Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear seismo-acoustic land mine detection and discrimination.

A novel technique for detection and discrimination of artificial objects, such as land mines, pipes, containers, etc., buried in the ground, has been developed and tested. The developed approach utilizes vibration (using seismic or airborne acoustic waves) of buried objects, remote measurements of soil surface vibration (using laser or microwave vibrometers), and processing of the measured vibration to extract mine's "vibration signatures. " The technique does not depend upon the material from which the mine is fabricated whether it be metal, plastic, wood, or any other material. It depends upon the fact that a mine is a "container" whose purpose is to contain explosive materials and associated detonation apparatus. The mine container is in contact with the soil in which it is buried. The container is an acoustically compliant article, whose compliance is notably different from the compliance of the surrounding soil. Dynamic interaction of the compliant container and soil on top of it leads to specific linear and nonlinear effects used for mine detection and discrimination. The mass of the soil on top of a compliant container creates a classical mass-spring system with a well-defined resonance response. Besides, the connection between mass (soil) and spring (mine) is not elastic (linear) but rather nonlinear, due to the separation of the soil/mine interface in the tensile phase of applied dynamic stress. These two effects, constituting the mine's vibration signature have been measured in numerous laboratory and field tests, which proved that the resonance and nonlinear responses of a mine/soil system can be used for detection and discrimination of buried mines. Thus, the fact that the mine is buried is turned into a detection advantage. Because the seismo-acoustic technique intrinsically detects buried containers, it can discriminate mines from noncompliant false targets such as rocks, tree roots, chunks of metal, bricks, etc. This was also confirmed experimentally in laboratory and field tests.
A ceramista, seu pote e sua tanga: identidade e papéis sociais em um Cacicado Marajoara

A cerâmica cerimonial Marajoara surge a partir do ano 400 A.D., veiculando os valores politico-religiosos de elites emergentes.Tais elites estavam organizadas em cacicados competitivos, que se diferenciavam pela adocao de estilos esteticos regionais, buscando a afirmacao de seu status e identidades sociais. Entendendo que identidades individuais e sociais estariam tambem representados na iconografia encontrada em objetos pessoais, este artigo explora alguns objetos encontrados em contexto funerario, interpretando-os enquanto discursos sobre genero e papeis sociais. Argumenta-se que os estudos iconograficos e a perspectiva de genero podem ser extremamente importantes para a reconstituicao do passado, ao levarem em conta as estrategias desenvolvidas por pessoas que agem em funcao de sua posicao social, genero e idade.
An algorithm for computing fingertip positions of a spatial equilibrium grasp with a multifingered hand

This paper proposes an algorithm for computing the fingertip positions of an equilibrium grasp for a polyhedral object. The authors has already developed such an algorithm for a planar grasp where the problem can be reduced to a linear programming problem using the static equivalence: the effect of changing a fingertip position along an edge is equivalent to the effect of changing the fingertip forces of two virtual fingers, one fixed at each edge endpoint. This equivalance makes the moment equilibrium equation in the planar grasp linear. In a spatial grasp, introducing such virtual fingers to the faces of the object decomposes the moment equilibrium equation into linear and nonlinear constraints. The nonlinear constraints still remain, but exhibit the same properties as the integer requirement in an integer programming problem. This paper proposes an algorithm based on the branch-and-bound method that decomposes each finger region until the nonlinear constraint associated with the finger is satisfied. Numerical examples show that the algorithm effectively solves problems of practical size. <<ETX>>
Research, part of a Special Feature on Do we need new management paradigms to achieve sustainability in tropical forests? Are Direct Payments for Environmental Services Spelling Doom for Sustainable Forest Management in the Tropics?

Over the past several decades, significant donor funding has been directed to sustainable forest management in the tropics, in the hope of combining forest conservation with economic gains through sustainable use. To date, this approach has produced only modest results in terms of changed silvicultural and land-use practices in this area. Direct payments for environmental services (PES) have been suggested as a promising alternative but still remain widely untested in the tropics. This paper first provides a conceptual assessment of PES, comparing the main features of this practice with those of other conservation instruments. Second, the paper discusses a series of critical questions that have been raised about both the environmental and livelihood impacts of PES. It is concluded that some ex ante judgments about the effects of PES may have been overly critical, and that, based on preliminary assessments, there is good reason to continue experimental PES implementation for purposes of consolidating our knowledge.
Hypoxia and Reactive Oxygen Species Homeostasis in Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells Define a Molecular Mechanism for Fracture Nonunion

Fracture nonunion is a major complication of bone fracture regeneration and repair. The molecular mechanisms that result in fracture nonunion appearance are not fully determined. We hypothesized that fracture nonunion results from the failure of hypoxia and hematoma, the primary signals in response to bone injury, to trigger Bmp2 expression by mesenchymal progenitor cells (MSCs). Using a model of nonstabilized fracture healing in transgenic 5′Bmp2BAC mice we determined that Bmp2 expression appears in close association with hypoxic tissue and hematoma during the early phases of fracture healing. In addition, BMP2 expression is induced when human periosteum explants are exposed to hypoxia ex vivo. Transient interference of hypoxia signaling in vivo with PX‐12, a thioredoxin inhibitor, results in reduced Bmp2 expression, impaired fracture callus formation and atrophic‐like nonunion by a HIF‐1α independent mechanism. In isolated human periosteum‐derived MSCs, BMP2 expression could be induced with the addition of platelets concentrate lysate but not with hypoxia treatment, confirming HIF‐1α‐independent BMP2 expression. Interestingly, in isolated human periosteum‐derived mesenchymal progenitor cells, inhibition of BMP2 expression by PX‐12 is accomplished only under hypoxic conditions seemingly through dis‐regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In conclusion, we provide evidence of a molecular mechanism of hypoxia‐dependent BMP2 expression in MSCs where interference with ROS homeostasis specifies fracture nonunion‐like appearance in vivo through inhibition of Bmp2 expression. Stem Cells 2016;34:2342–2353
GW274150, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of iNOS, reduces experimental renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND Generation of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) may contribute to renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GW274150, a novel, highly selective, potent and long-acting inhibitor of iNOS activity in rat and mouse models of renal I/R. METHODS Rats were administered GW274150 (5 mg/kg intravenous bolus administered 30 minutes prior to I/R) and subjected to bilateral renal ischemia (45 minutes) followed by reperfusion (6 hours). Serum and urinary indicators of renal dysfunction, tubular and reperfusion injury were measured, specifically, serum urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) enzymuria. In addition, renal sections were used for histologic scoring of renal injury and for immunologic evidence of nitrotyrosine formation and poly [adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose] (PAR). Nitrate levels were measured in rat plasma using the Griess assay. Mice (wild-type, administered 5 mg/kg GW274150, and iNOS-/-) were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia (30 minutes) followed by reperfusion (24 hours) after which renal dysfunction (serum urea, creatinine), renal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. RESULTS GW274150, administered prior to I/R, significantly reduced serum urea, serum creatinine, AST, and NAG indicating reduction of renal dysfunction and injury caused by I/R. GW274150 reduced histologic evidence of tubular injury and markedly reduced immunohistochemical evidence of nitrotyrosine and PAR formation, indicating reduced peroxynitrite formation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation, respectively. GW274150 abolished the rise in the plasma levels of nitrate (indicating reduced NO production). GW274150 also reduced the renal dysfunction in wild-type mice to levels similar to that observed in iNOS-/- mice subjected to I/R. Renal MPO activity and MDA levels were significantly reduced in wild-type mice administered GW274150 and iNOS-/- mice subjected to renal I/R, indicating reduced polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration and lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that (1). an enhanced formation of NO by iNOS contributes to the pathophysiology of renal I/R injury and (2). GW274150 reduces I/R injury of the kidney. We propose that selective inhibitors of iNOS activity may be useful against renal dysfunction and injury associated with I/R of the kidney.
Immune expulsion of Trichuris muris from mice during a primary infection: analysis of the components involved

Immune serum accelerated the expulsion of Trichuris muris when transferred into normal mice on days 0 and 3 after infection, but had no effect when the recipient mice had been immunosuppressed by sublethal irradiation or by cortisone treatment. Delaying serum transfer until days 7 and 8 in normal mice failed to accelerate expulsion, although immune mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC) accelerated expulsion whether transferred early or late in infection. Expulsion from NIH mice, normally complete by 12 days, was prevented by sublethal irradiation given as late as 9 days after infection, but could be restored by subsequent transfer of immune MLNC or, to a lesser degree, non-immune MLNC. Immune MLNC were unable to restore worm expulsion in mice irradiated before infection. These results are interpreted as showing that the immune expulsion of T. muris from mice during a primary infection requires the sequential activities of antibody-mediated and lymphoid cell-mediated components.
Contrast enhancement in digital imaging using histogram equalization. (Amélioration du contraste des images numériques par égalisation d'histogrammes)

This work proposes two methodologies for fast image contrast enhancement based on histogram equalization (HE), one for gray-level images, and other for color images. For gray-level images, we propose a technique called Multi-HE, which decomposes the input image into several sub-images, and then applies the classical HE process to each one of them. In order to decompose the input image, we propose two different discrepancy functions, conceiving two new methods. Experimental results show that both methods are better in preserving the brightness and producing more natural looking images than other HE methods. For color images, we introduce a generic fast hue-preserving histogram equalization method based on the RGB color space, and two instantiations of the proposed generic method, using 1D and 2D histograms. HE is performed using shift hue-preserving transformations, avoiding the appearance of unrealistic colors. Experimental results show that the value of the image contrast produced by our methods is in average 50% greater than the value of contrast in the original image, still keeping the quality of the output images close to the original.
Single electronic ballast for HPS and HPMV lamp testing

This paper describes the analysis and design of an electronic ballast devised to drive both, high pressure sodium vapor (HPS) and high pressure mercury vapor (HPMV) lamps, in dimmed operation with no need of parameter modification. The main objective is to achieve weight and volume reduction of a public lighting components bench test equipment, used to perform basic operational tests in a Brazilian electric utility company. Specifically, the analysis, design and implementation of an electronic ballast, based on a series-parallel loaded resonant inverter, for 70W HPS and 125W HPMV lamps testing is presented. Experimental results from a lab prototype, performing high intensity discharge (HID) lamp tests in dimmed operation and no discharge arc instability, evidences the feasibility of the proposed ballast concerning the intended application.
Vancomycin-Rifampin Combination Therapy Has Enhanced Efficacy against an Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Prosthetic Joint Infection

ABSTRACT Treatment of prosthetic joint infections often involves a two-stage exchange, with implant removal and antibiotic spacer placement followed by systemic antibiotic therapy and delayed reimplantation. However, if antibiotic therapy can be improved, one-stage exchange or implant retention may be more feasible, thereby decreasing morbidity and preserving function. In this study, a mouse model of prosthetic joint infection was used in which Staphylococcus aureus was inoculated into a knee joint containing a surgically placed metallic implant extending from the femur. This model was used to evaluate whether combination therapy of vancomycin plus rifampin has increased efficacy compared with vancomycin alone against these infections. On postoperative day 7, vancomycin with or without rifampin was administered for 6 weeks with implant retention. In vivo bioluminescence imaging, ex vivo CFU enumeration, X-ray imaging, and histologic analysis were carried out. We found that there was a marked therapeutic benefit when vancomycin was combined with rifampin compared with vancomycin alone. Taken together, our results suggest that the mouse model used could serve as a valuable in vivo preclinical model system to evaluate and compare efficacies of antibiotics and combinatory therapy for prosthetic joint infections before more extensive studies are carried out in human subjects.
Health Inequalities for Women Living in Rural Regions: The Prefecture of Xanthi, Greece

Gender equity with regard to access to health services has been set on a firm theoretical background but is far from reaching a resolution. Here we examine how geographic isolation affects the implementation of policies regarding equal access to health care by considering the case of the mountainous region of Xanthi, Greece. We determined that the characteristics of this mountainous region require additional measures to ensure truly equal access for women of all social and demographic groups. We also propose several interventions aimed at reducing health inequalities by involving the local population and broadening the target area.
Project selection with outsourcing view using Fuzzy TOPSIS linear assignment programming

Nowadays most of organizations, especially in public sector, tend to outsource their projects. In these cases two major problems arise: project selection and contractor selection. There are many papers have argued separately about project selection and contractor selection in which often some evaluation criteria and a selection method are proposed independently. In this paper we propose a method for selecting projects and related contractors simultaneously in which firstly contractors that have not minimal qualifications are eliminated from consideration, then closeness coefficient of contractors to each proposal will be computed by Fuzzy TOPSIS method and finally these coefficients as a successful indicators for each contractor will be fed in to a linear programming to select most profitable projects and related contractors with respect to the constraints. In this paper we propose a method for selecting projects and related contractors simultaneously. The proposed approach contains 3 Phases including prequalification (Phase1), computing closeness coefficient (CC) for each project-contractor by using fuzzy TOPSIS method (Phase2) and selecting projects and assigning each project to most qualified contractor by solving a Linear Programming with respect to economic characteristics of each project, closeness coefficient of each contractor to projects and some constraints such as budget available and strategic limitations (Phase3). Also a numerical example will be illustrated to show the application of the proposed method.
Neuroendocrine neoplasms: a brief overview emphasizing gastroenteropancreatic tumors

under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the article is properly cited. a Department of Pathology Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Porto – Portugal. b Department of Pathology Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto – Portugal. c Institute of Pathology and Immunology University of Porto, Porto – Portugal. d Institute of Health Investigation and Innovation University of Porto, Porto – Portugal. Neuroendocrine neoplasms: a brief overview emphasizing gastroenteropancreatic tumors
Training a Language Model Using Webdata for Large Vocabulary Japanese Spontaneous Speech Recognition

This paper describes a language modeling method using large-scale spoken language data retrieved from the Web for spon-taneous speech recognition. We downloaded 15 million Web pages on a comprehensive range topics. Next, spoken language-like texts were selected from the downloaded Web data using the na¨ıve Bayes classiﬁer, and typical linguistic phenomena such as ﬁllers and pauses were added using simulation models. A language model trained by the generated data gave as high performance as the large-scale spontaneous speech corpus (Corpus of Spontaneous Japanese, CSJ). By combining the generated data and CSJ, we improved word accuracy.
The Prewar Roots of "Equality of Opportunity": Japanese Educational Ideals in the Twentieth Century

WHEN, shortly after the end of World War II, new educational ideals were defined in occupied Japan, the concept of “equality of opportunity” (kikai kintô ) figured prominently in both the new Constitution (1946) and the Fundamental Law of Education (Kyôiku Kihon Hô ; November 1947). Article 26 of the Constitution read: “All people shall have the right to receive an equal education correspondent to their ability, as provided by law. ” Article 3 of the Fundamental Law of Education bore the title “Equal Opportunity in Education” and stated: “The people shall all be given equal opportunities of receiving education according to their ability, and they shall not be subject to educational discrimination on account of race, creed, sex, social status, economic position, or family origin. ”1 Even the School Education Law (Gakkô Kyôiku Hô ), the text of which did not explicitly refer to equality of opportunity, was linked to this ideal when Minister of Education Takahashi Seiichirô on 18 March 1947 explained before the Diet that the law first and foremost served to “guarantee the equality of educational opportunity, so that everyone can receive education according to their abilities. ”2 It is therefore not surprising that the origins of the concept of equality of educational opportunity in Japan are almost always seen to lie in the immediate postwar period, when it became official state policy as defined in the Constitution. A look at the 1955 “Dictionary of Educational Science,” for which the
An error propagation prevention method for MIMO-OFDM RLS-DDCE-algorithms

In this paper issues in the implementation of a recursive least squares (RLS) Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) decision-directed channel estimation (DDCE) and tracking algorithm for Spatial Multiplexing are discussed. Problems addressed are a simple calculation of the inverse autocorrelation matrix and schemes of training data or pilot symbols. While there is much work spend in evaluating pilot performances, the choice of pilot symbols cannot be decided based only on simulations. Three proposed schemes are discussed regarding off-the-shelf RF components' compatibility of an experimental MIMO system where polyphase pilots fail to yield good results. Because decision-directed channel estimation is prone to error propagation, we propose a scheme which makes a check on recovered symbol plausability by using the result from the Channel Decoder thus preventing error propagation.
Error Analysis for the Sparse Graph-Based Semi-Supervised Classification Algorithm

Recently, semi-supervised learning (SSL) has attracted significant attention in machine learning fields. While numerous experimental results have shown the effectiveness of SSL methods, the theoretical analysis in this area is still poorly understood. In this paper, we investigate the generalization performance of the recently proposed sparse graph-based semi-supervised classification algorithm. We use a computationally more simple way to solve the algorithm and present the excess misclassification error bounds. In detail, the Fenchel-Legendre conjugate is first employed to reform the algorithm to an inf-sup problem. Then, the covering number is used to estimate the excess misclassification error. Experiment results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the sparse SSL algorithm with new solving strategy.
Guest Editorial: GIS to Improve Public Health

Among public health practitioners, GIS is seen as an emerging technology. Yasnoff and Sondik (1999), from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently noted that ``we see GIS as one of the new core technologies in public health, providing the universal link that allows integration of data needed for effective public health decisions. '' Despite this endorsement of a pivotal role for GIS, it is uncommon for public health officials to discuss the need for research to support efforts to use GIS in the analysis of health data. Two issues of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice were devoted to ``Geographic Information Systems in Public Health'' in 1999 (Vol. 5, nos. 2 & 4); but none of the articles or editorial introductions in these issues discussed the need for research to support this effort. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. has sponsored three annual conferences on GIS and health in recent years and similar specialized conferences have also occurred in Australia, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, the U.K., and elsewhere. And yet GIS is rarely seen as a science for which basic research is required to answer questions that arise when it is used for public health purposes. From these activities a picture is beginning to emerge of an incipient interdisciplinary research area awaiting better definition. Like many emerging research areas, improvements in materials and methods are needed to counter the obstacles placed before the enthusiastic adopters of this new technology. Some of these have been widely discussed whereas others have not. For example, it has not been a common practice to record the locations of health events and the locations of factors that may be related to these events with the kind of specificity needed by researchers investigating the relationships of environmental factors to health. In fact, until recently, it was common for disease registries to keep on record only the current address of the person, successively erasing earlier addresses when a person changed their residence. Among the ten cancer registries supported by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), for example, there is not yet a consensus on how an address should be coded.