Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depth map estimation from a single video sequence

The goal of this paper is to develop a robust depth estimation method from a single-view video sequence. We utilize an estimated initial depth to establish a reference depth for further obtaining the reliable depth information, and then it is refined with a temporal-spatial filter. At first, we use adaptive support-weight block matching to extract disparity information from consecutive video frames. The disparity is compensated with the camera motion and then transformed to the initially estimated depth. Based on the initial depth, two kinds of depth maps, the propagation depth and the optical flow depth can be established. Finally, these three depth maps are fused together by using voting merger, and then applied with the superpixel segmentation and a temporal-spatial smoothing filter to improve the noisy depth estimation in the textureless region. The experiments show that the proposed method could achieve visually pleasing and temporally consistent depth estimation results without additional pre-processing and time-consuming iterations as required in other works.
Convergence of Wigner integrals to the tetilla law

If x and y are two free semicircular random variables in a non-commutative probability space (A,E) and have variance one, we call the law of 2^{-1/2}(xy+yx) the tetilla law (and we denote it by T), because of the similarity between the form of its density and the shape of the tetilla cheese from Galicia. In this paper, we prove that a unit-variance sequence {F_n} of multiple Wigner integrals converges in distribution to T if and only if E[F_n^4]--> E[T^4] and E[F_n^6]--> E[T^6]. This result should be compared with limit theorems of the same flavor, recently obtained by Kemp, Nourdin, Peccati & Speicher and Nourdin & Peccati.
An information retrieval perspective on visualization of gene expression data with ontological annotation

High-dimensional data are often visualized by dimensionality reduction methods whose goals are not directly related to visualization. We use a recent formalization of visualization as information retrieval and apply that formalism to data with structured annotations: we analyze gene expression data with annotations from the Gene Ontology (GO). We show that using the GO information in visualization yields better retrieval with respect to known ontological relationships and allows discovery of data properties not explained by the ontology.
Small-Scale Vegetable Farmers’ Participation in Modern Retail Market Channels in Indonesia: The Determinants of and Effects on Their Income

The rise of supermarkets in Indonesia since the end of the 1990s have been transforming the food retail sector and providing further market opportunities for small-scale farmers, in which most of Indonesia’s farmer falls into this category. The aim of this paper is to examine the supermarket participation and its effect on the well-being of small-scale farmers. We compare the differences between participants and non-participants in supermarket channels in order to explore the constraints on supermarket participation. By applying a treatment effects model which allows capturing the possibility of selection bias, we examine the factors that determine farmers’ participation as well as the effect on their income. The results show that younger farmers with higher levels of education, irrigated land, who have packaging equipment and storage facilities, and are located near paved roads, are more likely to participate in the supermarket channels. On the other hand, farmers who have sprayer equipment are more likely to participate in the traditional market channels. The effect analysis shows that small-scale farmer participation in the supermarket channels can boost their income.
ETL, a Novel Seven-transmembrane Receptor That Is Developmentally Regulated in the Heart

Using differential display of rat fetal and postnatal cardiomyocytes, we have identified a novel seven-transmembrane receptor, ETL. The cDNA-predicted amino acid sequence of ETL indicated that it encodes a 738-aa protein composed of a large extracellular domain with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, a seven-transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. ETL belongs to the secretin family of G-protein-coupled peptide hormone receptors and the EGF-TM7 subfamily of receptors. The latter are characterized by a variable number of extracellular EGF and cell surface domains and conserved seven transmembrane-spanning regions. ETL mRNA expression is up-regulated in the adult rat and human heart.In situ hybridization analyses revealed expression in rat cardiomyocytes and abundant expression in vascular and bronchiolar smooth muscle cells. In COS-7 cells transfected with Myc-tagged rat ETL, rat ETL exists as a stable dimer and undergoes endoproteolytic cleavage of the extracellular domain. The proteolytic activity can be abolished by a specific mutation, T455A, in this domain. In transfected mammalian cells, ETL is associated with cell membranes and is also observed in cytoplasmic vesicles. ETL is the first seven-transmembrane receptor containing EGF-like repeats that is developmentally regulated in the heart.
The Combined and Relative Effect of Economic , Youth Nature and Society on Premarital Sexual Activities among Youth in Ikenne Local Government , Ogun State Nigeria

The study examines the combined and relative effects of Economic, Nature and Society on Premarital sex. It made use of simple random technique in selecting 250 youths within Ikenne local government in Ogun State, Nigerian. The age range of the respondents was between 15 to 35 years with the mean age of 24.5 and standard deviation of 3.291. The ex-post-facto research design was employed. A 35 item; Youth Attitude towards Sexual Practices (YATSP) developed by the Researcher was used to generate data for the study. All the hypotheses data were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data analysis involved the use of multiple regressions (backward), ANOVA and Pearson product moment Correlation. The result indicated in model 3, that the predictors' variables accounted for 56.4% percent of the variation in premarital sexual activities. Each of the independent variables contributes significantly to the Premarital Sexual activities and a perfect positive correlation existed between Premarital Sexual activities and the three independent variables. Suggestions were made based on the outcome.
Emotional Reactions of Sadness, Anger, and Fear Anticipated Coping With Interpersonal Stressors: Links With the

Abstract The same stressor can evoke different emotions across individuals, and emo-tions can prompt certain coping responses. Responding to four videotaped interpersonal stressors, adolescents ( N = 230, X— age = 10 years) reported their sadness, fear and anger, and 12 coping strategies. After identifying emo-tion patterns using cluster analysis, associations with coping were examined. Intensity of emotion, and emotion and stressor type were associated with coping. Adolescents with intense emotions (i.e., highly sad, afraid, and angry) anticipated using more of most coping responses, whereas diffuse but mod-erate intensity emotion was associated with more active coping relative to other strategies. Anger was associated with less passive and more opposition coping. However, the expected coping clusters and patterns for fear and sad-ness were not found; no cluster of adolescents was intensely fearful or sad only. Support seeking and opposition were more common for peer-related stress, and active withdrawal was more common for parent-related stress.Downloaded from jea.sagepub. com
Parallel ionoregulatory adjustments underlie phenotypic plasticity and evolution of Drosophila cold tolerance

Low temperature tolerance is the main predictor of variation in the global distribution and performance of insects, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance variation are poorly known, and it is unclear whether the mechanisms that improve cold tolerance within the lifetime of an individual insect are similar to those that underlie evolved differences among species. The accumulation of cold-induced injuries by hemimetabolous insects is associated with loss of Na+ and K+ homeostasis. Here we show that this model holds true for Drosophila; cold exposure increases haemolymph [K+] in D. melanogaster, and cold-acclimated flies maintain low haemolymph [Na+] and [K+], both at rest and during a cold exposure. This pattern holds across 24 species of the Drosophila phylogeny, where improvements in cold tolerance have been consistently paired with reductions in haemolymph [Na+] and [K+]. Cold-acclimated D. melanogaster have low activity of Na+/K+-ATPase, which may contribute to the maintenance of low haemolymph [Na+] and underlie improvements in cold tolerance. Modifications to ion balance are associated with both phenotypic plasticity within D. melanogaster and evolutionary differences in cold tolerance across the Drosophila phylogeny, which suggests that adaptation and acclimation of cold tolerance in insects may occur through similar mechanisms. Cold-tolerant flies maintain haemolymph osmolality despite low haemolymph [Na+] and [K+], possibly through modest accumulations of organic osmolytes. We propose that this could have served as an evolutionary route by which chill-susceptible insects developed more extreme cold tolerance strategies.
Statut phospho-calcique en hémodialyse chronique dans l’Oriental Marocain: évaluation de l’adhésion aux recommandations K/DOQI et KDIGO

Les troubles phosphocalciques sont fréquents en hémodialyse chronique. Leurs conséquences justifient une prévention et un traitement adaptés aux recommandations des sociétés savantes. L’objectif de notre étude était de déterminer le statut phosphocalcique de nos patients hémodialysés chroniques (HDC) et l’évaluation des taux de conformité des indicateurs aux recommandations K/DOQI et KDIGO. Ainsi, nous avons réalisé une étude transversale incluant les 83 patients HDC du centre d’hémodialyse de l’hôpital Al Farabi d’Oujda. L’âge moyen de nos patients était de 49.8± 15.6 ans. Une prédominance masculine a été notée. La conformité des indicateurs du bilan phosphocalcique chez nos patients hémodialysés chroniques par rapport aux recommandations KDIGO était de l’ordre de 21.6%. Le pourcentage des patients ayant des données phosphocalciques conformes aux cibles recommandées par les K/DOQI était Les patients répondants simultanément aux quatres critères recommandés par les K/DOQI n’étaient que 8.4%.
Replication of a site-specific trans-8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B(1) adduct by the exonuclease deficient klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I.

A 19-mer oligodeoxynucleotide containing a site-specific trans-8, 9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B(1) adduct was prepared and purified. This was used as a template for replication with DNA polymerase I exo(-) (Klenow exo(-)) in vitro. The chemical stability of the modified template strand containing the cationic aflatoxin B(1) adduct was monitored by mass spectrometry. Under the conditions used in these assays, the cationic aflatoxin B(1) adduct remained intact; quantitative conversion to the corresponding formamidopyrimidine adduct was not observed. The results revealed that the cationic guanine AFB(1) N7 adduct blocked translesional DNA synthesis at the adducted site and one nucleotide 3' to the adducted site. Correct incorporation of cytosine opposite the lesion led to blockage, while incorrect incorporation of adenine allowed full-length extension. The in vitro experiments with polymerase I yielded base pair substitutions at the lesion site but not the 5'-neighbor substitutions observed in vivo [Bailey, E. A. , Iyer, R. S. , Stone, M. P., Harris, T. M. , and Essigmann, J. M. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 1535-1539].
Understanding the context of alcohol impaired driving for fatal crash–involved drivers: A descriptive case analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the social context and circumstances surrounding alcohol-impaired driving prior to fatal crash involvement for drivers with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC ≥ 0.05 g/100 ml or 0.00 g/100 ml for restricted license holders). Methods: Coroners' case reports investigating fatal crashes in South Australia over a 3-year period (2008–2010) were examined. The personal and crash characteristics of drivers with an illegal BAC were compared with those who had a legal BAC. For each driver with an illegal BAC, information was recorded including characteristics of last trip, location and social context of alcohol consumption, quantity and type of alcohol consumed, BAC level, presence of drugs, perceived alcohol intoxication, and alcohol dependence. Official traffic offense records were also obtained. Results: Of the 284 fatal crashes included in the study, 34% (n = 95) involved a driver or rider with an illegal BAC. Prior to the crash, alcohol was most frequently consumed by drivers in rural areas, within private homes, and was part of normal social activities. Drivers recorded a high level of alcohol impairment, with a mean BAC of 0.173 g/100 ml and a level of alcohol dependence that was above the Australian national average (7.4 vs. 3.9%). In addition, 23% of drivers were known to be experiencing psychological stress at the time of the crash. The results also confirm that drink driving recidivism continues to be a significant problem, with 44% of drivers recording at least one prior alcohol driving offense. Conclusions: Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of fatal crashes. The popularity of drinking at home, particularly in rural areas, has implications for police enforcement strategies and suggests that drink driving interventions that focus on community values and looking after friends might be beneficial. Importantly, the study highlights the need for a broader holistic approach to reduce the high levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence underlying drink driving behavior.
Suzi and Mr. S.: Gender role stereotyping in social workers' court reports in custody and access cases.

Abstract This paper analyzes the “gender strategies” of a sample of Israeli women social workers as evidenced in the recommendations that they write for the courts on custody and visiting rights for divorcing couples. Textual analysis of these reports reveals what Hochchild terms a “traditional gender strategy,” manifested in a consistent pattern of gender stereotyping. There are clear differences in the way the social workers present the husband and wife as persons, both separately and in relation to one another, and in the roles that they expect them to fulfill, with the man being assigned the provider role and the woman the parent role. Even the way they collect information about the two parents' relationships with their children is different. The paper concludes with a discussion of the practical implications of the findings.
Brief Repeated Umbilical Cord Occlusions Cause Sustained Cytotoxic Cerebral Edema and Focal Infarcts in Near-Term Fetal Lambs

The aim of this study was to determine whether asphyxia induced by clinically relevant, brief repetitive umbilical cord occlusions is associated with cerebral compromise. Chronically instrumented fetal lambs were studied at 126.5 ± 2.8 d of gestation (mean ± SD, term 147 d). Occlusions were performed 1 out of every 2.5 min (group I, n = 7), 2 out of every 5 min (group II, n = 9), or not at all (shams, group III,n = 5), and discontinued at a predetermined threshold of severe or persistent hypotension. After 58 ± 8 and 24 ± 2 occlusions, in groups I and II, respectively, the pH was 6.83 ± 0.09, Pco2 9.52± 1.4 kPa, base excess -23.5 ± 3.7 mM, and lactate 14.1 ± 1.6 mM. Two fetuses (out of group II) did not recover from the final occlusion. Ongoing asphyxia was associated with progressive suppression of the EEG, which occurred faster and with more epileptiform and spike activity in group II. Cortical impedance remained elevated for 15.0 ± 4.0 and 11.5± 4.4 h, for groups I and II, respectively (NS). Focal infarcts occurred in the parasagittal cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum, in 6 out of 14 surviving asphyxiated fetuses. Mild selective neuronal loss was observed in these regions in 13 out of 14 fetuses. Infarction was associated with a longer period of blood pressure below baseline levels, with more epileptiform activity, and with slower normalization of the EEG. In a paradigm mimicking birth asphyxia, histologic damage similar to that observed clinically was found. The results suggest that brief repeated insults interact, leading to cardiac compromise and cumulative cell membrane damage in the fetal cerebrum.
Learning to Predict Intent from Gaze During Robotic Hand-Eye Coordination

Effective human-aware robots should anticipate their user’s intentions. During hand-eye coordination tasks, gaze often precedes hand motion and can serve as a powerful predictor for intent. However, cooperative tasks where a semi-autonomous robot serves as an extension of the human hand have rarely been studied in the context of hand-eye coordination. We hypothesize that accounting for anticipatory eye movements in addition to the movements of the robot will improve intent estimation. This research compares the application of various machine learning methods to intent prediction from gaze tracking data during robotic hand-eye coordination tasks. We found that with proper feature selection, accuracies exceeding 94% and AUC greater than 91% are achievable with several classification algorithms but that anticipatory gaze data did not improve intent prediction.
EFFECTS OF E-LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS , SELF-EFFICACY , AND SELF-REGULATED LEARNING ON SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS

The quantity and quality of e-learning research in business education have increased dramatically during the past decade. The majority of e-learning empirical studies have focused on the two research streams: outcome comparison studies with classroom-based learning and studies examining potential predictors of e-learning success (Arbaugh et al. 2009). Over the past decade, numerous studies examined the factors that affect the learning outcomes and student satisfaction in asynchronous online learning courses postulates that human and design factors as antecedents of learning effectiveness. Human factors are concerned with students and instructors, while design factors characterize such variables as learning model, technology, learner control, course content, and interaction. All these studies empirically investigated the determinants of students' satisfaction, learning outcomes in university online education. Peltier, et al. (2003, 2007) found that student-to-student interactions, student-to-instructor interactions, instructor support and mentoring, information delivery technology, course content, and course structure were to be significant predictors of the overall effectiveness of the online educational experience. The study of Marks et al. (2005) found that instructor-student interaction is most important, twice that of student-student interaction and that some student-content interaction is significantly related to perceived learning. The study indicated that distance education advantages/flexibilities, although significant, are less
Mechanisms of Giardia lamblia differentiation into cysts

Microbiologists have long been intrigued by the ability of parasitic organisms to adapt to changes in the environment. Since most parasites occupy several niches during their journey between vectors and hosts, they have developed adaptive responses which allow them to survive under adverse conditions. Therefore, the life cycles of protozoan and helminthic parasites are excellent models with which to study numerous mechanisms involved in cell differentiation, such as the regulation of gene expression, signal transduction pathways, and organelle biogenesis. Unfortunately, many of these studies are very difficult because the conditions needed to elicit developmental changes in parasites remain undetermined in most cases. Recently, several interesting findings were reported on the process of differentiation of Giardia lamblia trophozoites into cysts. G. lamblia is a flagellated protozoan that inhabits the upper small intestine of its vertebrate host and is a major cause of enteric disease worldwide. It belongs to the earliest identified lineage among eukaryotes and therefore offers a unique insight into the progression from primitive to more complex eukaryotic cells. The discovery of a specific stimulus that induces trophozoites to differentiate into cysts, the identification and characterization of encystation-specific molecules, the elucidation of novel biochemical pathways, and the development of useful reagents and techniques have made this parasite an excellent model with which to study differentiation in eukaryotic cells. In this review, we summarize the most recent fundings on several aspects of Giardia differentiation and discuss the significance of these findings within the context of current knowledge in the field.
the 2014

The elderly population is growing rapidly and physical and cognitive decline is an undeniable part of the aging process. Multiple studies show that aerobic exercise has a positive impact of slowing down the aging process and improving cardiovascular and cognitive functioning measures. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is an approach that can foster physical and emotional exertion aimed at promoting harmonization of the body. As there are few studies on DMT with geriatrics, this project aimed to evaluate the efﬁciency and feasibility of a DMT program adapted to the needs and interests of older adults in order to counteract their naturally more sedentary lifestyle. This project utilized an experimental design of three groups: dance/movement therapy, aerobic exercise
The Behavioral Psychology of Elite Decision Making: Implications for Political Science I

This article examines the current state of knowledge about elite behavior and considers its implications for the field of political science ‐ notably the fields of comparative politics and international relations. We present, first, literature in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology on human reasoning and decision-making. We start with the classics and pay particular attention to those behavioral theories that have gained most attention in international relations ‐ such as Herbert Simons optimization under cognitive constraints and the prospect theory of Kahneman and Tversky. We then focus on some new ideas emerging in the same tradition that have not yet attracted much attention in political science yet could have large implications. Examples include growing sophistication in understanding how players in strategic games assess the skills of the other players in the same game. This new work also makes it possible to measure the ability of di erent individuals to assess dominant strategies in games and to iterate rounds of play. These behavioral theories have been developed and tested mainly by studying populations of undergraduate students. Next, we examine the evidence for whether elites behave similarly to undergraduate populations, and we suggest that elites are di erent in many ways. Finally, we consider the implications of the evidence on elite behavior for political science.