Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Projection-based image registration in the presence of fixed-pattern noise

A computationally efficient method for image registration is investigated that can achieve an improved performance over the traditional two-dimensional (2-D) cross-correlation-based techniques in the presence of both fixed-pattern and temporal noise. The method relies on transforming each image in the sequence of frames into two vector projections formed by accumulating pixel values along the rows and columns of the image. The vector projections corresponding to successive frames are in turn used to estimate the individual horizontal and vertical components of the shift by means of a one-dimensional (1-D) cross-correlation-based estimator. While gradient-based shift estimation techniques are computationally efficient, they often exhibit degraded performance under noisy conditions in comparison to cross-correlators due to the fact that the gradient operation amplifies noise. The projection-based estimator, on the other hand, significantly reduces the computational complexity associated with the 2-D operations involved in traditional correlation-based shift estimators while improving the performance in the presence of temporal and spatial noise. To show the noise rejection capability of the projection-based shift estimator relative to the 2-D cross correlator, a figure-of-merit is developed and computed reflecting the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with each estimator. The two methods are also compared by means of computer simulation and tests using real image sequences.
The Attitudes towards English Language Learning and Use of Self-Regulated Learning Strategies among College Non-English Majors

The present study was conducted to investigate the students" attitudes towards English language learning (ELL) and use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies at one college in Dak Lak, Vietnam. This study involved 241 non-English majors taking part in answering a questionnaire. The results showed that although the participants had positive attitudes towards ELL, they were likely to engage in SRL very low. Number of years of learning English did not account for the participants" change of attitudes to ELL. Academic achievements were also found to be significantly related to cognitive learning and environment management strategies. Additionally, academic achievements and attitudes towards ELL were positively correlated to SRL, yet only attitudes towards ELL were predictors of SRL.
Reliability-output Decoding and Low-latency Variable-length Coding Schemes for Communication with Feedback

Feedback links are ubiquitous in modern communication systems. This dissertation is focused on the short-blocklength performance of coded communication systems with feedback and is organized in three main parts. The first section presents a novel reliability-output decoding algorithm for tail-biting convolutional codes, based on Raghavan and Baum's Reliability-Output Viterbi Algorithm (ROVA) for terminated convolutional codes. Whereas terminated convolutional codes suffer from a rate penalty at short blocklengths, tail-biting convolutional codes do not suffer from rate loss, making them throughput-efficient and suitable for used in reliability-based retransmission schemes with short blocklengths.The second portion of the dissertation analyzes the performance of deterministic variable-length feedback coding schemes, focusing on blocklengths less than 300 symbols. In both the decision-feedback and information-feedback settings, we demonstrate that tail-biting convolutional codes can deliver rates surpassing the random-coding lower bound at blocklengths less than 100 symbols. The decision-feedback scheme uses the tail-biting ROVA to determine when to stop transmission, which requires only a single bit of feedback (ACK/NACK) after each decoding attempt. In contrast, the information-feedback scheme employs two-phase incremental redundancy and uses feedback of the received symbols to confirm or reject the decoder's tentative estimate. Finally, we discuss implications of these schemes when used in practical systems, namely the performance when decoding is limited to packets instead of individual symbols.Finally, using the information-theoretic framework of the second section, the third part of this dissertation investigates the energy efficiency of variable-length feedback codes compared to that of fixed-length block codes without feedback. While the latency reduction obtained with feedback can decrease transmitter power consumption, attempting decoding after every received symbol significantly increases receiver power consumption. Care must be taken to choose decoding intervals that balance the competing interests of transmitter and receiver power.
Characterization of autoimmune inflammation induced prostate stem cell expansion

The presence of inflammation in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) has been well described but the cellular mechanisms by which inflammation modulates the prostate are currently unclear. Prostate stem cells (PSC) not only maintain prostate homeostasis but also are considered to be the cell of origin of PCa and an important contributor to BPH. However, the impact of inflammation on PSC is not well understood. Therefore, we initiated studies to evaluate the effect of inflammation on PSC.
Weighted LS-SVM Credit Scoring Models with AUC Maximization by Direct Search

Credit scoring models are very important tools for credit granting institutions to assess the credit risk of their customers. Most previous researches focus on improving predictive accuracy of models. In this research, a weighted LS-SVM credit scoring model with Area under ROC curve maximization is proposed and optimized by direct search. The tests on two real-world datasets show that it is effective for building the credit scoring model with good AUC performance.
Differences in resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) among oligodendroglia derived from different strains of mice are determined after viral adsorption but prior to the expression of immediate early (IE) genes.

The nature of an innate cellular resistance to HSV-1 of cultured murine oligodendrocytes (OLs) in three strains of mice (C57BL/6J, Balb/cByJ and A/J) was investigated. The expression of immediate early (ICP4), early (ICP8) and late (gC) antigens in primary OL cultures was studied using an indirect immunofluorescence (IF) technique. HSV-1 infected OLs from C57BL/6J mice showed no viral antigens at 24 h post infection (p.i.) but rather a marked delay in antigen expression beginning at 60 h p.i. In contrast all three proteins were expressed in A/J OLs at 24 h p.i. while Balb/cByJ OLs showed an intermediate protein expression pattern. These results suggest that the innate cellular resistance to HSV-1 is determined prior to the expression of immediate early viral antigens. To further study these differences, the adsorption capacity between the three mouse strains was compared using dextran purified, [3H]thymidine labelled virus. No differences in HSV-1 adsorption were identified. Results from viral penetration studies approached statistical significance suggesting that penetration may be impaired in C57BL/6J and Balb/cByJ OLs when compared to A/J OLs and is likely fusion independent. The selective differences in HSV-1 resistance mediated by OLs, reflect differences in virus host cell interactions, that likely contribute to differences in mortality, viral spread, and the ability of virus to induce central nervous system (CNS) demyelination.
Introduction to the Special Issue with Best Papers from BPM 2008 Workshops

We investigate a method designed to improve the accuracy of process mining in scenarios where the identification of task labels for log events is uncertain. Such situations are prevalent in business processes where events consist of communications between people, such as email messages. We examine how the accuracy of an independent task identifier, such as a classification or clustering engine, can be improved by examining the currently mined process model. First, a classification scheme based on identifying the keywords in each message is presented to provide an initial labeling. We then demonstrate how these labels can be refined by considering the likelihood that the event represents a particular task as obtained via an analysis of the current representation of the process model. This process is then repeated a number of times until the model is sufficiently refined. Results show that both keyword classification and the current process model analysis can be significantly effective on their own, and when combined have the potential to correct virtually all errors when noise is low (less than 20p), and can reduce the error rate by about 85p when noise is in the 30–40p range. Copyright © 2010 Crown in the right of Canada. We propose a technique for improving the accuracy of a process model in situations where errors in the task labels for log events may be present, causing the corresponding model to become highly erratic. We demonstrate how an initial labeling can be iteratively refined by considering the likelihood that each event represents a particular task, as obtained via analysis of the current representation of the process model. Labeling errors can be consequently reduced by 85p when noise is less than 40p. Copyright © 2010 Crown in the right of Canada.
Ki67 Index, HER2 Status, and Prognosis of Patients With Luminal B Breast Cancer

Background Gene expression profiling of breast cancer has identified two biologically distinct estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subtypes of breast cancer: luminal A and luminal B. Luminal B tumors have higher proliferation and poorer prognosis than luminal A tumors. In this study, we developed a clinically practical immunohistochemistry assay to distinguish luminal B from luminal A tumors and investigated its ability to separate tumors according to breast cancer recurrence-free and disease-specific survival. Methods Tumors from a cohort of 357 patients with invasive breast carcinomas were subtyped by gene expression profile. Hormone receptor status, HER2 status, and the Ki67 index (percentage of Ki67-positive cancer nuclei) were determined immunohistochemically. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the Ki67 cut point to distinguish luminal B from luminal A tumors. The prognostic value of the immunohistochemical assignment for breast cancer recurrence-free and disease-specific survival was investigated with an independent tissue microarray series of 4046 breast cancers by use of Kaplan–Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression. Results Gene expression profiling classified 101 (28%) of the 357 tumors as luminal A and 69 (19%) as luminal B. The best Ki67 index cut point to distinguish luminal B from luminal A tumors was 13.25%. In an independent cohort of 4046 patients with breast cancer, 2847 had hormone receptor–positive tumors. When HER2 immunohistochemistry and the Ki67 index were used to subtype these 2847 tumors, we classified 1530 (59%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 57% to 61%) as luminal A, 846 (33%, 95% CI = 31% to 34%) as luminal B, and 222 (9%, 95% CI = 7% to 10%) as luminal–HER2 positive. Luminal B and luminal–HER2-positive breast cancers were statistically significantly associated with poor breast cancer recurrence-free and disease-specific survival in all adjuvant systemic treatment categories. Of particular relevance are women who received tamoxifen as their sole adjuvant systemic therapy, among whom the 10-year breast cancer–specific survival was 79% (95% CI = 76% to 83%) for luminal A, 64% (95% CI = 59% to 70%) for luminal B, and 57% (95% CI = 47% to 69%) for luminal–HER2 subtypes. Conclusion Expression of ER, progesterone receptor, and HER2 proteins and the Ki67 index appear to distinguish luminal A from luminal B breast cancer subtypes.
Rhythmic Effects of Syntax Processing in Music and Language

Music and language are human cognitive and neural functions that share many structural similarities. Past theories posit a sharing of neural resources between syntax processing in music and language (Patel, 2003), and a dynamic attention network that governs general temporal processing (Large and Jones, 1999). Both make predictions about music and language processing over time. Experiment 1 of this study investigates the relationship between rhythmic expectancy and musical and linguistic syntax in a reading time paradigm. Stimuli (adapted from Slevc et al., 2009) were sentences broken down into segments; each sentence segment was paired with a musical chord and presented at a fixed inter-onset interval. Linguistic syntax violations appeared in a garden-path design. During the critical region of the garden-path sentence, i.e., the particular segment in which the syntactic unexpectedness was processed, expectancy violations for language, music, and rhythm were each independently manipulated: musical expectation was manipulated by presenting out-of-key chords and rhythmic expectancy was manipulated by perturbing the fixed inter-onset interval such that the sentence segments and musical chords appeared either early or late. Reading times were recorded for each sentence segment and compared for linguistic, musical, and rhythmic expectancy. Results showed main effects of rhythmic expectancy and linguistic syntax expectancy on reading time. There was also an effect of rhythm on the interaction between musical and linguistic syntax: effects of violations in musical and linguistic syntax showed significant interaction only during rhythmically expected trials. To test the effects of our experimental design on rhythmic and linguistic expectancies, independently of musical syntax, Experiment 2 used the same experimental paradigm, but the musical factor was eliminated—linguistic stimuli were simply presented silently, and rhythmic expectancy was manipulated at the critical region. Experiment 2 replicated effects of rhythm and language, without an interaction. Together, results suggest that the interaction of music and language syntax processing depends on rhythmic expectancy, and support a merging of theories of music and language syntax processing with dynamic models of attentional entrainment.
Improved endoscope distortion correction does not necessarily enhance mucosa-classification based medical decision support systems

Distortion correction in two variants is applied to endoscopic duodenal imagery aiming at an improvement of automated classification of celiac disease affected mucosa patches. In a set of heterogeneous feature extraction techniques, only geometry and shape related ones are able to benefit from distortion correction, while for others, even a decrease of classification accuracy is observed. Different types of distortion correction do not lead to significantly different behaviour in the observed application scenario.
Self-Excited Walking of a Biped Mechanism with Feet

In this paper we present a theoretical and experimental study of the self-excited walking of a biped mechanism with knees and feet on level ground. This biped mechanism possesses a single motor at the hip joint and active lock mechanisms at both knee joints. We first show that the self-excitation control enables the three-degrees-of-freedom planar biped model with feet to walk on level ground, and that a stable walking locomotion is possible over a wide range of feedback gain and a foot radius of up to 0.3 m. Subsequently, we describe the manufactured biped Robot 2 which is similar to the analytical model and we show that the biped robot can perform natural dynamic walking on a level floor. It is also shown that the simulated results agree well with the experimental results. We further describe the wireless-controlled biped Robot 3, which can walk on a level floor carrying batteries and electronic circuits inside the thighs.
Imaging of Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the Neurointensive Care

Ischemia is a common and deleterious secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI). A great challenge for the treatment of TBI patients in the neurointensive care unit (NICU) is to detect early signs of ischemia in order to prevent further advancement and deterioration of the brain tissue. Today, several imaging techniques are available to monitor cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the injured brain such as positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography, xenon computed tomography (Xenon-CT), perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CT perfusion scan. An ideal imaging technique would enable continuous non-invasive measurement of blood flow and metabolism across the whole brain. Unfortunately, no current imaging method meets all these criteria. These techniques offer snapshots of the CBF. MRI may also provide some information about the metabolic state of the brain. PET provides images with high resolution and quantitative measurements of CBF and metabolism; however, it is a complex and costly method limited to few TBI centers. All of these methods except mobile Xenon-CT require transfer of TBI patients to the radiological department. Mobile Xenon-CT emerges as a feasible technique to monitor CBF in the NICU, with lower risk of adverse effects. Promising results have been demonstrated with Xenon-CT in predicting outcome in TBI patients. This review covers available imaging methods used to monitor CBF in patients with severe TBI.
Early Activation of MAP Kinases by Influenza A Virus X-31 in Murine Macrophage Cell Lines

Early molecular responses to Influenza A (FLUA) virus strain A/X-31 H3N2 in macrophages were explored using J774.A1 and RAW 264.7 murine cell lines. NF-kappa B (NFκB) was reported to be central to FLUA host-response in other cell types. Our data showed that FLUA activation of the classical NFκB dependent pathway in these macrophages was minimal. Regulator proteins, IkappaB-alpha and –beta (IκBα, IκBβ), showed limited degradation peaking at 2 h post FLUA exposure and p65 was not observed to translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Additionally, the non-canonical NFκB pathway was not activated in response to FLUA. The cells did display early increases in TNFα and other inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. Mitogen activated phosphokinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are also reported to control production of inflammatory cytokines in response to FLUA. The activation of the MAPKs, cJun kinases 1 and 2 (JNK 1/2), extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2), and p38 were investigated in both cell lines between 0.25 and 3 h post-infection. Each of these kinases showed increased phosphorylation post FLUA exposure. JNK phosphorylation occurred early while p38 phosphorylation appeared later. Phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 occurred earlier in J774.A1 cells compared to RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibition of MAPK activation resulted in decreased production of most FLUA responsive cytokines and chemokines in these cells. The results suggest that in these monocytic cells the MAPK pathways are important in the early response to FLUA.
PENGARUH FASHION INVOLVEMENT TERHADAP IMPULSE BUYING BEHAVIOUR MASYARAKAT SURABAYA DENGAN HEDONIC SHOPPING MOTIVATION DAN POSITIVE EMOTION SEBAGAI VARIABEL INTERVENING PADA MEREK ZARA

Perkembangan bisnis ritel di Indonesia, khususnya kota Surabaya menunjukkan pertumbuhan yang signifikan. Selain itu kehidupan masyaraktnya pun juga semakin berkembang dimana semakin konsumtif dan memiliki gaya hidup serta pola belanja masyarakat (konsumen) yang senang mengikuti tren, mode, merek serta kualitas dan terkadang suasana hati juga dapat mempengaruhi seseorang dalam melakukan pembelian. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pengaruh dari fashion involvement terhadap impulse buying behaviour masyarakat Surabaya dengan hedonic shopping motivation dan positive emotions sebagai variabel intervening pada merek ZARA. Penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner yang disebar ke 100 responden yang sedang berbelanja di outlet ZARA dan menggunakan teknik analisis Data Partial Least Square (PLS ). Hasil Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa fashion involvement berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap impulse buying , hedonic shopping motivation berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap impulse buying dan positive emotions berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap impulse buying.
Contact pressure distribution of osteochondral defects of the knee: Effects of non-vertical walls

CONTACT PRESSURE PROPERTIES OF OSTEOCHONDRAL DEFECTS OF THE KNEE: THE EFFECT OF NON-VERTICAL WALLS by SCOTT ENSMINGER December 2012 Advisor: Dr. King-Hay Yang Major: Mechanical Engineering Degree: Master of Science Purpose: To examine the relationship between well-shouldered osteochondral defects and defects of different geometries by studying their effects on rim stress concentration and load redistribution in the human knee. Methods: Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were mounted at 30° of flexion in a materials testing machine. Digital electronic pressure sensors were placed in the medial and lateral compartments of the knee. Dynamic pressure readings were recorded throughout the loading and holding phases as each knee was loaded to 700N and held for 5 seconds. Artificial defects were created in each knee to simulate well-shouldered defects and beveled-defects. Loading was repeated for well-shouldered and beveled osteochondral defects sized 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 mm. Results: Stress concentrations around rims of defects were shown to act similarly to a previous study by Guettler et al. As defect size increased, a rim of peak pressures formed on the adjacent cartilage with distance from defect center to rim of peak pressures increasing as defect size increased (p peak pressure was found to be higher among beveled defects although this was not found
Fuzzy Private Matching

In the private matching problem, a client and a server each hold a set of n elements as their input. The client wants to privately compute the intersection of these two sets: he learns elements which has in common with the server (and nothing more), while the server gains no information at all. In certain applications it would be useful to have a private matching protocol that reports a match even if two elements are only similar instead of equal. Such a private matching protocol is called fuzzy, and is useful, for instance, when elements may be inaccurate or corrupted by errors. We consider the fuzzy private matching problem, in a semi-honest environment. Elements are similar if they match on t out of T attributes. First we show that the original solution proposed by Freedman et al. [7] is not private: the client can “steal” elements even if the sets have no similar elements in common. Following that we present 2 fuzzy private matching protocols. The first, simple, protocol has message complexity O(n ( T t ) ). The second, improved, protocol has message complexityO(nT), but here the client incurs a O(n ( T t ) ) time complexity penalty. We also present a protocol based on the computation of the hamming distance and on oblivious transfer.
Two Cases of Secondary Hemifacial Spasm: Pathophysiology and Management

Dear Editor, Classical hemifacial spasm (HFS) has been attributed to an atraumatic pulsatile vascular compression of the facial nerve leading to hyperactivity within the central components of the nerve, alleviated via mobilization of the culprit vessel [1]. In a small subset of patients the cause may be attributed to lesions involving the facial nerve, most commonly benign cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors [2,3]. In such secondary HFS the clinical manifestation is usually a tonic facial contraction rather than the intermittent twitching characteristic of common HFS [4,5]. There may, however, also be rare patients with a common presentation of HFS but with an associated CPA tumor [6,7]; the role of neurovascular compression (NVC) in these cases is uncertain. We present 2 cases of secondary HFS, both related to benign CPA tumors.