Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Generic Moment Invariants Based Supervised Learning Framework for Classification Using Partial Object Information

We present a novel classification scheme which uses partial object information that is selected adaptively using modified distance transform and represented as moment invariants (Hu moments) to compensate for scale, translation and rotational transformation(s). The moment invariants of different parts of an object are learned using AdaBoost algorithm [1]. The classifier obtained using the proposed scheme is able to handle changes in illumination, pose, and varying inter-class and intra-class attributes. Partial information based classification shows robustness against object articulations, clutters, and occlusions. The first contribution of our proposed method is an adaptive selection of partial object information using modified distance transform that attempts to extract contours along with its neighborhood information in the form of blocks. Secondly, our proposed method is invariant to scaling, translation and rotation, and reliably classifies occluded objects using fractional information. Our proposed method achieved better detection and classification rate compared to other state-of-the-art schemes.
Genetic Association of DLG5 R30Q with Familial and Sporadic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Men

Background: The association of DLG5 R30Q with IBD has been replicated in several populations, but is not statistically significant in others. We studied the incidence of DLG5 alleles in a population of IBD patients from Pennsylvania. Methods: DLG5 R30Q (rs1248696) and G1066G (rs1248634) were analyzed with PCR-based RFLP methods in a total of 521 subjects, that included 105 individuals with IBD and 139 without IBD from a familial IBD registry, 107 with sporadic IBD, and 170 unrelated healthy controls. R30Q was further analyzed with SNPlex™ Genotyping System in 473 samples. Results: RFLP genotyping data showed that, DLG5 R30Q was significantly associated with IBD overall (p=0.006), and separately with CD (p=0.009) and UC (p=0.024). The association of R30Q with IBD was entirely due to a male-associated effect (male vs female p=0.015 vs 0.241 (IBD), p=0.024 vs 0.190 (CD), and p=0.019 vs 0.575 (UC)). The frequency of the A allele carriage was elevated in both affected and unaffected members in the familial IBD cohort compared to healthy controls (p=0.037). In the family pedigrees, we observed differences in the expression of IBD in individuals carrying the A allele between families. Conclusions: In the studied population, DLG5 R30Q was associated with all forms of IBD. An elevated presence of the R30Q variant was observed in all members of a familial IBD registry. This association of the R30Q variant with IBD was male-specific.
Boomerang Returns Unexpectedly

Experimental study of the anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) is gathering momentum. The eagerly awaited Boomerang results have lived up to expectations. They provide convincing evidence in favor of the standard paradigm: the universe is close to flat and with primordial fluctuations that are redolent of inflation. Further scrutiny reveals something even more exciting, however—two hints that there may be some unforeseen physical effects. First, the primary acoustic peak appears at slightly larger scales than expected. Although this may be explicable through a combination of mundane effects, we suggest that it is also prudent to consider the possibility that the universe might be marginally closed. The other hint is provided by a second peak, which appears less prominent than expected. This may indicate one of a number of possibilities, including increased damping length or tilted initial conditions, but also breaking of coherence or features in the initial power spectrum. Further data should test whether the current concordance model needs only to be tweaked, or to be enhanced in some fundamental way.
A Monoclonal Antibody to Human DLK1 Reveals Differential Expression in Cancer and Absence in Healthy Tissues

There is considerable interest in the characterization of novel tumor-associated antigens that lend themselves to antibody-mediated pharmacodelivery strategies. Delta-like 1 homolog protein (DLK1), which exists both as transmembrane protein and in soluble form, shows a restricted pattern of expression in healthy organs, while being overexpressed in some tumors. We have generated a human antibody specific to DLK1 using phage display technology. This reagent was used for a comprehensive characterization of DLK1 expression in freshly frozen sections of normal human adult tissues and of xenografted human tumors. DLK1 was virtually undetectable in most organs, except for placenta which was weakly positive. By contrast, DLK1 exhibited a moderate-to-strong expression in 8/9 tumor types tested. Our analysis shed light on previous conflicting reports on DLK1 expression in health and disease. The study suggests that DLK1 may be considered as a target for antibody-mediated pharmacodelivery strategies, in view of the protein’s limited expression in normal tissues and its abundance in the interstitium of neoplastic lesions.
When group level is different from the population level: an adaptive network with the Deffuant model

propose a model coupling the classical opinion dynamics of the bounded confidence model, proposed by Deffuant et al., with an adaptive network forming community or group structure. At each step, an individual can decide if it changes groups or interact on its opinion with one of its internal or external neighbour. If it decides to look at the group level, it changes group if its opinion is far from the average of its group from more than a threshold. If it is the case, it joins the group which has proportionally the closest average opinion from its. If it decides to interact with one of its neighbour, it becomes closer in opinion to it when its opin- ion and the one of the selected-to-interact neighbour are less distant from the threshold. From the study of this coupled model, we discover some surprising behaviours compared to the known behaviour of the Deffuant bounded confidence model(BC): The coupled model exhibits a total consensus for an threshold value lower than the BC model; the distribution of sizes of the groups changes: some groups become larger while other decrease in size, sometimes until containing only one individual. From the point of view of the groups, the consensus remains for a large set of threshold values while, looking at the population level, there are a lot of opinion clusters.
Linguistic Variation across Major Disciplinary Groups of Pakistani Academic Writing: Multidimensional Analysis of Doctoral Theses

This study aims at investigating the linguistic variation across two major disciplinary groups (physical sciences and biological & health sciences) of academic written English of Pakistani doctoral theses. Furthermore, the study also compares the language of physical sciences and biological & health sciences of Pakistani doctoral theses with the 23 genres of Biber’s (1988) study. The corpus of Pakistani doctoral theses (PakDTh), including the disciplinary groups (Physical sciences and biological & health sciences) as sub-corpora, was built for this study. MD Analysis tagger (v 1.3.) was used to tag and analyze the data. The generated scores were statistically computed using SPSS 20.0 and were qualitatively interpreted through the 5 explored dimensions of Biber (1988) MD analysis. The findings reveal that the language of both the sub-corpora (physical sciences and biological & health sciences) significantly differs at dimensions 1,2 and 3. Whereas, they are relatively similar on dimension 4 and 5. Furthermore, both the disciplines are characterized with significant linguistic variation (along the 5 dimensions) in comparison with 23 genres of Biber’s (1988) study. So far as the scope of the present study is concerned, it might be helpful for the researchers working in the field of sociolinguistics, world Englishes and lexicography.
Adolescents’ internet use in relation to self-esteem and adaptability in career decision-making

ABSTRACT This study investigates Internet use in relation to self-esteem and adaptability in career decision-making among Finnish adolescents (N = 336). Decision-making and adaptability were evaluated using a questionnaire on career decision style, self-esteem was assessed with a self-esteem test, and Internet use was measured by an instrument that determines Internet addiction. In accordance with the Internet Addiction Test scores, the data were categorised into three groups: below average scores (20–39.99; n = 146; 43.5%); average scores (40–49.9; n = 113; 33.6%) and above average scores (50–100; n = 77; 22.9%). Results show that with increasing Internet use, the adolescents’ self-esteem declines, their adaptability in career decision-making process weakens and the decision-making process proceeds at a slower rate than it does for adolescents who use the Internet for less time.
Breast Cancer 1 (BrCa1) May Be behind Decreased Lipogenesis in Adipose Tissue from Obese Subjects

Context Expression and activity of the main lipogenic enzymes is paradoxically decreased in obesity, but the mechanisms behind these findings are poorly known. Breast Cancer 1 (BrCa1) interacts with acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) reducing the rate of fatty acid biosynthesis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate BrCa1 in human adipose tissue according to obesity and insulin resistance, and in vitro cultured adipocytes. Research Design and Methods BrCa1 gene expression, total and phosphorylated (P-) BrCa1, and ACC were analyzed in adipose tissue samples obtained from a total sample of 133 subjects. BrCa1 expression was also evaluated during in vitro differentiation of human adipocytes and 3T3-L1 cells. Results BrCa1 gene expression was significantly up-regulated in both omental (OM; 1.36-fold, p = 0.002) and subcutaneous (SC; 1.49-fold, p = 0.001) adipose tissue from obese subjects. In parallel with increased BrCa1 mRNA, P-ACC was also up-regulated in SC (p = 0.007) as well as in OM (p = 0.010) fat from obese subjects. Consistent with its role limiting fatty acid biosynthesis, both BrCa1 mRNA (3.5-fold, p<0.0001) and protein (1.2-fold, p = 0.001) were increased in pre-adipocytes, and decreased during in vitro adipogenesis, while P-ACC decreased during differentiation of human adipocytes (p = 0.005) allowing lipid biosynthesis. Interestingly, BrCa1 gene expression in mature adipocytes was restored by inflammatory stimuli (macrophage conditioned medium), whereas lipogenic genes significantly decreased. Conclusions The specular findings of BrCa1 and lipogenic enzymes in adipose tissue and adipocytes reported here suggest that BrCa1 might help to control fatty acid biosynthesis in adipocytes and adipose tissue from obese subjects.
Flip-Rotate-Pooling Convolution and Split Dropout on Convolution Neural Networks for Image Classification

This paper presents a new version of Dropout called Split Dropout (sDropout) and rotational convolution techniques to improve CNNs' performance on image classification. The widely used standard Dropout has advantage of preventing deep neural networks from overfitting by randomly dropping units during training. Our sDropout randomly splits the data into two subsets and keeps both rather than discards one subset. We also introduce two rotational convolution techniques, i.e. rotate-pooling convolution (RPC) and flip-rotate-pooling convolution (FRPC) to boost CNNs' performance on the robustness for rotation transformation. These two techniques encode rotation invariance into the network without adding extra parameters. Experimental evaluations on ImageNet2012 classification task demonstrate that sDropout not only enhances the performance but also converges faster. Additionally, RPC and FRPC make CNNs more robust for rotation transformations. Overall, FRPC together with sDropout bring $1.18\%$ (model of Zeiler and Fergus~\cite{zeiler2013visualizing}, 10-view, top-1) accuracy increase in ImageNet 2012 classification task compared to the original network.
Mirror-Image Sensitivity and Invariance in Object and Scene Processing Pathways

Electrophysiological and behavioral studies in many species have demonstrated mirror-image confusion for objects, perhaps because many objects are vertically symmetric (e.g., a cup is the same cup when seen in left or right profile). In contrast, the navigability of a scene changes when it is mirror reversed, and behavioral studies reveal high sensitivity to this change. Thus, we predicted that representations in object-selective cortex will be unaffected by mirror reversals, whereas representations in scene-selective cortex will be sensitive to such reversals. To test this hypothesis, we ran an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging adaptation experiment in human adults. Consistent with our prediction, we found tolerance to mirror reversals in one object-selective region, the posterior fusiform sulcus, and a strong sensitivity to these reversals in two scene-selective regions, the transverse occipital sulcus and the retrosplenial complex. However, a more posterior object-selective region, the lateral occipital sulcus, showed sensitivity to mirror reversals, suggesting that the sense information that distinguishes mirror images is represented at earlier stages in the object-processing hierarchy. Moreover, one scene-selective region (the parahippocampal place area or PPA) was tolerant to mirror reversals. This last finding challenges the hypothesis that the PPA is involved in navigation and reorientation and suggests instead that scenes, like objects, are processed by distinct pathways guiding recognition and action.
Development of a measure of sense of self following traumatic brain injury

II PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS ARISING FROM THIS THESIS: . IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: . V LIST OF TABLES . VI LIST OF FIGURES . VIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Some useful definitions: . 4 1.1.1 Traumatic brain injury 4 1.1.2 Self-identity 5 1.2 Research Questions: . 5 1.3 Structure of the thesis: . 6 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND . 8 2.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery has no therapeutic advantages over concurrent chemoradiotherapy in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IIB cervical cancer

Objective We aimed to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NACT+S), and compared the clinical outcome with that of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IB–IIB cervical cancer. Methods We reviewed 85 patients with FIGO IB–IIB cervical cancer who received NACT+S between 1989 and 2012, and compared them to 358 control patients who received CCRT. The clinical application of NACT was classified based on the following possible therapeutic benefits: increasing resectability after NACT by reducing tumor size or negative conversion of node metastasis; downstaging adenocarcinoma regarded as relatively radioresistant; and preservation of fertility through limited surgery after NACT. Results Of 85 patients in the NACT+S group, the pathologic downstaging and complete response rates were 68.2% and 22.6%, respectively. Only two young patients underwent limited surgery for preservation of fertility. Patients of the NACT+S group were younger, less likely to have node metastasis, and demonstrated a higher proportion of FIGO IB cases than those of the CCRT group (p≤0.001). The 5-year locoregional control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates in the NACT+S group were 89.7%, 75.6%, and 92.1%, respectively, which were not significantly different from the rates of 92.5%, 74%, and 84.9% observed in the CCRT group, respectively (p>0.05). Conclusion NACT+S has no therapeutic advantages over CCRT, the standard treatment. Therefore, NACT+S should be considered only in selected patients through multidisciplinary discussion or clinical trial setting.
Perceptions of Perfection: The Influence of Social Media on Interpersonal Evaluations

ABSTRACT Through social network sites such as Facebook, people gain information about acquaintances that they would not gain from everyday life. This information typically highlights the most positive aspects of people’s personalities and lives. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether looking at another user’s Facebook profile influences perceptions of that individual’s socially desirable characteristics (e.g., intelligence, attractiveness). One group of participants viewed an acquaintance’s Facebook profile before providing evaluations, and the other evaluated the person without viewing Facebook. Results revealed that participants who viewed another person’s Facebook profile evaluated that person more favorably than those who completed a control task (Study 1) or wrote about the person from memory (Study 2). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Uniform bounds for the number of rational points on hyperelliptic curves of small Mordell–Weil rank

We show that there is a bound depending only on g and [K:Q] for the number of K-rational points on a hyperelliptic curve C of genus g over a number field K such that the Mordell-Weil rank r of its Jacobian is at most g-3. If K = Q, an explicit bound is 8 r g + 33 (g - 1) + 1. The proof is based on Chabauty's method; the new ingredient is an estimate for the number of zeros of a logarithm in a p-adic `annulus' on the curve, which generalizes the standard bound on disks. The key observation is that for a p-adic field k, the set of k-points on C can be covered by a collection of disks and annuli whose number is bounded in terms of g (and k). We also show, strengthening a recent result by Poonen and the author, that the lower density of hyperelliptic curves of odd degree over Q whose only rational point is the point at infinity tends to 1 uniformly over families defined by congruence conditions, as the genus g tends to infinity.
A MULTIVARIATE STUDY OF THE THREE FORMS OF WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT AMONG NIGERIAN MALE AND FEMALE WORKERS

The study investigated the impact of gender on time-based, strain-based and behaviour-based work-family conflict (WFC). Seven hundred and thirty six volunteered married male (n =425) and female (n=311) Federal university workers, drawn from three selected Nigerian Federal institutions, participated in the study. Carlson, Kacmar and Williams’ WFC Scale was used to measure the three forms of WFC. A multivariate analysis of variance was computed to test the effect of gender on time-based, strain-based and behaviour-based work-family conflict. Results revealed that male and female Nigerian employees differed only on strain-based work-family conflict. The result was discussed with reference to the multiple roles played by Nigerian women in combining the roles of mother, wife and employees which tend to sap enormous energy and thus resulting in the experience of more strain-based WFC than their male counterparts.
Are Conservatives More Sensitive to Threat than Liberals? It Depends on How We Define Threat and Conservatism

The motivated social cognition and negativity bias perspectives each posit that threat is especially related to political conservatism, such that threat causes people to adopt politically conservative beliefs, and that political conservatives are especially responsive to threatening stimuli. In this review, I argue that there is a kernel of truth to these perspectives, but that they each define both “threat” and “conservatism” too broadly. I review evidence supporting a Compensatory Political Behavior (CPB) Model, which posits that whereas liberals and conservatives are similarly influenced by and responsive to meaning threats, conservatives, and in particular social conservatives, are differentially influenced by and responsive to physical threats. The CPB model suggests that whereas some political beliefs are more deeply rooted in psychological predispositions, others reflect more surface-based ideological motives. I conclude with suggestions for future research to test the model's predictions regarding.
Validated near-atomic resolution structure of bacteriophage epsilon15 derived from cryo-EM and modeling

High-resolution structures of viruses have made important contributions to modern structural biology. Bacteriophages, the most diverse and abundant organisms on earth, replicate and infect all bacteria and archaea, making them excellent potential alternatives to antibiotics and therapies for multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here, we improved upon our previous electron cryomicroscopy structure of Salmonella bacteriophage epsilon15, achieving a resolution sufficient to determine the tertiary structures of both gp7 and gp10 protein subunits that form the T = 7 icosahedral lattice. This study utilizes recently established best practice for near-atomic to high-resolution (3–5 Å) electron cryomicroscopy data evaluation. The resolution and reliability of the density map were cross-validated by multiple reconstructions from truly independent data sets, whereas the models of the individual protein subunits were validated adopting the best practices from X-ray crystallography. Some sidechain densities are clearly resolved and show the subunit–subunit interactions within and across the capsomeres that are required to stabilize the virus. The presence of the canonical phage and jellyroll viral protein folds, gp7 and gp10, respectively, in the same virus suggests that epsilon15 may have emerged more recently relative to other bacteriophages.
APOA2 Polymorphism in Relation to Obesity and Lipid Metabolism

Objectives. This study aims to analysis the relationship between c. -492T>C polymorphism in APOA2 gene and the risk for obesity in a sample of Egyptian adolescents and investigates its effect on body fat distribution and lipid metabolism. Material and Methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 303 adolescents. They were 196 obese and 107 nonobese, aged 16–19 years old. Variables examined included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal visceral fat layer, and dietary intake. Abdominal visceral fat thickness was determined by ultrasonography. The polymorphism in the APOA2 c. -492T>C was analyzed by PCR amplification. Results. Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of the mutant C allele was significantly higher in obese cases compared to nonobese. After multivariate adjustment, waist, BF% and visceral adipose layer, food consumption, and HDL-C were significantly higher in homozygous allele CC carriers than TT+TC carriers. Conclusions. Homozygous individuals for the C allele had higher obesity risk than carriers of the T allele and had elevated levels of visceral adipose tissue and serum HDL-C. Moreover, the study shows association between the APOA2 c. -492T>C polymorphism and food consumption.
Deflating the iconoclash: shifting the focus from Islamic State’s iconoclasm to its realpolitik*

ABSTRACT This article explores the tension between religious and political motivations in the strategy of Islamic State. It develops the Arendtian model of politics as a space of appearance through the work of Silverstone, Devji and Cavarero to consider how Islamic State exhibits itself in this space using religious modalities. This space is conceptualized as a global media ecology. Whilst no political actor can control how it is recognized within that ecology, religious and even ethical modalities grant Islamic State a compelling attention-grabbing and persuasive capacity. However, greater exposure of its pragmatic, realpolitik behavior might deflate that identity. The second half of the article sets out several examples of such behavior. The article concludes by suggesting that icons are something all societies live with but the news media that constitute the global space of appearance remain transfixed by iconic acts or icon-smashing. This leaves publics-cum-audiences adrift, uncertain and anxious about the nature, actions and threat of Islamic State.