Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Shadow Meets the Mask: Pyramid‐Based Shadow Removal

In this paper we propose a novel method for detecting and removing shadows from a single image thereby obtaining a high‐quality shadow‐free image. With minimal user assistance, we first identify shadowed and lit areas on the same surface in the scene using an illumination‐invariant distance measure. These areas are used to estimate the parameters of an affine shadow formation model. A novel pyramid‐based restoration process is then applied to produce a shadow‐free image, while avoiding loss of texture contrast and introduction of noise. Unlike previous approaches, we account for varying shadow intensity inside the shadowed region by processing it from the interior towards the boundaries. Finally, to ensure a seamless transition between the original and the recovered regions we apply image inpainting along a thin border. We demonstrate that our approach produces results that are in most cases superior in quality to those of previous shadow removal methods. We also show that it is possible to easily composite the extracted shadow onto a new background or modify its size and direction in the original image.
Writing the Critique, a Text about a Text

The research reported investigated how 32 undergraduate students in an upper-level sociology course wrote critiques and how their texts were evaluated by 4 professors in the discipline. Students represented different majors and education levels. Features associated with critique were tested for their relationship to the professors' summed holistic quality scores. Student's status as major and their educational level were also tested for their relationship to the summed scores. Results indicate that (a) students were more likely to receive higher scores if they found weaknesses in the source article, basing their judgments on disciplinary knowledge and employing an integrated text configuration, and (b) neither major nor educational level was a strong predictor of quality. Findings suggest that current pedagogy that promotes personal evaluation of texts may not lead to the type of writing valued in particular disciplinary communities, where evaluative commentary may be more linked to unique disciplinary standards.
Changes in the quality of infant sounds as a function of social and nonsocial stimulation

The vocalizations of eight infants were recorded longitudinally in relation to different social and nonsocial contexts. The infants were observed bi-weekly from 3 to 25 weeks. At each visit they were presented with their mother, a female stranger and a doll, who were alternately active and passive. The results showed that by 7 weeks the infant vocalizations could be categorized from the social perception of adults into relatively long sounds containing variable pitch contours (melodic); short, nasal-like sounds containing uniform pitch (vocalic); and sounds such as crying, laughing and fussing (emotional). The infants modulated these sounds depending on the context. They produced significantly more melodic sounds when the women conversed with them than in any other context, and significantly more vocalic sounds when the adults were unresponsive. Overall the emotional sounds were produced significantly more to people than to objects. The results indicated that the various sounds served different purposes for the infants since they were used differentially in the social and nonsocial contexts.
Universal and language-specific patterns of categorisation

Previous work on object classification preferences shows that speakers of languages that lack morphological plural marking (like Yucatec and Japanese) display a tendency to match objects by common material, while speakers of languages with morphological plural marking (like English) display a tendency to match objects by common shape. The present paper compares categorisation preferences of English and Japanese speakers with those of Greek speakers. Greek resembles English in that it has morphological plural marking, but contrasts with English in that mass nouns typically do not resist pluralization. Results show that all groups distinguish significantly between countable objects and non-countable substances, but the degree to which they do this differs and conforms to language-specific grammatical patterns. It is argued that the effects of grammatical structure on categorisation preferences are finer-grained than earlier studies have assumed, thus providing a more precise account of the extent and nature of linguistic influence on cognition.
The rationality debate as a progressive research program

We did not, as Brakel & Shevrin imply, intend to classify either System 1 or System 2 as rational or irrational. Instrumental rationality is assessed at the organismic level, not at the subpersonal level. Thus, neither System 1 nor System 2 are themselves inherently rational or irrational. Also, that genetic fitness and instrumental rationality are not to be equated was a major theme in our target article. We disagree with Bringsjord & Yang's point that the tasks used in the heuristics and biases literature are easy. Bringsjord & Yang too readily conflate the ability to utilize a principle of rational choice with the disposition to do so. Thus, they undervalue tasks in the cognitive science literature that compellingly reveal difficulties with the latter. We agree with Newton & Roberts that models at the algorithmic level of analysis are crucial, but we disagree with their implication that attention to issues of rationality at the intentional level of analysis impedes work at the algorithmic level of analysis.
Spike Phase Locking in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons Depends on Background Conductance and Firing Rate

Oscillatory activity in neuronal networks correlates with different behavioral states throughout the nervous system, and the frequency–response characteristics of individual neurons are believed to be critical for network oscillations. Recent in vivo studies suggest that neurons experience periods of high membrane conductance, and that action potentials are often driven by membrane potential fluctuations in the living animal. To investigate the frequency–response characteristics of CA1 pyramidal neurons in the presence of high conductance and voltage fluctuations, we performed dynamic-clamp experiments in rat hippocampal brain slices. We drove neurons with noisy stimuli that included a sinusoidal component ranging, in different trials, from 0.1 to 500 Hz. In subsequent data analysis, we determined action potential phase-locking profiles with respect to background conductance, average firing rate, and frequency of the sinusoidal component. We found that background conductance and firing rate qualitatively change the phase-locking profiles of CA1 pyramidal neurons versus frequency. In particular, higher average spiking rates promoted bandpass profiles, and the high-conductance state promoted phase-locking at frequencies well above what would be predicted from changes in the membrane time constant. Mechanistically, spike rate adaptation and frequency resonance in the spike-generating mechanism are implicated in shaping the different phase-locking profiles. Our results demonstrate that CA1 pyramidal cells can actively change their synchronization properties in response to global changes in activity associated with different behavioral states.
A randomized trial of the effect of soft contact lenses on myopia progression in children.

PURPOSE Soft contact lenses have been reported to increase the progression of myopia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether soft contact lenses affect the progression of myopia in children. METHODS Children between the ages of 8 and 11 years with -1.00 to -6.00 D myopia and less than 1.00 D astigmatism were randomly assigned to wear soft contact lenses (n = 247) or spectacles (n = 237) for 3 years. Refractive error and corneal curvatures were measured annually by cycloplegic autorefraction, and axial length was measured annually by A-scan ultrasound. Multilevel modeling was used to compare the rate of change of refractive error, corneal curvature, and axial length between spectacle and contact lens wearers. RESULTS There was a statistically significant interaction between time and treatment for myopia progression (P = 0.002); the average rate of change was 0.06 D per year greater for contact lens wearers than spectacle wearers. After 3 years, the adjusted difference between contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers was not statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.46 to 0.02). There was no difference between the two treatment groups with respect to change in axial length (ANCOVA, P = 0.37) or change in the steepest corneal curvature (ANCOVA, P = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS These data provide reassurance to eye care practitioners concerned with the phenomenon of "myopic creep. " Soft contact lens wear by children does not cause a clinically relevant increase in axial length, corneal curvature, or myopia relative to spectacle lens wear. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00522288.).
Voltage harmonic content of long artificially generated electrical arc in out-door experiment at 500 kV towers

This study involves the application of Short Time Discrete Fourier Transform in order to obtain the harmonic content of voltage between the terminals of 647 artificially generated long electrical arcs. Non-confined tests were conducted on three 500 kV towers specially built inside a laboratory facility, in order to represent as close as possible actual transmission line conditions. The 1-s duration arcs were artificially generated along the 4 m insulator string of a 500 kV tower by imposing a sustained 60 Hz current. The arc voltage harmonic content can be used to identify the moment at which the arc is stabilized in the air and only after this instant measured data can be used to derive mathematical arc model. A statistical analysis of the results, considering only the period for which the arc is stabilized, enabled the establishment of the harmonic signature of the electric arcs for a large arc current amplitude range. From the results it can be stated that an accurate arc model should properly reproduce the presented harmonic content for any arc current level.
Expanded View Figures

▸ Figure EV1. HOTAIR overexpression has marginal phenotypic and transcriptomic consequences on MDA-MB-231. A Proliferation assays in two different cell culture conditions. Cells were counted with an automatic cell counter at the time indicated on the plot (individual experiments and mean, n = 2). B Pearson correlation matrix between each single-sequenced sample. Value varies between 1 and 0.85. C Number of differentially expressed genes depending on cutoff parameter. D Volcano plots representing gene expression change upon overexpression of HOTAIR in MDA-MB-231 EZH2++À and focusing on genes either previously reported to gain H3K27me3 upon overexpression of HOTAIR (left panel) or to be located with 100 kb of a binding sites for HOTAIR (right panel) (y-axis: log 10 P-value, x-axis: log 2 fold change). Red dots represent genes whose expression changes by more than twofold with a P-value < 0.05.
Blind Robust Digital Video Watermarking Scheme using Hybrid Based Approach

Video Watermarking is one of the important area in the field of piracy. Now a day’s huge amount of digital data is spread over the internet, so its challenge to provide security to those digital data such as video, audio, images and text file. Video watermarking is a one of the way to provide security to digital data such as video which limit the chance of piracy. This new Video watermarking Schemes is highly Robust against various types of attacks and also used hybrid approach. In this paper, we introduce the Robust Digital Video Watermarking techniques Based on hybrid approach which give better result against various attacks that performed on watermarked video thereby improve NC and PSNR values. The PSNR calculate using this approach is off 52.39db. Keywords— SWT, PCA, SVD, GA, PSNR, NC
An Experimental Case Study of the Successes and Failures of Job Enrichment in a Government Agency

An experimental job enrichment programme was introduced in three clerical work units of a federal agency. Matched control groups were selected for each experimental unit. The programme was introduced after careful diagnosis of the work situation and thorough training of the personnel involved. Within the limits imposed by the field situation, before—after measures of both behaviour and attitudes suggested that changes in behaviour (e.g. productivity, absences) occurred in favour of the experimental groups. Job enrichment apparently had no effect on attitudes, however. On the basis of interviews and observations, the productivity changes were attributed mainly to more efficient use of manpower, elimination of unnecessary operations, and feedback and competition, while the absence changes were attributed to initial changes in morale based on the expectation of extrinsic rewards. It was concluded that attitudes did not improve because the expectation and desire for such rewards had not been, met. The problems and limitations of job enrichment are discussed.
Susceptibility of Rats, Hamsters, and Mice to Carious Infection by Streptococcus mutans Serotype c and d Organisms

Susceptibility of rats, hamsters, and mice to carious infection by S. mutans serotypes c and d was compared. S. mutans serotype c induced a similar level of carious lesions at experimental periods of 68, 82, and 98 d in rats, hamsters, and mice, respectively. On the other hand, S. mutans serotype d developed a high level of caries at those experimental periods in rats and hamsters, whereas in mice it showed weak caries activity.
New Insight for the Genetic Evaluation of Resistance to Ostreid Herpesvirus Infection, a Worldwide Disease, in Crassostrea gigas

The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is the most important commercial oyster species cultivated in the world. Meanwhile, the ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) is one of the major pathogens affecting the Pacific oyster, and numerous mortality outbreaks related to this pathogen are now reported worldwide. To assess the genetic basis of resistance to OsHV-1 infection in spat C. gigas and to facilitate breeding programs for such a trait, if any exist, we compared the mortality of half- and full-sib families using three field methods and a controlled challenge by OsHV-1 in the laboratory. In the field, three methods were tested: (A) one family per bag; (B) one family per small soft mesh bag and all families inside one bag; (C) same as the previous methods but the oysters were individually labelled and then mixed. The mean mortality ranged from 80 to 82% and was related to OsHV-1 based on viral DNA detection. The narrow-sense heritability for mortality, and thus OsHV-1 resistance, ranged from 0.49 to 0.60. The high positive genetic correlations across the field methods suggested no genotype by environment interaction. Ideally, selective breeding could use method B, which is less time- and space-consuming. The narrow sense heritability for mortality under OsHV-1 challenge was 0.61, and genetic correlation between the field and the laboratory was ranged from 0.68 to 0.75, suggesting a weak genotype by environment interaction. Thus, most of families showing the highest survival performed well in field and laboratory conditions, and a similar trend was also observed for families with the lowest survival. In conclusion, this is the first study demonstrating a large additive genetic variation for resistance to OsHV-1 infection in C. gigas, regardless of the methods used, which should help in selective breeding to improve resistance to viral infection in C. gigas.
The partly epithelialized free gingival graft (pe-fgg) at lower incisors. A pilot study with implications for alignment of the mucogingival junction.

AIMS A partly epithelialized free gingival graft (PE-FGG) is described for the treatment of isolated and multiple gingival recessions in lower incisors to improve root coverage potential and mucogingival junction (MGJ) alignment. METHODS Twelve single gingival recessions in 12 patients and 16 multiple recessions in 7 patients at lower incisors were included. A FGG partly deprived of epithelium was harvested from the palate. The epithelialized coronal part of the graft extended from the CEJ to the "ideal" position of the MGJ of the recession site/s. The apical part of the PE-FGG deprived of the epithelium was inserted between the alveolar mucosal flap and the recipient bed periostium. An aesthetic evaluation was performed. RESULTS Treatment resulted in 94 ± 11% and 96 ± 11% root coverage and 75% and 87.5% of the treated teeth completely covered in the single recession and in the multiple recession groups respectively. The 1-year KT was associated with the baseline extent of the epithelialized part of the graft in both groups. As a consequence, the MGJ resulted in properly aligned teeth in 14 of 19 patients. Three independent clinicians assigned an aesthetic score ranging from 6.36 ± 2.5 to 7.91 ± 1.7 in the single REC group and from 6.62 ± 2.2 to 7.87 ± 1.8 in the multiple REC group. CONCLUSIONS The application of the M-FGG resulted in high percentage of recessions completely covered with excellent alignment of the MGJ and appreciable aesthetic outcomes.
Utilization of hepatitis B core antibody-positive donor liver grafts.

BACKGROUND The inclusion of hepatitis B core antibody-positive (HBcAb+) liver donors is a strategy utilized to increase organ availability. This study examined HBcAb+ transplantation practices to identify specific factors influencing outcomes. METHODS Twenty-five HBcAb+ liver transplants were identified retrospectively among 868 adult transplants performed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2009. Twelve (48%) recipients had hepatitis C and five (20%) had hepatitis B. Patient and donor demographics, preoperative morbidity, transplant data and outcomes were examined. Statistical analysis was completed using Student's t-test or the Kaplan-Meier method. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS There was no difference in age, body mass index or comorbidities between HBcAb+ liver recipients and control subjects. Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of >30 were significantly more frequent in HBcAb+ liver recipients (32% vs. 15%; P= 0.04). All patients received immunoglobulin and longterm antiviral therapy as prophylaxis against graft hepatitis B resurgence. No patients who received HBcAb+ livers developed hepatitis B infection on follow-up. Overall survival at 30 days, 1 year and 5 years in HBcAb+ liver recipients was 92%, 74% and 74%, respectively, compared with 96%, 89% and 76%, respectively, in the control group (P= not significant, log-rank test). All except one of the deaths in the HBcAb+ liver recipient group occurred within 90 days postoperatively and in patients with MELD scores >30. CONCLUSIONS The practice of transplanting HBcAb+ grafts incurs low risk for infection using current methods of prophylaxis. The highest mortality risk was in the early postoperative period, specifically in patients with very high MELD scores. This probably reflects the practice of using positive serology grafts in emergent situations.
Suggestibility of the Chinese as revealed by the creative imagination scale

The current aim of the study is to provide a preliminary view of the suggestibility of Chinese people. Direct hypnotic experience was examined by giving a widely used suggestibility measure, the ‘Creative Imagination Scale’, to 90 volunteer subjects who were randomly drawn from a college in Hong Kong. The Creative Imagination Scale is thought to be a clinically useful assessment, which may reveal some implications for the applications of hypnosis in the Chinese culture. The current results indicated that the distribution of the suggestibility scores of the current Chinese sample tended to be more centralized than the Western counterpart, and that there were some cultural differences in the psychometric features and preferred modalities. By and large, the prospect of using hypnosis in the Chinese population is positive in view of their relatively good susceptibility to hypnotic suggestions. Copyright © 2005 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
A prospective longitudinal study of children's theory of mind and adolescent involvement in bullying.

BACKGROUND Theory of mind (ToM) allows the understanding and prediction of other people's behaviours based on their mental states (e.g. beliefs). It is important for healthy social relationships and thus may contribute towards children's involvement in bullying. The present study investigated whether children involved in bullying during early adolescence had poor ToM in childhood. METHOD Participants were members of the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally representative sample of 2,232 children and their families. We visited families when children were 5, 7, 10 and 12 years. ToM was assessed when the children were 5 years using eight standardized tasks. Identification of those children who were involved in bullying as victims, bullies and bully-victims using mothers', teachers' and children's reports was carried out when they were 12 years' old. RESULTS Poor ToM predicted becoming a victim (effect size, d = 0.26), bully (d = 0.25) or bully-victim (d = 0.44) in early adolescence. These associations remained for victims and bully-victims when child-specific (e.g. IQ) and family factors (e.g. child maltreatment) were controlled for. Emotional and behavioural problems during middle childhood did not modify the association between poor ToM and adolescent bullying experiences. CONCLUSION Identifying and supporting children with poor ToM early in life could help reduce their vulnerability for involvement in bullying and thus limit its adverse effects on mental health.
Using the Web for Anaphora Resolution

We present a novel method for resolving non-pronominal anaphora. Instead of using handcrafted lexical resources, we search the Web with shallow patterns which can be predetermined for the type of anaphoric phenomenon. In experiments forother-anaphora and bridging, our shallow, almost knowledge-free and unsupervised method achieves state-ofthe-art results.
Knowledge and Belief: Psychoanalytic Evidence in Support of a Radical Epistemic View

Psychoanalytic data are used to support a radical view in philosophy—that knowledge, not belief, is the central epistemologic entity, with knowledge prior to and necessary for belief, not vice versa. The psychoanalytic data come from two very different sources: clinical material and experimental research on unconscious (subliminal) processes, both demonstrating evidence for unconscious knowledge without belief. The article, a thoroughly interdisciplinary endeavor, also supplies examples of other types of knowledge (conscious and unconscious) without belief, lending further and convergent evidential weight in favor of the knowledge-first position.
Anchoring Effects in Judging Grammaticality of Sentences

This study was undertaken to examine the anchoring effect in judgments of the grammaticality of sentences. Thirty-three students judged the target sentences involving an intermediate level of judged grammaticality. The first group of 11 subjects judged the sentences paired with the sentences involving high grammaticality (high anchor); the second group of 11 judged them when paired with the sentences involving low grammaticality (low anchor); and the third group of 11 judged them without being given anchor sentences. Analysis shows a clear contrast effect such that the subjects given low-anchor sentences judged the target sentences as more grammatical, while those given high-anchor sentences tended to judge them as less grammatical. Implications of the findings were discussed as they were related to Chomsky's contention about a native speaker's intuition regarding judgments of grammaticality.