Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Aerial Image Segmentation From Online Maps

This paper deals with semantic segmentation of high-resolution (aerial) images where a semantic class label is assigned to each pixel via supervised classification as a basis for automatic map generation. Recently, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown impressive performance and have quickly become the de-facto standard for semantic segmentation, with the added benefit that task-specific feature design is no longer necessary. However, a major downside of deep learning methods is that they are extremely data hungry, thus aggravating the perennial bottleneck of supervised classification, to obtain enough annotated training data. On the other hand, it has been observed that they are rather robust against noise in the training labels. This opens up the intriguing possibility to avoid annotating huge amounts of training data, and instead train the classifier from existing legacy data or crowd-sourced maps that can exhibit high levels of noise. The question addressed in this paper is: can training with large-scale publicly available labels replace a substantial part of the manual labeling effort and still achieve sufficient performance? Such data will inevitably contain a significant portion of errors, but in return virtually unlimited quantities of it are available in larger parts of the world. We adapt a state-of-the-art CNN architecture for semantic segmentation of buildings and roads in aerial images, and compare its performance when using different training data sets, ranging from manually labeled pixel-accurate ground truth of the same city to automatic training data derived from OpenStreetMap data from distant locations. We report our results that indicate that satisfying performance can be obtained with significantly less manual annotation effort, by exploiting noisy large-scale training data.
Agrarian Reform and the Class Struggle in Chile

It is my intention in this article to bring forward and analyze the main discussion points raised in the literature on the Chilean agrarian reform. I think that the Chilean case provides many relevant issues which are of general interest to students of agrarian reforms in Latin America. The Christian Democrat government (1964-1970) introduced the land reform legislation in order to modernize and consolidate the capitalist mode of production. The Unidad Popular (UP) government (1970-1973) attempted to use that same legislation to destroy the capitalist relations as a first step towards the transition to socialism. Thus the Chilean case represents problems of reformist as well as radical types of agrarian reforms and even provides a good case study of agrarian counter-reform after the military coup which overthrew the Allende government in 1973. In the first part of this article, various theses concerning the conservative or radical character of the peasantry in the class struggle are analyzed. In the second part, I highlight the main problems of the agrarian reform under Christian Democracy, and in the third part, I explore the contradictions which UP faced in trying to use the same land reform legislation for revolutionary purposes.
Opioid use for noncancer pain and risk of myocardial infarction amongst adults

With increasing use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain comes concern about safety of this class of drugs. Opioid‐induced hypogonadism, which could increase the risk for myocardial infarction (MI), has recently come to the attention of clinicians. To evaluate this concern we examined the association between opioid use for noncancer pain and risk of MI amongst adults.
Rapid change in host use of the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus linked to climate change

Parasites require synchrony with their hosts so if host timing changes with climate change, some parasites may decline and eventually go extinct. Residents and short-distance migrant hosts of the brood parasitic common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, have advanced their phenology in response to climate change more than long-distance migrants, including the cuckoo itself. Because different parts of Europe show different degrees of climate change, we predicted that use of residents or short-distance migrants as hosts should have declined in areas with greater increase in spring temperature. Comparing relative frequency of parasitism of the two host categories in 23 European countries before and after 1990, when spring temperatures in many areas had started to increase, we found that relative parasitism of residents and short-distance migrants decreased. This change in host use was positively related to increase in spring temperature, consistent with the prediction that relative change in phenology for different migrant classes drives host-use patterns. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that climate change affects the relative abundance of different host races of the common cuckoo.
Kallikrein-related peptidase genes as promising biomarkers for prognosis and monitoring of human malignancies

Abstract Tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK2–15) genes encode for a subgroup of 15 homologous secreted serine proteases possessing numerous physiological roles, such as the regulation of blood pressure, hormone processing and tissue remodeling. The expression of KLKs is detected in a broad spectrum of human tissues where it has been found to be regulated mainly by steroids hormones. The aberrant expression of KLKs, presented in many human malignancies, highlights the significance of this gene family for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of cancer patients, as it is strongly emphasized by the routine use of PSA (KLK3) for prostate cancer management. Here, we review the presently known data regarding the role of KLKs as cancer biomarkers, giving emphasis on novel information about the subject.
Accident Analysis and Prevention

This paper applied prospect theory (PT) to describe drivers’ route choice behavior under Variable Message Sign (VMS), which presented visual trafﬁc information to assist them to make route choice decisions. A quite rich empirical data from questionnaire and ﬁeld spot was used to estimate parameters of PT. In order to make the parameters more realistic with drivers’ attitudes, they were classiﬁed into different types by signiﬁcant factors inﬂuencing their behaviors. Based on the travel time distribution of alternative routes and route choice results from questionnaire, the parameterized value function of each category was ﬁgured out, which represented drivers’ risk attitudes and choice characteristics. The empirical veriﬁcation showed that the estimates were acceptable and effective. The result showed drivers’ risk attitudes and route choice characteristics could be captured by PT under real-time information shown on VMS. For practical application, once drivers’ route choice characteristics and parameters were identiﬁed, their route choice behavior under different road conditions could be predicted accurately, which was the basis of trafﬁc guidance measures formulation and implementation for targeted trafﬁc management. Moreover, the heterogeneous risk attitudes among drivers should be considered when releasing trafﬁc information and regulating trafﬁc ﬂow.
Septamer Element-Binding Proteins in Neuronal and Glial Differentiation

Differentiation of progenitors into neurons and glia is regulated by interactions between regulatory DNA elements of neuron- and glia-specific genes and transcription factors that are differentially expressed by progenitors at progressive stages of neural development. We have identified a novel DNA regulatory element (TTTGCAT = septamer) present on the enkephalin (ENK), neuronal cell adhesion molecule, neurofilament of 68 kDa (NF68), growth-associated protein of 43 kDa, glial high-affinity glutamine transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, etc., genes. When septamer function was blocked by introducing septamer competitor DNA into primary differentiating neural cultures, mRNA levels of ENK, NF68, and glial fibrillary acidic protein decreased by 50–80%, whereas no effect was seen using a control DNA. Septamer elements serve as binding sites for lineage-specific multimeric complexes assembled from three distinct nuclear proteins. Progenitors express a 16 kDa protein (p-sept) which binds to DNA as a homodimer (detected as the 32 kDa P-band). Cells that entered the neuronal lineage express an additional 29 kDa protein (n-sept) that binds to the homodimerizedp-sept, and together they form a 62 kDa multimer (detected as N-band). Cells that entered the glial lineage express a distinct 23 kDa protein (g-sept), which along with the homodimerized p-sept form a 56 kDa multimer (observed as G-band). The binding of the distinct protein complexes (P, G, and N) to the septamer site causes a lineage-specific DNA bending (P = 53°; G = 72°; and N = 90°), which may contribute to the regulatory effect of the septamer interaction. In summary, septamer and its binding proteins represent novel protein–DNA interactions that may contribute to the regulation of neuroglial differentiation in the developing mammalian CNS.
Political Blackness and British Asians

In the 1980s a political concept of blackness was hegemonic, but is increasingly having to be defended, even within the sociology of race. This is to be welcomed and seven reasons are given why the concept harms British Asians. The use of `black' encourages a `doublespeak'. It falsely equates racial discrimination with colour-discrimination and thereby obscures the cultural antipathy to Asians and therefore of the character of the discrimination they suffer. `Black' suggests also a false essentialism: that all non-white groups have something in common other than how others treat them. The fourth reason is that `black', being evocative of people of African origins, understates the size, needs and distinctive concerns of Asian communities. Fifthly, while the former can use the concept for purposes of ethnic pride, for Asians it can be no more than `a political colour', leading to a too politicised identity. Indeed, it cannot but smother Asian ethnic pride-the pride which is a precondition of group mobilisation and assertiveness. Finally, advocates of `black' have tried to impose it on Asians rather than seek slower methods of persuasion, with the result that the majority of Asians continue to reject it. The new emphasis on multi-textured identities is therefore encouraging, as long as we are not simply exchanging a political for a cultural vanguardism.
Real-time humanoid motion generation through ZMP manipulation based on inverted pendulum control

A humanoid robot is expected to be a rational form of machine to act in the real human environment and support people through interaction with them. Current humanoid robots, however, lack in adaptability, agility, or high-mobility enough to meet the expectations. In order to enhance high-mobility, the humanoid motion should be generated in real-time in accordance with the dynamics, which commonly requires a large amount of computation and has not been implemented so far. We have developed a real-time motion generation method that controls the center of gravity (COG) by indirect manipulation of the zero moment point (ZMP). The real-time response of the method provides humanoid robots with high-mobility. In the paper, the algorithm is presented. It consists of four parts, namely, the referential ZMP planning, the ZMP manipulation, the COG velocity decomposition to joint angles, and local control of joint angles. An advantage of the algorithm lies in its applicability to humanoids with a lot of degrees of freedom. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by computer simulations.
Staying in nursing: what factors determine whether nurses intend to remain employed?

AIM To test a model of eight thematic determinants of whether nurses intend to remain in nursing roles. BACKGROUND Despite the dramatic increase in the supply of nurses in England over the past decade, a combination of the economic downturn, funding constraints and more generally an ageing nursing population means that healthcare organizations are likely to encounter long-term problems in the recruitment and retention of nursing staff. DESIGN Survey. METHOD Data were collected from a large staff survey conducted in the National Health Service in England between September-December 2009. A multi-level model was tested using MPlus statistical software on a sub-sample of 16,707 nurses drawn from 167 healthcare organizations. RESULTS Findings were generally supportive of the proposed model. Nurses who reported being psychologically engaged with their jobs reported a lower intention to leave their current job. The perceived availability of developmental opportunities, being able to achieve a good work-life balance and whether nurses' encountered work pressures were also influencing factors on their turnover intentions. However, relationships formed with colleagues and patients displayed comparatively small relationships with turnover intentions. CONCLUSION The focus at the local level needs to be on promoting employee engagement by equipping staff with the resources (physical and monetary) and control to enable them to perform their tasks to standards they aspire to and creating a work environment where staff are fully involved in the wider running of their organizations, communicating to staff that patient care is important and the top priority of the organization.
Solvation influences flap collapse in HIV‐1 protease

HIV‐1 protease (HIVp) is an important target for the development of therapies to treat AIDS and is one of the classic examples of structure‐based drug design. The flap region of HIVp is known to be highly flexible and undergoes a large conformational change upon binding a ligand. Accurately modeling the inherent flexibility of the HIVp system is critical for developing new methods for structure‐based drug design. We report several 3‐ns molecular dynamics simulations investigating the role of solvation in HIVp flap rearrangement. Using an unliganded crystal structure of HIVp, other groups have observed flap reorganization on the nanosecond timescale. We have also observed rapid, initial flap movement, but we propose that it may be caused by system setup. The initial solvation of the system creates vacuum regions around the protein that may encourage large conformational deformities. By reducing the vacuum space created by the solvation routine, the observed flap collapse is attenuated. Also, a more thorough equilibration procedure preserves a more stable protein conformation over the course of the simulation. Proteins 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ansiedade-traço em estudantes universitários de Aracaju (SE)

INTRODUCAO: No estudo da ansiedade, dois conceitos distintos sao encontrados: ansiedade-estado, que se refere a um estado emocional transitorio caracterizado por sentimentos subjetivos de tensao que podem variar em intensidade ao longo do tempo; e ansiedade-traco, a qual se refere a uma disposicao pessoal, relativamente estavel, a responder com ansiedade a situacoes estressantes e a uma tendencia a perceber um maior numero de situacoes como ameacadoras. Na literatura, encontram-se varias escalas com o objetivo de avaliar esses dois aspectos, mas o Inventario de Ansiedade Traco-Estado, de Spielberger et al. (1970), e o mais utilizado. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: 1) descrever os escores do Inventario de Ansiedade Traco-Estado em uma amostra de estudantes universitarios de Aracaju (SE), onde as pressoes da vida moderna estao menos presentes; e 2) compara-los com os resultados obtidos em Sao Paulo (SP). METODO: Foram avaliados 498 estudantes universitarios (53,6% do sexo feminino), sendo que 87,6% tinham menos que 30 anos, 89,6% eram solteiros, e 24,7% tinham uma ocupacao profissional. RESULTADOS: Os dados do presente estudo mostraram que, em Aracaju, os maiores niveis de ansiedade estao entre mulheres, solteiros e aqueles com ate 30 anos de idade. Na comparacao entre Aracaju e Sao Paulo, foi encontrado menor nivel de ansiedade-traco nos estudantes aracajuanos, sendo que essa diferenca parece residir principalmente no grupo de individuos de ate 30 anos de idade. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados aqui apresentados sugerem que a ansiedade-traco dos estudantes universitarios de Aracaju e menor que a dos estudantes universitarios de Sao Paulo, apoiando a hipotese de que grandes cidades possam favorecer o desenvolvimento da ansiedade.
Multiple ice‐binding proteins of probable prokaryotic origin in an Antarctic lake alga, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE‐MDV (Chlorophyceae)

Ice‐associated algae produce ice‐binding proteins (IBPs) to prevent freezing damage. The IBPs of the three chlorophytes that have been examined so far share little similarity across species, making it likely that they were acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). To clarify the importance and source of IBPs in chlorophytes, we sequenced the IBP genes of another Antarctic chlorophyte, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE‐MDV (Chlamy‐ICE). Genomic DNA and total RNA were sequenced and screened for known ice‐associated genes. Chlamy‐ICE has as many as 50 IBP isoforms, indicating that they have an important role in survival. The IBPs are of the DUF3494 type and have similar exon structures. The DUF3494 sequences are much more closely related to prokaryotic sequences than they are to sequences in other chlorophytes, and the chlorophyte IBP and ribosomal 18S phylogenies are dissimilar. The multiple IBP isoforms found in Chlamy‐ICE and other algae may allow the algae to adapt to a greater variety of ice conditions than prokaryotes, which typically have a single IBP gene. The predicted structure of the DUF3494 domain has an ice‐binding face with an orderly array of hydrophilic side chains. The results indicate that Chlamy‐ICE acquired its IBP genes by HGT in a single event. The acquisitions of IBP genes by this and other species of Antarctic algae by HGT appear to be key evolutionary events that allowed algae to extend their ranges into polar environments.
Teaching Groups as Foci for Evaluating Performance in Cost-Effectiveness of GCE Advanced Level Provision: Some Practical Methodological Innovations1

Some key methodological issues in factors affecting educational effectiveness within schools are discussed. The motivation is an analysis of subject teaching group effectiveness in English and Welsh GCE Advanced Level prior to a linking to resources. Cross-classified multilevel models with weighted random effects are suggested for disentangling student, group, and teacher effects. Analyses show that there is considerable variation between subjects within students. Teacher effects are shown to be considerable but explanations for variation cannot be sought in the conventional personal characteristics of teachers. One conclusion is that it is availability of data which constrains such investigations and not methodology.
Longitudinal Research on Crime and Delinquency

Longitudinal research involves study, over time, of a group of people, or of samples from the same population, using records, interviews, or both. Studies which extend over a long period, which are prospective, and which include interviews with the subjects are especially useful. The longitudinal method has been used to investigate criminal careers, especially the incidence and prevalence of official delinquency at different ages, the peak age for convictions, the relationship between juvenile delinquency and adult crime, and offense specialization. It has also been used to predict the onset of convictions, recidivism, and the ending of criminal careers; to study the effects of penal treatments and other events such as marriage on delinquency; and to investigate the transmission of criminality from one generation to the next. Longitudinal and cross-sectional methods each have a part to play in research into crime and delinquency and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Major methodological questions concern the relative value of prospective versus retrospective research, and of interviews versus official records. Practical problems of longitudinal surveys include funding, staffing, attrition, and ethical issues. More prospective longitudinal research projects, including interviews, should be undertaken to provide basic information about the natural history of delinquent behavior and about the progression of detected offenders through the criminal justice system.
Virulence Factors of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated from Chickens with Colisepticemia in Japan

Abstract The virulence factors of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated in Japan were investigated. Serogroups O, serotypes K1 and K5, and genes cvaC, iss, iutA, papA, tsh, and usp, which have been thought to be related to virulence, were examined for their association with E. coli strains isolated from diseased and healthy chickens. The frequently recognized serogroups O1, O2, and O78 were found in 56 of 125 (44.8%) strains of diseased chickens (APEC) versus 13 of 100 (13.0%) strains of healthy chickens (commensal E. coli), a significant difference at risk ratio < 0.01. Although iss, iutA, and tsh were widely distributed in the APEC irrespective of O serogroup, papA, usp, and the K1 serotype were detected in serogroup O2 of APEC. The kfiD gene related to the K5 capsule and VT, LT, and ST genes related to exotoxins were not detected in any strains examined.
Effects of GnRH, a progesterone‐releasing device, and energy balance on an oestrus synchronisation program in anoestrous dairy cows

OBJECTIVE The aim of this research was to study the roles of the day 0 energy balance and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and progesterone levels on dominant follicle (DF) and corpus luteum (CL) development during the first 7 days of a gonadotrophin-prostaglandin-gonadotrophin (GPG) + progesterone (P4) program in anoestrous dairy cows. METHODS Cows (n = 81) were allocated to one of the three treatments: (1) GPG + P4 (days 0 and 9, 100 µg GnRH; day 0-7, intravaginal P4 device; day 7, 500 µg PGF2α ); (2) GPG (as for treatment 1 but excluding the P4 device) and (3) prostaglandin + GnRH + P4 (as for treatment 1, but excluding day 0 GnRH). DF and CL size, plasma concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were measured on days 0 and 7. RESULTS The proportion of cows with a CL on day 7 was significantly different between groups (GPG: 78%, GPG+P4: 69%, PGF2α + GnRH + P4: 42%, P = 0.02). The CL volume on day 7 was significantly associated with treatment, treatment by time postpartum and plasma concentrations of insulin, IGF-I and NEFA. CONCLUSION In cows without a CL present on day 0 of an oestrus synchronisation program, removal of the day 0 GnRH treatment led to reduced CL development; however, no effect of adding progesterone was found. In contrast, in cows with a CL present on day 0 inclusion of a progesterone device led to a higher CL volume, but removal of the first GnRH injection had no effect. Response to the treatment was affected by plasma concentrations of insulin, IGF-I and NEFA.