Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intensity self similarity features for pedestrian detection in Far-Infrared images

Pedestrian detection is an important but challenging component of an Intelligent Transportation System. In this paper, we describe a pedestrian detection system based on a monocular vision with a Far-Infrared camera (FIR). We propose an original feature representation, called Intensity Self Similarity (ISS), adapted to pedestrian detection in FIR images. The ISS representation is based on the relative intensity self similarity within a pedestrian region of interest (ROI) hypothesis. Our system consists of two components. The first component generates pedestrian ROI hypothesis by exploiting the specific characteristics of FIR images, where pedestrian shapes may vary in large scale, but heads appear usually as light regions. Pedestrian ROI are detected, with high recall rate, due to a Hierarchical Codebook (HC) of Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF) located in light head regions. The second component consists of pedestrian hypothesis validation, by using a pedestrian full-body classification based on the ISS representation, with Support Vector Machine (SVM). For classification, we retained two feature descriptors: the Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) descriptor and the original ISS feature representation that we proposed for FIR images. The early fusion of these two features enhances significantly the system precision, attaining an F-measure for the pedestrian class of 97.7%. Moreover, this feature fusion outperforms the state-of-the-art SURF descriptor proposed previously. The experimental evaluation shows that our pedestrian detector is also robust, since it performs well in detecting pedestrians even in large scale and crowded real-world scenes.
0 Ju n 20 04 Eisenstein Deformation Rings ∗

We prove R = T theorems for certain reducible residual Galois representations. We answer in the positive a question of Gross and Lubin on whether certain Hecke algebras T are discrete valuation rings. In order to prove these results we determine (using the theory of Breuil modules) when two finite flat group schemes G and H of order p over an arbitrarily tamely ramified discrete valuation ring admit an extension not killed by p.
A unified framework for dynamic pari-mutuel information market design

Recently, coinciding with and perhaps driving the increased popularity of prediction markets, several novel pari-mutuel mechanisms have been developed such as the logarithmic market scoring rule (LMSR), the cost-function formulation of market makers, and the sequential convex parimutuel mechanism (SCPM). In this work, we present a unified convex optimization framework which connects these seemingly unrelated models for centrally organizing contingent claims markets. The existing mechanisms can be expressed in our unified framework using classic utility functions. We also show that this framework is equivalent to a convex risk minimization model for the market maker. This facilitates a better understanding of the risk attitudes adopted by various mechanisms. The utility framework also leads to easy implementation since we can now find the useful cost function of a market maker in polynomial time through the solution of a simple convex optimization problem. In addition to unifying and explaining the existing mechanisms, we use the generalized framework to derive necessary and sufficient conditions for many desirable properties of a prediction market mechanism such as proper scoring, truthful bidding (in a myopic sense), efficient computation, controllable risk-measure, and guarantees on the worst-case loss. As a result, we develop the first proper, truthful, risk controlled, loss-bounded (in number of states) mechanism; none of the previously proposed mechanisms possessed all these properties simultaneously. Thus, our work could provide an effective tool for designing new market mechanisms.
Load-balanced routing scheme for TinyOS-based wireless sensor networks

The main contribution of this paper is the design and test of a simple, reliable, and energy efficient routing scheme for sensor networks that successfully meets the goal of network longevity, and that demonstrates satisfactory robustness and network lifetime. The proposed routing algorithm allows a child sensor node dynamically searches for a new reliable parent node with more residual energy and takes in account the tradeoffs between latency and energy. This dynamic adaptation strategy can alleviate the energy hole problem. Although the use of Channel State Information (CSI) form broadcast beacons is crucial to link estimation, MultihopLQI's reliance on one form of CSI, i.e., LQI metric, is the main reason behind its inferior performance. Maximising the network lifetime is the subject of ongoing work by extending the experiments to scalable simulations on larger networks.
To switch or not to switch - Can individual lending do better in microfinance than group lending?

These days it has been witnessed, that banks other individual loans instead of group loans and develop products based on individual liability in developing coun- tries. In order to study this surprising turn, we expand the conventional approach on decision making of individuals. A social prestige function is introduced that re- Â‡ects the non-monetary impacts of group membership on the individual and on her decisions. If a borrower possesses more than a critical level of wealth, it is optimal for her to switch to individual borrowing. From a welfare perspective, a mixture of individual and group loans is desirable. However, the average borrower switches from group to individual lending too soon.
Making My Future Work: Evaluation of a New College and Career Readiness Curriculum

The college and career readiness movement figures prominently in the nation’s educational reform and policies, including strategies to increase graduation rates among disadvantaged students in urban schools. As part of a multi-pronged approach to help youth transition to post-secondary education and the workforce, the present study evaluated a new career intervention, Making My Future Work, designed to serve as a comprehensive, flexible career curriculum. Based on a quasi-experimental design among a sample of urban youth (N = 429), multilevel modeling revealed promising evidence for its impact across a range of outcomes, including grade point average, school engagement, career preparation, self-determination, and self-awareness. The implications of the findings, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
Demographic drivers of age‐dependent sexual selection

Sexual selection has a critical role in evolution, and it is fundamental to identify what ecological factors drive its variation. Disentangling the ecological correlates of sexual selection over the long term, however, is challenging and has rarely been done in nature. We sought to assess how demographic changes influenced the intensity, direction and form of sexual selection and whether selective pressures varied with age. We tested whether breeder sex ratio, number of competitors and age structure influenced selection differentials on horn length of wild bighorn rams (Ovis canadensis) of different age classes on Ram Mountain, Alberta. We used 21 years of data including a detailed pedigree, demographic parameters and repeated morphological measurements. Sexual selection on horn length of males of all ages was directional and positive. Selection intensity increased with the number of competitors, reflecting male–male encounter rate during the rut, but was independent of breeder sex ratio or age structure. This result can also be linked to changes in population size because the number of competitors was highly correlated to total number of sheep. This demographic effect likely arises from age‐dependent mating tactics. Males aged 2–4 years are weakly competitive and experienced stronger sexual selection as they accounted for a greater proportion of all males. Selection experienced by mature males appeared independent of demography. Our study provides a rare description of the demographic determinants of sexual selection in nature.
RESEARCH NOTES AND COMMUNICATIONS CUSTOMER-LED AND MARKET-ORIENTED : LET ’ S NOT CONFUSE THE TWO

Christensen and Bower (1996) report the results of a study of how customer power contributes to the failure of leading firms during a period of industry discontinuity. They conclude that developing a customer orientation appears not to be wise advice under these conditions. However, this conclusion is contradicted by long-standing theory and recent research in marketing. In this commentary we distinguish between two forms of ‘customer orientation’ that are frequently confused. The first, a customer-led philosophy, is primarily concerned with satisfying customers’ expressed needs, and is typically short term in focus and reactive in nature. The second, a market-oriented philosophy, goes beyond satisfying expressed needs to understanding and satisfying customers’ latent needs and, thus, is longer term in focus and proactive in nature. Based on theory and substantial evidence, the advice to become marketoriented appears sound regardless of the market conditions a business faces. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The relation between the psychological functioning of children with Down syndrome and their urine peptide levels and levels of serum antibodies to food proteins.

AIMS To investigate the relation between psychological functioning of subjects with Down syndrome, and their levels of urine peptide and serum antibodies to food proteins. METHODS 55 children with Down syndrome in a cross-sectional study. Psychological functioning was measured by the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition, McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and Fagan's computer based test of novelty preference. RESULTS The participants, and their siblings, were found to have significantly increased total urine peptide levels. There were no significant correlations between peptide levels and psychological functioning. Significantly increased levels of IgG activity to gliadin and gluten, and IgA activity to gliadin, gluten and casein were found. There were significant negative correlations (Spearman r = -0.13 to -0.51) between psychological functioning, and IgG and IgA activity to gliadin and gluten. CONCLUSIONS A significant relation between antibodies to gluten and psychological functioning was documented. The mechanism and potential causal link are still unknown.
Enabling energy-efficient driving route detection using built-in smartphone barometer sensor

Human mobility is known to follow simple reproducible patterns, i.e., humans tend to travel a few known places. Early detection of those “significant journeys” has a prospect for emerging smart applications like real-time traffic route recommendation and automated HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems. In this paper, we design, implement, and evaluate a mobile system that effectively captures significant journeys based solely on the embedded barometer sensor of a smartphone. Unique elevation signatures of driving routes are extracted using the barometer sensor of a smartphone that is position/orientation independent and exceptionally energy efficient compared to other power-hungry sensors like gyroscopes and GPS units. Using over 90-miles of real-world data collected from the city of Brookings, SD, we demonstrate that the proposed system achieves the mean detection accuracy of 95.7% with the mean false positive rate of 2.3% using only the barometer sensor.
Identification of a major T-cell epitope within VP3 amino acid residues 24 to 37 of Theiler's virus in demyelination-susceptible SJL/J mice

Intracerebral inoculation of susceptible strains of mice with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in a chronic, immunologically mediated demyelinating disease that shares many features with human multiple sclerosis. CD4+ T lymphocytes play a critical role in the pathogenesis of virus-induced demyelinating disease. We have identified a region within amino acid residues 24 to 37 of the VP3 capsid protein of TMEV (VP3(24-37)) that is recognized by T lymphocytes from the demyelination-susceptible SJL/J strain of mice. The T-cell response to VP3(24-37) represents a predominant Th-cell response against the virus from either TMEV-immunized or TMEV-infected SJL/J mice, and viral epitopes VP1(233-250), VP2(74-86), and VP3(24-37) account for most of the Th-cell response to TMEV.
Familial Aggregation of Urinary Tract and Bone Tumors: Searching for a Syndrome

Positive family anamnesis is an important risk factor for cancer, and therefore further investigations need to be done if familial aggregation of cancer is observed. Due to a rare combination of urinary tract and bone tumors occurring in the family presented herein we hypothesized a hereditary predisposition and thus, Li-Fraumeni syndrome was considered to be the most likely differential diagnosis. To confirm Li-Fraumeni syndrome, we set out to investigate this case by analyzing the tumor suppressor gene p53. However, taking into account all the diagnostic results obtained, Li-Fraumeni syndrome could not be confirmed, but there is still uncertainty regarding a definitive diagnosis.
How Formality Works: The Case of Environmental Professionals

This article provides an overview of our research on environmental professionals in Switzerland over the last twenty years. From the beginning, we were interested in studying how formality functions in this field and how abstraction drives jurisdictional change We started with the goal of examining professsionalization, i.e., the question of whether a new environmental profession arises. Our findings suggest this has not yet occurred; instead, we observe increased scientification of the field, underlining the role of science-based formalization (providing social capital in the form of a science-based language). We analyze a survey on environmental professionals and show how abstraction works: reduction and formalization as two distinct forms of abstraction are specifically related to inter- and intra-professional competition.
Getting a grip on other minds: Mirror neurons, intention understanding, and cognitive empathy

Abstract We have previously shown that a right inferior frontal mirror neuron area for grasping responds differently to observed grasping actions embedded in contexts that suggest different intentions, such as drinking and cleaning (Iacoboni, Molnar-Szakacs, Gallese, Buccino, Mazziotta, & Rizzolatti, 2005). Information about intentions, however, may be conveyed also by the grasping action itself: for instance, people typically drink by grasping the handle of a cup with a precision grip. In this fMRI experiment, subjects watched precision grips and whole-hand prehensions embedded in a drinking or an eating context. Indeed, in the right inferior frontal mirror neuron area there was higher activity for observed precision grips in the drinking context. Signal changes in the right inferior frontal mirror neuron area were also significantly correlated with scores on Empathic Concern subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, a measure of emotional empathy. These data suggest that human mirror neuron areas use both contextual and grasping type information to predict the intentions of others. They also suggest that mirror neuron activity is strongly linked to social competence.
Strength, Fracture Toughness, and Slow Crack Growth of Zirconia/Alumina Composites at Elevated Temperature

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. The 10-mol % yttria-stabilized zirconia (10-YSZ)/alumina composites reinforced with alumina platelets containing 0 to 30 mol % alumina were tested at 1000 °C in air to determine flexure strength and fracture toughness. Slow crack growth was also determined in flexure at 1000 °C in air using dynamic fatigue testing for selected composites including 0 mol % (10-YSZ matrix) and 30 mol % particulate and 30 mol % platelet composites. 2. Elevated-temperature flexure strength of the platelet composites, except for 10 mol % alumina content, remained virtually unchanged with respect to the 0 mol % (10-YSZ matrix) strength. The strength of 10 mol % alumina composite was increased by 17%. However, flexure strength was approximately 30% lower in the platelet than in the particulate composites at 30 mol % where a maximum strength yielded for the particulate composites. 3. Elevated-temperature fracture toughness of the platelet composites, determined by SEVNB method, increased with increasing alumina content, reaching a maximum at 30 mol %. A 74% increase in fracture toughness was achieved when alumina content increased from 0 to 30 mol %. Fracture toughness was approximately 16% greater in the platelet composites than in the particulate composites. 4. The susceptibility to slow crack growth was high for both 0 and 30 mol % particulate composites with lower SCG parameters of
Automatic Tree Annotation in LiDAR Data

LiDAR provides highly accurate 3D point cloud data for a number of tasks such as forest surveying and urban planning. Automatic classification of this data, however, is challenging since the dataset can be extremely large and manual annotation is labour intensive if not impossible. We provide a method of automatically annotating airborne LiDAR data for individual trees or tree regions by filtering out the ground measurements and then using the number of returns embedded in the dataset. The method is validated on a manually annotated dataset for Dublin city with promising results.
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation ( allo-HCT ) is a potentially curative treatment for many patients with high-risk hematological malignancies

The Rockefeller University Press $30.00 J. Exp. Med. www.jem. org/cgi/doi/10.1084/jem.20101709 Cite by DOI: 10.1084/jem.20101709 of 4 Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a potentially curative treatment for many patients with high-risk hematological malignancies (Rabinowe et al., 1993; van Besien et al., 1998; Pavletic et al., 2000; Alyea et al., 2001; Bishop et al., 2003; Dreger et al., 2003; Maris et al., 2004; Peggs et al., 2005; Sorror et al., 2005). The success of allo-HCT is largely based on immunological graft-versus-tumor effects mediated by allogeneic T lymphocytes present in the graft (Collin et al., 2007). Unfortunately, this beneficial effect is counterbalanced by the occurrence of graft-versus-host reactions directed against normal host tissues resulting in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potentially life-threatening complication which limits the success of allo-HCT. GVHD may manifest as inflammation of the host tissue including, but not limited to, the skin, liver, and gut. Depending on the degree of genetic disparity between allogeneic donor and recipient, GVHD may occur in up to 75% and may lead to death in up to 20% of transplant recipients (Mielcarek et al., 2003). Therefore, a major objective in allo-HCT is the prevention of GVHD. Studies in the last decade have led to the concept that tissue injuries induced by the transplantation regimen activate host APCs, which in turn control the priming of donor CORRESPONDENCE Miriam Merad: Miriam.Merad@mssm.edu
Behavioral and neural correlates of chronic blast-related mild traumatic brain injury

vii TABLE OF CONTENTS . ix LIST OF TABLES . xii LIST OF FIGURES . xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xvi CHAPTER ONE: General Introduction . 1 TBI Severity and Classification . 1 Epidemiology . 3 Neuropathology . 4 Neuroimaging . 8 DTI . 8 Behavioral Outcome . 13 Neuropsychological Sequelae . 15 Specific Aims . 18 CHAPTER TWO: White Matter Abnormalities are Associated with Chronic Postconcussion Symptoms in Blast-Related mTBI . 2
Galectin-1 influences migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE To determine whether the beta-galactoside-binding matricellular protein Gal-1 is expressed in human specimens of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and to evaluate its influence on RPE migration. METHODS RT-PCR was used to detect Gal-1-specific transcripts in PVR membranes, and the expression pattern of Gal-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry. Expression of Gal-1 in native, low- and high-density cultured RPE cells was determined by Western blot analysis. Cultured human RPE cells were treated with bFGF, TGF-beta2, PDGF-BB, or HGF. The dose-response of Gal-1 mRNA expression was measured by by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. Induction of Gal-1 protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis. To study the effect of Gal-1 on RPE migration in vitro, Gal-1 expression was silenced by RNA interference. beta-Lactose was used to saturate extracellular galectins. RPE cell migration was assessed by a modified Boyden chamber assay, with HGF as the chemoattractant. RESULTS Gal-1 mRNA expression was present in human specimens of PVR membranes, and staining for Gal-1 was distributed throughout the extracellular matrix (ECM) of PVR membranes. Colocalization was found with laminin and fibronectin and cells of epithelial origin. Western blot analysis revealed greater baseline expression levels in low-density cultured RPE cells than in native and high-density cultured RPE cells. Treatment with HGF caused a dose-dependent increase in Gal-1 expression. Low expression levels of Gal-1 correlated with a reduction of RPE migration to 14% of control. beta-Lactose inhibited HGF-induced RPE cell migration to 23% of control. CONCLUSIONS Gal-1 is present in the extracellular matrix of PVR membranes and may be derived from dedifferentiated RPE cells. The expression level of Gal-1 appears to be related to a migratory RPE phenotype and stimulation by HGF, both conditions implicated in the pathogenesis of early PVR. Furthermore, HGF-induced RPE migration may be dependent, at least in part, on Gal-1- and beta-galactoside-dependent mechanisms.
Innovative Assessments Help Elucidate Sustained Improvements in Fitness and Metabolic Health in Obese Children

Objective Treatment of childhood obesity is a medical challenge and limited data are available describing successful long term interventions. This study presents a multi-disciplinary intervention that resulted in sustained physiological improvement over a one-year period. Methods The criterion outcome variables include cardiovascular fitness (CVF) measured by a population-specific treadmill test to predict maximal oxygen uptake (predicted VO2 max) and the body composition (BC) variables of fat mass, non-bone lean mass and percent body fat from whole body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Subjects were overweight and obese children (N=79) evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months at a University Hospital-based pediatric fitness clinic. Results Statistically significant improvements in non-bone lean body mass (+4.24 kg ± 5.0, p<0.0001) and predicted VO2 max (+0.14L/min ± 0.10, p<0.0001) were seen at 6 months. These significant improvements were sustained over 12 months: body fat percentage (−2.28 ± 3.49, p<0.0001), lean mass (+6.0 kg ± 4.0, p<0.0001) and predicted VO2 max (+0.22 L/min ± 0.19, p<0.0001). These results were observed despite increases in weight and body mass index (BMI) at 6-months (weight: +6.6 kg ± 6.93, p<0.0001; BMI: +0.37 ± 1.21, p=0.47) and 12-months (weight: +6.3 kg ± 5.8, p<0.0001; BMI: +0.91 ± 2.06, p=0.0002). Conclusion These results reflect the sustained effect of a multidisciplinary approach, and the value of using valid and reliable assessment methods to measure sustained physiological changes in a sample of 79 overweight and obese children.