Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using specularities for recognition

Recognition systems have generally treated specular highlights as noise. We show how to use these highlights as a positive source of information that improves recognition of shiny objects. This also enables us to recognize very challenging shiny transparent objects, such as wine glasses. Specifically, we show how to find highlights that are consistent with a hypothesized pose of an object of known 3D shape. We do this using only a qualitative description of highlight formation that is consistent with most models of specular reflection, so no specific knowledge of an object's reflectance properties is needed. We first present a method that finds highlights produced by a dominant compact light source, whose position is roughly known. We then show how to estimate the lighting automatically for objects whose reflection is part specular and part Lambertian. We demonstrate this method for two classes of objects. First, we show that specular information alone can suffice to identify objects with no Lambertian reflectance, such as transparent wine glasses. Second, we use our complete system to recognize shiny objects, such as pottery.
Favorable Changes in Lipid Profile: The Effects of Fasting after Ramadan

Aims We assessed the effect of fasting during Ramadan on blood pressure (BP), body weight, plasma lipid, and lipoprotein variables among healthy normal individuals. Methods 102 (68% male) multi-ethnic volunteers; mean age ± SD (38.7±10.5 years) were randomly recruited in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to be investigated before Ramadan, one day after the end of Ramadan, and four weeks after Ramadan. Anthropometric, demographic, fasting plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by standard methods, and Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using Friedewald’s formula. Results 65 subjects completed the study. We found significant and beneficial changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight, waist circumference (WC), TG, HDL-C and LDL-C, at the end of Ramadan, but not in TC. Further, there was a progressive and significant increase and decrease in HDL-C and LDL-C levels, respectively, four weeks after Ramadan. Conclusions We observed significant improvements in HDL-C, and LDL-C levels even after four weeks post Ramadan. Ramadan-like fasting may be considered for more effective lipid and lipoprotein control.
Avoiding and Enforcing Repetitive Structures in Words

The focus of this thesis is on the study of repetitive structures in words, a central topic in the area of combinatorics on words. The results presented in the thesis at hand are meant to extend and enrich the existing theory concerning the appearance and absence of such structures. In the first part we examine whether these structures necessarily appear in infinite words over a finite alphabet. The repetitive structures we are concerned with involve functional dependencies between the parts that are repeated. In particular, we study avoidability questions of patterns whose repetitive structure is disguised by the application of a permutation. This novel setting exhibits the surprising behaviour that avoidable patterns may become unavoidable in larger alphabets. The second and major part of this thesis deals with equations on words that enforce a certain repetitive structure involving involutions in their solution set. Czeizler et al. (2009) introduced a generalised version of the classical equations u^l = v^mw^n that were studied by Lyndon and Schutzenberger. We solve the last two remaining and most challenging cases and thereby complete the classification of these equations in terms of the repetitive structures appearing in the admitted solutions. In the final part we investigate the influence of the shuffle operation on words avoiding ordinary repetitions. We construct finite and infinite square-free words that can be shuffled with themselves in a way that preserves square-freeness. We also show that the repetitive structure obtained by shuffling a word with itself is avoidable in infinite words.
Electrical Double-Layer Capacitors in Hybrid Topologies —Assessment and Evaluation of Their Performance

PHEVs and BEVs make use of battery cells optimized for high energy rather than for high power. This means that the power abilities of these batteries are limited. In order to enhance their performance, a hybrid Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) architecture can be used combining batteries with electrical-double layer capacitors (EDLCs). Such a hybridized architecture can be accomplished using passive or active systems. In this paper, the characteristics of these topologies have been analyzed and compared based on a newly developed hybridization simulation tool for association of lithium-ion batteries and EDLCs. The analysis shows that the beneficial impact of the EDLCs brings about enhanced battery performances in terms of energy efficiency and voltage drops, rather than extension of vehicle range. These issues have been particularly studied for the passive and active hybrid topologies. The classical passive and active topologies being expensive and less beneficial in term of cost, volume and weight, a new hybrid configuration based on the parallel combination of lithium-ion and EDLCs on cell level has been proposed in this article. This topology allows reducing cost, volume, and weight and system complexity in a significant way. Furthermore, a number of experimental setups have illustrated the power of the novel topology in terms of battery capacity increase and power capabilities during charging and discharging. Finally, a unique cycle life test campaign demonstrated that the lifetime of highly optimized lithium-ion batteries can be extended up to 30%–40%.
Phase transition for potentials of high‐dimensional wells

For a potential function $\font\open=msbm10 at 10pt\def\R{\hbox{\open R}}F:\R^k \to\R _ +$ that attains its global minimum value at two disjoint compact connected submanifolds N± in $\font\open=msbm10 at 10pt\def\R{\hbox{\open R}}\R^k$, we discuss the asymptotics, as ϵ → 0, of minimizers uϵ of the singular perturbed functional ${\bf E}_\varepsilon (u) = \int_\Omega {(|\nabla u|^2 + {1 \over {\varepsilon ^2 }}F(u))} dx$ under suitable Dirichlet boundary data $\font\open=msbm10 at 10pt\def\R{\hbox{\open R}}g_\varepsilon :\partial \Omega \to\R ^k$. In the expansion of Eϵ (uϵ) with respect to ${1 \over \varepsilon }$, we identify the first‐order term by the area of the sharp interface between the two phases, an area‐minimizing hypersurface Γ, and the energy c 0F of minimal connecting orbits between N+ and N−, and the zeroth‐order term by the energy of minimizing harmonic maps into N± both under the Dirichlet boundary condition on ∂Ω and a very interesting partially constrained boundary condition on the sharp interface Γ. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are human hands and feet affected by climate? A test of Allen's rule.

OBJECTIVES In recent years, several studies have shown that populations from cold, high-latitude regions tend to have relatively shorter limbs than populations from tropical regions, with most of the difference due to the relative length of the zeugopods (i.e., radius, ulna, tibia, fibula). This pattern has been explained either as the consequence of long-term climatic selection or of phenotypic plasticity, with temperature having a direct effect on bone growth during development. The aims of this study were to test whether this pattern of intra-limb proportions extended to the bones of the hands and feet, and to determine whether the pattern remained significant after taking into account the effects of neutral evolutionary processes related to population history. MATERIALS AND METHODS Measurements of the limb bones, including the first metatarsal and metacarpal, were collected for 393 individuals from 10 globally distributed human populations. The relationship between intra-limb indices and minimum temperature was tested using generalized least squares regression, correcting for spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS The results confirmed previous observations of a temperature-related gradient in intra-limb proportions, even accounting for population history. This pattern extends to the hands, with populations from cold regions displaying a relatively shorter and stockier first metacarpal; however, the first metatarsal appears to be wider but not shorter in cold-adapted populations. DISCUSSION The results suggest that climatic adaptation played a role in shaping variation in limb proportions between human populations. The different patterns shown by the hands and feet might be due to the presence of evolutionary constraints on the foot to maintain efficient bipedal locomotion.
The Minimum Clinically Important Difference in Scoliosis Research Society-22 Appearance, Activity, and Pain Domains After Surgical Correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design. Longitudinal cohort. Objective. To determine the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 Appearance, Activity, and Pain domains in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing surgical correction of their spinal deformity. Summary of Background Data. The MCID, a threshold of improvement that is clinically relevant to the individual patient, is increasingly used to evaluate treatment effectiveness. MCID values for the SRS-22 domains have not been determined. Methods. Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who underwent surgical correction and had completed SRS-22 before operation and the SRS-30 and Scoliosis Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ) at 1 year after operation from a multicenter database for pediatric scoliosis were identified. The SAQ is a modification of the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale and is used to assess the patient's perception of their spinal deformity. Paired sample t tests were used to compare preoperative and 1-year postoperative scores. Spearman correlations were used to evaluate associations between domain scores and summed responses to anchors for Appearance, Activity, and Pain. MCID values for the SRS-22 domains were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with summed responses to anchor questions 23 to 30 of the SRS-30 and items 26 and 32 of the SAQ. Results. There were 735 women and 152 men with a mean age of 14.3 years and a mean Cobb angle of 53°. There was a statistically significant difference between paired preoperative and 1-year SRS domain scores. Analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference between the summed responses to the anchors. The MCID was 0.20 for the Pain domain (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.723), 0.08 for Activity (AUC = 0.648), and 0.98 for Appearance (AUC = 0.629). The MCID for activity was less than the standard error of measurement. Conclusion. The MCID for the Pain domain was 0.20 and 0.98 for Appearance. Because these patients were generally in good health, a minimal though significant change in activity was observed, such that the calculated MCID was within the measurement error. As expected, the largest and most important change was in the Appearance domain. Future studies are needed to determine the MCID for the mental domain and the total SRS score and to further validate the MCID values in this study.
Tetradentate Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes for Efficient and Stable Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

As one of the most important phosphorescent emitters, tetradentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes have attracted much attention in recent years, because of the high luminescent efficiency, emission spectra, and color tuned easily, especially for the development of high-efficient deep-blue and “pure” blue emitters and single-doped white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Also, some platinum(II)-based OLEDs exhibited superior operational stability, indicating their potentials in full-color display and solidstate lighting applications. In this chapter, we will introduce the recent advances of the tetradentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes, including pyrazole, N-heterocyclic carbene, imidazole and pyridine-based complexes, molecular design, photophysical properties, and some of their device performances.
Human bone marrow mesenchymal cells express NG2: possible increase in discriminative ability of flow cytometry during mesenchymal stromal cell identification.

BACKGROUND AIMS Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) exhibit non-specific hematopoietic cell and/or stromal cell markers (e.g. CD73, CD105 and CD166) that have been used to identify MSC by flow cytometry. Because a neural glial antigen, NG2 (a progenitor cell marker in the central nervous system), is expressed by several tissue cells originating in the mesenchyme but not hematopoietic cells, it might be useful for isolating and identifying MSC. We investigated NG2 expression on culture-expanded MSC by flow cytometry. METHODS Human bone marrow (BM) samples taken from 12 donors were cultured for MSC to be used in up to nine serial passages. Using flow cytometry, the neural glial antigen NG2 and commonly used MSC markers CD73, CD105 and CD166, were analyzed on the surface of culture-expanded MSC. The multipotential differentiation of the MSC was examined by adipogenic and osteogenic induction. RESULTS The percentage of cells positive for NG2 was similar to the percentages of cells positive for CD73, CD105 and CD166 in all passages of BM samples. The mean fluorescent intensities of NG2 did not change with culture passage. The MSC was successfully differentiated into adipogenic and osteogenic lines. The cells showed no karyotypic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS NG2 seems to be a promising marker for investigating the biology of MSC.
A combined re-analysis of existing blank-field SCUBA surveys: comparative 850-micron source lists, combined number counts, and evidence for strong clustering of the bright sub-mm galaxy population

Taken together, the blank-field sub-mm surveys undertaken with SCUBA prior to the SHADES survey cover a total area of 460 sq. arcmin to a range of depths. However combining the results from these surveys has hitherto been complicated by the fact that different survey groups have used different methods of data reduction and source extraction. Here we present the results of re-reducing and analysing all of these blank field SCUBA in an almost identical manner to that employed in the SCUBA 8-mJy Survey. Comparative source catalogues are given which include a number of new significant source detections as well as failing to confirm some of those objects previously published. These new source catalogues have been combined to produce the most accurate number counts to date from 2 to 12.5 mJy. The cumulative number counts appear to steepen beyond S(850)=8mJy, which could indicate an intrinsic turn-over in the underlying luminosity function placing an upper limit on the luminosity (and hence mass) of a high redshift galaxy. We have also investigated the clustering properties of the bright SCUBA population by means of 2-point angular correlation functions. We find evidence for strong clustering broadly consistent with that measured for Extremely Red Objects (EROs). Nearest-neighbour analyses further support strong clustering on arcmin scales, rejecting the null hypothesis that the distribution of the bright submm sources is random at the 99% confidence level.
On Az\'ema-Yor processes, their optimal properties and the Bachelier-drawdown equation

We study the class of Az\'ema-Yor processes defined from a general semimartingale with a continuous running maximum process. We show that they arise as unique strong solutions of the Bachelier stochastic differential equation which we prove is equivalent to the drawdown equation. Solutions of the latter have the drawdown property: they always stay above a given function of their past maximum. We then show that any process which satisfies the drawdown property is in fact an Az\'ema-Yor process. The proofs exploit group structure of the set of Az\'ema-Yor processes, indexed by functions, which we introduce. We investigate in detail Az\'ema-Yor martingales defined from a nonnegative local martingale converging to zero at infinity. We establish relations between average value at risk, drawdown function, Hardy-Littlewood transform and its inverse. In particular, we construct Az\'ema-Yor martingales with a given terminal law and this allows us to rediscover the Az\'ema-Yor solution to the Skorokhod embedding problem. Finally, we characterize Az\'ema-Yor martingales showing they are optimal relative to the concave ordering of terminal variables among martingales whose maximum dominates stochastically a given benchmark.
Effect of Different Finish Line Designs on the Marginal and Internal Fit of Metal Copings Made by Selective Laser Melting Technology

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FINISH LINE DESIGNS ON THE MARGINAL AND INTERNAL FIT OF METAL COPINGS MADE BY SELECTIVE LASER MELTING TECHNOLOGY Adel Al Maaz, DDS Marquette University, 2018 Introduction: Marginal fit has been defined as the gap between the prepared tooth and the intaglio surface of the restoration. Internal gap is the perpendicular measurement from the internal surface of the casting to the axial wall of the preparation. Selective laser melting has been used for fabrication of metal copings such as Co-Cr base alloys and Au-Pt noble alloys. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different finish line designs on the marginal and internal fit of metal copings made from high noble, 25% noble and base alloys manufactured by SLM technology. Material and Methods: An ivorine right maxillary central incisor was prepared with three different finish line designs. Three preparations were scanned using a Trios scanner and a total of 90 dies were printed using DPR 10 Resin. Ninety metal copings were fabricated using 3 different types of alloys. Copings were cemented to the dies using resin cement. All specimens were sectioned buccolingually using a low speed diamond saw. Marginal and internal gaps were measured at 5 locations. Marginal and internal gap images were determined using an inverted bright field metallurgical microscope at x 100 magnification. A two-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to determine overall significance followed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for each dependent variable (α=0.05). Results: Overall, 2700 measurements were obtained for the study. The result of statistical analyses indicated that both alloy type and finish line had a significance influence on overall fit of the copings. For the internal fit, the alloy type had a significant effect (p<0.001), but the finish line had no statistically significant influence(p=0.337). For the marginal fit, both the alloy type and the finish line had a statistically significant effect, (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant interaction between variables. Conclusions: Finish line types did not significantly influence the internal fit between the copings and the dies, whereas alloy type did influence the fit between copings and dies. SLM-fabricated copings made with the Base Alloy (Co-Cr) on teeth prepared with deep chamfer finish lines demonstrated the best marginal fits when compared to the other groups.
β2-Adrenergic Ion-Channel Coupled Receptors as Conformational Motion Detectors

Ion Channel-Coupled Receptors (ICCRs) are artificial proteins comprised of a G protein-coupled receptor and a fused ion channel, engineered to couple channel gating to ligand binding. These novel biological objects have potential use in drug screening and functional characterization, in addition to providing new tools in the synthetic biology repertoire as synthetic K+-selective ligand-gated channels. The ICCR concept was previously validated with fusion proteins between the K+ channel Kir6.2 and muscarinic M2 or dopaminergic D2 receptors. Here, we extend the concept to the distinct, longer β2-adrenergic receptor which, unlike M2 and D2 receptors, displayed barely detectable surface expression in our Xenopus oocyte expression system and did not couple to Kir6.2 when unmodified. Here, we show that a Kir6.2-binding protein, the N-terminal transmembrane domain of the sulfonylurea receptor, can greatly increase plasma membrane expression of β2 constructs. We then demonstrate how engineering of both receptor and channel can produce β2-Kir6.2 ICCRs. Specifically, removal of 62–72 residues from the cytoplasmic C-terminus of the receptor was required to enable coupling, suggesting that ligand-dependent conformational changes do not efficiently propagate to the distal C-terminus. Characterization of the β2 ICCRs demonstrated that full and partial agonists had the same coupling efficacy, that an inverse agonist had no effect and that the stabilizing mutation E122 W reduced agonist-induced coupling efficacy without affecting affinity. Because the ICCRs are expected to report motions of the receptor C-terminus, these results provide novel insights into the conformational dynamics of the β2 receptor.
Socio-Emotional Factors in Alcohol Dependence

Background: Alcohol-dependent patients are traditionally believed to have insecure attachment styles, higher anger expression, and lower self-esteem. There is a need to study them together. Aim: To understand the relationships amongst various of the socio-emotional factors. Materials and Methods: Forty male patients with Alcohol dependence syndrome and 40 matched healthy controls (General Health Questionnaire-12 score <3) were compared on attachment styles (on Relationship Scale Questionnaire), anger domains (on State Trait Anger Expression Inventory), and self-esteem (on Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale). Statistics and Analysis: Comparison using independent samples t test and chi square test; correlation using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Patients had significantly higher anger expression, ‘anger in’ and ‘anger out,’ and lower self-esteem than healthy controls. Severity of alcohol dependence had significant correlation with ‘anger out,’ and self-esteem had significant negative correlation with anger expression. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the socio-emotional factors studied are developmentally linked to each other.
FOXO3a Expression Regulated by ERK Signaling is Inversely Correlated With Y‐Box Binding Protein‐1 Expression in Prostate Cancer

FOXO3a is a member of the forkhead O transcription factors. FOXO3a induces the factors that contribute to cell cycle arrest and is considered a tumor suppressor in several malignant tumors. Y‐box binding protein‐1 (YB‐1) is a multifunctional protein whose high expression is correlated with poor prognoses in various malignant tumors. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between FOXO3a and YB‐1 to validate their functional roles in prostate cancer.