Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poker-DVS and MNIST-DVS. Their History, How They Were Made, and Other Details

This article reports on two databases for event-driven object recognition using a Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS). The first, which we call Poker-DVS and is being released together with this article, was obtained by browsing specially made poker card decks in front of a DVS camera for 2–4 s. Each card appeared on the screen for about 20–30 ms. The poker pips were tracked and isolated off-line to constitute the 131-recording Poker-DVS database. The second database, which we call MNIST-DVS and which was released in December 2013, consists of a set of 30,000 DVS camera recordings obtained by displaying 10,000 moving symbols from the standard MNIST 70,000-picture database on an LCD monitor for about 2–3 s each. Each of the 10,000 symbols was displayed at three different scales, so that event-driven object recognition algorithms could easily be tested for different object sizes. This article tells the story behind both databases, covering, among other aspects, details of how they work and the reasons for their creation. We provide not only the databases with corresponding scripts, but also the scripts and data used to generate the figures shown in this article (as Supplementary Material).
Surgical anatomy of hand allotransplantation

The hand is the most refined anatomical terminal device known and the leading edge of the sensorium. Further, the hand is second only to the face in terms of visibility and is a vitally important aspect aesthetic and body image. Hand amputation represents a devastating loss of function and independence. Restoring function after limb loss is a challenge and traditionally includes autologous methods and prosthetics. In the last 15 years, hand transplantation has become a viable option for select patients. Clin. Anat. 26:578–583, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bounded-depth Frege lower bounds for weaker pigeonhole principles

We prove a quasi-polynomial lower bound on the size of bounded-depth Frege proofs of the pigeonhole principle PHP/sub n//sup m/ where m = (1 + 1/polylog n)n. This lower bound qualitatively matches the known quasipolynomial-size bounded-depth Frege proofs for these principles. Our technique, which uses a switching lemma argument like other lower bounds for bounded-depth Frege proofs, is novel in that the tautology to which this switching lemma is applied remains random throughout the argument.
Original investigation A report on the Community of shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae) occurring in the Minkebe Forest, northeastern Gabon

This report presents the results of a study of the shrew Community in the newly created Minkebe Protected Area in northeastern Gabon. The previously unstudied park forms part of the large Guineo-CongoLian lowland forest block. The principal technique used to capture animals consisted of pitfall traps with drift fences. Three habitat types (marsh, heterogeneous forest and homogeneous forest) were surveyed. Four to seven species were recorded in each habitat, resulting in a total of eleven species for the study area. Several rare and little-known species occur in the park, such as Crocidura crenata, C. golioth, C. grassei, Suncus remyi, and Sylvisorex oilula. Crocidura maurisca is recorded for the first time from Gabon, far outside its previously known ränge in eastern Africa.
Specific Defects in Different Transcription Complexes Compensate for the Requirement of the Negative Cofactor 2 Repressor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Negative cofactor 2 (NC2) has been described as an essential and evolutionarily conserved transcriptional repressor, although in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that it can function as both a positive and a negative effector of transcription. NC2 operates by interacting with the core promoter and components of the basal transcription machinery, like the TATA-binding protein (TBP). In this work, we have isolated mutants that suppress the growth defect caused by the depletion of NC2. We have identified mutations affecting components of three different complexes involved in the control of basal transcription: the mediator, TFIIH, and RNA pol II itself. Mutations in RNA pol II include both overexpression of truncated forms of the two largest subunits (Rpb1 and Rpb2) and reduced levels of these proteins. Suppression of NC2 depletion was also observed by reducing the amounts of the mediator essential components Nut2 and Med7, as well as by deleting any of the nonessential mediator components, except Med2, Med3, and Gal11 subunits. Interestingly, the Med2/Med3/Gal11 triad forms a submodule within the mediator tail. Our results support the existence of different components within the basic transcription complexes that antagonistically interact with the NC2 repressor and suggest that the correct balance between the activities of specific positive and negative components is essential for cell growth.
Pharmacological rescue of Ras signaling, GluA1-dependent synaptic plasticity, and learning deficits in a fragile X model

Fragile X syndrome, caused by the loss of Fmr1 gene function, is the most common form of inherited mental retardation. Lim et al. find that compounds activating serotonin (5HT) subtype 2B receptors or dopamine (DA) subtype 1-like receptors and those inhibiting 5HT2A-Rs or D2-Rs enhance Ras signaling, GluA1-dependent synaptic plasticity, and learning in Fmr1 knockout mice. Combining 5HT and DA compounds at low doses synergistically restored normal learning. This suggests that properly dosed and combined FDA-approved psychoactive drugs may effectively treat the cognitive impairment associated with fragile X syndrome.
Adaptive Monte Carlo via Bandit Allocation

We consider the problem of sequentially choosing between a set of unbiased Monte Carlo estimators to minimize the mean-squared-error (MSE) of a final combined estimate. By reducing this task to a stochastic multi-armed bandit problem, we show that well developed allocation strategies can be used to achieve an MSE that approaches that of the best estimator chosen in retrospect. We then extend these developments to a scenario where alternative estimators have different, possibly stochastic costs. The outcome is a new set of adaptive Monte Carlo strategies that provide stronger guarantees than previous approaches while offering practical advantages.
Constraint Satisfaction Inference: Non-probabilistic Global Inference for Sequence Labelling

We present a new method for performing sequence labelling based on the idea of using a machine-learning classifier to generate several possible output sequences, and then applying an inference procedure to select the best sequence among those. Most sequence labelling methods following a similar approach require the base classifier to make probabilistic predictions. In contrast, our method can be used with virtually any type of classifier. This is illustrated by implementing a sequence classifier on top of a (nonprobabilistic) memory-based learner. In a series of experiments, this method is shown to outperform two other methods; one naive baseline approach, and another more sophisticated method.
Design of a Lossless Image Compression System for Video Capsule Endoscopy and Its Performance in In-Vivo Trials

In this paper, a new low complexity and lossless image compression system for capsule endoscopy (CE) is presented. The compressor consists of a low-cost YEF color space converter and variable-length predictive with a combination of Golomb-Rice and unary encoding. All these components have been heavily optimized for low-power and low-cost and lossless in nature. As a result, the entire compression system does not incur any loss of image information. Unlike transform based algorithms, the compressor can be interfaced with commercial image sensors which send pixel data in raster-scan fashion that eliminates the need of having large buffer memory. The compression algorithm is capable to work with white light imaging (WLI) and narrow band imaging (NBI) with average compression ratio of 78% and 84% respectively. Finally, a complete capsule endoscopy system is developed on a single, low-power, 65-nm field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) chip. The prototype is developed using circular PCBs having a diameter of 16 mm. Several in-vivo and ex-vivo trials using pig's intestine have been conducted using the prototype to validate the performance of the proposed lossless compression algorithm. The results show that, compared with all other existing works, the proposed algorithm offers a solution to wireless capsule endoscopy with lossless and yet acceptable level of compression.
APOE gene polymorphisms and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Genetic factors may influence the natural course of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and explain some of its variability. The aim of this review was to examine the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphisms and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Four relevant studies were identified. The two earlier works provided evidence that the ɛ4 allele is a risk factor for this complication, while the two more recent studies were negative. Important differences in the methodology used and in the populations included are obvious, rendering difficult the comparison between studies. In conclusion, the association between APOE gene polymorphisms and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is still unclear. Available evidence is rather limited and results have so far been contradictory. Future studies should employ more robust methodology, adjusting for potential confounders and for the prevalence of neuropathy in the general population with diabetes.
Circulating Bmp10 acts through endothelial Alk1 to mediate flow-dependent arterial quiescence

Blood flow plays crucial roles in vascular development, remodeling and homeostasis, but the molecular pathways required for transducing flow signals are not well understood. In zebrafish embryos, arterial expression of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (alk1), which encodes a TGFβ family type I receptor, is dependent on blood flow, and loss of alk1 mimics lack of blood flow in terms of dysregulation of a subset of flow-responsive arterial genes and increased arterial endothelial cell number. These data suggest that blood flow activates Alk1 signaling to promote a flow-responsive gene expression program that limits nascent arterial caliber. Here, we demonstrate that restoration of endothelial alk1 expression to flow-deprived arteries fails to rescue Alk1 activity or normalize arterial endothelial cell gene expression or number, implying that blood flow may play an additional role in Alk1 signaling independent of alk1 induction. To this end, we define cardiac-derived Bmp10 as the crucial ligand for endothelial Alk1 in embryonic vascular development, and provide evidence that circulating Bmp10 acts through endothelial Alk1 to limit endothelial cell number in and thereby stabilize the caliber of nascent arteries. Thus, blood flow promotes Alk1 activity by concomitantly inducing alk1 expression and distributing Bmp10, thereby reinforcing this signaling pathway, which functions to limit arterial caliber at the onset of flow. Because mutations in ALK1 cause arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), our findings suggest that an impaired flow response initiates AVM development.
High dimensions and heavy tails for natural evolution strategies

The family of natural evolution strategies (NES) offers a principled approach to real-valued evolutionary optimization. NES follows the natural gradient of the expected fitness on the parameters of its search distribution. While general in its formulation, previous research has focused on multivariate Gaussian search distributions. Here we exhibit problem classes for which other search distributions are more appropriate, and then derive corresponding NES-variants. First, for separable distributions we obtain SNES, whose complexity is only O(d) instead of O(d3). We apply SNES to problems of previously unattainable dimensionality, recovering lowest-energy structures on the Lennard-Jones atom clusters, and obtaining state-of-the-art results on neuro-evolution benchmarks. Second, we develop a new, equivalent formulation based on invariances. This allows for generalizing NES to heavy-tailed distributions, even those with undefined variance, which aids in overcoming deceptive local optima.
The Influence of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes on Periodontal Disease Progression

OBJECTIVE To explore associations between diabetes etiology (type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM] vs. T2DM) and glycemic control in the prediction of 5-year periodontal status change. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) is a population-based stratified sample of German men and women. Healthy participants and those determined to have T2DM arose from the SHIP cohort, and T1DM participants were recruited from diabetes clinics in the catchment area that gave rise to SHIP. Dentate participants (n = 2,626; 53% women; 20–81 years of age) were included. Diabetes was determined via physician diagnosis and/or HbA1c ≥6.5% (uncontrolled diabetes >7.0%). Examiners blinded to diabetes status performed random half-mouth periodontal examinations, assessing probing depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL) (four sites/tooth) at baseline and follow-up. Participants were categorized into six groups as follows: 1) diabetes free (n = 2,280), 2) incident T2DM (n = 79), 3) controlled T2DM (n = 80), 4) uncontrolled T2DM (n = 72), 5) controlled T1DM (n = 43), and 6) uncontrolled T1DM (n = 72). In multivariable regressions, mean PD change (ΔMPD), mean AL change (ΔMAL), or incident tooth-loss values were regressed across the aforementioned diabetes categories. RESULTS Mean (SD) ΔMPD and ΔMAL values among all participants were −0.08 ± 0.5 mm and 0.08 ± 1.03 mm, respectively, and 34% lost one or more teeth. Relative to diabetes-free participants, those with uncontrolled T2DM experienced greater ΔMPD ± SE (P < 0.05), whereas participants with either uncontrolled T1DM or uncontrolled T2DM realized greater ΔMAL (P < 0.05). Uncontrolled T1DM and T2DM were both associated with an increased risk of future tooth loss (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Diabetes control, but not etiology, was associated with future tooth loss and accelerated AL progression.
Resistance variation within and among host populations in a plant–pathogen metapopulation: implications for regional pathogen dynamics

1 Studies conducted on natural host‐pathogen metapopulations have revealed considerable diversity of host resistance phenotypes within populations. The resistance structure of non‐infected populations has, however, been largely ignored and the role of among‐population variation in resistance profiles in the dynamics of natural pathogen populations is poorly understood. 2 The Plantago lanceolata–Podosphaera plantaginis pathosystem in the Åland Islands in south‐west Finland is characterized by the highly fragmented distribution of the host. Only a small fraction of the host populations is infected at one point in time and pathogen turnover rate is high. I studied a sample of these populations to find out whether adjacent host populations are differentiated in their resistance structure and whether variable levels of disease resistance among host populations could be linked to disease incidence patterns. 3 Results show striking differences in the resistance structure both within and among host populations. Sixteen resistance phenotypes were identified in a sample of 64 host individuals. Populations varied from one in which all sampled individuals represented a different resistance phenotype, to one in which half showed identical resistance responses. 4 There was no association between local resistance composition and the geographical distance between populations, suggesting that within‐population processes, such as founder effects and genetic drift, largely determine local resistance structure. 5 Non‐infected populations showed significantly higher mean levels of resistance than infected populations, suggesting that differences in the mean level of resistance among host populations may retard the spread of the fungus and thereby decrease the probability of regional epidemics.
Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy does not diminish the immune response to influenza vaccine in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The recent widespread employing of potent biologic agents targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF) for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) raises the question as to whether patients treated in this way respond normally to the infl uenza vaccine. To the best of our knowledge, there are only a few articles in the English language literature discussing this issue, and no data have been reported from Japan. We therefore studied the humoral immune response to infl uenza vaccination in Japanese patients with RA who were treated/not treated with anti-TNF biologics in comparison with healthy controls.
Reversible diencephalic dysfunction as presentation of deep cerebral venous thrombosis due to hyperhomocysteinemia and protein S deficiency: Documentation of a case

A 45-year-old man presented with global headache, vomiting and abnormal behavior after cross-country run at high altitude. There was no seizure, loss of consciousness, fever or head injury. He was conscious, abulic and uncooperative with normal vitals. There was no focal neurological deficit. Non contrast computed tomography scan of head was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed venous infarct in bilateral thalami, left basal ganglia and periventricular white matter. Magnetic resonance venography revealed thrombosis involving internal cerebral veins, septal veins, thalamostriate veins, vein of Galen and proximal portion of straight sinus. His condition steadily improved on low molecular weight heparin bridged with oral anticoagulation for one year. At two months, serum homocysteine was 31.51 μmol/l (5.46-16.2 μmol/l) and protein S was 49.00% (77-143.00%). He received methylcobalamin, pyridoxine and folic acid. After 16 months, he was asymptomatic with partially recanalized deep cerebral veins and serum homocysteine falling to 16.50 μmol/l (5.46-16.2 μmol/l).
Using Perseverative Interests to Improve Interactions Between Adolescents With Autism and Their Typical Peers in School Settings

The literature suggests that adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) typically are not socially engaged during unstructured school activities and do not initiate social activities with typically developing peers. This study assessed whether implementing socialization opportunities in the form of lunch clubs based around aspects of the adolescents with ASD’s perseverative interests would promote positive and direct social interaction between the target adolescent and their typically developing peers. A repeated measures multiple baseline experimental design (with two reversals) was implemented across participants. During baseline measures, the participants did not show social engagement or initiations. During intervention, results showed large increases in both social engagement and initiations. These results have implications for understanding variables related to social development in autism.
The Effect Of Transshipment Prohibition Policy Towards Total Export Value Of Fresh Yellowfin Tuna And Bigeye Tuna (Study At Statistics Indonesia, August 2012 – February 2017)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari penerapan kebijakan larangan alih muat kapal pada bulan November 2014 terhadap nilai total ekspor ikan tuna sirip kuning segar dan ikan tuna mata besar segar. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian event study dengan metode kuantitatif. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah nilai total ekspor ikan tuna sirip kuning segar dan ikan tuna mata bеsar sеgar sеbеlum kеbijakan ditеrapkan yang tеrdiri dari 27 bulan pada bulan Agustus 2012 – Oktobеr 2014, dan sеsudah kеbijakan ditеrapkan yang tеrdiri dari 27 bulan pada bulan Dеsеmbеr 2014 – Fеbruari 2017. Pеnеlitian ini mеnggunakan tеknik sampеl jеnuh yang mеngikutsеrtakan sеluruh anggota populasi sеbagai sampеl. Pеnеlitian ini mеnggunakan Uji Statistik Dеskriptif, Uji Normalitas, Uji T Sampеl Bеrpasangan. Hasil pеnеlitian ini mеnunjukkan adanya pеrbеdaan yang signifikan pada nilai total еkspor ikan tuna sirip kuning sеgar sеtеlah pеnеrapan kеbijakan. Bеrdasarkan hasil yang ditunjukkan, kеbijakan yang tеrkait bеrpеngaruh sеcara nеgatif tеrhadap nilai total еkspor ikan tuna sirip kuning sеgar. Sеdangkan di sisi lain, pеnеlitian ini mеnunjukkan bahwa tidak ada pеrbеdaan yang signifikan pada nilai total еkspor ikan tuna mata bеsar sеgar sеtеlah pеnеrapan kеbijakan. Hal ini dikarеnakan nilai еkspor tuna mata bеsar sеgar sеbеlum dan sеsudah pеnеrapan kеbijakan cukup stabil. Kata kunci : Alih Muat, Ekspor, Tuna Sirip Kuning, Tuna Mata Besar. ABSTRACT This research aims to know whether transshipment prohibition policy implementation in November 2014 gives a significant effect towards Indonesian total export value of fresh yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. This research is an event study research with quantitative method. Population in this research is Indonesian total export value of fresh yellowfin and bigeye tuna before the policy implementation which consists of 27 months from August 2012 – October 2014, and after the policy implementation which consists of 27 months from December 2014 – February 2017. This research uses saturated sampling technique which includes all items in population as the sample.This research uses Descriptive Statistical Analysis, Normality Test, and Paired Sample T-Test. The result shows that there is significant difference in total export value of fresh yellowfin tuna after the implementation of the policy. Based on the result, it indicates that the policy implementation negatively affects the total export value of fresh yellowfin tuna. On the other hand this research reveals that there is no significant difference in total export value of fresh bigeye tuna after the implementation of the policy. It is because the export values of fresh bigeye tuna before and after the policy implementation are fairly stable. Keywords: Transshipment, Export, Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna.
Ezetimibe Ameliorates Cardiovascular Complications and Hepatic Steatosis in Obese and Type 2 Diabetic db/db Mice

Type 2 diabetes plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ezetimibe, a potent cholesterol absorption inhibitor, on cardiovascular injury of obese and type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Diabetic db/db mice fed a Western diet were given ezetimibe for 9 weeks, and the effects on cardiovascular injury and hepatic steatosis were examined. Ezetimibe treatment of db/db mice significantly improved vascular endothelial function, which was associated with the restoration of the decreased phospho-Akt and phospho-endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS). Moreover, ezetimibe also reduced vascular superoxide levels in db/db mice, accompanied by the attenuation of NADPH oxidase subunit gp91phox and Nox4 and the prevention of down-regulation of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and extracellular SOD. Thus, the improvement of vascular endothelial function by ezetimibe in diabetic mice seems to be attributed to the improvement of eNOS function and the attenuation of oxidative stress. Ezetimibe treatment also significantly attenuated cardiac interstitial fibrosis and coronary arterial thickening of diabetic mice and ameliorated cardiac macrophage infiltration. This improvement of cardiac injury was also related to the attenuation of NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress. Furthermore, ezetimibe significantly prevented hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in diabetic mice. Our work provides the first evidence that ezetimibe prevented cardiovascular injury and hepatic steatosis in diabetic mice. These beneficial effects were attributed to the attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation and the improvement of eNOS function. Therefore, we propose that ezetimibe may be a promising therapeutic drug for obese and type 2 diabetes.