°C. Composite was light-exposed by a conventional quartz-tungsten-halogen curing unit for 5, 10, 20, or 40 sec. Real-time conversion, maximum conversion rate (R p max), time to achieve R p max, and conversion at R p max were calculated from infrared spectra. Composite pre-warming enhanced maximal polymerization rate and overall monomer conversion (top significantly greater than 2 mm). Time when R p max occurred did not change with temperature, but occurred sooner at the top than at 2-mm depth. Conversion at R p max increased with temperature, allowing more of the reaction to occur prior to vitrification than at room temperature.