Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MOTChallenge 2015: Towards a Benchmark for Multi-Target Tracking

In the recent past, the computer vision community has developed centralized benchmarks for the performance evaluation of a variety of tasks, including generic object and pedestrian detection, 3D reconstruction, optical flow, single-object short-term tracking, and stereo estimation. Despite potential pitfalls of such benchmarks, they have proved to be extremely helpful to advance the state of the art in the respective area. Interestingly, there has been rather limited work on the standardization of quantitative benchmarks for multiple target tracking. One of the few exceptions is the well-known PETS dataset, targeted primarily at surveillance applications. Despite being widely used, it is often applied inconsistently, for example involving using different subsets of the available data, different ways of training the models, or differing evaluation scripts. This paper describes our work toward a novel multiple object tracking benchmark aimed to address such issues. We discuss the challenges of creating such a framework, collecting existing and new data, gathering state-of-the-art methods to be tested on the datasets, and finally creating a unified evaluation system. With MOTChallenge we aim to pave the way toward a unified evaluation framework for a more meaningful quantification of multi-target tracking.
Registry of Clinical Trials of Antithrombotic Drugs in Cancer: Second Report

The Subcommittee on Hemostasis and Malignancy of the Scientific and Standardization Committee determined at its meeting of July 8, L992, to update the registry of clinical trials of antithrombotic drugs in cancer that had been established previ-ously (1). The purpose of this update is to summarrze progress made since the previous report. The goal is to discern patterns of responsiveness (should they exist) of human malignancy to this form of treatment that would serve as a guide to the design of new clinical trials as well as to new basic studies that would clarify mechanisms. The Subcommittee has affirmed its intent to include trials of drugs known to modulate platelet function and coagulation/fibrinolysis reactions even though mechanisms of effect on malignancy may be uncertain or even multiple. This subject was first reviewed in 198L (2). As of that date, the therapeutic effects of antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, fibrinolytic enzymes, or inhibitors of fibrinolysis had been the subject of
Superhumps and Repetitive Rebrightenings of the WZ Sge-Type Dwarf Nova, EG Cancri (Special Issue: Resent Results from VSNET)

We report on time-resolved photometric observations of the WZ Sge-type dwarf nova, EG Cnc (Huruhata’s variable), during its superoutburst in 1996–1997. EG Cnc, after the main superoutburst accompanied by the development of superhumps typical of a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova, exhibited a series of six major rebrightenings. During these rebrightenings and the following long fading tail, EG Cnc persistently showed superhumps having a period equal to the superhump period observed during the main superoutburst. The persistent superhumps had a constant superhump flux with respect to the rebrightening phase. These findings suggest that the superhumps observed during the rebrightening stage and the fading tail are a “remnant” of the usual superhumps, and are not newly triggered by rebrightenings. By a comparison with the 1977 outburst of this object and outbursts of other WZ Sge-type dwarf novae, we propose an activity sequence of WZ Sge-type superoutbursts, in which the current outburst of EG Cnc is placed between a single-rebrightening event and distinct outbursts separated by a dip. The post-superoutburst behavior of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae can be understood in the presence of a considerable amount of remnant matter behind the cooling front in the outer accretion disk, even after the main superoutburst. We consider that a premature quenching of the hot state due to the weak tidal effect under the extreme mass ratio of the WZ Sge-type binary is responsible for the origin of the remnant mass.
Cramer-Rao bounds of DOA estimates for BPSK and QPSK Modulated signals

This paper focuses on the stochastic Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) of direction of arrival (DOA) estimates for binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and quaternary phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulated signals corrupted by additive circular complex Gaussian noise. Explicit expressions of the CRB for the DOA parameter alone in the case of a single signal waveform are given. These CRBs are compared, on the one hand, with those obtained with different a priori knowledge and, on the other hand, with CRBs under the noncircular and circular complex Gaussian distribution and with different deterministic CRBs. It is shown in particular that the CRBs under the noncircular [respectively, circular] complex Gaussian distribution are tight upper bounds on the CRBs under the BPSK [respectively, QPSK] distribution at very low and very high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) only. Finally, these results and comparisons are extended to the case of two independent BPSK or QPSK distributed sources where an explicit expression of the CRB for the DOA parameters alone is given for large SNR.
Integration Programs for the Mildly Retarded

The study examined programs that integrated mentally retarded students in 8 California school districts. Interviews were conducted with 17 administrators and 31 teachers. Regular classroom observations were made of 27 retarded pupils and 54 randomly selected nonretarded pupils. Four program models were identified and an index of integration was developed and applied to each program. The attitudes of administrators toward integrating programs was, with only one exception, positive; and the majority of teachers also held positive attitudes. The behavior of retarded students was essentially similar to that of regular students.
Concurrent sexual partnerships and racial disparities in HIV infection among men who have sex with men

Objectives: To measure the level of sexual partner concurrency and assess its potential role in explaining disparities in HIV prevalence by race/ethnicity among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based survey of MSM in San Francisco was conducted in 2008 using time-location sampling. Four different measures of sexual partner concurrency were assessed and compared across race/ethnicity groups: overlap in time with the most recent sexual partners, knowledge of the most recent sexual partner having other partners, any overlap with up to the last five partners and complete overlap with up to the last five partners. Results: A total of 521 MSM was recruited; 10% self-described their race/ethnicity as black, 62% as white, 25% as Latino and 9% as Asian (not mutually exclusive). Black MSM had fewer sexual partners overall, yet had three times the odds that all their partnerships were concurrent compared with non-black MSM (39% vs 17%, respectively, p = 0.034). None of the other measures of concurrency showed racial/ethnic differences. MSM whose partnerships were completely concurrent had a higher number of sexual episodes and unprotected sexual episodes per partnership compared with those whose partners were not completely concurrent. Conclusions: Findings support the hypothesis that the sexual networks of black MSM rather than individual behaviours account for their higher prevalence of HIV compared with non-black MSM. There remains the need specifically to validate different concurrency measures in larger samples and directly assess them as risk factors for acquiring HIV infection.
Extradural spinal cord compression: analysis of factors determining functional prognosis--prospective study.

The treatment results in 59 patients with extradural spinal cord compression (ESCC) who were treated with irradiation between April 1987 and December 1988 were analyzed prospectively. Eighty percent of the patients presented with back pain, which preceded ESCC by an average of 6 weeks. The most common primary tumor was lung cancer (27% of cases), followed by prostate cancer and breast cancer. The prognostic significance of pretreatment motor function, degree of spinal cord block, radiosensitivity of tumor, and radiation dose schedule was determined with multivariate analysis. Only pretreatment motor function was found to be a significant factor in determining functional prognosis (P = .0058). Even with the increasing clinical awareness of ESCC, 78% of the patients in the current series were nonambulatory at presentation. Therefore, computed tomographic myelography or magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for patients with back pain and bone destruction at the site of the complaint if local radiation treatment is not planned.
Work-Related Pain in Extrinsic Finger Extensor Musculature of Instrumentalists Is Associated with Intracellular pH Compartmentation during Exercise

Background Although non-specific pain in the upper limb muscles of workers engaged in mild repetitive tasks is a common occupational health problem, much is unknown about the associated structural and biochemical changes. In this study, we compared the muscle energy metabolism of the extrinsic finger extensor musculature in instrumentalists suffering from work-related pain with that of healthy control instrumentalists using non-invasive phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). We hypothesize that the affected muscles will show alterations related with an impaired energy metabolism. Methodology/Principal Findings We studied 19 volunteer instrumentalists (11 subjects with work-related pain affecting the extrinsic finger extensor musculature and 8 healthy controls). We used 31P-MRS to find deviations from the expected metabolic response to exercise in phosphocreatine (PCr), inorganic phosphate (Pi), Pi/PCr ratio and intracellular pH kinetics. We observed a reduced finger extensor exercise tolerance in instrumentalists with myalgia, an intracellular pH compartmentation in the form of neutral and acid compartments, as detected by Pi peak splitting in 31P-MRS spectra, predominantly in myalgic muscles, and a strong association of this pattern with the condition. Conclusions/Significance Work-related pain in the finger extrinsic extensor muscles is associated with intracellular pH compartmentation during exercise, non-invasively detectable by 31P-MRS and consistent with the simultaneous energy production by oxidative metabolism and glycolysis. We speculate that a deficit in energy production by oxidative pathways may exist in the affected muscles. Two possible explanations for this would be the partial and/or local reduction of blood supply and the reduction of the muscle oxidative capacity itself.
Thinking Skills Reflected in the Argumentative Essays of Freshman College Students: A Descriptive Analysis

This study aims to analyze and describe the ability of the first year students of one private university in Manila to demonstrate critical thinking/writing skills in their argumentation paper using (a) modified version of Toulmin's 1958 model of argument and (b) holistic score. In addition, a replication of the rubric used by Knudson (1992) is adapted here. This paper provides some guidelines for teaching practice in light of the findings.
Randomized phase II study comparing gemcitabine plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine alone in patients with previously treated soft tissue sarcoma: a Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas study.

PURPOSE To assess the activity and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine plus dacarbazine (DTIC) in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in a randomized, multicenter, phase II study using DTIC alone as a control arm. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with previously treated advanced STS were randomly assigned to receive either fixed-dose rate gemcitabine (10 mg/m2/min) at 1800 mg/m2 followed by DTIC at 500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks, or DTIC alone at 1200 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. The primary end point of the study was progression-free rate (PFR) at 3 months. RESULTS From November 2005 to September 2008, 113 patients were included. PFR at 3 months was 56% for gemcitabine plus DTIC versus 37% for DTIC alone (P = .001). Median progression-free survival was 4.2 months versus 2 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.86; P = .005), and median overall survival was 16.8 months versus 8.2 months (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.90; P = .014); both favored the arm of gemcitabine plus DTIC. Gemcitabine plus DTIC was also associated with a higher objective response or higher stable disease rate than was DTIC alone (49% v 25%; P = .009). Severe toxicities were uncommon, and treatment discontinuation for toxicity was rare. Granulocytopenia was the more common serious adverse event, but febrile neutropenia was uncommon. Asthenia, emesis, and stomatitis were the most frequent nonhematologic effects. CONCLUSION The combination of gemcitabine and DTIC is active and well tolerated in patients with STS, providing in this phase II randomized trial superior progression-free survival and overall survival than DTIC alone. This regimen constitutes a valuable therapeutic alternative for these patients.
Patient- versus physician-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra) therapy.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether patient-reported outcomes may differentiate treatment response better than physician-reported outcomes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients being treated with anakinra. METHODS A meta-analysis was conducted using data obtained from three separate randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) (n = 1007). Outcomes from 6-month assessments were grouped into four categories: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria, patient-reported measures (patient-reported pain, patient global assessment, and assessment of physical function using the Health Assessment Questionnaire), physician-reported measures (tender and swollen joint counts and physician global assessment), and laboratory tests (C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Effect sizes were calculated using changes from baseline and pooled standard deviations for each of these types of outcome. RESULTS Active treatment with anakinra was superior to placebo by ACR(20) responses in all three RCTs. Effect sizes for patient-reported outcomes were greater than for physician-reported outcomes, and also greater than ACR(20) in three of five anakinra cohorts. Across the RCTs, placebo responses were greater with physician-reported than with patient-reported outcomes. In the two studies evaluating patients with longer-standing disease, differences between pooled effect sizes for patient-reported and physician-reported outcomes were even more pronounced. CONCLUSIONS In three pivotal RCTs, active treatment with anakinra resulted in greater improvements in patient-reported than physician-reported outcomes compared with placebo. These observations confirm those previously reported from RCTs evaluating conventional DMARDs, demonstrating better discrimination of treatment effect with patient-reported outcomes.
Development of a compliant device for minimally invasive surgery

A peristaltically actuated device for minimally invasive surgery (PADeMIS) is being developed at Technical University of Ilmenau. PADeMIS will be manufactured from silicone rubber and its design is being optimized by finite element analysis (FEA). Due to the small dimensions of the device an extensively automated fabrication technology, based on lithography, is developed. Furthermore, a controlling unit is built up
Utilization and accessibility of social services for Chinese Canadians

English The findings show that the awareness of service agencies and opinions on the services provided are predictors of Chinese Canadians’ service utilization, and that one-third of Chinese Canadians have not used any social services, for various reasons. When planning services for an ethnic minority group like Chinese Canadians, planners should consider socio-cultural and structural factors alike. French Les résultats de cette étude démontrent que l’utilisation des services sociaux est liée à la connaissance et aux opinions des canadiens d'origine chinoise de ces mêmes services. Un tiers des canadiens d’origine chinoise n’ont pas eu recours aux services sociaux, pour plusieurs raisons. Des facteurs structurels et culturels devraient être pris en considération lors de la planification des services sociaux. Spanish Los resultados muestran que el conocimiento y la opinión sobre las agencias de servicios sociales predicen su utilización por los canadienses de origen chino. También que un tercio de estos ciudadanos, debido a varias razones, no han usado ningún servicio social. En la planificación de servicios para grupos étnicos minoritarios tales como el de los canadienses de origen chino, se han de considerar tanto los factores socioculturales como los estructurales.
Sample Preparation and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Multiple Steroids in Mammalian and Avian Circulation

Blood samples from wild mammals and birds are often limited in volume, allowing researchers to quantify only one or two steroids from a single sample by immunoassays. In addition, wildlife serum or plasma samples are often lipemic, necessitating stringent sample preparation. Here, we validated sample preparation for simultaneous liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantitation of cortisol, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17β-estradiol, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone from diverse mammalian (7 species) and avian (5 species) samples. Using 100 µL of serum or plasma, we quantified (signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio ≥10) 4–7 steroids depending on the species and sample, without derivatization. Steroids were extracted from serum or plasma using automated solid-phase extraction where samples were loaded onto C18 columns, washed with water and hexane, and then eluted with ethyl acetate. Quantitation by LC-MS/MS was done in positive ion, multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source and heated nebulizer (500°C). Deuterated steroids served as internal standards and run time was 15 minutes. Extraction recoveries were 87–101% for the 8 analytes, and all intra- and inter-run CVs were ≤8.25%. This quantitation method yields good recoveries with variable lipid-content samples, avoids antibody cross-reactivity issues, and delivers results for multiple steroids. Thus, this method can enrich datasets by providing simultaneous quantitation of multiple steroids, and allow researchers to reimagine the hypotheses that could be tested with their volume-limited, lipemic, wildlife samples.
Evidence for Multiple Mergers among Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies: Remnants of Compact Groups?

In a large sample of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope, we have identified a significant subsample that shows evidence for multiple mergers. The evidence is seen among two classes of ULIRGs: (1) those with multiple remnant nuclei in their core, sometimes accompanied by a complex system of tidal tails, and (2) those that are in fact dense groupings of interacting (soon-to-merge) galaxies. We conservatively estimate that, in the redshift range 0.05 < z < 0.20, at least 20 (out of 99) ULIRGs satisfy one or both of these criteria. We present several cases and discuss the possibility that the progenitors of ULIRGs may be the more classical, weakly interacting compact groups of galaxies (see Hickson). An evolutionary progression is consistent with the results: from compact groups to pairs to ULIRGs to elliptical galaxies. The last step follows the blowout of gas and dust from the ULIRG.
Penalized Second Price: A New Pricing Algorithm for Advertising in Search Engines

Strategic bidding coupled with the GSP pricing mechanism is known to lead to aggressive bidding behaviour and Competitor Busting in keyword auctions. We introduce a new pricing mechanism, named Penalized Second Pricing (PSP), to help reducing the unfair effects of aggressive bidding.The performances of GSP and PSP are evaluated both in a static and a dynamic context, where the number of bidders may change during the auction. The simulation experiments show that PSP not only discourages aggressive bidding behaviour, but also leads to larger revenues for the auctioneer than those obtained with GSP.
Utilization of ancillary studies in the cytologic diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic lesions: The papanicolaou society of cytopathology guidelines for pancreatobiliary cytology

The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology has developed a set of guidelines for pancreatobiliary cytology including indications for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration, terminology and nomenclature of pancreatobiliary disease, ancillary testing, and post‐biopsy management. All documents are based on the expertise of the authors, a review of the literature, discussions of the draft document at several national and international meetings, and synthesis of selected online comments of the draft document. This document presents the results of these discussions regarding the use of ancillary testing in the cytologic diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic lesions. Currently, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) appears to be the most clinically relevant ancillary technique for cytology of bile duct strictures. The addition of FISH analysis to routine cytologic evaluation appears to yield the highest sensitivity without loss in specificity. Loss of immunohistochemical staining for the protein product of the SMAD4 gene and positive staining for mesothelin support a diagnosis of ductal adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical markers for endocrine and exocrine differentiation are sufficient for a diagnosis of endocrine and acinar tumors. Nuclear staining for beta‐catenin supports a diagnosis of solid‐pseudopapilary neoplasm. Cyst fluid analysis for amylase and carcinoembryonic antigen aids in the preoperative classification of pancreatic cysts. Many gene mutations (KRAS, GNAS, VHL, RNF43, and CTNNB1) may be of aid in the diagnosis of cystic neoplasms. Other ancillary techniques do not appear to improve diagnostic sensitivity sufficiently to justify their increased costs. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:351–362. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
THE EFFECT OF FORMAL INSTRUCTION ON SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION1

Thirty-four German high school students learning English as a second language under classroom conditions were observed for a period of eight months. It was found that the students' utterances showed many structural features which are also known to characterize LI and naturalistic L2 acquisition. It thus appears that formal instruction cannot eliminate or suppress those processes which constitute man's natural ability to acquire language(s). In contrast to naturalistic learners, however, the high school students were continuously forced to produce structures for which, developmentally, they were not yet ready. Here, the students used two basic strategies: (a) they followed principles of naturalistic acquisition; (b) they randomly selected any one structure from a finite repertoire.