Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scene text recognition using sparse coding based features

In this paper, we propose an effective scene text recognition method using sparse coding based features, called Histograms of Sparse Codes (HSC) features. For character detection, we use the HSC features instead of using the Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features. HSC features are extracted by computing sparse codes with dictionaries, which are learned from data using K-SVD, and aggregating perpixel sparse codes to form local histograms. For word recognition, we integrate multiple cues including character detection scores and geometric contexts in an objective function. The final recognition result is obtained by searching for the word which corresponds to the maximum value of the objective function. The parameters in the objective function are learned using the Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training method. Experiments on the ICDAR2003 and SVT datasets demonstrate that the HSC-based scene text recognition method outperforms the HOG-based method significantly and achieves the state-of-the-art performance.
IL-33 and ST2 mediate FAK-dependent antitumor immune evasion through transcriptional networks

The kinase FAK coordinates chromatin modifiers and transcription factors to orchestrate evasion of antitumor immune responses. FAK directs tumor immune evasion Tumors are adept at escaping the immune system’s surveillance or suppressing its activity. The kinase FAK is implicated in immune escape mechanisms. Serrels et al. found that FAK activates a transcriptional network that induces—and is then further mediated by—the nuclear abundance of interleukin-33 (IL-33) in tumor cells. In a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma, FAK–IL-33 complexes boosted the production and secretion of two key factors in immunosuppression: the chemokine CCL5, which stimulates immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, and soluble ST2, a decoy receptor for cytotoxic T cell–stimulatory IL-33. Blocking these FAK-mediated signals may help the patient’s immune system find and kill tumors. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates tumor cell–intrinsic behaviors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We previously showed that FAK also induces the expression of inflammatory genes that inhibit antitumor immunity in the microenvironment. We identified a crucial, previously unknown role for the dual-function cytokine interleukin-33 (IL-33) in FAK-dependent immune evasion. In murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells, specifically nuclear FAK enhanced the expression of the genes encoding IL-33, the chemokine CCL5, and the soluble, secreted form of the IL-33 receptor, called soluble ST2 (sST2). The abundance of IL-33 and CCL5 was increased in FAK-positive SCC cells but not in normal keratinocytes. IL-33 associated with FAK in the nucleus, and the FAK–IL-33 complex interacted with a network of chromatin modifiers and transcriptional regulators, including TAF9, WDR82, and BRD4, which promote the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and its induction of genes encoding chemokines, including CCL5. We did not detect secretion of IL-33 from FAK-positive SCC cells; thus, we propose that the increased production and secretion of sST2 likely sequesters IL-33 secreted by other cell types within the tumor environment, thus blocking its stimulatory effects on infiltrating host immune cells. Depleting FAK, IL-33, or sST2 from SCC cells before implantation induced tumor regression in syngeneic mice, except when CD8+ T cells were co-depleted. Our data provide mechanistic insight into how FAK controls the tumor immune environment, namely, through a transcriptional regulatory network mediated by nuclear IL-33. Targeting this axis may boost antitumor immunity in patients.
Cervical Cancer in Developing Countries: Effective Screening and Preventive Strategies With an Application in Rwanda

In this article we explore literature regarding cervical cancer screening methods available in developing countries. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease, but it continues to threaten the lives of many women. Eighty-five percent of cases and the majority of deaths occur in developing countries. Cytology via Papinicolaou (Pap) smear is not generally a suitable method of screening in low-resource regions. Alternative methods include visual inspection by acetic acid (VIA), human papillomavirus–deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV–DNA), and careHPV–DNA. Education is needed for health care providers and women about preventive immunization and screening. A Rwandan project is described to demonstrate effective program planning and implementation.
Update on vasculitis in childhood

This review reports the advances on etiopathogenesis, clinical findings, outcome and treatment of the most common pediatric vasculitis. In particular, we focus on Henoch–Schonlein purpura renal involvement, its possible prevention and therapy. Owing to the worldwide awareness of new features of Kawasaki disease, this article discusses atypical and incomplete disease. The approach to patients with persistently active disease, the role of corticosteroids and new biological agents (antitumor necrosis factor) are discussed. The two main clinical forms of polyarteritis nodosa, systemic and cutaneous, are described, and the role of Group A Streptococcus infection in triggering the cutaneous form is highlighted. The use of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing, monitoring and guiding the treatment of Takayasu disease, and the improvement of long-term prognosis through reconstructive surgery and transluminal angioplasty for the vascular complications are also emphasized. Finally, we have highlighted the attemp.
An Approach to Understanding Cohesive Slurry Settling, Mobilization, and Hydrogen Gas Retention in Pulsed Jet Mixed Vessels

The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is being designed and built to pretreat and vitrify a large portion of the waste in Hanford’s 177 underground waste storage tanks. Numerous process vessels will hold waste at various stages in the WTP. Some of these vessels have mixing-system requirements to maintain conditions where the accumulation of hydrogen gas stays below acceptable limits, and the mixing within the vessels is sufficient to release hydrogen gas under normal conditions and during off-normal events. Some of the WTP process streams are slurries of solid particles suspended in Newtonian fluids that behave as non-Newtonian slurries, such as Bingham yield-stress fluids. When these slurries are contained in the process vessels, the particles can settle and become progressively more concentrated toward the bottom of the vessels, depending on the effectiveness of the mixing system. One limiting behavior is a settled layer beneath a particle-free liquid layer. The settled layer, or any region with sufficiently high solids concentration, will exhibit non-Newtonian rheology where it is possible for the settled slurry to behave as a soft solid with a yield stress. In this report, these slurries are described as settling cohesive slurries.
C II Radiative Cooling of the Diffuse Gas in the Milky Way

The heating and cooling of the interstellar medium (ISM) allow the gas in the ISM to coexist at very different temperatures in thermal pressure equilibrium. The rate at which the gas cools or heats is therefore a fundamental ingredient for any theory of the ISM. The heating cannot be directly determined, but the cooling can be inferred from observations of ·C *, which is an important coolant in different environments. The amount of cooling can be measured through either the intensity of the 157.7 μm [C II] emission line or the C * absorption lines at 1037.018 and 1335.708 Å, observable with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope, respectively. We present the results of a survey of these far-UV absorption lines in 43 objects situated at ∣ b ∣ ≳ 30°. Measured column densities of C *, S II, P II, and Fe II are combined with H I 21 cm emission measurements to derive the cooling rates (per H atom using H I and per nucleon using S II) and to analyze the ionization structure, depletion, and metallicity content of the low-, intermediate-, and high-velocity clouds (LVCs, IVCs, and HVCs) along the different sight lines. Based on the depletion and the ionization structure, the LVCs, IVCs, and HVCs consist mostly of warm neutral and ionized clouds. For the LVCs, the mean cooling rate in ergs s-1 per H atom is -25.70 dex (1 σ dispersion). With a smaller sample and a bias toward high H I column density, the cooling rate per nucleon is similar. The corresponding total Galactic C II luminosity in the 157.7 μm emission line is L ~ 2.6 × 107 L☉. Combining N(C *) with the intensity of Hα emission, we derive that ~50% of the C * radiative cooling comes from the warm ionized medium (WIM). The large dispersion in the cooling rates is certainly due to a combination of differences in the ionization fraction, in the dust-to-gas fraction, and physical conditions between sight lines. For the IVC Intermediate-Velocity (IV) Arch at z ~ 1 kpc we find that on average the cooling is a factor of 2 lower than in the LVCs that probe gas at lower z. For an HVC (complex C, at z > 6 kpc) we find the much lower rate of -26.99 dex, similar to the rates observed in a sample of damped Lyα absorber systems (DLAs). The fact that in the Milky Way a substantial fraction of the C II cooling comes from the WIM implies that this is probably also true in the DLAs. We also derive the electron density, assuming a typical temperature of the warm gas of 6000 K: for the LVCs, ⟨ne⟩ = 0.08 ± 0.04 cm-3, and for the IV Arch, ⟨ne⟩ = 0.03 ± 0.01 cm-3 (1 σ dispersion). Finally, we measured the column densities N(S II) and N(P II) in many sight lines and confirm that sulphur appears undepleted in the ISM. Phosphorus becomes progressively more deficient when log N(H ) > 19.7 dex, which can mean that either P becomes more depleted into dust as more neutral gas is present or P is always depleted by about -0.3 dex, but the higher value of P II at lower H I column density indicates the need for an ionization correction.
Do adjuvant aromatase inhibitors increase the cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer

Despite the advantages from using aromatase inhibitors (AIs) compared with tamoxifen for early breast cancer, an unexpectedly greater number of grade 3 and 4 cardiovascular events (CVAE) (as defined by National Cancer Institute of Canada‐Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0] was demonstrated.
Homogeneous decomposition of protein interaction networks: refining the description of intra-modular interactions

MOTIVATION Modules in biology appeared quickly as an accurate way for summarizing complex living systems by simple ones. Therefore, finding an appropriate relationship between modules extracted from a biological graph and protein complexes remains a crucial task. Recent studies successfully proposed various descriptions of protein interaction networks. These approaches succeed in showing modules within the network and how the modules interact. However, describing the interactions within the modules, i.e. intra-modular interactions, remains little analyzed despite its interest for understanding module functions. RESULTS We overcome this weakness by adding a complementary description to the already successful approaches: a hierarchical decomposition named homogeneous decomposition. This decomposition represents a natural refinement of previous analyses and details interactions within a module. We propose to illustrate these improvements by three practical cases. Among them, we decompose the yeast protein interaction network and show reachable biological insights that might be extracted from a complex large-scale network. AVAILABILITY A program is at disposal under CeCILL license at: www.lina. univ-nantes.fr/combi/DH/Home.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Association of matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms with refractive error in Amish and Ashkenazi families.

PURPOSE Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in scleral extracellular matrix remodeling and have shown differential expression in experimental myopia. The genetic association of refractive error and polymorphisms in MMP and TIMP genes in Old Order Amish (AMISH) and Ashkenazi Jewish (ASHK) families was investigated. METHODS Individuals from 55 AMISH and 63 ASHK families participated in the study. Ascertainment was designed to enrich the families for myopia; the mean spherical equivalent (MSE) refractive error (SD) was -1.61 (2.72) D in the AMISH, and -3.56 (3.32) D in the ASHK. One hundred forty-six common haplotype tagging SNPs covering 14 MMP and 4 TIMP genes were genotyped in 358 AMISH and 535 ASHK participants. Association analyses of MSE and the spherical component of refraction (SPH) were performed separately for the AMISH and the ASHK. Bonferroni-corrected significance thresholds and local false discovery rates were used to account for multiple testing. RESULTS After they were filtered for quality-control, 127 SNPs were included in the analyses. No polymorphisms showed statistically significant association to refraction in the ASHK (minimum P = 0.0132). In AMISH, two SNPs showed evidence of association with refractive phenotypes: rs1939008 (P = 0.00016 for SPH); and rs9928731 (P = 0.00026 for SPH). These markers were each estimated to explain <5% of the variance of SPH in the AMISH sample. CONCLUSIONS Statistically significant genetic associations of ocular refraction to polymorphisms near MMP1 and within MMP2 were identified in the AMISH but not among the ASHK families. The results suggest that the MMP1 and MMP2 genes are involved in refractive variation in the AMISH. Genetic and/or environmental heterogeneity most likely contribute to differences in association results between ethnic groups.
Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure on the Torsional Shear Behavior of Graphite/Epoxy Composites

The torsional shear stress-strain behavior of a graphite/epoxy composite material and also the epoxy matrix material alone has been determined at various hydro static pressures up to 6 kbar, using a newly constructed high pressure torsion apparatus. The composite samples were machined into thin walled hollow cylinders from press molded and oven cured, laminated panels. Graphite fibers of the samples were continuous, (0°) uniaxial, and 60% by volume. The normally linear elastic shear stress-strain curve of the epoxy matrix material at at mospheric pressure shifted upwards with pressure and showed nonlinearity at 2 kbar and higher. The shear modulus (G ) and the fracture strength (τf ) and strain (γ f ) all increased markedly and bilinearly with a break occurring at 2 kbar. The shear stress-strain curves of the composite material showed dramatic changes from an almost linear curve with γ f of 8% at atmospheric pressure to a nonlinear curve, exhibiting yielding, work-hardening, and extensive drawing with γ f of 57 % at 6 kbar. The G increased bilinearly with pressure from 10.7 x 10 8 at atmospheric pressure to 12 x 108 N/m2 at 6 kbar with a break also occurring at 2 kbar. The work hardening parameter, x, determined at 1% offset strain in creased significantly with pressure. The τf and γ f also increased linearly with an abrupt jump occurring between 4 and 5 kbar as the mode of fracture changed from delamination to shearing.
Visualization of leukocyte dynamics in the choroid with indocyanine green.

PURPOSE To report a method to evaluate leukocyte dynamics in the choroidal circulation with indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. METHODS Nonpigmented and pigmented rats were administered ICG solution intravenously. The fundus image was obtained with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and recorded on magnetic tapes at a video rate (30 frames/second). The images were analyzed with a personal computer-based image analysis system. RESULTS On ICG angiography, hyperfluorescent dots were seen moving along the choroidal vessels and in the retinal vessels several minutes after injection. These fluorescent dots were thought to be circulating leukocytes stained with ICG. The micrographs of blood smears after ICG injection showed intense fluorescence of leukocytes. Computer-assisted image analysis allowed tracing of these fluorescent dots using a frame-by frame method. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study indicated that ICG can be used for vital staining of leukocytes and that it is possible to evaluate leukocyte movement in the choroidal circulation in vivo in rats.
Fiber optic evanescent field absorption sensor based on a tapered probe: effect of fiber parameters on the response curve

An experimental study of the fiber-optic evanescent field absorption sensor based on tapered sensing probe is presented. The influences of numerical aperture, core radius of the fiber and the taper ratio on the sensitivity of the sensor are investigated. Increase in the numerical aperture of the fiber increases the sensitivity of the sensor while the decrease in the core radius increases the sensitivity. In addition, for a given fiber, increase in taper ratio increases the sensitivity. The relationship has been found to be linear.
A Programmable ASIC Design of a Low Sensitivity Sampled Data Filter

In this paper, a CMOS custom Integrated Circuit featuring a multi-stage Universal Switched-Capacitor (SC) Filter is introduced. The network is based on the Generalized Immittance Converter (GIC) configuration, known for its excellent passive and active sensitivities. CMOS switches were used for elements relocation and are digitally controlled to select and realize different filter topologies. Switches were also used to control banks of binary-weighted capacitors that determine the filter center frequency, quality factor as well as its order. The bilinear transformation was utilized in the SC implementation of the filter resistive elements. Extra care was considered in the design procedure to minimize the effect of stray capacitors on the network transfer functions. The result was a general purpose digitally programmable multi-stage network that can equally compete with the best available stray insensitive filter. The design also inherits the low active and passive sensitivities the GIC enjoys.
Lessons learned in the conduct, validation, and interpretation of national population based HIV surveys

In the past few years several countries have conducted national population-based HIV surveys. Survey methods, levels of participation bias from absence or refusal and lessons learned conducting such surveys are compared in four national population surveys: Mali, Kenya, Peru and Zambia. In Mali, Zambia, and Kenya, HIV testing of adult women and men was included in the national-level demographic and health surveys carried out regularly in these countries, whereas in Peru the national HIV survey targeted young people in 24 cities with populations over 50 000.The household response rate was above 90% in all countries, but some individuals were absent for interviews. HIV testing rates were between 70 and 79% of those eligible, with higher test rates for women. Three critical questions in this type of survey need to be answered: who did the surveys miss; how much it matters that they were missed; and what can be done to increase the participation of respondents so the coverage rates are adequate. The level of representativeness of the populations tested was adequate in each survey to provide a reliable national estimate of HIV prevalence that complements other methods of HIV surveillance. Different lessons were learned from each survey.These population-based HIV seroprevalence surveys demonstrate that reliable and useful results can be obtained, although they require careful planning and increased financial and human resource investment to maximize responses at the household and individual level, which are key elements to validate survey results.This review was initiated through an international meeting on ‘New strategies for HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Resource-constrained Countries’ held in Addis Ababa on 26–30 January 2004 to share and develop recommendations to guide future surveys.
Salmonella Trafficking is Defined by Continuous Dynamic Interactions with the Endolysosomal System

Following invasion of non‐phagocytic host cells, Salmonella enterica survives and replicates within a phagosome‐like compartment known as the Salmonella‐containing vacuole (SCV). It is now well established that SCV biogenesis, like phagosome biogenesis, involves sequential interactions with the endocytic pathway. However, Salmonella is believed to limit these interactions and, in particular, to avoid fusion of terminal lysosomes with the SCV. In this study, we reassessed this process using a high‐resolution live‐cell imaging approach and found an unanticipated level of interaction between the SCV and the endocytic pathway. Direct interactions, in which late endosomal/lysosomal content was transferred to SCVs, were detected within 30 min of invasion and continued for several hours. Mechanistically, these interactions were very similar to phagosome–lysosome fusion because they were accompanied by rapid acidification of the SCV, could be blocked by chemical perturbation of microtubules or vacuolar acidification and involved the small GTPase Rab7. In comparison with vacuoles containing internalized Escherichia coli or heat‐killed Salmonella, SCVs did show some delay of fusion and acidification, although, this appeared to be independent of either type III secretion system. These results provide compelling evidence that inhibition of SCV–lysosome fusion is not the major determinant in establishment of the Salmonella replicative niche in epithelial cells.
Alternative Semantics for Unawareness

Modica and Rustichini [Theory and Decision 37, 1994] provided a logic for reasoning about knowledge where agents may be unaware of certain propositions. However, their original approach had the unpleasant property that nontrivial unawareness was incompatible with partitional information structures. More recently [Games and Economic Behavior 27:2, 1999], they have provided an approach that allows for nontrivial unawareness in partitional information structures. Here it is shown that their approach can be viewed as a special case of a general approach to unawareness considered by Fagin and Halpern [Artificial Intelligence 34, 1988].