Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A scalable load generation framework for evaluation of video streaming workflows in the cloud

HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) is increasingly deployed at large, gradually replacing traditional broadcast. However, testing large-scale deployments remains challenging, costly and error-prone. Especially, testing with realistic streaming loads from massive numbers of users is challenging and costly. To improve this, we introduce an open-source load testing tool that can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise in a distributed manner, for load generation. Our presented tool is an extension of an existing open-source web-application load-testing tool. In particular we have added functionality, that includes streaming load generation for a multitude of protocols (i.e. Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) and HTTP-Live-Streaming (HLS)) and use-case implementations (e.g. live streaming, Video on Demand (VoD), bit-rate switching). The extension facilitates testing streaming back-ends at scale in a resource-efficient manner. We illustrate our tool's capabilities via a series of use-cases, designed to test, among others, how streaming deployments perform under different load scenarios, i.e. steep or gradual user ramp-up and stability testing over long periods.
UbiPoint: towards non-intrusive mid-air interaction for hardware constrained smart glasses

Throughout the past decade, numerous interaction techniques have been designed for mobile and wearable devices. Among these devices, smartglasses mostly rely on hardware interfaces such as touchpad and buttons, which are often cumbersome and counterintuitive to use. Furthermore, smartglasses feature cheap and low-power hardware preventing the use of advanced pointing techniques. To overcome these issues, we introduce UbiPoint, a freehand mid-air interaction technique. UbiPoint uses the monocular camera embedded in smartglasses to detect the user's hand without relying on gloves, markers, or sensors, enabling intuitive and non-intrusive interaction. We introduce a computationally fast and light-weight algorithm for fingertip detection, which is especially suited for the limited hardware specifications and the short battery life of smartglasses. UbiPoint processes pictures at a rate of 20 frames per second with high detection accuracy - no more than 6 pixels deviation. Our evaluation shows that UbiPoint, as a mid-air non-intrusive interface, delivers a better experience for users and smart glasses interactions, with users completing typical tasks 1.82 times faster than when using the original hardware.
Neuromorphic Systems Design by Matching Inductive Biases to Hardware Constraints

Neuromorphic systems are designed with careful consideration of the physical properties of the computational substrate they use. Neuromorphic engineers often exploit physical phenomena to directly implement a desired functionality, enabled by “the isomorphism between physical processes in different media” (Douglas et al., 1995). This bottom-up design methodology could be described as matching computational primitives to physical phenomena. In this paper, we propose a top-down counterpart to the bottom-up approach to neuromorphic design. Our top-down approach, termed “bias matching,” is to match the inductive biases required in a learning system to the hardware constraints of its implementation; a well-known example is enforcing translation equivariance in a neural network by tying weights (replacing vector-matrix multiplications with convolutions), which reduces memory requirements. We give numerous examples from the literature and explain how they can be understood from this perspective. Furthermore, we propose novel network designs based on this approach in the context of collaborative filtering. Our simulation results underline our central conclusions: additional hardware constraints can improve the predictions of a Machine Learning system, and understanding the inductive biases that underlie these performance gains can be useful in finding applications for a given constraint.
Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Neonatal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Developing Country

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has supported oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal in neonatal severe respiratory failure for more than 4 decades. The definition and diagnosis of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was made according to the criteria first established by a Montreux Conference in 2017. By far, there has been no ECMO efficiency studies in neonatal ARDS. We aimed to compare the outcomes of neonates with severe ARDS supported with and without ECMO. Design: Retrospective pair-matched study. Setting: In the present retrospective pair-matched study, the outcomes of severe ARDS with ECMO support and without ECMO support were analyzed and compared. Propensity score matching was conducted. The study subjects were selected from a China Neonatal ECMO (CNECMO) study. In total, five hospitals were included in the CNECMO study. The patients were matched with demographic and clinical data. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included ventilator-time, ICU stay, hospitalization costs and cranial MRI results. Patients: 145 neonates with severe ARDS (Oxygenation Index, OI ≥16) from 5 hospitals. Interventions: No interventions. Measurements and Main Results: We collected the data of 145 neonates with severe ARDS (Oxygenation Index, OI≥16) from 5 hospitals. Among them, 42 neonates received venoarterial (VA) ECMO support, and the remaining 103 neonates were treated with conventional mechanical ventilation. The mortality of ECMO-supported neonates was not significantly different compared with the ESLO neonatal respiratory-supported from 2012 to 2018 (23.8 vs. 32.5%, p = 0.230). After matching with the propensity score we got 31 pairs. The ECMO-supported neonates had a lower in-hospital mortality (6 of 31, 19.4%) vs. non ECMO-supported patients (18 of 31, 58.1%) (p = 0.002). Hospitalization costs of survivors in ECMO-supported neonates were significantly higher than that of non-ECMO-supported neonates (p < 0.001). There was no difference of ventilator-times (p = 0.206), ICU stay (p = 0.879) and cranial MRI (p = 0.899) between the survivors of ECMO-supported and non–ECMO-supported neonates with ARDS. Conclusions: By far, there has been no ECMO efficiency studies in neonatal ARDS. This study found that ECMO-support have superior outcomes compared with non–ECMO-support in neonates with severe ARDS.
Production: Biomass Relationships and Element Cycling in Contrasting Arctic Vegetation Types

Primary production, plant biomass, plant element content, and various mea- sures of turnover and element cycling were compared among four contrasting tundra vegetation types near Toolik Lake, Alaska. The study sites were selected to represent extreme examples of the wide variation in plant growth form composition that is typical of northern ecosystems. The aim of the research was to determine whether vegetation types that differ in their dominant plant growth form also differ in their production: biomass relationships and overall patterns of element use. The four sites included tussock tundra, a deciduous shrub-dominated riparian tundra, an evergreen heath tundra, and wet sedge tundra. Biomass and element content (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) were determined for both vascular and nonvascular plants, and production estimates were obtained for vascular plants. Production and biomass of most tissues were determined by quadrat harvest methods, with additional, separate determinations of stem secondary growth and belowground rhizome growth as components of net primary pro- duction (NPP). Production, biomass, and element content of roots were not determined. Vascular plant biomass (excluding roots) varied by nearly 9 x among sites, from 217 to 1877 g/m2. At least 50% of the vascular biomass at all four sites was belowground stems, but the relative allocation to leaves vs. aboveground stems varied greatly. When mosses and lichens were included, total biomass varied by only 5 x among sites, and lichens were in fact the most abundant plant form at the evergreen heath site. The element content in vascular biomass of these communities varied by 8-21 x, depending upon the element; including mosses and lichens, element content varied by 6-12 x. Primary productivity of vascular plants also varied sharply among sites, from 32 to 305 g m-2 yr-I (not including root production). Leaves were the largest single component of NPP at all sites, but the relative importance of above- and belowground stem growth varied considerably. The element requirements of vascular NPP varied by 9-17 x, de- pending upon the element. Despite these order-of-magnitude differences among sites in biomass, production, and element requirements, and the dramatic variation in allocation patterns, there was re- markably little difference among sites in the overall production: biomass relationships and element turnover. These overall similarities were due to the dominant effect of stems and rhizomes in the whole-plant and whole-vegetation biomass and element budgets. The wide range of leaf turnover rates and leaf production efficiencies was compensated at the whole- plant level by stem processes, especially element storage. Thus, we conclude that plant growth form composition is not a good indicator of whole-vegetation biomass turnover rates and patterns of element use, although growth form composition is related to total production and biomass.
Compassionate Conservation Clashes With Conservation Biology: Should Empathy, Compassion, and Deontological Moral Principles Drive Conservation Practice?

“Compassionate Conservation” is an emerging movement within conservation science that is gaining attention through its promotion of “ethical” conservation practices that place empathy and compassion and the moral principles of “first, do no harm” and “individuals matter” at the forefront of conservation practice. We have articulated elsewhere how Compassionate Conservation, if adopted, could be more harmful for native biodiversity than any other conservation action implemented thus far, while also causing more net harm to individuals than it aims to stop. Here, we examine whether empathy, compassion and inflexible adherence to moral principles form a solid basis upon which to meet the goals of conservation biology as specified by pioneers in the discipline. Specifically, we examine a large empirical literature demonstrating that empathy is subject to significant biases and that inflexible adherence to moral rules can result in a “do nothing” approach. In light of this literature, we argue that our emotional systems have not evolved to provide a reliable basis for making decisions as to how best to ensure the long-term persistence of our planet. Consequently, in its most radical form, the Compassionate Conservation philosophy should not be enshrined as a legalized guiding principle for conservation action.
Comparative Ecology, Life Histories, and Behaviour of Intertidal Sand-Burrowing Amphipods (Crustacea: Haustoriidae) at Cape Cod

The ecology of three species of Haustoriidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) found at Sippewissett Creek, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and life cycles of two of them are described. The species are Haustorius canadensis Bousfield, Neohatistorius biarticulatus Bousfield, and Acanthohaustorius millsi Bousfield. The first two species are essentially intertidal and the last is essentially subtidal. Haustorius canadensis and N. biarticulatus are annual breeders; the first ovigerous females appeared when the water temperature reached 14 C. The sex ratios were 1:1 for H. canadensis and 3 ♂:2♀ for N. biarticulatus. The relationship between brood size and dry body weight was linear for both species. The weight of a brood of eggs ranged from 8% of the dry body weight for a female N. biarticulatus to 16% of the weight for a female H. canadensis.Haustorius canadensis and N. biarticulatus were, in the main, separated both vertically and horizontally in the sand, and A. millsi was separated horizontally from the other two species. T.
Acceptability evaluation of inter-driver interaction system via a driving agent using vehicle-to-vehicle communication

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is expected to be applicable as a new information exchange method that would help reduce traffic accidents. Most services currently being considered can notify drivers of the dangers predicted by exchanging vehicle behaviors, such as position and speed. However, human drivers use multiple modalities to express their intentions, such as gestures and lights as well as their vehicle behavior, even if these interactions can cause misunderstandings. A solution for reducing these misunderstandings is to augment the driver's verbal interaction with the support of a driving agent via V2V communication. This study proposes a concept where an agent understands the intention of the driver's utterance and sends this message using V2V communication. An experiment on the driving simulator is conducted herein by employing the Wizard of Oz method. The acceptability is evaluated by conducting a questionnaire survey and a semi-structured interview. Furthermore, we analyze the relationship between acceptability and the usual driving style. Consequently, we obtain hypotheses about the key factors of the inter-driver interaction system using V2V communication.
Editorial: Hallucinogens and Entactogens: Establishing a New Class of Psychotherapeutic Drugs?

The last years have seen an increasing interest in research on hallucinogenic drugs, like psilocybin and LSD. Similar developments were observed for the entactogen MDMA. During the 1950s and 1960s, this field was in the focus, and relatively broad investigations of psilocybin and LSD were conducted, both in basic and clinical research. In this era, psychiatry placed high hopes on these compounds, especially as possible treatment options for various mental diseases. Indeed, many promising observations were made. However, this development came to a halt 50 years ago, when hallucinogens were classified as schedule I drugs. Now, research continues, and the current efforts have been extensive. It seems that we are truly experiencing a revival of the classic hallucinogens psilocybin and LSD. Furthermore, related substances like ibogaine and ayahuasca are investigated systematically for the first time, and this is also true for the therapeutic use of MDMA. Previous findings suggest that a few administrations of these substances might improve symptoms of certain psychiatric disorders in an enduring way, outlasting the acute pharmacological effects by far. It is often assumed that the underlying mechanisms are similar to those which are effective in psychotherapy. This mechanism of action would be unique in psychopharmacology, constituting a new class of psychotherapeutic drugs. Especially, the potential therapeutic applications have become the focus of attention in the public and the scientific community. Although psychiatry has progressed greatly during the 20th century, there are still patients who do not respond well to established interventions and are, therefore, considered treatment-resistant. Moreover, psychopharmacological treatments are often accompanied by side effects, posing a challenge for compliance. Genuine innovations have been rare in psychiatry during the last decades. The path from bench to bedside is difficult, and new approaches often fail to show clinical efficacy. In comparison, there is already considerable experience with hallucinogenic and entactogenic substances, and previous findings are promising. However, research in this field is still in its infancy, and many questions remain open. For example, it still remains to be resolved if previous, encouraging results can be replicated, which patients might benefit from these treatments and which might not, how therapeutic effects can be promoted and risks further minimized. Some of these questions are investigated by studies of this issue. Three articles rise the fundamental question of mechanism behind therapeutic effects of hallucinogenic and
Exploring technology for neonatal resuscitation training

The healthcare industry is regularly seeking for innovative ways to leverage technology in order to create or improve the experiences of their professionals and their patients. With advancements in Head-worn display (HWD) technology such as the Microsoft Hololens, we must look into the feasibility of leveraging the technology to aid us in the ongoing challenge of creating these meaningful and educational experiences. In this research, by targeting the bag and mask step in the Neonatal Resuscitation training, we evaluate the efficiency and performance of using data from sensor devices and immersive technology to help provide users with useful feedback. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of these technologies as well as the most effective method of delivering the feedback. We have found that between four different stimuli, a visual stimulus resulted in the best performance in the timing of the bag compressions in both our studies with non-healthcare professionals and healthcare professionals. Based on the results of the study, we also express the importance of having a proper seal between the mask and the baby in order to achieve the appropriate pressure during manual ventilation.
OVERWINTERING OF DICTYOTA DICHOTOMA (PHAEOPHYCEAE) NEAR ITS NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION LIMIT ON THE EAST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA 1

The mechanism of yearly repopulation of Dictyota dichotoma (Hudson) Lamouroux in the inshore waters of North Carolina was studied in the field and in laboratory experiments. It was demonstrated that D. dichotoma is maintained throughout the year at this location and does not require yearly immigrations. A young germling stage was shown to function as the overwintering structure. Although release of aplanospores was unaffected by temperature and photoperiod, subsequent germination and establishment required warm conditions. If germlings were allowed to grow to the 7–9 cell stage under summer conditions, they could survive 21 wk of winter conditions. Transfer of 21 wk old winterized germlings to summer conditions resulted in the rapid production of erect blades. It therefore appears that D. dichotoma maintains its populations near its northern distribution limit on the East Coast of North America by undergoing dormancy after germling establishment.
Changes in Microbial Community Composition during Production of Takanazuke

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: morimura@kumamoto-u.ac. jp Introduction Takana (Brassica juncea Coss.) is cultivated in the Aso area of Kumamoto prefecture. Takana is sown in the fall and is harvested in March and April for the production of takanazuke, a fermented food that is traditionally used to preserve takana and which is a regional specialty product of Kumamoto. For the production of takanazuke, salt (approximately 6% [w/w] NaCl) is added to harvested takana to prevent microbial contamination during the fermentation period. When preparing takanazuke to be preserved for the long-term and consumed after the fall season, 8% (w/w) NaCl is used for the fermentation. Pickled vegetables are naturally fermented by various species of lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) (Hutkins, 2006), and there have been many reports of using LAB to ferment vegetables worldwide (Di Cagno et al., 2013). As the conditions for pickle production are neither constant nor aseptic, it is difficult to regulate product quality. The traditional method of production is superior for pickle storage and food safety, but often alters the taste of the fermented product. Starter bacterial cultures have been used for production to maintain the quality of the final products (Holzapfel, 2002). Utilization of starter LAB for takanazuke production also stabilizes product quality and reduces the requirement for added salt. We previously isolated LAB from takanazuke in 2010 for use as starter strains. The isolated LABs were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and their characteristics were analyzed (Sakai et al., 2013). Two isolated strains, B17-4 (Lactobacillus (para)plantarum) and C120-3 (Pediococcus parvulus), with potential as suitable starter strains were used for takanazuke production (Sakai, M., Nagano, M., Ohta, H., Kida, K., and Morimura, S., unpublished data). However, the microbial community composition found in takanazuke produced by the traditional method has yet to be characterized. Note
Patterns and processes in desmid communities: Insights from functional and phylogenetic approaches

viii Abstrakt . ix 1. General introduction . 13 Community assembly of protists . 14 Beyond taxonomic identities: phylogenetic and functional community ecology . 17 Desmids . 24 Research objectives and methods . 25 Key results and conclusions . 27 2. Ecological and biogeographical drivers of freshwater green algae biodiversity: from local communities to large-scale species pools of desmids . 31 3. Niche conservatism, environmental filtering, and competition in freshwater green algae: insights from community phylogenetics. 55 4. Biological scaling in green algae: the role of cell size and geometry . 75 Literature . 91 1. General introduction
AquaCrop — The FAO Crop Model to Simulate Yield Response to Water: II. Main Algorithms and Software Description

The AquaCrop model was developed to replace the former FAO I&D Paper 33 procedures for the estimation of crop productivity in relation to water supply and agronomic management in a framework based on current plant physiological and soil water budgeting concepts. This paper presents the software of AquaCrop for which the concepts and underlying principles are described in the companion paper (Steduto et al., 2009). Input consists of weather data, crop characteristics, and soil and management characteristics that define the environment in which the crop will develop. Algorithms and calculation procedures modeling the infiltration of water, the drainage out of the root zone, the canopy and root zone development, the evaporation and transpiration rate, the biomass production, and the yield formation are presented. The mechanisms of crop response to cope with water shortage are described by only a few parameters, making the underlying processes more transparent to the user. AquaCrop is a menu-driven program with a well-developed user interface. With the help of graphs which are updated each time step (1 d) during the simulation run, the user can track changes in soil water content, and the corresponding changes in crop development, soil evaporation and transpiration rate, biomass production, and yield development. One can halt the simulation at each time step, to study the effect of changes in water related inputs, making the model particularly suitable for developing deficit irrigation strategies and scenario analysis.