Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust facial 2D motion model estimation for 3D head pose extraction and automatic camera mouse implementation

In this paper, we present a novel approach to 3D head pose estimation from monocular camera images for the control of mouse pointer movements on the screen and clicking events. This work is motivated by the goal of providing a non-contact instrument to control the mouse pointer on a PC system for handicapped people with severe disabilities using low-cost and widely available hardware. The required information is derived from video data captured using a monocular web camera mounted on the computer monitor. Our approach proceeds in six stages. First, the face area is extracted using Haar-like features and AdaBoost algorithm. Second, the locations of the point features are detected and tracked over video frames by LK algorithm. Third, the 2D transformation model between consecutive frames is estimated by matching features and robust RANSAC algorithm. Fourth, the estimated 2D transformation model is applied to four supposed points on the face area. Then, the 3D rotation matrix and translation vector between the web camera and 3D head pose are estimated using four points correspondences. Finally, the 3D rotation and translation matrix is applied for estimating the mouse pointer movements on the PC screen and clicking events. Experimental results showed the promise of the algorithm.
Identification and characterization of outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella multocida serotype D by using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Pasteurella multocida serotype D were obtained by fusion of spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with outer membrane proteins (OMPs) with SP2/0-Ag 14 murine myeloma cells. Desirable MAbs were selected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with OMP as the antigen. MAbs MT1 and MT2 identified two different proteins (H [heavy] and W [weak]), each with a molecular mass of 32 kDa, in Western blots (immunoblots). Treatment of the OMPs with proteolytic enzymes and sodium periodate indicated that the binding sites of MAbs MT1 and MT2 are of protein and glycoprotein natures, respectively. The epitopes reactive with MAbs were surface exposed, as visualized by immunoelectron microscopy. Among field isolates of P. multocida serotype D, two distinct OMP patterns were recognized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and these patterns were designated types I and II. In both the ELISA and the Western blot, MAb MT1 recognized only type I isolates, whereas MAb MT2 recognized both type I and II isolates. Neither MAb MT1 nor MAb MT2 reacted with either reference strains of capsular serotypes A, B, E, and F or field isolates of capsular serotype A of P. multocida. This is the first report of MAbs identifying the serotype D-specific OMP of P. multocida.
La bande-annonce cinématographique : quel impact sur la décision d’aller voir le film ?

L’intensité concurrentielle croissante qui existe aujourd’hui dans le domaine cinématographique amène naturellement les professionnels à s’interroger sur l’efficacité des outils promotionnels utilisés lors de la sortie d’un film. Les quelques travaux académiques sur ce domaine soulignent l’importance de la bande-annonce pour le spectateur. Cependant le manque de recherches menées sur cet outil de communication a incité les auteurs à s’interroger sur son efficacité. Quelles mesures retenir ? Quel impact sur la décision d’aller voir le film ? Les principaux résultats d’une étude qualitative menée sont ici exposés .
Rotated Logging Storage Architectures for Data Centers: Models and Optimizations

We propose Rotated Logging (RoLo), a new logging architecture for parallel disk-based mirrored storage systems for enhanced energy efficiency, which is one of the key concerns in modern data centers. By spreading destaging I/O activities among short idle time slots and proactively reclaiming the stale logging space, RoLo rotates loggers among a logical logging space pool formed collectively from the free storage space available among mirrored disks. We develop three flavors of RoLo, that is, RoLo-P/R/E, to emphasize performance, reliability, and energy efficiency respectively. Without the extra dedicated log disks and the corresponding centralized destaging, RoLo eliminates the additional hardware and energy costs, potential single point of failure and performance bottleneck. Furthermore, RoLo-P/R/E, applied to specific scenes correctly, can prolong the lifecycle of the disks and improve the system's energy efficiency by reducing the disk spin up/down frequency. We propose RoLo-S to further alleviate the performance bottleneck and energy consumption caused by frequent disk head seeks in on-duty logger disks. We have implemented RoLo and RoLo-S on real disk systems. Extensive trace-driven evaluations demonstrate the advantages of the three RoLo schemes over both a RAID10 system with centralized logging architecture and a typical RAID10 system, and the advantages of RoLo-S over RoLo.
A new methodology for music retrieval based on dynamic neural networks

Most of in music information retrieval MIR has been focused on the symbolic representations of music. However, most of the digitally available music is in the form of raw audio signals. Although various attempts for monophonic and polyphonic transcription have been developed, none has been successful and general enough in the case of real world signals. So far, most of the research has been based on developing efficient music retrieval systems. In this paper, we introduce a music retrieval system based on Dynamic Neural Networks DNN, which are trained with the signal melody, and not with traditional descriptors. The proposal was tested with a database composed of 1000 melodies. The results are very encouraging.
Das Verhältnis von Forschung und Lehre und die Zukunft der akademischen Karrieren

Einleitung In den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten wurden die europaischen Hochschulen einem erheblichen Wandel unterzogen, welcher u. a. auf die New Public Management (NPM) Reformen und die relativ starke Konvergenz der europaischen Hochschulsysteme durch zwischenstaatliche Vereinbarungen wie den Bologna-Prozess (Leisyte und Dee 2012) zuruckzufuhren ist. Einhergehend mit einem starken Aufbau von Managementkapazitaten haben sich Universitaten immer mehr zu zentral gesteuerten Organisationen entwickelt. Als Teil dieses Prozesses wurde eine schrittweise Abkehr vom klassischen Humboldtschen Modell der Einheit von Lehre und Forschung im akademischen Beruf in Richtung strukturell differenzierter akademischer Rollen beobachtet (Leisyte und Dee 2012). Das Humboldtsche Modell nimmt eine starke Verkopplung von Lehre und Forschung sowohl in Bezug auf den Inhalt von wissenschaftlicher Arbeit als auch in Bezug auf den Aufgabenbereich von Wissenschaftlern an. Nach diesem Modell sind sowohl Lehre als auch Forschung Teil von Universitaten (Schimank und Winnes, 2000).
Monocyte‐T‐Cell Interactions in the Regulation of Polyclonal B‐Cell Response

Human peripheral blood monocyte subsets with and without Fc receptor for human IgG are known to suppress (FcR+) and enhance (FcR−) pokeweed mitogen‐induccd polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro. The ability of these subsets to modulate immunoglobulin production in the presence or absence OKT8− T cells and under conditions where suppressor T‐cells activation was blocked by irradiation or mitomycin C was studied. It was shown that, regardless of the presence or absence of suppressor T cells, FcR− monocytes can suppress immunoglobulin production if their number in culture exceeds 20%. However, at lower numbers this monocyte sunset was suppressive only when suppressor T cells were activated. The suppressor T‐cell activation was shown to be independent of the predominant presence of the FcR+ or FcR monocyte subset. Moreover, the enhancing effect of FcR−monocytes was not caused by their interference with suppressor T‐cell activation.
Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study.

CONTEXT There is strong consensus that caring for an elderly individual with disability is burdensome and stressful to many family members and contributes to psychiatric morbidity. Researchers have also suggested that the combination of loss, prolonged distress, the physical demands of caregiving, and biological vulnerabilities of older caregivers may compromise their physiological functioning and increase their risk for physical health problems, leading to increased mortality. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between caregiving demands among older spousal caregivers and 4-year all-cause mortality, controlling for sociodemographic factors, prevalent clinical disease, and subclinical disease at baseline. DESIGN Prospective population-based cohort study, from 1993 through 1998 with an average of 4.5 years of follow-up. SETTING Four US communities. PARTICIPANTS A total of 392 caregivers and 427 noncaregivers aged 66 to 96 years who were living with their spouses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Four-year mortality, based on level of caregiving: (1) spouse not disabled; (2) spouse disabled and not helping; (3) spouse disabled and helping with no strain reported; or(4) spouse disabled and helping with mental or emotional strain reported. RESULTS After 4 years of follow-up, 103 participants (12.6%) died. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, prevalent disease, and subclinical cardiovascular disease, participants who were providing care and experiencing caregiver strain had mortality risks that were 63% higher than noncaregiving controls (relative risk [RR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.65). Participants who were providing care but not experiencing strain (RR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.61-1.90) and those with a disabled spouse who were not providing care (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.73-2.58) did not have elevated adjusted mortality rates relative to the noncaregiving controls. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that being a caregiver who is experiencing mental or emotional strain is an independent risk factor for mortality among elderly spousal caregivers. Caregivers who report strain associated with caregiving are more likely to die than noncaregiving controls.
A Review of Network Approaches in Music Studies

This article provides a short introduction to the interdisciplinary field of social network analysis (SNA) and its applications in the humanities, including music. Network approaches can be useful in any discipline, but they are most commonly associated with applied mathematics, computer science, and sociological fields like economics and information studies. Networks are becoming more prevalent as a theoretical and methodological framework for addressing humanistic research questions. For subject librarians interested in digital humanities, an awareness and basic understanding of networks may prove helpful when advising students and faculty wishing to apply interdisciplinary techniques in their own research. An annotated bibliography of suggested resources, including guides on formatting network data, using software, and readings on the theory and practice of networks, follows this article. Why should a librarian, and more specifically a music librarian, study networks? Anyone with a curiosity about how small and large systems interconnect, and how events occurring in one part of the system can cascade and spread to distant parts of the system will find networks to be fascinating objects of study. If you’ve thought about aggregate human behaviors that manifest as social media phenomena (think Internet memes and “viral” YouTube videos) or economic bubbles (for example, the recent U.S. housing bubble and resulting subprime mortgage crisis), then you might be motivated to study networks. If a random chain of events contributing to the spread of disease and epidemics interests you, then you might make an excellent student of networks. If you’ve ever thought abstractly about the ways in which particular ideas, practices or innovations travel through time and jump across cultures, then you might be a budding network amateur. If trying to find the shortest path from any given movie actor to Kevin Bacon amuses you, then. I needn’t convince you further.
Jarmo Perttunen Foot Loading in Normal and Pathological Walking

Perttunen, Jarmo Foot Loading in Normal and Pathological Walking Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2002, 86 p. (Studies in Sport, Physical Education and Health, ISSN 0356-1070; 83) ISBN 951-39-1222-1 Finnish summary Diss. The present series of studies was designed to study the interaction between foot loading patterns and neuromusculoskeletal adaptation during normal and pathological walking. The behaviour of the foot was examined in healthy subjects and different groups of patients. In order to know how surgical intervention affected the ability to walk, foot loading patterns and neuromusculoskeletal function was studied before and after corrective surgery. Special emphasis was laid on understanding the benefits of corrective surgery. The test procedure for the Paromed-System used in the present study showed that it could be used accurately to examine the bilateral symmetry of foot loading during walking without any disturbance to the subject. The highest peak plantar pressures were found under the heel, the first metatarsal and the big toe in both the normal and patient groups. The results suggested that foot loading asymmetry did not increase at faster walking speeds in healthy subjects. However, patients with limb length discrepancy and patients recovering from tibial fracture had excessive foot loading asymmetries, which tended to become greater at fast walking speeds. The peak plantar pressures usually increased under the foot in the healthy subjects when walking speed increased while decreasing under the lateral forefoot. In contrast to this medial shift, bilateral comparison showed that the plantar pressures under the operated foot after free-flap reconstruction of the tibial fractures had shifted more to the lateral side of the forefoot. This lateralisation was a compensatory mechanism to reduce the loading on the ankle joint. The results from the triple jump showed that the high lateral forefoot pressure and maximal vertical ground reaction force in the braking phase and maximal horizontal ground reaction force in the anterior-posterior direction in the push-off phase were closely correlated to the length of the triple jump. In patients the foot loading and muscle strength symmetry improved notably during the follow-up after the reconstruction surgery to correct the limb length discrepancy. Because symmetry after the different surgical interventions was not completely restored, long rehabilitation period is needed after corrective surgery.
Updated Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

The adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure constitute a continuum of disabilities (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders [FASD]). In 1996, the Institute of Medicine established diagnostic categories delineating the spectrum but not specifying clinical criteria by which diagnoses could be assigned. In 2005, the authors published practical guidelines operationalizing the Institute of Medicine categories, allowing for standardization of FASD diagnoses in clinical settings. The purpose of the current report is to present updated diagnostic guidelines based on a thorough review of the literature and the authors’ combined expertise based on the evaluation of >10 000 children for potential FASD in clinical settings and in epidemiologic studies in conjunction with National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism–funded studies, the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and the Collaboration on FASD Prevalence. The guidelines were formulated through conference calls and meetings held at National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offices in Rockville, MD. Specific areas addressed include the following: precise definition of documented prenatal alcohol exposure; neurobehavioral criteria for diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder; revised diagnostic criteria for alcohol-related birth defects; an updated comprehensive research dysmorphology scoring system; and a new lip/philtrum guide for the white population, incorporating a 45-degree view. The guidelines reflect consensus among a large and experienced cadre of FASD investigators in the fields of dysmorphology, epidemiology, neurology, psychology, developmental/behavioral pediatrics, and educational diagnostics. Their improved clarity and specificity will guide clinicians in accurate diagnosis of infants and children prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Loss of GABAergic control of corticostriatal LTP following status epilepticus

The onset of spontaneous seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with an altered hippocampal circuitry. Neurochemical investigations have demonstrated that changes also occur in corticostriatal synaptic pathways. Since the striatum plays a major role in procedural learning, it is of particular interest whether dyskinetic motor dysfunction sometimes associated with epilepsy is indeed due to epilepsy-associated changes of basal ganglia function. Here, we analyzed corticostriatal long-term potentiation (LTP) in brain slices from pilocarpine-treated rats 4-10 weeks after status epilepticus. We stimulated corticostriatal fibers and recorded field potentials in the dorsomedial striatum. We found that LTP was significantly enhanced in slices from pilocarpine-treated rats as compared to control preparations. In chronically epileptic tissue, GABAA receptor blockade was not able to significantly enhance LTP any further. By contrast, in control slices it was able to strongly boost LTP. We conclude that epilepsy has a profound effect on the corticostriatal synaptic pathway, and that GABAA receptors lose their regulatory and suppressive role in synaptic plasticity in the dorsomedial striatum. Correspondence to: Rüdiger Köhling, Rostock University Medical Center, Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology, 18057 Rostock, Germany, Tel: +49-381-4948000, Fax: +49-381-494-8003, E-mail: ruediger.koehling@uni-rostock.de
Effects of short term increase of intraocular pressure on optic disc cupping

AIMS To evaluate the effect of acute elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) on optic disc cupping. METHODS 10 emmetropic and 10 myopic volunteers were included in this study. The cup area (CA) and cup volume (CV) of the optic disc were determined with the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT). After baseline determinations, a suction cup was used to increase the intraocular pressure (IOP) to 20–25 mm Hg above the baseline and HRT images were obtained. RESULTS Baseline IOP was 13.5 (SD 1.3) mm Hg and 12.6 (2.6) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. The IOP was elevated to 35.4 (3.3) mm Hg and 34.4 (2.5) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. When compared with their baseline values, the cupping variables (CA and CV) were significantly increased (p<0.05) during the suction treatment in both emmetropic and myopic subjects. CONCLUSION There was a significant enlargement in the optic disc cupping during the artificial increment of intraocular pressure in both emmetropic and myopic eyes. In non-glaucomatous eyes the optic nerve head has a partially dynamic topography dependent upon the level of IOP.
Introduction to Differential Galois Theory

affine variety, 48 additive group, 52 adjunction of an integral, 21 of the exponential of an integral, 22 affine n-space, 42 variety, 42 algebraic group, 52 character of an –, 67 connected – –, 54 direct product of –s, 53 identity component of an – –, 53 semi-invariant of an – – , 67 birational equivalence, 46 map, 46 birationally equivalent varieties, 46 categorical quotient, 70 center of a group, 63 character of an algebraic group, 67 Chevalley quotient, 69 theorem, 50 coordinate ring, 44 connected algebraic group, 54 constant ring of –s, 9 constructible set, 50 derivation, 7 trivial –, 8 derived series of a group, 64 diagonal group, 53 diagonalizable set of matrices, 61 differential field, 8 Galois group, 21 ideal, 9 indeterminate, 9 morphism, 9 operator, 11 polynomial, 9 rational function, 9 ring, 8 differentially generated, 10 dimension Krull – of a ring, 49 of a topological space, 49 direct product of algebraic groups, 53 domain of definition of a rational map, 46 dominant rational map, 46 element exponential –, 11 primitive –, 11 endomorphism nilpotent –, 60 semisimple –, 60 unipotent –, 61 equivariant morphism, 57 exponential element, 11 extension generalized Liouville –, 40 Liouville –, 39
The Wave Glider: A New Concept for Deploying Ocean Instrumentation

Wave Glider is a combination sea-surface and underwater vehicle comprised of a submerged "glider" that is attached to a surface float via a flexible tether. Fig. 1 shows the Wave Glider. It is propelled by the conversion of ocean wave energy into forward thrust, independent of wave direction. The wave energy propulsion system is purely mechanical; no electrical power is generated by the propulsion mechanism. Just as an airplane's forward motion through the air allows its wings to create an upward lifting force, the submerged glider's vertical motion through the comparatively still waters at the glider's depth allows its wings to convert a portion of this upward motion into a forward propulsion force. As waves pass by on the surface, the submerged glider acts as a tug pulling the surface float along a predetermined course and is controlled by a single rudder on the glider. Separation of the glider by 23 ft (7m) depth from the float is a crucial aspect of the vehicle design. Fig. 2 shows the operating principles.
Effect of ZnO Buffer Layer on the Bending Durability of ZnO:Ga Films Grown on Flexible Substrates: Investigation of Surface Energy, Electrical, Optical, and Structural Properties

ZnO:Ga (GZO) transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films are deposited on flexible polyethersulfone (PES) substrates using the radio frequency sputtering technique. The bending durability of flexible TCOs is improved by inserting 100-nm-thick ZnO buffer layers. The strain of the samples with and without buffer layers arising from bending is studied using X-ray diffraction. After the insertion of 100-nm-thick ZnO buffer layers, the strain of GZO films without ZnO after outward and inward bending for 2000 cycles decreases from 2.063 ×10-3 and 2.203 × 10-3 to 1.74 × 10-3 and 1.966 × 10-3, respectively. Such strain variation is caused by the difference in adhesive force at the surface of 100-nm-thick ZnO/PES and PES. The surface energy of PES and 100-nm-thick ZnO/PES bent outwards and inwards for 2000 cycles increased from 34.38 and 30.56 to 36.45 and 36.03 mJ/m2, respectively.
Temporary mechanical substitute for the left ventricle in man.

By temporary substitution for the left ventricle is meant its complete bypass temporarily by all of the blood that normally passes through it. This is accomplished by withdrawing the blood from the left atrium, passing it through the artificial left heart, and returning it to the aorta by way of the left subclavian artery. The systemic circulation is thereby artificially maintained while the right heart and the lungs continue to perform their functions. EXPERIMENTAL BACKGROUND Several investigators have artificially maintained the systemic circulation in animals using methods in which the blood bypasses the left ventricle. Sirak, Ellison, and Zollinger1reported on a mechanism with which cardiotomy of the empty left ventricle could be performed. Bypassing of the left ventricle by the blood was used by Kantrowitz and Kantrowitz2in experimental animals. Wesolowski and Welch3also reported on such a mechanism. We previously reported on our experimental work