Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mirror Representation for Modeling View-Specific Transform in Person Re-Identification

Person re-identification concerns the matching of pedestrians across disjoint camera views. Due to the changes of viewpoints, lighting conditions and camera features, images of the same person from different views always appear differently, and thus feature representations across disjoint camera views of the same person follow different distributions. In this work, we propose an effective, low cost and easy-to-apply schema called the Mirror Representation, which embeds the view-specific feature transformation and enables alignment of the feature distributions across disjoint views for the same person. The proposed Mirror Representation is also designed to explicitly model the relation between different view-specific transformations and meanwhile control their discrepancy. With our Mirror Representation, we can enhance existing subspace/ metric learning models significantly, and we particularly show that kernel marginal fisher analysis significantly outperforms the current state-of-the-art methods through extensive experiments on VIPeR, PRID450S and CUHK01.
Temperature characteristics of bacterial sulfate reduction in continental shelf and slope sediments

Abstract. The temperature responses of sulfate-reducing microbial communities were used as community temperature characteristics for their in situ temperature adaptation, their origin, and dispersal in the deep sea. Sediments were collected from a suite of coastal, continental shelf, and slope sediments from the southwest and southeast Atlantic and permanently cold Arctic fjords from water depths ranging from the intertidal zone to 4327 m. In situ temperatures ranged from 8 °C on the shelf to −1 °C in the Arctic. Temperature characteristics of the active sulfate-reducing community were determined in short-term incubations with 35S-sulfate in a temperature gradient block spanning a temperature range from 0 to 40 °C. An optimum temperature (Topt) between 27 °C and 30 °C for the South Atlantic shelf sediments and for the intertidal flat sediment from Svalbard was indicative of a psychrotolerant/mesophilic sulfate-reducing community, whereas Topt ≤20 °C in South Atlantic slope and Arctic shelf sediments suggested a predominantly psychrophilic community. High sulfate reduction rates (20–50%) at in situ temperatures compared to those at Topt further support this interpretation and point to the importance of the ambient temperature regime for regulating the short-term temperature response of sulfate-reducing communities. A number of cold (
Impact of Antinutritional Factors in Food Proteins on the Digestibility of Protein and the Bioavailability of Amino Acids and on Protein Quality

Dietary antinutritional factors have been reported to adversely affect the digestibility of protein, bioavailability of amino acids and protein quality of foods. Published data on these negative effects of major dietary antinutritional factors are summarized in this manuscript. Digestibility and the quality of mixed diets in developing countries are considerably lower than of those in developed regions. For example, the digestibility of protein in traditional diets from developing countries such as India, Guatemala and Brazil is considerably lower compared to that of protein in typical North American diets (54–78 versus 88–94 %). Poor digestibility of protein in the diets of developing countries, which are based on less refined cereals and grain legumes as major sources of protein, is due to the presence of less digestible protein fractions, high levels of insoluble fibre, and/or high concentrations of antinutritional factors present endogenously or formed during processing. Examples of naturally occurring antinutritional factors include glucosinolates in mustard and canola protein products, trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinins in legumes, tannins in legumes and cereals, gossypol in cottonseed protein products, and uricogenic nucleobases in yeast protein products. Heat/alkaline treatments of protein products may yield Maillard reaction compounds, oxidized forms of sulphur amino acids, D-amino acids and lysinoalanine (LAL, an unnatural nephrotoxic amino acid derivative). Among common food and feed protein products, soyabeans are the most concentrated source of trypsin inhibitors. The presence of high levels of dietary trypsin inhibitors from soyabeans, kidney beans or other grain legumes have been reported to cause substantial reductions in protein and amino acid digestibility (up to 50 %) and protein quality (up to 100 %) in rats and/or pigs. Similarly, the presence of high levels of tannins in sorghum and other cereals, fababean and other grain legumes can cause significant reductions (up to 23 %) in protein and amino acid digestibility in rats, poultry, and pigs. Normally encountered levels of phytates in cereals and legumes can reduce protein and amino acid digestibility by up to 10 %. D-amino acids and LAL formed during alkaline/heat treatment of lactalbumin, casein, soya protein or wheat protein are poorly digestible (less than 40 %), and their presence can reduce protein digestibility by up to 28 % in rats and pigs, and can cause a drastic reduction (100 %) in protein quality, as measured by rat growth methods. The adverse effects of antinutritional factors on protein digestibility and protein quality have been reported to be more pronounced in elderly rats (20-months old) compared to young (5-weeks old) rats, suggesting the use of old rats as a model for assessing the protein digestibility of products intended for the elderly.
On Predictability of Revisioning in Corporate Cash Flow Forecasting

Financial services within corporations usually are part of an information system on which many business functions depend. As of the importance of forecast quality for financial services, means of forecast accuracy improvement, such as data-driven statistical prediction techniques and/or forecast support systems, have been subject to IS research since decades. In this paper we consider means of forecast improvement due to regular patterns in forecast revisioning. We analyze how business forecasts are adjusted to exploit possible improvements for the accuracy of forecasts with lower lead time. The empirical part bases on an unique dataset of experts' cash flow forecasts and accountants' actuals realizations of companies in a global corporation. We find that direction and magnitude of the final revision in aggregated forecasts can be related to suggested targets in earnings management, providing the means of improving the accuracy of longer-term cash flow forecasts.
The Quantum Gromov-Hausdorff Propinquity

We introduce the quantum Gromov-Hausdorff propinquity, a new distance between quantum compact metric spaces, which extends the Gromov-Hausdorff distance to noncommutative geometry and strengthens Rieffel's quantum Gromov-Hausdorff distance and Rieffel's proximity by making *-isomorphism a necessary condition for distance zero, while being well adapted to Leibniz seminorms. This work offers a natural solution to the long-standing problem of finding a framework for the development of a theory of Leibniz Lip-norms over C*-algebras.
Imbalance entanglement: Symmetry decomposition of negativity

In the presence of symmetry, entanglement measures of quantum many-body states can be decomposed into contributions arising from distinct symmetry sectors. Here we investigate the decomposability of negativity, a measure of entanglement between two parts of a generally open system in a mixed state. While the entanglement entropy of a subsystem within a closed system can be resolved according to its total preserved charge, we find that negativity of two subsystems may be decomposed into contributions associated with their charge imbalance. We show that this charge-imbalance decomposition of the negativity may be measured by employing existing techniques based on creation and manipulation of many-body twin or triple states in cold atomic setups. Next, using a geometrical construction in terms of an Aharonov-Bohm-like flux inserted in a Riemann geometry, we compute this decomposed negativity in critical one-dimensional systems described by conformal field theory. We show that it shares the same distribution as the charge-imbalance between the two subsystems. We numerically confirm our field theory results via an exact calculations for non-interacting particles based on a double-gaussian representation of the partially transposed density matrix.
Influence of hygroscopic interior finishing on indoor comfort conditions

Indoor humidity level is important for building performance and occupants. The durability of building components is directly related to the humidity condition and materials inside buildings can get damaged if they are persistently under high levels of moisture concentration. The indoor humidity level is related to the room factors including moisture gains and ventilation conditions and to the moisture ab/desorption capacity of hygroscopic materials for interior finishing or furnishing of the building. The phenomenon of the indoor humidity level being dampened by the dynamic moisture interactive process between hygroscopic materials and indoor air is recognized as moisture buering effect. The buffering effect and the moisture ab/desorption performance of hygroscopic materials under different room factors were studied in this thesis by means of numerical simulation. The transient state indoor environment influenced by room factors, taking into account the moisture interactive process between indoor air and enclosure, was investigated numerically in this thesis. The CFD technique was employed in the numerical investigation
The initial conditions of high-mass star formation : radiative transfer models of IRDCs seen in the Herschel Hi-GAL survey

The densest infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) may represent the earliest observable stage of high-mass star formation. These clouds are very cold, hence they emit mainly at far-infrared and sub-mm wavelengths. For the first time, Herschel has provided multi-wavelength, spatially resolved observations of cores within IRDCs, which, when combined with radiative transfer modelling, can constrain their properties, such as mass, density profile and dust temperature. We use a 3D, multi-wavelength Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to model in detail the emission from six cores in three typical IRDCs seen in the Hi-GAL survey (G030.50+00.95, G031.03+00.26 and G031.03+00.76), and thereby to determine the properties of these cores and compare them with their low-mass equivalents. We found masses ranging from 90 to 290 M⊙ with temperatures from 8 to 11K at the centre of each core and 18 to 28 K at the surface. The maximum luminosity of an embedded star within each core was calculated, and we rule out the possibility of significant high mass star formation having yet occurred in three of our cores.
Examining the Alliance-Outcome Relationship: Reverse Causation, Third Variables, and Treatment Phase Artifacts

Psychotherapy research reveals consistent associations between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcomes in the youth and adult literatures. Despite these consistent findings, prospective associations are not sufficient to support the claim that the alliance is a change mechanism in psychotherapy. The current study examined the direction of effect of the allianceoutcome relationship, the contribution of early symptom change in treatment to the development of therapeutic alliance, and the potential for pretreatment interpersonal functioning characteristics to be third variables that account for the association between alliance and outcome. Participants were adolescents with depression and a history of interpersonal trauma that presented to a community mental health center for treatment. Findings demonstrated that a more positive therapeutic alliance predicted greater subsequent symptom improvement, even after removing symptom change occurring before the measurement of alliance. Results also suggested that early change only slightly contributed to alliance development. Finally, though pretreatment interpersonal functioning was related to the first session alliance, these pretreatment client characteristics were not related to later alliance or symptom change. Overall, results provided some support for therapeutic alliance as a mechanism of change in psychotherapy. Methodological and clinical issues are discussed.
Non-Elective Surgery for Acute Complicated Diverticulitis. PrimaryResection-Anastomosis or HartmannÃ¢ÂÂs Procedure? A Systematic Reviewand Meta-Analysis

Background: The use of Primary Resection-Anastomosis with or without protective ileostomy (PRA) or Hartmann’s Procedure (HP) in the surgery of complicated acute diverticulitis is still an open question. The latest published meta-analyses were limited to the most severe stages (Hinchey III and IV). Our systematic review aimed to compare PRA with the HP in all non-elective surgical patients with complicated acute diverticulitis (perforation or obstruction). Methods: A computerized literature search was performed on Medline databases until July 2014. The studies included in the meta-analysis were 24 with a total of 4,062 patients. Study outcomes included postoperative surgical complications, reintervention, 30-day mortality, overall mortality as well as the length of stay as secondary outcome. The pooled effects were estimated using a fixed effect model or random effect model based on the heterogeneity test. Results were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for dichotomous outcomes and as mean difference (MD) with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. Subgroup analyses by study type were performed. Results: The PRA group had a lower rate of postoperative surgical complications (OR=0.525, 95% CI 0.387-0.713), reintervention (OR=0.688, 95% CI 0.525-0.902), 30-day mortality (OR=0.389, 95% CI 0.259-0.586), overall mortality (OR=0.467, 95% CI 0.272-0.803) and length of stay (MD=9.129, 95% CI 2.391-15.867) compared to the HP group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis shows that the PRA technique is better than HP for all considered outcomes. Due to the high variability of the included studies, further randomized controlled trials would be required to confirm these results.
AcmB Is an S-Layer-Associated β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase and Functional Autolysin in Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM

ABSTRACT Autolysins, also known as peptidoglycan hydrolases, are enzymes that hydrolyze specific bonds within bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan during cell division and daughter cell separation. Within the genome of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, there are 11 genes encoding proteins with peptidoglycan hydrolase catalytic domains, 9 of which are predicted to be functional. Notably, 5 of the 9 putative autolysins in L. acidophilus NCFM are S-layer-associated proteins (SLAPs) noncovalently colocalized along with the surface (S)-layer at the cell surface. One of these SLAPs, AcmB, a β-N-acetylglucosaminidase encoded by the gene lba0176 (acmB), was selected for functional analysis. In silico analysis revealed that acmB orthologs are found exclusively in S-layer- forming species of Lactobacillus. Chromosomal deletion of acmB resulted in aberrant cell division, autolysis, and autoaggregation. Complementation of acmB in the ΔacmB mutant restored the wild-type phenotype, confirming the role of this SLAP in cell division. The absence of AcmB within the exoproteome had a pleiotropic effect on the extracellular proteins covalently and noncovalently bound to the peptidoglycan, which likely led to the observed decrease in the binding capacity of the ΔacmB strain for mucin and extracellular matrices fibronectin, laminin, and collagen in vitro. These data suggest a functional association between the S-layer and the multiple autolysins noncovalently colocalized at the cell surface of L. acidophilus NCFM and other S-layer-producing Lactobacillus species. IMPORTANCE Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most widely used probiotic microbes incorporated in many dairy foods and dietary supplements. This organism produces a surface (S)-layer, which is a self-assembling crystalline array found as the outermost layer of the cell wall. The S-layer, along with colocalized associated proteins, is an important mediator of probiotic activity through intestinal adhesion and modulation of the mucosal immune system. However, there is still a dearth of information regarding the basic cellular and evolutionary function of S-layers. Here, we demonstrate that multiple autolysins, responsible for breaking down the cell wall during cell division, are associated with the S-layer. Deletion of the gene encoding one of these S-layer-associated autolysins confirmed its autolytic role and resulted in reduced binding capacity to mucin and intestinal extracellular matrices. These data suggest a functional association between the S-layer and autolytic activity through the extracellular presentation of autolysins.
Low Expression of CDK5 and p27 Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Several previous studies have demonstrated that CDK5 or p27 expression in gastric cancer are associated with overall survival. We have previously reported that tumor suppressive function of CDK5 is related to p27. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between the clinicopathological parameters and overall survival with different CDK5/p27 expression statuses in 244 gastric cancer patients using immunohistochemistry. Low CDK5 expression was detected in 93 cases (38.11%) and low p27 in 157 cases (64.34%). The expression of CDK5 was significantly related to sex (P = 0.034) and Lauren's classification (P = 0.013). The expression of p27 was significantly related to sex (P = 0.012), differentiation (P = 0.003), TNM stage (P = 0.013) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001). Based on the combined expression of CDK5 and p27, we classified the patients into four subtypes: CDK5 Low/p27 Low (n = 69), CDK5 High/p27 Low (n = 88), CDK5 Low/p27 High (n = 24) and CDK5 High/p27 High (n = 63). The CDK5 Low/p27 Low expression was closely related to female (P = 0.026), diffuse type (P = 0.027) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.010). The CDK5 Low/p27 Low patients displayed poorer survival in comparison with the rest of the patients in Kaplan-Meier analysis. No significant overall survival difference was observed among the patients with CDK5 High and/or p27 High expression. In the multivariate analysis, CDK5 and p27 co-expression status was identified as an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer.
OBSERVING AND EXPLAINING THE TIMING OF SPRING / SUMMER ALGAL BLOOMS IN THE SOUTHERN NORTH SEA USING OCEAN COLOUR REMOTE SENSING

Phytoplankton or algal blooms (AB) are generally defined as a rapid increase in the biomass of algae in an aquatic system (e.g. Cloern, 1996). The naturally occurring spring algal blooms are an important source of organic food for the subsequent trophic levels in the marine food chain of the Southern Bight of the North Sea (SNS). The timing of the bloom may influence the secondary production (match-mismatch hypothesis) and the higher trophic levels and thus algal bloom information is useful for fish stock management (Platt et al., 2003). The magnitude and species composition of algal blooms in turn depends on human activities, particularly in coastal areas where nutrient discharges from rivers can cause eutrophication (Beman et al., 2005). In eutrophicated perturbed ecosystems the bloom timing is also important because it determines the period when undesirable effects can occur. Extensive blooms can disrupt the food chain or deposit thick layers of white odorous foam on the beach in case of Phaeocystis globosa (Lancelot, 1995). Sustainable management of these marine ecosystems requires detailed information of the algal bloom intensities and their dynamics.
Cluster Analysis of Vortical Flow in Simulations of Cerebral Aneurysm Hemodynamics

Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of blood flow provide new insights into the hemodynamics of vascular pathologies such as cerebral aneurysms. Understanding the relations between hemodynamics and aneurysm initiation, progression, and risk of rupture is crucial in diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies link the existence of vortices in the blood flow pattern to aneurysm rupture and report observations of embedded vortices - a larger vortex encloses a smaller one flowing in the opposite direction - whose implications are unclear. We present a clustering-based approach for the visual analysis of vortical flow in simulated cerebral aneurysm hemodynamics. We show how embedded vortices develop at saddle-node bifurcations on vortex core lines and convey the participating flow at full manifestation of the vortex by a fast and smart grouping of streamlines and the visualization of group representatives. The grouping result may be refined based on spectral clustering generating a more detailed visualization of the flow pattern, especially further off the core lines. We aim at supporting CFD engineers researching the biological implications of embedded vortices.
Apoptosis-induced CXCL5 accelerates inflammation and growth of prostate tumor metastases in bone

During tumor progression, immune system phagocytes continually clear apoptotic cancer cells in a process known as efferocytosis. However, the impact of efferocytosis in metastatic tumor growth is unknown. In this study, we observed that macrophage-driven efferocytosis of prostate cancer cells in vitro induced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as CXCL5 by activating Stat3 and NF-&kgr;B(p65) signaling. Administration of a dimerizer ligand (AP20187) triggered apoptosis in 2 in vivo syngeneic models of bone tumor growth in which apoptosis-inducible prostate cancer cells were either coimplanted with vertebral bodies, or inoculated in the tibiae of immunocompetent mice. Induction of 2 pulses of apoptosis correlated with increased infiltration of inflammatory cells and accelerated tumor growth in the bone. Apoptosis-induced tumors displayed elevated expression of the proinflammatory cytokine CXCL5. Likewise, CXCL5-deficient mice had reduced tumor progression. Peripheral blood monocytes isolated from patients with bone metastasis of prostate cancer were more efferocytic compared with normal controls, and CXCL5 serum levels were higher in metastatic prostate cancer patients relative to patients with localized prostate cancer or controls. Altogether, these findings suggest that the myeloid phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cancer cells accelerates CXCL5-mediated inflammation and tumor growth in bone, pointing to CXCL5 as a potential target for cancer therapeutics.