Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Landslide hazard mapping using limit equilibrium method with GIS application of roadway traversing mountain slopes: The case of Kitaotao Bukidnon, Philippines

The national highway section of the Municipality of Kitaotao along the Davao City route plays a vital role in the transport of goods and services in the region. However, this national highway is prone to rainfall-induced landslides. Records show that almost every year this highway is being disrupted by landslide and road clearing operations would take several hours or even up to several days. This study aimed to improve the present landslide hazard map using Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and GIS techniques in order to present the spatial distribution of Factor of Safety (FS) in the area. A LEM based software (SLOPE /W) was utilized in the present study and Bishop Simplified slope stability model was adopted in calculating the FS. Geotechnical properties like cohesion, friction angle and unit weight were used in the analyses. The soil thickness data gathered were correlated to the slope angle in order to determine the spatial distribution of soil thickness in the area. The LHZM revealed that areas with low to very low stability are extensively found in the southern part and some areas in the northern portion. The accuracy of the model was validated through actual field observations and also by overlying the landslide inventory over the LHZM. It was found that 77.80 % of inventoried landslides are in low to very low stability zones. The present study adapts a deterministic approach using LEM of slope stability analysis and clusters the hazard zonation in terms of the spatial variation of FS in every 20 m x 20 m slope area employing GIS techniques; hence, this provides better insight on the landslide susceptibility throughout the study area and can be used directly for engineering design purposes.
Repeatability of gait analysis measurements in Thoroughbreds in training

BACKGROUND With the view of implementing gait symmetry measurements in Thoroughbreds in training for early detection of injuries, repeatability of inertial measurement unit (IMU) gait parameters needs to be established. OBJECTIVES To assess the variation of head and pelvis movement symmetry in Thoroughbreds in training. STUDY DESIGN Repeated observations in horses in race training. METHODS Daily and weekly repeat gait assessments were conducted in 14 Thoroughbreds equipped with IMUs on poll, sacrum and right (RTC) and left (LTC) tuber coxae. Gait was assessed in trot, in-hand, on a level concrete surface. Difference between vertical displacement minima and maxima and range of motion (ROM) were obtained. Ranges containing 50% (median), 75, 90 and 95% of absolute daily and weekly differences were calculated and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) calculated for daily and weekly repeats. RESULTS Median absolute daily differences ranged from 4 to 7 mm and median weekly differences from 4 to 8 mm. 90% of daily differences were between 9 and 16 mm and 90% of weekly differences between 11 and 19 mm. ICC values were found on average across sensors and gait parameters as 0.73 (ranging from 0.40 to 0.92 across parameters) for daily repeats and as 0.65 (0.27 to 0.91) for weekly repeats. MAIN LIMITATIONS Horses were of varying training and movement asymmetry levels, and no veterinary lameness examination was conducted. CONCLUSIONS Daily and weekly repeat gait assessments in this group of Thoroughbreds in training show lower ICC values than previously reported from within-day repeats in horses during lameness examinations. We recommend conducting repeatability studies for specific groups of horses when planning long-term studies aiming at identifying horses at risk of injury.
Physical characteristics of vegetable foodstuffs that could influence bowel function.

There is a need to explore physical characteristics of dietary vegetable fibre that can be tested in nutritional studies. This paper describes two properties of the fibre of commonly eaten vegetables and fruit, namely water-holding capacity (w.h.c.) and ion exchange capacity. Twenty-six different fruit and vegetables were dried to a powder. The capacity of the powder to hold water was estimated. Lettuce, carrot, cucumber, celery and aubergine had the greatest w.h. c. whereas maize, oatmeal, potato, banana, wheat and bran had the least. The water-adsorptive capacity of any dietary plant is determined by its fibre content and the water-holding capacity of the fibre. Estimations of the fibre content of the original plant and the w.h. c. of that fibre suggest that in their natural state, bran (447 g of water holding/100 g of original material), mango (312 g), carrot (208 g), apple (177 g) and brussels sprouts (168 g) are better as hydrophilic laxatives than bananas (68 g), cauliflower (68 g), potatoes (49 g) and turnip (37 g). Most of the fibre acts as a monofunctional weak cation exchange resin; lettuce (3.1 mequiv./g), cabbage, carrot, orange, turnip (2.4 mequiv./g) are in the range of commercially available weak cation exchange resin. When a diet is changed to one with a high fibre content then these physical characteristics may influence the choice of vegetables and fruit which are included in the diet.
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEY WITH FISHEYE LENS FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LA SASSA CAVE

Abstract. The survey of ancient cave can generally be performed by traditional topographic methods that allow also its georeferencing in a global reference frame; some difficulties may arise when there are narrow tunnels that do not consent the use of a total station or a terrestrial laser scanner. In such cases a visual-based approach can be used to produce, both the followed path and the 3D model of the hypogeal environment. A prompt photogrammetric survey has been used to reconstruct the morphology of the La Sassa Cave, situated in the municipality of Sonnino (Latina), in the lower Lazio region. In this cave, a very large quantity of Pleistocene animal bones was found, together with several fragments of Copper Age human bones and Bronze Age impasto potsherds. The survey was carried out using a DSLR full frame camera Nikon D800E with a Nikkor 16 mm fisheye lens pre-calibrated. During the acquisition, several targets were measured in order to contain the deformations model. The photogrammetric model has been georeferenced using 3 GCPs positioned outside the cave entrance where a double frequency GNSS receiver has acquired data in static session mode.
Regular Languages Are Church-Rosser Congruential

This article shows a general result about finite monoids and weight reducing string rewriting systems. As a consequence it proves a long standing conjecture in formal language theory: All regular languages are Church-Rosser congruential. The class of Church-Rosser congruential languages was introduced by McNaughton, Narendran, and Otto in 1988. A language L is Church-Rosser congruential if there exists a finite, confluent, and length-reducing semi-Thue system S such that L is a finite union of congruence classes modulo S. It was known that there are deterministic linear context-free languages which are not Church-Rosser congruential, but the conjecture was that all regular languages are of this form. The article offers a stronger statement: A language is regular if and only if it is strongly Church-Rosser congruential. It is the journal version of the conference abstract which was presented at ICALP 2012.
Phenotypes and Genotypes of Old and Contemporary Porcine Strains Indicate a Temporal Change in the S. aureus Population Structure in Pigs

Introduction Staphylococcus aureus sequence type ST398 has recently gained attention due to the spread of methicillin-resistant strains among people exposed to livestock. The aim of this study was to explore temporal changes in the population structure of S. aureus in pigs over the last 40 years with particular reference to the occurrence of ST398. Methods We analysed a unique collection of 91 porcine strains isolated in six countries between 1973 and 2009 using a biotyping scheme described in the 1970's in combination with spa typing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The collection comprised 32 historical isolates from 1973–1974 (n = 19) and from 1991–2003 (n = 13), and 59 contemporary isolates from 2004–2009. The latter isolates represented the most common MLST types (ST1, ST9, ST97 and ST433) and spa types isolated from pigs in Europe. Results and Discussion S. aureus sequence type ST398 was not found among old isolates from the 1970's or from 1991–2003, suggesting that this lineage was absent or present at low frequencies in pigs in the past. This hypothesis is supported by the observed association of ST398 with the ovine ecovar, which was not described in pigs by studies carried out in the 1970's. In addition, various phenotypic and genotypic differences were observed between old and contemporary isolates. Some biotypes commonly reported in pigs in the 1970's were either absent (human ecovar) or rare (biotype A) among contemporary isolates. Nine clonal lineages found among old porcine isolates are occasionally reported in pigs today (ST8, ST30, ST97, ST387, ST1092, ST2468) or have never been described in this animal host (ST12, ST133, ST1343). These results indicate that the population structure of porcine S. aureus has changed over the last 40 years and confirm the current theory that S. aureus ST398 does not originate from pigs.
Group Dynamics and Collective Performance of Self-help Groups under Different Microcredit Delivery Models in Karnataka

Microcredit through self-help groups (SHGs) has emerged as a springboard to reach the rural poor. In India, it is being practised in different ways and monitored in three different arrangements based on the SHGs linkage with the supporting organizations. They are: Model-I: Bank-promoted, Model-II: Government-promoted, and Model-III: NGO-promoted. The paper has examined differences in the collective performance and the pattern of relationship of the individual characters, group variables and economic variables among the three micro-credit delivery models. The analysis is based on the data from 90 members from nine SHGs operating in three taluks in the Davanagere district of Karnataka state. The categorical regression has revealed that cooperation, consensus among members, knowledge on SHGs linkages and transparency in activities significantly influence the collective performance. It has also been found that SHGs can improve their performance by creating awareness in its members on the SHG purpose and by giving regular updates of information. The paper has recommended that, while dealing with the SHGs and its delivery models, context-specific difficulties and ground realities need to be taken care essentially.
Progressive presumed choriocapillaris atrophy after surgery for age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE The authors sought to evaluate the progression of presumed choriocapillaris atrophy after surgical excision of a subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) in an 80-year-old man with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS The CNV was excised using a conventional three-port vitrectomy with subretinal dissection. The excised tissue was studied with light and electron microscopy. Preoperative and serial postoperative fluorescein angiograms (FA) and fundus photographs were obtained to study the dissection bed. RESULTS Seven days after surgery, the FA showed hyperfluorescence in the area previously occupied by the CNV. Six weeks after surgery, this area showed retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) depigmentation, atrophy, or both on clinical examination, and the FA showed presumed choriocapillaris nonperfusion. Seven months after surgery, the area of the RPE depigmentation or atrophy and the corresponding area of presumed choriocapillaris nonperfusion had enlarged. The area of depigmentation or atrophy continued to enlarge for 1 year after surgery. Histologically, the excised CNV specimen disclosed RPE cells but no choriocapillaris. CONCLUSIONS Presumed choriocapillaris nonperfusion after CNV excision may be due to RPE removal at surgery and may progress postoperatively.
Semantics of multimedia in MPEG-7

In this paper, we present the tools standardized by MPEG-7 for describing the semantics of multimedia. In particular, we focus on the abstraction model, entities, attributes and relations of MPEG-7 semantic descriptions. MPEG-7 tools can describe the semantics of specific instances of multimedia such as one image or one video segment but can also generalize these descriptions either to multiple instances of multimedia or to a set of semantic descriptions. The key components of MPEG-7 semantic descriptions are semantic entities such as objects and events, attributes of these entities such as labels and properties, and, finally, relations of these entities such as an object being the patient of an event. The descriptive power and usability of these tools has been demonstrated in numerous experiments and applications, these make them key candidates to enable intelligent applications that deal with multimedia at human levels.
Brachyury and Related Tbx Proteins Interact with the Mixl1 Homeodomain Protein and Negatively Regulate Mixl1 Transcriptional Activity

Mixl1 is a homeodomain transcription factor required for mesoderm and endoderm patterning during mammalian embryogenesis. Despite its crucial function in development, co-factors that modulate the activity of Mixl1 remain poorly defined. Here we report that Mixl1 interacts physically and functionally with the T-box protein Brachyury and related members of the T-box family of transcription factors. Transcriptional and protein analyses demonstrated overlapping expression of Mixl1 and Brachyury during embryonic stem cell differentiation. In vitro protein interaction studies showed that the Mixl1 with Brachyury associated via their DNA-binding domains and gel shift assays revealed that the Brachyury T-box domain bound to Mixl1-DNA complexes. Furthermore, luciferase reporter experiments indicated that association of Mixl1 with Brachyury and related T-box factors inhibited the transactivating potential of Mixl1 on the Gsc and Pdgfrα promoters. Our results indicate that the activity of Mixl1 can be modulated by protein-protein interactions and that T-box factors can function as negative regulators of Mixl1 activity.
Projection-Based Restricted Covariance Matrix Adaptation for High Dimension

We propose a novel variant of the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) using a covariance matrix parameterized with a smaller number of parameters. The motivation of a restricted covariance matrix is twofold. First, it requires less internal time and space complexity that is desired when optimizing a function on a high dimensional search space. Second, it requires less function evaluations to adapt the covariance matrix if the restricted covariance matrix is rich enough to express the variable dependencies of the problem. In this paper we derive a computationally efficient way to update the restricted covariance matrix where the model richness of the covariance matrix is controlled by an integer and the internal complexity per function evaluation is linear in this integer times the dimension, compared to quadratic in the dimension in the CMA-ES. We prove that the proposed algorithm is equivalent to the sep-CMA-ES if the covariance matrix is restricted to the diagonal matrix, it is equivalent to the original CMA-ES if the matrix is not restricted. Experimental results reveal the class of efficiently solvable functions depending on the model richness of the covariance matrix and the speedup over the CMA-ES.
A realistic model of co-located interference for wireless network packet simulation

The ISM frequency bands (902∼918 MHz (region 2 only), 2.4 GHz ∼ 2.483 GHz, and 5.725∼5.875 GHz) are unlicensed bands available for use by commercial technologies. In particular, the 2.4 GHz ∼ 2.483 GHz band is very popular and is currently used by WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, and RFID technologies. Moreover, microwave ovens, hand held phones, and other wireless devices operate in the same frequency range, often interfering with each other. The effects of the coexistence of different standards are complicated and significant. However, network simulators do not model the effect of interference from co-located devices using different technologies. In particular, they model external noise, including interference from technologies outside the primary network being simulated, as a flat Gaussian component. In this paper, we propose a methodology of modeling external interference, by considering the realistic characteristics interference generated by co-located wireless standards. The traditional view that noise is flat in space and time, is inaccurate when one considers interference from co-located technologies. The noise signals are generated from their sources, attenuate over distance and experience fading. In addition, external interference exists only when its sources are active. Based on these characteristics, we propose a realistic and configurable noise model that captures such behavior. We demonstrate that this model can be well-fitted to real noise data. Moreover, we also demonstrate the impact of the model on the performance of network protocols as estimated by simulation.
Recombination and polymerase error facilitate restoration of infectivity in brome mosaic virus

The tRNA-like structure present in the 3' noncoding region of each of the four virion RNAs of brome mosaic virus possesses a conserved A-67-U-A-65 (67AUA65) sequence. Four mutations in this region (67UAA65, 67GAA65, and 67CAA65, each with a double base change, and 67GUA65, containing a single point mutation), previously shown in vitro to be defective in minus-strand promoter function, were introduced into full-length genomic RNAs 2 and 3, and their replicative competence was analyzed in barley protoplasts. All four RNA 3 mutants were capable of replication, although progeny plus-sense RNA 3 accumulation was only 12 to 42% of that of the wild type. Replication of RNA 2 transcripts bearing these mutations was even more severely debilitated; the accumulation of each mutant progeny plus-strand RNA 2 was < 10% of that of the wild type. Analysis of mutant RNA 3 progeny recovered from local lesions induced in Chenopodium hybridum and systemic infections in barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants revealed that the mutant base at position 67 from the 3' end had in each case been modified to an A. These changes generated RNAs with functional pseudorevertant (67AAA65 for mutants 67UAA65, 67GAA65, and 67CAA65) or revertant (67GUA65-->67AUA65) sequences. In most instances, the presence of internal markers permitted discrimination between polymerase error and RNA recombination as the process by which sequence restoration occurred. The pseudorevertant sequence was found to be capable of persistence during subsequent propagation in plants when present on RNA 3 but not when present on RNA 2. These data document the fluidity of the RNA genome and reveal situations in which polymerase error or recombination can function preferentially to restore an optimal sequence. They also support the concept that RNA viruses frequently exist as quasispecies and have implications concerning evolutionary strategies for positive-strand RNA viruses.
Analysis of Fork-Join Program Response Times on Multiprocessors

Models for two processor sharing policies called task scheduling processor sharing and job scheduling processor sharing are developed and analyzed. The first policy schedules each task independently and allows parallel execution of an individual program, whereas the second policy schedules each job as a unit, thereby not allowing parallel execution of an individual program. It is found that task scheduling performs better than job scheduling for most system parameter values. The performance of the task scheduling processor sharing is compared to a first come first serve policy. First come first serve performs better than processor sharing over a wide range of system parameters. Processor sharing performs best when the task service time variability is high. The performance of processor sharing and first come first serve is studied with two classes of jobs, and for when a specific number of processors is statically assigned to each of the classes. >
Loratadine and terfenadine interaction with nefazodone: Both antihistamines are associated with QTc prolongation

Nefazodone inhibits CYP3A; therefore coadministration with CYP3A substrates such as terfenadine or loratadine may result in increased exposure to these drugs. A potential pharmacodynamic consequence is electrocardiographic QTc prolongation, which has been associated with torsade de pointes cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore a clinical pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic evaluation of this potential interaction was conducted.
A passive stringed haptic system for immersive environments

We propose a passive haptic feedback system that can provide the user with grounded forces in a 3D manipulation space. A vi-sual/haptic interaction is used to control forces returned by the system, which is composed of cables and a braking system. An experiment, consisting of two sessions of stickiness comparison tasks, is conducted to evaluate the device. The first session is done with the proposed haptic feedback, the second is purely visual, without haptic cues. We propose indicators for task performance and we measure the forces fed back by the device during the experiment. Results show that the device provides the users with actual forces that are consistent with simulated physical properties, and that it enhances user performance compared to the purely visual situation. Finally, the system is installed on a Responsive Workbench on which informal tests show that it provides the users with haptic sensations.
Closing the loop of deep brain stimulation

High-frequency deep brain stimulation is used to treat a wide range of brain disorders, like Parkinson's disease. The stimulated networks usually share common electrophysiological signatures, including hyperactivity and/or dysrhythmia. From a clinical perspective, HFS is expected to alleviate clinical signs without generating adverse effects. Here, we consider whether the classical open-loop HFS fulfills these criteria and outline current experimental or theoretical research on the different types of closed-loop DBS that could provide better clinical outcomes. In the first part of the review, the two routes followed by HFS-evoked axonal spikes are explored. In one direction, orthodromic spikes functionally de-afferent the stimulated nucleus from its downstream target networks. In the opposite direction, antidromic spikes prevent this nucleus from being influenced by its afferent networks. As a result, the pathological synchronized activity no longer propagates from the cortical networks to the stimulated nucleus. The overall result can be described as a reversible functional de-afferentation of the stimulated nucleus from its upstream and downstream nuclei. In the second part of the review, the latest advances in closed-loop DBS are considered. Some of the proposed approaches are based on mathematical models, which emphasize different aspects of the parkinsonian basal ganglia: excessive synchronization, abnormal firing-rate rhythms, and a deficient thalamo-cortical relay. The stimulation strategies are classified depending on the control-theory techniques on which they are based: adaptive and on-demand stimulation schemes, delayed and multi-site approaches, stimulations based on proportional and/or derivative control actions, optimal control strategies. Some of these strategies have been validated experimentally, but there is still a large reservoir of theoretical work that may point to ways of improving practical treatment.