Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The performance analysis of wavelet in video coding system

In contrast to conventional block-based discrete cosine transform (DCT) coders, video coding based on wavelet is free from block-artifacts, and has a multi-resolution scalability, which is a strongly desired property for many multimedia video applications. In this paper, a simple wavelet-based video coding system and a new indicator are proposed to evaluate the performance of wavelet in the video coding system, and the composite performance of wavelet compression system is described through four indicators from different aspects. The possibility is analyzed in the video processing system which used wavelet technology, and we provide a selection principle of wavelet functions. Moreover, the research highlights the relationship between the data processed by the different wavelet functions and the quantization steps, and a new concept of sensitivity coefficients are proposed, that explained the characteristics of video applications which use wavelet transform. The specific performance of various wavelets is got through a large number of experiments. Finally, a selection principle of wavelet functions in video processing systems is given.
Consistent Discretization and Minimization of the L1 Norm on Manifolds

The L1 norm has been tremendously popular in signal and image processing in the past two decades due to its sparsity-promoting properties. More recently, its generalization to non-Euclidean domains has been found useful in shape analysis applications. For example, in conjunction with the minimization of the Dirichlet energy, it was shown to produce a compactly supported quasi-harmonic orthonormal basis, dubbed as compressed manifold modes [14]. The continuous L1 norm on the manifold is often replaced by the vector ℓ1 norm applied to sampled functions. We show that such an approach is incorrect in the sense that it does not consistently discretize the continuous norm and warn against its sensitivity to the specific sampling. We propose two alternative discretizations resulting in an iteratively-reweighed ℓ2 norm. We demonstrate the proposed strategy on the compressed modes problem, which reduces to a sequence of simple eigendecomposition problems not requiring non-convex optimization on Stiefel manifolds and producing more stable and accurate results.
Cell surface expression of LDL receptor is decreased in type 2 diabetic patients and is normalized by insulin therapy.

OBJECTIVE In type 2 diabetic patients with poor metabolic control, kinetic studies have demonstrated that LDL fractional catabolic rate (FCR) is slowed down, whereas it is normalized on insulin therapy. This study was designed to analyze whether variations in the expression of LDL receptors at the cell surface could explain the results observed in kinetic studies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS LDL receptors were quantified at the surface of mononuclear cells in fresh fasting blood samples by a flow cytometry method in 21 control subjects and 21 type 2 diabetic patients before and 3 months after the introduction of insulin therapy and concomitant removal of oral antidiabetic drugs. RESULTS Before insulin treatment, monocyte LDL receptor expression was reduced by 41% (6,439 +/- 2,310 vs. 10,846 +/- 2,764 receptors per monocyte, P < 0.001) in type 2 diabetic patients compared with control subjects. It increased by 57% after 3 months of insulin therapy (10,096 +/- 5,657 vs. 6,439 +/- 2,310, P < 0.01) and was similar to that observed in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that insulin plays an important role in the in vivo expression of LDL receptors. Moreover, modulations in the expression of LDL receptors in type 2 diabetic patients either with poor metabolic control or on insulin therapy are likely to contribute to the variations of LDL FCR demonstrated by kinetic studies under those circumstances.
Doublecortin (DCX) and doublecortin‐like (DCL) are differentially expressed in the early but not late stages of murine neocortical development

During corticogenesis, radial glia‐derived neural progenitors divide and migrate along radial fibers to their designated positions within the cortical plate. The microtubule‐associated proteins doublecortin (DCX) and doublecortin‐like (DCL) are critically involved in neuronal migration and division, and may function in a partially redundant pathway. Since little is known about the important early stages of corticogenesis, when neurogenesis is extensive, we addressed a possible differential role by examining spatiotemporal expression patterns of DCX, DCL, and the radial glia marker vimentin during murine development. We found expression patterns of DCL and DCX to differ remarkably prior to embryonic day (E)13. DCL was already expressed at E9 and largely overlapped with vimentin, whereas DCX expression started modestly from E10/E11 onward. DCL was mainly found in the ventricular zone, often in mitotic cells and in pial‐oriented radial fibers. In contrast, DCX was expressed in tangential fibers in the outer cortical regions. After E13, DCX and DCL expression largely overlapped but DCL expression had disappeared from the ventricular zone. Also, DCL levels were attenuated, whereas DCX remained high beyond E17. In conclusion, DCX and DCL are differentially expressed, particularly during early corticogenesis, consistent with their different functional roles. Given its involvement in mitosis, DCL appears to have a unique role in the early neuroepithelium that is different from later developmental stages when DCX is coexpressed. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1639–1652, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Social and behavioral characteristics of HIV-positive MSM who trade sex for methamphetamine

Background: Previous research among drug-using men who have sex with men (MSM) indicates that trading sex for methamphetamine may be common. Objectives: This study identified background characteristics, substance use variables, contextual factors, and sexual risk behaviors associated with trading sex for methamphetamine in a sample of HIV-positive MSM. Baseline data were gathered from 155 participants who were enrolled in a sexual risk-reduction intervention. Logistic regression was used to compare MSM who traded sex for methamphetamine with men who did not. Results: Forty-three percent of the sample reported trading sex for methamphetamine in the past 2 months. Trading sex for methamphetamine was associated with being a binge user, homelessness, having an income of less than $20,000 per year, being less assertive at turning down drugs, engaging in more anal sex without a condom, and seeking out risky sex partners when high on methamphetamine. Conclusion: These data suggest that the trading of sex for methamphetamine may be a primary source of new HIV infections within and outside of the MSM community, necessitating targeted interventions with this vulnerable subgroup.
Role of Prepancreatic (Pro)Insulin and the Insulin Receptor in Prevention of Embryonic Apoptosis.

The characterization of (pro)insulin as an early embryonic growth factor requires demonstration of its expression and cellular effects in vivo. By in situ hybridization, we found widespread preproinsulin transcripts in the chick embryo throughout gastrulation and neurulation, before the beginning of preproinsulin-like growth factor I expression and pancreatic organogenesis. To analyze the prepancreatic (pro)insulin effect on apoptotic cell death, we treated embryos with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in ovo and in vitro. The specific effect of two preproinsulin messenger RNA (mRNA) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides was confirmed by the decrease in a biosynthetically labeled protein immunoprecipitated with antiinsulin Igs. Insulin receptor mRNA antisense oligodeoxynucleotide applied in ovo increased by 2.7-fold the level of apoptosis in the 1.5-day embryo (neurulation) compared with that in its random sequence control. In a whole embryo culture, apoptosis increased by 25-35% with the addition of preproinsulin or insulin receptor mRNAs antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, respectively, whereas it decreased by 64% after 10 h in the presence of 10(-8) M chicken insulin. Exogenous insulin also rescued the death induced by preproinsulin antisense oligonucleotides. These findings provide evidence for an autocrine/paracrine role ofpreproinsulin gene products acting through the insulin receptor in the control of cell survival/death during early embryonic development.
Design of a Compact Multi-Sensor System for Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring Using Optical Spectroscopy

Tight glycemic monitoring and control is the main goal in successful diabetes management to avoid its complications. Frequent blood glucose measurements with a combination of regimented diet, exercise and insulin administration can accomplish this task. Different methods are applied for non-invasive measurement of blood glucose concentration. Despite the great interest and the intensive research in this field since 1980s, there is no convenient device at the market that can measure the glucose concentration non-invasively in an easy manner. This paper discusses the different methods for detecting the glucose concentration. Elastic and inelastic (Raman) scattering as well as fluorescence and IR Spectroscopy measurements well be shown and discussed for the development of a compact noninvasive device for home monitoring. In conclusions, an optical multi-sensor measuring the fluorescence and light scattering in the tissue optical window in and around visible range (360 nm – 1200 nm) taking the perturbation factors into account is promising and under development. Keywords— Diabetes management, elastic and inelastic scattering spectroscopy, glucose monitoring, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Posttraumatic Stress and Attentional Bias towards Cancer-Related Stimuli in Parents of Children Recently Diagnosed with Cancer

Objectives To investigate whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are related to attentional bias towards cancer-related stimuli among parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer. Methods Sixty-two parents completed questionnaires measuring PTSS, depression, and anxiety and the emotional Stroop task via the Internet. The emotional Stroop task included cancer-related words, cardiovascular disease-related words, and neutral words. Results Participants were split in two groups based on the median of PTSS: High-PTSS and Low-PTSS. There was a significant interaction between word-type and group and a planned contrast test of this interaction indicated that the High-PTSS group had longer response latencies on cancer-related words compared to the other word-type and group combinations. Conclusions Findings suggest that PTSS are related to attentional bias towards cancer-related stimuli among parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer. Implications of this finding for the understanding of PTSS in this population, future research, and clinical practice are discussed.
Analytical expressions for water-to-air stopping-power ratios relevant for accurate dosimetry in particle therapy

In particle therapy, knowledge of the stopping-power ratio (STPR) of the ion beam for water and air is necessary for accurate ionization chamber dosimetry. Earlier work has investigated the STPR for pristine carbon ion beams, but here we expand the calculations to a range of ions (1 ⩽ z ⩽ 18) as well as spread-out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) and provide a theoretical in-depth study with a special focus on the parameter regime relevant for particle therapy. The Monte Carlo transport code SHIELD-HIT is used to calculate complete particle-fluence spectra which are required for determining the STPR according to the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The STPR at a depth d depends primarily on the average energy of the primary ions at d rather than on their charge z or absolute position in the medium. However, STPRs for different sets of stopping-power data for water and air recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements are compared, including also the recently revised data for water, yielding deviations up to 2% in the plateau region. In comparison, the influence of the secondary particle spectra on the STPR is about two orders of magnitude smaller in the whole region up till the practical range. The gained insights enable us to propose simple analytical expressions for the STPR for both pristine and SOBPs as a function of penetration depth depending parametrically on the practical range.
Effects of Forest Spatial Structure on Insect Outbreaks: Insights from a Host-Parasitoid Model

Understanding how cycles of forest-defoliating insects are affected by forest destruction is of major importance for forest management. Achieving such an understanding with data alone is difficult, however, because population cycles are typically driven by species interactions that are highly nonlinear. We therefore constructed a mathematical model to investigate the effects of forest destruction on defoliator cycles, focusing on defoliator cycles driven by parasitoids. Our model shows that forest destruction can increase defoliator density when parasitoids disperse much farther than defoliators because the benefits of reduced defoliator mortality due to increased parasitoid dispersal mortality exceed the costs of increased defoliator dispersal mortality. This novel result can explain observations of increased outbreak duration with increasing forest fragmentation in forest tent caterpillar populations. Our model also shows that larger habitat patches can mitigate habitat loss, with clear implications for forest management. To better understand our results, we developed an approximate model that shows that defoliator spatial dynamics can be predicted from the proportion of dispersing animals that land in suitable habitat. This approximate model is practically useful because its parameters can be estimated from widely available data. Our model thus suggests that forest destruction may exacerbate defoliator outbreaks but that management practices could mitigate such effects.
Can the Market Add and Subtract? Mispricing in Tech Stock Carve-Outs

Recent equity carve-outs in US technology stocks appear to violate a basic premise of financial theory: identical assets have identical prices. In our 1998-2000 sample, holders of a share of company A are expected to receive x shares of company B, but the price of A is less than x times the price of B. A prominent example involves 3Com and Palm. Arbitrage does not eliminate these blatant mispricing due to short sale constraints, so that B is overpriced but expensive or impossible to sell short. Evidence from options prices shows that shorting costs are extremely high, eliminating exploitable arbitrage opportunities.
Television exposure is related to fear of avian flu, an Ecological Study across 23 member states of the European Union

Abstract Background: A pandemic outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza is believed to coincide with large-scale panic. Even without an outbreak fear of infection may be widespread. Mass media coverage of the risks of a pandemic may lead to higher levels of fear. Methods: An ecological study looked at data from 23 member states of the European Union and controlled for population size, level of education, age distribution and income and wealth. Results: When the findings for Cyprus were excluded each additional hour of average TV viewing was associated with a 15.6% increase in the proportion of people worrying about the virus. TV viewing explained 52% of the variance. Conclusion: Fear of a pandemic precedes any real pandemic and may have to be dealt with separately. Exposure to television is highly associated with worrying about the virus. This relationship merits further study.
Structural elements in glycoprotein 70 from polytropic Friend mink cell focus-inducing virus and glycoprotein 71 from ecotropic Friend murine leukemia virus, as defined by disulfide-bonding pattern and limited proteolysis

The disulfide-bonding pattern of glycoprotein 70 (gp70), the surface glycoprotein (SU) encoded by the envelope gene of polytropic Friend milk cell focus-inducing virus, was elucidated and compared with that of glycoprotein 71 (gp71), the corresponding glycoprotein of the ecotropic Friend murine leukemia virus, which had previously been determined (M. Linder, D. Linder, J. Hahnen, H.-H. Schott, and Stirm, Eur. J. Biochem. 203:65-73, 1992). In the carboxy-terminal constant domain, in which these glycoproteins have about 97% sequence homology, the location of the four disulfide bonds was found to be analogous. In the amino-terminal differential domain, with about 37% sequence homology, 8 of the 12 cysteine residues of the ecotropic SU are conserved in the polytropic SU. In this domain, a similar clustering of disulfide bonds was detected, which led to the identification of three distinct disulfide-bonded regions in both glycoproteins. However, because of deletions and sequence deviations, the glycoproteins must have significantly different three-dimensional structures in these regions. Since the receptor-binding functions of both glycoproteins have been attributed to their amino-terminal domains and since each binds to a different receptor, these disulfide-bonded structures are likely candidates for receptor-binding functions. Limited proteolysis of both glycoproteins with various endoproteinases led to the identification of preferential proteolytic sites between disulfide-bonded regions, at the beginning of the hypervariable proline-rich region, and between differential and constant domains, further confirming the structural organization of the folded glycoproteins.
PVANet: Lightweight Deep Neural Networks for Real-time Object Detection

In object detection, reducing computational cost is as important as improving accuracy for most practical usages. This paper proposes a novel network structure, which is an order of magnitude lighter than other state-of-the-art networks while maintaining the accuracy. Based on the basic principle of more layers with less channels, this new deep neural network minimizes its redundancy by adopting recent innovations including C.ReLU and Inception structure. We also show that this network can be trained efficiently to achieve solid results on well-known object detection benchmarks: 84.9% and 84.2% mAP on VOC2007 and VOC2012 while the required compute is less than 10% of the recent ResNet-101.
Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive : Experience of women in Osogbo , southwestern Nigeria

Background: Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive is a long-acting contraceptive given intramuscularly to give protection against unwanted pregnancy for a period of 2 or 3 months, depending on the type. Alterations in menstrual pattern are a well known side effect of this effective contraceptive method. Objectives: To determine the characteristics of women accepting the method, complications and indications for
A retrospective study on 1592 consecutively performed operations in one private referral clinic. Part I: Early inflammation and early implant failures

BACKGROUND Few large-scale follow-up studies are reported on routine implant treatment. PURPOSE To report retrospective data on early inflammatory and early implant failures in a large number of routine patients at one private referral clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1017 patients were consecutively provided with 3082 implants with an anodized surface (Nobel Biocare AB) at 1592 implant operations between 2000 and 2011. All patients reported with mucosa inflammation and bone loss and/or implant failures to the first annual examination were identified. A logistic multivariate data analysis was performed to identify possible factors with an association to the two events. RESULTS Altogether 33 patients/operations presented early inflammation (2.1% operations). "History of periodontitis" (OR 3.91; 95% CI: 1.86-8.21), "numbers of implants" (OR1.33; 95% CI:1.07-1.67 per implant), "two stage surgical technique" (OR 3.70; 95% CI: 1.75-7.85), and "lower jaw" treatment (OR 4.73; 95% CI: 2.12-10.57) increased the risk for early mucositis with bone loss (P < .05). Highest risk for early inflammation was observed for patients at an age of 50-55 years at surgery (P < .05). "Smoking habits" (OR 2.08; 95% CI: 1.06-4.10) "Immediate implant placement" (OR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.23-3.54), and "immediate grafting procedures" (OR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.04-4.19) had a significant association to early implant failures (P < .05). Furthermore, risk for an early failure decreased with 22% per year of inclusion (2000 >2011; OR 1.22; 95% CI;1.08-1.39). CONCLUSION History of periodontitis and two-stage surgery protocols with bone grafts in the (posterior) lower jaw increased the risk for early inflammatory problems after surgery (P < .05), with the highest risk for mid-aged patients (P < .05). Preventable factors related to the patient (smoking) and experience of surgeon showed to have a significant association to early implant failures in routine clinical practice (P < .05).
Synergistic Suppression of Microtubule Dynamics by Discodermolide and Paclitaxel in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Cells

Discodermolide is a new microtubule-targeted antimitotic drug in Phase I clinical trials that, like paclitaxel, stabilizes microtubule dynamics and enhances microtubule polymer mass in vitro and in cells. Despite their apparently similar binding sites on microtubules, discodermolide acts synergistically with paclitaxel to inhibit proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells (L. Martello et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 6: 1978–1987, 2000). To understand their synergy, we examined the effects of the two drugs singly and in combination in A549 cells and found that, surprisingly, their antiproliferative synergy is related to their ability to synergistically inhibit microtubule dynamic instability and mitosis. The combination of discodermolide and paclitaxel at their antiproliferative IC50s (7 nm for discodermolide and 2 nm for paclitaxel) altered all of the parameters of dynamic instability synergistically except the time-based rescue frequency. For example, together the drugs inhibited overall microtubule dynamicity by 71%, but each drug individually inhibited dynamicity by only 24%, giving a combination index (CI) of 0.23. Discodermolide and paclitaxel also synergistically blocked cell cycle progression at G2-M (41, 9.6, and 16% for both drugs together, for discodermolide alone, and for paclitaxel alone, respectively; CI = 0.59), and they synergistically enhanced apoptosis (CI = 0.85). Microtubules are unique receptors for drugs. The results suggest that ligands that bind to large numbers of binding sites on an individual microtubule can interact in a poorly understood manner to synergistically suppress microtubule dynamic instability and inhibit both mitosis and cell proliferation, with important consequences for combination clinical therapy with microtubule-targeted drugs.
Increasing the Proportion of Diabetics with AV Fistulas

Worldwide, older diabetic patients represent the most rapidly growing group of patients treated for end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Preexisting arterial as well as venous problems have led to a pessimistic view on the creation of vascular access in this population. During 1993–98 I created all primary arteriovenous (AV) accesses for a total of 181 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) ESRD and 567 patients with ESRD due to all other causes (non‐DM). The following approach led to good outcomes for both groups whether assessed by time to first intervention or time to failure: careful preoperative investigations for selection of adequate location for initial AV fistula through ultrasonographic techniques; timely surgical AV fistula creation; preference of large‐diameter, “healthy” arteries and veins, frequently requiring use of the elbow region; absolute priority for use of native vessels (i.e., avoidance of initial polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]); meticulous surgical technique and creativity; and continuous surveillance by the nephrologist and staff allowing elective revisions and avoidance of thrombosis. With this approach AV fistulas rather than PTFE grafts can be created in most diabetic and nondiabetic patients.