Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised Mask Patterns Generation for Extracting Action Specific Motion Features

This paper presents unsupervised mask patterns generation for extracting action specific motion features. Cubic Higher-order Local Auto-Correlation (CHLAC) feature is robust to position changes of human actions in a video, and it is effective for action recognition. However, the mask patterns for extracting features are fixed. In other words, the mask patterns are independent of action classes. This is a merit but the features extracted from those mask patterns are not specialized for each action. Thus, we make mask patterns automatically for extracting action specific features by clustering of local spatio-temporal regions in each action. Since how to extract features by the proposed mask patterns is the same as CHLAC, our method also has shift invariance property. By the experiments using the KTH dataset, the effectiveness of our method is shown.
Labor Mobility of Scientists, Technological Diffusion, and the Firm's Patenting Decision

We develop and test a model of the patenting and R&D decisions of an innovating firm whose researcher-employees sometime quit to join or start a rival. In our model, the innovating firm patents to protect itself from its workers. We show theoretically that the risk of a scientist's departure raises the firm's propensity to patent an innovation and reduces its research expenditures, which is confirmed in our empirical study of firm-level panel data. Our results suggest that the scientists' turnover partly explains cross-industry patenting variation, recent increases in patenting, and why small firms have high patent-R&D ratios.
The responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to high external ammonia and urea transporter inhibition: nitrogen excretion and expression of rhesus glycoproteins and urea transporter proteins

SUMMARY While adult zebrafish, Danio rerio, possess ammonia and urea transporters (Rh and UT proteins, respectively) in a number of tissues, they are most heavily concentrated within the gills. UT has a diffuse expression pattern within Na+-K+-ATPase (NKA)-type mitochondrion-rich cells and Rh proteins form a network similar to the arrangement seen in pufferfish gills (Nakada et al., 2007b). Rhag expression appeared to be limited to the pillar cells lining the blood spaces of the lamellae while Rhbg was localized to the outer layer of both the lamellae and the filament, upon the pavement cells. Exposure to high external ammonia (HEA) or phloretin increased tissue levels of ammonia and urea, respectively, in adult and juvenile zebrafish; however, the responses to these stressors were age dependent. HEA increased mRNA levels for a number of Rh proteins in embryos and larvae but did not elicit similar effects in adult gills, which appear to compensate for the unfavourable ammonia excretory gradient by increasing expression of V-type H+-ATPase. Phloretin exposure increased UT mRNA levels in embryos and larvae but was without effect in adult gill tissue. Surprisingly, in both adults and juveniles, HEA increased the mRNA expression of UT and phloretin increased the mRNA expression of Rh proteins. These results imply that, in zebrafish, there may be a tighter link between ammonia and urea excretion than is thought to occur in most teleosts.
A dielectrophoresis and image processing based system for loading single-neurons per micro-well in planar microelectrode arrays

In this article, which is related to the biomedical signal processing applications area of the workshop, we present a system for positioning a single-neuron inside each micro-well of a 4-by-4 planar microelectrode array (MEA). Neurons are moved toward the electrode sites of the MEA (located at the bottom of the wells) using dielectrophoresis. The system utilizes the image acquisition and processing capabilities of MATLAB to detect the presence of a neuron inside each micro-well and stop the dielectrophoretic force, thus preventing more cells from being loaded. This method provides a fast, simple and relatively inexpensive way for loading cells on MEAs embedded with micro-wells for the purpose of acquiring and processing action potentials from geometrically defined biological neural networks at the single-cell level. Recordings from neurons that were positioned using this system have been obtained and are presented.
Strong Kochen-Specker theorem and incomputability of quantum randomness

The Kochen-Specker theorem shows the impossibility for a hidden variable theory to consistently assign values to certain (finite) sets of observables in a way that is non-contextual and consistent with quantum mechanics. If we require non-contextuality, the consequence is that many observables must not have pre-existing definite values. However, the Kochen-Specker theorem does not allow one to determine which observables must be value indefinite. In this paper we present an improvement on the Kochen-Specker theorem which allows one to actually locate observables which are provably value indefinite. Various technical and subtle aspects relating to this formal proof and its connection to quantum mechanics are discussed. This result is then utilized for the proposal and certification of a dichotomic quantum random number generator operating in a three-dimensional Hilbert space.
Comparative Analysis and Fusion of Spatiotemporal Information for Footstep Recognition

Footstep recognition is a relatively new biometric which aims to discriminate people using walking characteristics extracted from floor-based sensors. This paper reports for the first time a comparative assessment of the spatiotemporal information contained in the footstep signals for person recognition. Experiments are carried out on the largest footstep database collected to date, with almost 20,000 valid footstep signals and more than 120 people. Results show very similar performance for both spatial and temporal approaches (5 to 15 percent EER depending on the experimental setup), and a significant improvement is achieved for their fusion (2.5 to 10 percent EER). The assessment protocol is focused on the influence of the quantity of data used in the reference models, which serves to simulate conditions of different potential applications such as smart homes or security access scenarios.
Learning in Physical Education: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

The purpose of this study was to review the literature relevant to learning in physical education (PE) according to the self-determination theory (SDT). In this literature review, we first provide an overview of SDT. Second, we discuss students’ SDT-related motivational profiles in PE. Third, we illustrate the relationships among students’ perceptions of the nature of an autonomy-supportive or controlling learning environment, need satisfaction, and self-determined motivation. Fourth, we explore the impact of SDT on students’ learning in PE with respect to the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. Finally, we articulate the pedagogical implications on the basis of the reviewed SDT research and future directions for SDT research in PE.
Traditional Culture and Academic Success among American Indian Children in the Upper Midwest.

This research examines factors affecting school success for a sample of 196 fifth-eighth grade American Indian children from three reservations in the upper Midwest. The regression model included age, gender, family structure, parent occupation and income, maternal warmth, extracurricular activities, enculturation, and self-esteem. The results indicate that traditional culture positively affects the academic performance of fifth-eighth grade children. The bivariate correlation between enculturation and self-esteem was nonsignificant and there was no significant interaction between enculturation and self-esteem indicating that enculturation was directly associated with school success. The findings are discussed in terms of resiliency effects of enculturation for American Indian children.
Efficient processing of large 3D point clouds

Autonomous robots equipped with laser scanners acquire data at an increasingly high rate. Registration, data abstraction and visualization of this data requires the processing of a massive amount of 3D data. The increasing sampling rates make it easy to acquire Billions of spatial data points. This paper presents algorithms and data structures for handling this data. We propose an efficient octree to store and compress 3D data without loss of precision. We demonstrate its usage for fast 3D scan matching and shape detection algorithms. We evaluate our approach using typical data acquired by mobile scanning platforms.
A Non-Cooperative Power Control Game for Secondary Spectrum Sharing

Limited spectrum resources, inefficient spectrum usage and increasing wireless communication necessitates a paradigm shift from the current fixed spectrum management policy to a more flexible one. With the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) spectrum policy reform, secondary spectrum sharing has become a viable and promising option. In this paper, we study power control for spectrum sharing among secondary users with interference temperature limit (ITL) constraints at measurement points. Each secondary user will adjust its own transmission power to make sure the overall interference at the measurement points does not exceed the required ITL. Under the assumption that each secondary user is selfish and rational while there is only limited coordination between primary users and secondary users, we study the distributed power control scheme for secondary users. In our proposed system model, secondary users generating the highest interference at a measurement point will back off their transmissions if the ITL is exceeded. A non-cooperative power control game among secondary users is proposed to maximize each user's utility. We identify the Nash equilibrium of the proposed game and analyze its property. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate that the proposed solution can achieve a satisfactory performance in terms of the total transmitting rate of all the secondary users.
Evaluation of wondfo rapid diagnostic kit (Pf-HRP2/PAN-pLDH) for diagnosis of malaria by using nano-gold immunochromatographic assay

Prompt and accurate diagnosis is necessary to start adequate treatment for different affecting species including P. falciparum and P. vivax. Here we described the Wondfo Rapid diagnostic Kit (Pf-HRP2/PAN-pLDH) for the detection of P. falciparum and pan-plasmodium in patient specimen by using a nano-gold immunochromatographic assay. Our rapid assay adapted nano-gold labeling techniques and the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against both histidine rich protein-2 (Pf HRP-2) of P. falciparum and pan plasmodium-specific pLDH (pan pLDH). The established two-antibody sandwich immunochromatographic assay could detect P. falciparum and pan-plasmodium. The sensitivity and specificity of Wondfo rapid diagnostic kit were determined by comparing with the “gold standard” of microscopic examination of blood smears. In this study1023 blood samples were collected from outpatient clinics in China and Burma, and detected by both Wondfo kit and microscopic examination. The detection sensitivity and specificity of Wondfo rapid diagnostic kit were 96.46% and 99.67% for P. falciparum (HRP2), 95.03% and 99.24% for pLDH, 96.83% and 99.74% for non-falciparum species, 96.70% and 99.74% for P. vivax, respectively. These results indicate that Wondfo rapid diagnostic assay may be useful for detecting P. falciparum and non-P. falciparum (especially P.v.) in patient specimen.
Reduction of Salmonella Typhimurium by Fermentation Metabolites of Diamond V Original XPC in an In Vitro Anaerobic Mixed Chicken Cecal Culture

Fermentation metabolites of Diamond V Original XPC™ (XPC), a biological product derived from yeast fermentation, were evaluated for their ability to reduce the Salmonella Typhimurium population using an in vitro mixed anaerobic culture system containing cecal microbiota to simulate chicken hindgut conditions. Four different samples were prepared: anaerobic mixed culture containing (1) feed only, (2) cecal only (ceca were harvested from 42 days old broiler chickens), (3) feed and cecal contents, and (4) feed, cecal contents, and 1% XPC. Two experimental conditions were investigated: Group 1, in which the cecal content was added at the same time as a S. Typhimurium marker strain and Group 2, in which the cecal content was preincubated for 24 h prior to the inoculation with the S. Typhimurium marker strain. The mixed cultures were incubated anaerobically at 37°C, and the S. Typhimurium marker strain was enumerated at 0, 24, and 48 h. Analysis of short chain fatty acids was also conducted for 24 h. In the Group 1 experiment, adding XPC did not exhibit significant reduction of S. Typhimurium. However, the presence of XPC resulted in rapid reduction of S. Typhimurium in Group 2. S. Typhimurium was reduced from 6.81 log10 CFU/ml (0 h) to 3.73 log10 CFU/ml and 1.19 log10 CFU/ml after 24 and 48 h, respectively. These levels were also 2.47 log10 and 2.72 log10 lower than the S. Typhimurium level recovered from the control culture with feed and cecal contents, but without XPC. Based on these results, it appears that the ability of XPC to reduce S. Typhimurium requires the presence of the cecal microbiota. Short chain fatty acid analysis indicated that acetate and butyrate concentrations of cultures containing XPC were twofold greater than the control cultures by 24 h of anaerobic growth. Results from the present study suggest that dietary inclusion of XPC may influence cecal microbiota fermentation and has the potential to reduce Salmonella in the cecum. Implications of these findings suggest that XPC may decrease preharvest levels of Salmonella in broilers and layers.
Treatment of Adult Psychiatric Patients Using the Wilbarger Protocol

Abstract This pilot study examined the effect of the Wilbarger brushing and joint compression protocol and sensory diet on symptoms associated with Sensory Defensiveness among 3 women with histories of self-injurious behaviors. Data were collected through interview, the 50-item Sensory Defensiveness Screening for Adults, and patient journals. Treatment lasted approximately 1 month. Symptoms and patterns of role engagement and self-injury were compared before and nine months after treatment. At follow-up all participants were re-engaged in valued roles with no incidents of self-injury. Respective items endorsed by participants on the Sensory Defensiveness Screening for Adults dropped from 58% to 54%, 43% to 18%, and 72% to 36%. This treatment approach appeared to have some positive influence on Sensory Defensive symptoms. Results suggest that it may be useful in treating women with a history of self-injurious behavior and they indicate the need for further investigation of this treatment approach.
Optimized Signal Shaping for Multi-Antenna Networks impaired by Multiple Access Interference

This paper deals with the optimized signal shaping for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems to maximize information throughput conveyed by pilot-based Multi-Antenna systems affected by both spatially colored Multiple Access Interference (MAI) and errors in the available channel estimates. The architecture of the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) MIMO channel estimator is derived and the related analytical conditions for the optimal design of space-time training sequences are provided. Afterward, closed form expressions for the maximum information throughput sustained by the considered system for Gaussian distributed input signals are given and, then, a novel power allocation algorithm for the asymptotical achievement of the system capacity is developed. Results of several numerical tests and performance comparisons are also presented supporting actual effectiveness of the developed analytical tool for Multi-Antenna networks working in an uncoordinated ”ad-hoc” mode. Finally, some considerations about novel effective Multiple Access strategies exploiting Space-Division are pointed out.
A systematic study of modified vocalization during metronome stimulation in persons who stutter

Purpose: The amount of stuttering produced by persons who stutter can be temporarily eliminated or substantially reduced during several known fluency-inducing conditions (FICs). One hypothesis put forth to explain this reduction was Wingate’s (1969; 1970) Modified Vocalization Hypothesis (MVH). Stated simply, Wingate proposed that the reduction in stuttering occurs because speakers do something different with their speech apparatus during the FICs, as compared to their normal speaking pattern. There has been much research aimed at examining this hypothesis, but the lack of experimental control of several possible confounding variables (e.g., speaking context, speech rate and instatement style used) limits the conclusions that can be drawn from these studies. Literature within and outside the stuttering community reveals that these issues likely affect data collection and interpretation, but no study has examined the nature of these confounds. The present study examined the effect of these issues using one of the most powerful FICs: the metronome effect. Method: This study involved 11 adult stutterers between the ages of 18 and 62 years old. Each participant completed a variety of tasks involving speaking to the beat of a metronome. A repeated-measures design was used to examine the relationship between several speech production variables (vowel duration, voice onset time, fundamental frequency, intraoral pressure, pressure rise time, transglottal airflow, and phonated intervals), and speaking context, instatement style, and speech rate. Results: The results revealed that instatement style and speech rate had a significant impact on the distribution of the main dependent variables, and on the specific dependent variables that are timed-based, including vowel duration, voice onset time, pressure rise time, and phonated intervals. Peak pressure was influenced by speaking context. Maximum airflow, vowel midpoint airflow, and fundamental frequency were not significantly impacted by speaking context, instatement style, or speech rate, with the exception of maximum airflow being altered by a large difference in speech rate. Conclusion: The results show the importance of considering speaking context, instatement style, and speech rate when examining vocalization variables during production of FICs. These issues must be considered when drawing conclusions about the importance of vocalization changes to the fluency resulting during the FICs. INDEX WORDS: Stuttering, Fluency-inducing conditions, Vocalization, Metronome, Acoustic analysis, aerodynamic A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF MODIFIED VOCALIZATION DURING METRONOME STIMULATION IN PERSONS WHO STUTTER
Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Genetic Variant Interacts with Omega-3 PUFA to Influence Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Metabolic Syndrome

Glucokinase Regulatory Protein (GCKR) plays a central role regulating both hepatic triglyceride and glucose metabolism. Fatty acids are key metabolic regulators, which interact with genetic factors and influence glucose metabolism and other metabolic traits. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been of considerable interest, due to their potential to reduce metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk. Objective To examine whether genetic variability at the GCKR gene locus was associated with the degree of insulin resistance, plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and n-3 PUFA in MetS subjects. Design Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-B, plasma concentrations of C-peptide, CRP, fatty acid composition and the GCKR rs1260326-P446L polymorphism, were determined in a cross-sectional analysis of 379 subjects with MetS participating in the LIPGENE dietary cohort. Results Among subjects with n-3 PUFA levels below the population median, carriers of the common C/C genotype had higher plasma concentrations of fasting insulin (P = 0.019), C-peptide (P = 0.004), HOMA-IR (P = 0.008) and CRP (P = 0.032) as compared with subjects carrying the minor T-allele (Leu446). In contrast, homozygous C/C carriers with n-3 PUFA levels above the median showed lower plasma concentrations of fasting insulin, peptide C, HOMA-IR and CRP, as compared with individuals with the T-allele. Conclusions We have demonstrated a significant interaction between the GCKR rs1260326-P446L polymorphism and plasma n-3 PUFA levels modulating insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in MetS subjects. Further studies are needed to confirm this gene-diet interaction in the general population and whether targeted dietary recommendations can prevent MetS in genetically susceptible individuals. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00429195
How Powerful is Unconditional Transfer? - When UT meets AC

We prove that every recursively enumerable language can be generated by a programmed grammar with context-free core rules using unconditional transfer with leftmost derivation of type 3 or type 2. We show that every recursively enumerable tally language can be generated by a programmed grammar with context-free core rules using unconditional transfer or by some k-limited ET0L system, where k 2 N is arbitrary.
An Allograft Glioma Model Reveals the Dependence of Aquaporin-4 Expression on the Brain Microenvironment

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the main water channel of the brain, is highly expressed in animal glioma and human glioblastoma in situ. In contrast, most cultivated glioma cell lines don’t express AQP4, and primary cell cultures of human glioblastoma lose it during the first passages. Accordingly, in C6 cells and RG2 cells, two glioma cell lines of the rat, and in SMA mouse glioma cell lines, we found no AQP4 expression. We confirmed an AQP4 loss in primary human glioblastoma cell cultures after a few passages. RG-2 glioma cells if grafted into the brain developed AQP4 expression. This led us consider the possibility of AQP4 expression depends on brain microenvironment. In previous studies, we observed that the typical morphological conformation of AQP4 as orthogonal arrays of particles (OAP) depended on the extracellular matrix component agrin. In this study, we showed for the first time implanted AQP4 negative glioma cells in animal brain or flank to express AQP4 specifically in the intracerebral gliomas but neither in the extracranial nor in the flank gliomas. AQP4 expression in intracerebral gliomas went along with an OAP loss, compared to normal brain tissue. AQP4 staining in vivo normally is polarized in the astrocytic endfoot membranes at the glia limitans superficialis and perivascularis, but in C6 and RG2 tumors the AQP4 staining is redistributed over the whole glioma cell as in human glioblastoma. In contrast, primary rat or mouse astrocytes in culture did not lose their ability to express AQP4, and they were able to form few OAPs.