Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fully automatic multi-projector calibration with an uncalibrated camera

Multiple video projectors can be used to provide a seamless, undistorted image or video over one or more display surfaces. Correct rendering requires calibration of the projectors with respect to these surface(s) and an efficient mechanism to distribute and warp the frame buffer data to the projectors. Typically, the calibration process involves some degree of manual intervention or embedding of optical sensors in the display surface itself, neither of which is practical for general deployment by non-technical users. We show that an effective result can in fact be achieved without such intervention or hardware augmentation, allowing for a fully automatic multi-projector calibration that requires nothing more than a low-cost uncalibrated camera and the placement of paper markers to delimit the boundaries of the desired display region. Both geometric and intensity calibration are performed by projection of gray-coded binary patterns, observed by the camera. Finally, the frame buffer contents for display are distributed in real time by a remote desktop transport to multiple rendering machines, connected to the various projectors.1
Proteomics of rice seed germination

Seed is a condensed form of plant. Under suitable environmental conditions, it can resume the metabolic activity from physiological quiescent status, and mobilize the reserves, biosynthesize new proteins, regenerate organelles, and cell membrane, eventually protrude the radicle and enter into seedling establishment. So far, how these activities are regulated in a coordinated and sequential manner is largely unknown. With the availability of more and more genome sequence information and the development of mass spectrometry (MS) technology, proteomics has been widely applied in analyzing the mechanisms of different biological processes, and proved to be very powerful. Regulation of rice seed germination is critical for rice cultivation. In recent years, a lot of proteomic studies have been conducted in exploring the gene expression regulation, reserves mobilization and metabolisms reactivation, which brings us new insights on the mechanisms of metabolism regulation during this process. Nevertheless, it also invokes a lot of questions. In this mini-review, we summarized the progress in the proteomic studies of rice seed germination. The current challenges and future perspectives were also discussed, which might be helpful for the following studies.
Real-Time Identification of Bacteria and Candida Species in Positive Blood Culture Broths by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT Delays in the identification of microorganisms are a barrier to the establishment of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy of bacteremia. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) allows the identification of microorganisms directly from colonies within minutes. In this study, we have adapted and tested this technology for use with blood culture broths, thus allowing identification in less than 30 min once the blood culture is detected as positive. Our method is based on the selective recovery of bacteria by adding a detergent that solubilizes blood cells but not microbial membranes. Microorganisms are then extracted by centrifugation and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. This strategy was first tested by inoculating various bacterial and fungal species into negative blood culture bottles. We then tested positive patient blood or fluid samples grown in blood culture bottles, and the results obtained by MALDI-TOF-MS were compared with those obtained using conventional strategies. Three hundred twelve spiked bottles and 434 positive cultures from patients were analyzed. Among monomicrobial fluids, MALDI-TOF-MS allowed a reliable identification at the species, group, and genus/family level in 91%, 5%, and 2% of cases, respectively, in 20 min. In only 2% of these samples, MALDI-TOF MS did not yield any result. When blood cultures were multibacterial, identification was improved by using specific databases based on the Gram staining results. MALDI-TOF-MS is currently the fastest technique to accurately identify microorganisms grown in positive blood culture broths.
Effects of High Doses of Cholecalciferol in Normal Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background Vitamin D repletion with high doses of vitamin D is often recommended to patients and healthy subjects. The safety, especially concerning changes in urinary calcium excretion is of great importance. Methods In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 40 healthy volunteers, we examined the changes in mineral metabolism during supplementation with 3000 IU of oral cholecalciferol daily during 4 months. Results Both 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D increased significantly in the active treated group as compared to the placebo group (186% versus 14% (P<0.001) and 28% versus – 8% (P<0.001)). No change was observed in urinary calcium excretion in the active group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.891). Fibroblast growth factor 23 increased significantly by 10% (P<0.018) in the active group. However, there was no difference in changes in FGF23 between treatment groups (P = 0.457). Conclusion High dose cholecalciferol significantly increases 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D levels compared to placebo. No changes in urinary calcium excretion or other measured components of the mineral metabolism were found between groups. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00952562.
Parents’ Experiences of What Comforts Them When Their Child is Suffering From Cancer

The aim of the study was to describe parents’ narratives concerning what they find comforting when they have a child suffering from cancer. Interviews were conducted with 9 parents—8 mothers and 1 father—of children aged 3 to 9 years who were admitted to a pediatric oncology ward and had undergone their first treatment. The findings showed that the parents derived comfort from being close to their child, perceiving the child’s strength, feeling at home in the ward, being a family and being at home, and receiving support from their social network. Comfort experienced in communion with the child and others became important and helped the parents build a new normality perceived as being at home in life despite all their difficulties. Within the frame of communion, the parents seemed to experience moments of hope for their child’s recovery and survival.
Apparent water diffusion measurements in electrically stimulated neural tissue

The effect of stimulation on diffusion characteristics of electrically stimulated neural tissue was examined. Bullfrog nerves and spinal cords were excised and stimulated electrically during magnetic resonance imaging, and the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of water parallel and perpendicular to the long axes of the specimens were mapped with and without stimulation of the tissue. Electrophysiological recordings were used to determine the viability of the tissue after each experiment. No stimulus‐related ADC changes were observed in either the peripheral nervous system or the central nervous system tissue. These experiments may help to define further the nature of previously reported ADC changes in stimulated neural tissue in situ. Magn Res Med 41:241–246, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ice-wedge growth and casting in a Late Pleistocene, periglacial, fluvial succession at Baston, Lincolnshire

A range of relict, periglacial, ice-wedge cast structures exposed in the working faces of an aggregate quarry are interpreted by reference to analogues in the continuous permafrost of the western Canadian Arctic. Since the host sediments are stable, non-frost-susceptible sandy gravels, cast morphology displays little modification from the original ground ice geometry. Many of the casts are epigenetic and appear to result from the normal single growth and decay cycle, but the remainder are the products of two or more cycles involving rejuvenated ice-wedge growth in previously casted ice wedges. Sedimentological relationships within the latter reveal a complex history of development that is probably a response to both local and regional scale rapid climatic changes. Casts occur at three main horizons, but not exclusively so. The most severe periglacial phase is dated to the Last Glacial Maximum stadial c.18-25 ka BP and the youngest to the Loch Lomond Stadial c.12 ka BP. Geological reconstructions of former periglacial environments in the Quaternary, i.e. those that sustained perennially frozen ground or permafrost (Fig. 1), are an important aspect of unravelling the climatic history of the past (Worsley, 2003). The key to this endeavour is the diagnosis of sedimentary structures genetically related to permafrost, and the most ubiquitous of these are ice-wedge casts; they are therefore pseudomorphs. Such casts form when ground ice thaws and is replaced by sediment. Broad estimates of mean annual air temperatures, by reference to the distribution of actively growing ice wedges in contemporary permafrost, yield a maximum of -6˚ C, but this value is influenced by local environmental factors. Observations in Russia indicate that ice-wedge growth in gravels requires a more severe climate than that needed in finer-grained sediments (Romanovskii, 1985). A persistent problem is the confusion of real ice-
Prognostic factors for malignant mesothelioma in 142 patients: validation of CALGB and EORTC prognostic scoring systems

BACKGROUND The incidence of malignant mesothelioma is increasing. There is the perception that survival is worse in the UK than in other countries. However, it is important to compare survival in different series based on accurate prognostic data. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Cancer and Leukaemia Group B (CALGB) have recently published prognostic scoring systems. We have assessed the prognostic variables, validated the EORTC and CALGB prognostic groups, and evaluated survival in a series of 142 patients. METHODS Case notes of 142 consecutive patients presenting in Leicester since 1988 were reviewed. Univariate analysis of prognostic variables was performed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Statistically significant variables were analysed further in a forward, stepwise multivariate model. EORTC and CALGB prognostic groups were derived, Kaplan-Meier survival curves plotted, and survival rates were calculated from life tables. RESULTS Significant poor prognostic factors in univariate analysis included male sex, older age, weight loss, chest pain, poor performance status, low haemoglobin, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and non-epithelial cell type (p<0.05). The prognostic significance of cell type, haemoglobin, white cell count, performance status, and sex were retained in the multivariate model. Overall median survival was 5.9 (range 0–34.3) months. One and two year survival rates were 21.3% (95% CI 13.9 to 28.7) and 3.5% (0 to 8.5), respectively. Median, one, and two year survival data within prognostic groups in Leicester were equivalent to the EORTC and CALGB series. Survival curves were successfully stratified by the prognostic groups. CONCLUSIONS This study validates the EORTC and CALGB prognostic scoring systems which should be used both in the assessment of survival data of series in different countries and in the stratification of patients into randomised clinical studies.
Document supply of grey literature and open access: an update

Purpose: The article investigates the impact of the open archive initiative on the document supply of grey literature. Approach: The article is based on a comparative survey of five major scientific and technical information centres: The British Library (UK), CISTI (Canada), INIST-CNRS (France), KISTI (SouthKorea) and TIB Hannover (Germany). Findings: All major document suppliers are more or less deeply involved in the open archive movement, and this involvement has an obvious impact on the policy of acquisition, archiving and supply of grey literature (dissertations, reports, conferences etc.). Originality: The article is a follow-up study of our survey published in 2006.
Frequency, outcome, and appropriateness of treatment of nonionic iodinated contrast media reactions.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate the frequency, outcome, and appropriateness of treatment of adults with acute allergiclike reactions related to IV-administered nonionic iodinated contrast media. MATERIALS AND METHODS For IV injections of nonionic iodinated contrast media between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2005, contrast reaction reports and medical records of patients in whom contrast reactions occurred were reviewed. Data collected included patient sex and age, symptoms, reaction manifestations, treatment, and long-term sequelae. The appropriateness and efficacy of patient management were assessed. RESULTS Allergic-type reactions occurred in 545 (0.6%) of patients injected with nonionic iodinated contrast media: 418 (77%) reactions were mild, 116 (21%) were moderate, and 11 (2%) were severe. Two hundred twenty-one patients (41%) received treatment. The most commonly administered medication was diphenhydramine (145 patients or 27%). Corticosteroids were administered to 17 patients, nebulized albuterol to 16, and epinephrine to 15. Although 99% of the treatments did not result in any complication, three patients may have had short-term sequelae as a result of receiving a nonrecommended treatment. CONCLUSION Patients usually do well after developing acute allergiclike reactions to nonionic iodinated contrast media. Fortunately, in our series, this was true even in the rare cases in which the instituted treatment was considered to be inappropriate. Reacting patients rarely develop serious long-term sequelae.
Androgen receptor gene GGN and CAG polymorphisms among severely oligozoospermic and azoospermic Swedish men.

BACKGROUND We investigated the androgen receptor gene GGN polymorphism and its relation to male infertility and receptor function. METHODS Ninety-nine infertile patients with sperm counts < or = 5 x 10(6)/ml were screened for karyotypic abnormalities and Y-chromosome microdeletions. The GGN and CAG repeats were sequenced in those without genetic abnormalities and in 223 controls. RESULTS Five men (5.1%) carried Y-chromosome microdeletions and five had abnormal karyotypes. Neither the distributions of GGN nor of CAG differed significantly between patients and controls. However, the < 21 CAG and GGN = 23 combination of repeats occurred more frequently in the controls (16%) compared to the entire group of patients (4%; P = 0.003) and to the subgroup of 54 patients with idiopathic infertility (4%; P = 0.02). Testicular volume and CAG lengths were higher (P = 0.04 and 0.002 respectively) among the patients with GGN = 23 compared to GGN = 24. The odds ratio (OR) of having low prostatic secretory function was higher among patients with GGN = 24 than those with GGN = 23 (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.1-11.7; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS The < 21 CAG and GGN = 23 combination of repeats may confer a lower risk of infertility to the carriers. Androgen sensitivity may be higher among carriers of the GGN = 23 allele compared to the GGN = 24 allele.
Effects of Different Pre-sized Rooting Blocks and IBA Concentrations on the Rooting of Ramsey Grapevine Rootstock Cuttings

Amac: Ramsey (Vitis champinii) kumlu topraklari tercih eden bir asma anaci olup, floksera ve nematodlara karsi yuksek dayanikliliga sahiptir. Ancak bu anacin bir yillik odun celiklerinin koklenmesi oldukca dusuk duzeydedir. Bu calismada, farkli on boyutlandirilmis koklendirme bloklarina (kagit saksi ve fenolik kopuk) enjekte edilen farkli konsantrasyonlardaki IBA’nin Ramsey asma anaci celiklerinin koklenmesi uzerine etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Materyal ve Metot: Bu calismada, Ramsey celiklerinin koklendirilecegi iki farkli on boyutlandirilmis koklendirme ortam bloguna (kagit saksi ve fenolik kopuk) disaridan uygulanan oksini desteklemek amaciyla, farkli konsantrasyonlarda (0-50 ppm) IBA uygulanmistir. IBA cozeltileri dikimden once koklendirme bloklarina enjekte edilmistir. Celiklere ayrica hizli daldirma yontemiyle 2000 ppm IBA uygulanmistir. Celikler 45 gun sonra kok ve surgun kalite parametreleri acisindan degerlendirilmistir. Bulgular: Koklendirme bloklarinin ortalama kok sayisi, kok uzunlugu, surgun uzunlugu ve kok kuru agirligi uzerine etkisi istatistiki acidan onemli bulunmustur. Koklenme orani disindaki diger kalite parametreleri, kagit saksiya dikilen celiklerde fenolik kopuge dikilenlere kiyasla daha yuksek olmustur. En yuksek koklenme orani (% 43.2), 30 ppm IBA enjekte edilen fenolik kopuk ortamina dikilen celiklerden elde edilmistir. Sonuc: Bu calismada, kagit saksinin asma fidani uretiminde uygun bir ortam secenegi olabilecegi ortaya konulmustur.
Age of information of multiple sources with queue management

We consider a system of multiple sources generating status update packets, which need to be sent by a single transmitter to a destination over a network. In the model we study, the packet generation time may vary at each source, and the packets go through the network with a random delay. Each update carries a time stamp of its generation, allowing the destination to calculate for each source the so called Age of Information, which measures the timeliness of each status update arriving. Considering that queuing delay can unnecessarily increase the age of a critical status update, we propose here a queue management technique, in which we maintain a queue with only the latest status packet of each source, overwriting any previously queued update from that source. This simple technique drastically limits the need for buffering and can be applied in systems where the history of source status is not relevant. We show that this scheme results in significantly less transmissions compared to the standard M/M/1 queue model. Furthermore, the proposed technique reduces the per source age of information, especially in settings not using queue management with high status update generation rates.
Late Glacial and Holocene sedimentary infill of Lake Mondsee (Eastern Alps, Austria) and historical rockfall activity revealed by reflection seismics and sediment core analysis

Abstract Glacigenic perialpine lakes can constitute continuous post-last glacial maximum (LGM) geological archives which allow reconstruction of both lake-specific sedimentological processes and the paleoenvironmental setting of lakes. Lake Mondsee is one among several perialpine lakes in the Salzkammergut, Upper Austria, and has been previously studied in terms of paleoclimate, paleolimnology and (paleo)ecology. However, the full extent and environment of Late Glacial to Holocene sediment deposition had remained unknown, and it was not clear whether previously studied core sections were fully representative of 3D sediment accumulation patterns. In this study, the sedimentary infill of Lake Mondsee was examined via high-resolution seismic reflection survey over a 57-km extent (3.5 kHz pinger source) and a sediment core extracted from the deepest part of the lake, with a continuous length of 13.76 m. In the northern basin, seismic penetration is strongly limited in most areas because of abundant shallow gas (causing acoustic blanking). In the deeper areas, the acoustic signal reaches depths of up to 80 ms TWT (two-way travel time), representing a postglacial sedimentary sequence of at least 60-m thickness. Holocene deposits constitute only the uppermost 11.5 m of the sedimentary succession. Postglacial seismic stratigraphy of Lake Mondsee closely resembles those of well-studied French and Swiss perialpine lakes, with our data showing that most of Lake Mondsee’s sedimentary basin infill was deposited within a short time period (between 19,000 BP and 14,500 BP) after the Traun Glacier retreated from the Mondsee area, indicating an average sedimentation rate of about 1.4 cm/yr. Compared to other perialpine lakes, the seismic data from Lake Mondsee reveal little indication of mass movement activities during the Holocene. One exception, however, is rockfalls that originate from a steep cliff, the Kienbergwand, situated on the southern shore of Lake Mondsee, where, in the adjacent part of the lake, seismic profiles show mass transport deposits (MTDs), which extend approximately 450 m from the shore and are mappable over an area of about 45,300 m2. Sediment cores targeting the MTDs show two separate rockfall events. The older event consists of clast-supported angular dolomitic gravels and sands, showing high amounts of fine fraction. The younger event exhibits dolomitic clasts of up to 1.5 cm in diameter, which is mixed within a lacustrine muddy matrix. Radiocarbon dating and correlations with varve-dated sediment cores hint at respective ages of AD 1484 ± 7 for Event 1 and AD 1639 ± 5 for Event 2. As our data show no evidence of larger-scale mass movements affecting Lake Mondsee and its surroundings, we infer that the current-day morphology of the Kienbergwand is the result of infrequent medium-scale rockfalls.
Tacrolimus Increases Nox4 Expression in Human Renal Fibroblasts and Induces Fibrosis-Related Genes by Aberrant TGF-Beta Receptor Signalling

Chronic nephrotoxicity of immunosuppressives is one of the main limiting factors in the long-term outcome of kidney transplants, leading to tissue fibrosis and ultimate organ failure. The cytokine TGF-β is considered a key factor in this process. In the human renal fibroblast cell line TK-173, the macrolide calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (FK-506) induced TGF-β-like effects, manifested by increased expression of NAD(P)H-oxidase 4 (Nox4), transgelin, tropomyosin 1, and procollagen α1(V) mRNA after three days. The macrolide mTOR inhibitor rapamycin had similar effects, while cyclosporine A did not induce fibrose-related genes. Concentration dependence curves were sigmoid, where mRNA expression was induced already at low nanomolar levels of tacrolimus, and reached saturation at 100–300 nM. The effects were independent of extracellular TGF-β as confirmed by the use of neutralizing antibodies, and thus most likely caused by aberrant TGF-β receptor signaling, where binding of tacrolimus to the regulatory FKBP12 protein results in a “leaky” TGF-β receptor. The myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin was neither induced by tacrolimus nor by TGF-β1, indicating an incomplete activation of TK-173 fibroblasts under culture conditions. Tacrolimus- and TGF-β1-induced Nox4 protein upregulation was confirmed by Western blotting, and was accompanied by a rise in intracellular H2O2 concentration. Si-RNA mediated knock-down of Nox4 expression prevented up-regulation of procollagen α1(V) mRNA in tacrolimus-treated cells, but induced procollagen α1(V) expression in control cells. Nox4 knock-down had no significant effect on the other genes tested. TGF-β is a key molecule in fibrosis, and the constant activation of aberrant receptor signaling by tacrolimus might contribute to the long-term development of interstitial kidney fibrosis in immunosuppressed patients. Nox4 levels possibly play a regulatory role in these processes.