Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive semi-regular remeshing: A Voronoi-based approach

We propose an adaptive semi-regular remeshing algorithm for surface meshes. Our algorithm uses Voronoi tessellations during both simplification and refinement stages. During simplification, the algorithm constructs a first centroidal Voronoi tessellation of the vertices of the input mesh. The sites of the Voronoi cells are the vertices of the base mesh of the semi-regular output. During refinement, the new vertices added at each resolution level by regular subdivision are considered as new Voronoi sites. We then use the Lloyd relaxation algorithm to update their position, and finally we obtain uniform semi-regular meshes. Our algorithm also enables adaptive remeshing by tuning a threshold based on the mass probability of the Voronoi sites added by subdivision. Experimentation shows that our technique produces semi-regular meshes of high quality, with significantly less triangles than state of the art techniques.
Sovereign Risk, Fiscal Policy, and Macroeconomic Stability

This paper analyzes the impact of strained government finances on macroeconomic stability and the transmission of fiscal policy. Using a variant of the model by Curdia and Woodford (2009), we study a 'sovereign risk channel' through which sovereign default risk raises funding costs in the private sector. If monetary policy is constrained, the sovereign risk channel exacerbates indeterminacy problems: private-sector beliefs of a weakening economy may become self-fulfilling. In addition, sovereign risk amplifies the effects of negative cyclical shocks. Under those conditions, fiscal retrenchment can help curtail the risk of macroeconomic instability and, in extreme cases, even stimulate economic activity.
Distributed Learning and Coordination in Cognitive Infrastructureless Networks of Unknown Size

The cognitive infrastructureless network has received significant attention to reduce signaling load in next-generation networks, which are expected to be ultradense with very high peak rate but relatively lower expected traffic per user. Research in this area has evolved from the distributed algorithms requiring prior knowledge of the number of secondary users (SUs) <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$U$</tex-math></inline-formula> to the existing algorithms, which can estimate <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$U$</tex-math></inline-formula> independently by counting the number of collisions. The major drawback of these algorithms is the large number of collisions leading to wastage of power and bring down the effective life of battery operated SUs. In this paper, we develop algorithms that learn faster and incurs fewer collisions. We assume unknown <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$U$</tex-math></inline-formula> with two types of networks: fixed <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$U$</tex-math></inline-formula> (i.e., static networks) and time-varying <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$U$</tex-math></inline-formula> (i.e., dynamic networks). Proposed algorithms are based on the multiplayer multi-armed bandit (MAB) approach. We show that the proposed algorithms offer constant regret (i.e., throughput loss) with high probability and sub-linear regret in static and dynamic networks, respectively. Theoretical analysis, simulation, and experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithms in terms of vacant spectrum utilization, regret, and the number of collisions. Fewer collisions significantly increase the operational life of SUs.
On the Development of Text Input Method - Lessons Learned

Intelligent Input Methods (IM) are essential for making text entries in many East Asian scripts, but their application to other languages has not been fully explored. This paper discusses how such tools can contribute to the development of computer processing of other oriental languages. We propose a design philosophy that regards IM as a text service platform, and treats the study of IM as a cross disciplinary subject from the perspectives of software engineering, human-computer interaction (HCI), and natural language processing (NLP). We discuss these three perspectives and indicate a number of possible future research directions.
Novel organization and development of copepod myelin. ii. nonglial origin

Nerve‐impulse conduction is greatly speeded by myelin sheaths in vertebrates, oligochaete annelids, penaeid and caridean shrimp, and calanoid copepods. In the first three invertebrate cases, myelin arises from glial cells, as it does in vertebrates. The contribution of the glial cells to the layered structure of the myelin is clear: their nuclei are either embedded in the layers or reside in contiguous cytoplasmic compartments, and their cell membranes are seen to be continuous with those of the myelin layers. However, with calanoids, the association with glial cells presumed necessary to generate the myelin has never been satisfactorily identified. We have conducted a systematic examination of thin sections through different parts of the copepod nervous system to identify the structural organization of copepod myelin and the likely mechanism for its formation. We find that myelination appears to commence by laying down and compacting a cisternal tongue against the inside of the axolemma. This is followed by the successive layering and compaction of additional tongues to create a stack of tongues. The margins of the tongues then expand to encircle the interior of a neurite, meeting and fusing to form complete concentric myelin. No sign of glial involvement could be detected at any stage. Unlike glially derived myelin, the extracellular tracer lanthanum did not penetrate between the myelin layers in copepods, further evidence against a glial source. We believe this to be the first demonstration of a nonglial origin for myelin in any species. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:3281–3305, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reciprocal Modulatory Influences between Tonotopic and Nontonotopic Cortical Fields in the Cat

Functional and anatomical studies suggest that acoustic signals are processed hierarchically in auditory cortex. Although most regions of acoustically responsive cortex are not tonotopically organized, all previous electrophysiological investigations of interfield interactions have only examined tonotopically represented areas. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the functional interactions between tonotopically and nontonotopically organized fields in auditory cortex. We accomplished this goal by examining the bidirectional contributions between the cochleotopically organized primary auditory cortex (A1) and the noncochleotopically organized second auditory field (A2). Multiunit acute recording procedures in combination with reversible cooling deactivation techniques were used in eight mature cats. The synaptic activity of A1 or A2 was suppressed while the neuronal response to tonal stimuli of the noninactivated area (A1 or A2) was measured. Response strength, neuronal threshold, receptive field bandwidths, and latency measures were collected at each recorded site before, during, and after cooling deactivation epochs. Our analysis revealed comparable changes in A1 and A2 neuronal response properties. Specifically, significant decreases in neuronal response strength, increases in neuronal threshold, and shortening of response latency were found in both fields during periods of cooling deactivation. The weak anatomical connections between the two fields investigated make these findings unexpected. Furthermore, the observed neuronal changes suggest a model of corticocortical interaction among auditory fields in which neither differences in the magnitude of anatomical projections nor cortical representation of sensory stimuli are reliable determinants of modulatory functions.
Pretreatment Transcriptional Profiling for Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: Patients presenting with locally advanced rectal cancer currently receive preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Although pathologic complete response is achieved for approximately 10% to 30% of patients, a proportion of patients derive no benefit from this therapy while being exposed to toxic side effects of treatment. Therefore, there is a strong need to identify patients who are unlikely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy to help direct them toward alternate and ultimately more successful treatment options. Experimental Design: In this study, we obtained expression profiles from pretreatment biopsies for 51 rectal cancer patients. All patients underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by resection of the tumor 6 to 8 weeks posttreatment. Gene expression and response to treatment were correlated, and a supervised learning algorithm was used to generate an original predictive classifier and validate previously published classifiers. Results: Novel predictive classifiers based on Mandard's tumor regression grade, metabolic response, TNM (tumor node metastasis) downstaging, and normal tissue expression profiles were generated. Because there were only 7 patients who had minimal treatment response (>80% residual tumor), expression profiles were used to predict good tumor response and outcome. These classifiers peaked at 82% sensitivity and 89% specificity; however, classifiers with the highest sensitivity had poor specificity, and vice versa. Validation of predictive classifiers from previously published reports was attempted using this cohort; however, sensitivity and specificity ranged from 21% to 70%. Conclusions: These results show that the clinical utility of microarrays in predictive medicine is not yet within reach for rectal cancer and alternatives to microarrays should be considered for predictive studies in rectal adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res; 17(9); 3039–47. ©2011 AACR.
Price Discrimination Bans on Dominant Firms

Competition authorities and regulatory agencies sometimes impose pricing restrictions on firms with substantial market power — the “dominant” firms. We analyze the welfare effects of a ban on behaviour-based price discrimination in a two-period setting where the market displays a competitive and a sheltered segment. A ban on “higher-prices-to-shelteredconsumers” decreases prices in the sheltered segment, relaxes competition in the competitive segment, increases the rival’s profits, and may harm the dominant firm’s profits. We show that a ban on “higher-prices-to-sheltered-consumers” increases the dominant firm’s share of the first-period market. A ban on “lower-prices-to-rival’s-customers” decreases prices in the competitive segment, lowers the rival’s profits, and augments the consumer surplus. In particular, while second-period competition is relaxed by a ban on “lower-prices-to-rival’scustomers”, first-period competition is intensified substantially, which leads to lower prices “on-average” over the two periods. Our findings indicate that a dynamic two-period analysis may lead to conclusions opposite to those drawn from a static one-period analysis.
Finite element analysis of graphene resonator tuned by pressure difference

The vibrational mechanical properties of a graphene resonator were investigated by finite element analysis (FEA) modeling and simulation. By applying a pressure difference across the membrane, the natural frequency of the graphene sheets is changed. The resonance frequency increases with increasing pressure difference. The maximum deflection occurs at the center of graphene. As the initial tension in the graphene increases, the tunable range decreases. Smaller the dimension of the graphene sheets is, higher the resonance frequency will be, and so as the tunable range. The thickness of the graphene sheets has the similar phenomenon as the dimension has, both the frequency and tunable range will increase if the thickness turns smaller. The geometric nonlinearity is considered, too. We compare the simulation results with previous theoretical and experimental results, and find them in good agreement. The pressure difference can be tuned by changing the pressure in and outside the microchamber. These conclusions will be helpful for graphene in the application of high-quality resonators.
IDENTIFICATION OF MURINE H-2Db HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS IN CELLS TRANSFECTED WITH CLONED H-2 GENES

Clones of mouse L-cells transformed with 21 cosmids containing 15 major histocompatibility complex class I genes of C57BL10 (H-2b) sperm cell D N A were analyzed for the expression of their transfected H-2 and Qa/Tla genes. Three cosmids contained a single gene, mapping to the H-2D region. This gene encodes the H-2Dh alloantigen: mouse L-cells transfected with cosmids containing this gene reacted with monoclonal antibodies and alloantisera specific for the H-2Db antigen and expressed a 46-kd H-2 heavy chain associated with /^-microglobulin in their cell membranes. Furthermore, these transfected cells were stimulators of, and targets for. anti-H-2Db cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Eighteen cosmids contained 14 different genes mapping to the Qa and Tla regions. L-cells transfected with these genes did not express class I genes reacting with alloantisera or monoclonal antibodies against Qa2, Qa4 or TL differentiation antigens. In particular, the Qa2,3 gene of C57BL10 was not identified.
Prognostic Prediction through Biclustering-Based Classification of Clinical Gene Expression Time Series

Summary The constant drive towards a more personalized medicine led to an increasing interest in temporal gene expression analyzes. It is now broadly accepted that considering a temporal perspective represents a great advantage to better understand disease progression and treatment results at a molecular level. In this context, biclustering algorithms emerged as an important tool to discover local expression patterns in biomedical applications, and CCC-Biclustering arose as an efficient algorithm relying on the temporal nature of data to identify all maximal temporal patterns in gene expression time series. In this work, CCC-Biclustering was integrated in new biclustering-based classifiers for prognostic prediction. As case study we analyzed multiple gene expression time series in order to classify the response of Multiple Sclerosis patients to the standard treatment with Interferon-β, to which nearly half of the patients reveal a negative response. In this scenario, using an effective predictive model of a patient’s response would avoid useless and possibly harmful therapies for the non-responder group. The results revealed interesting potentialities to be further explored in classification problems involving other (clinical) time series.
Practical Applications of Bacterial Functional Genomics

Abbreviations: 2D, two-dimensional; BLAST, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; COG, clusters of orthologous groups; GO, gene ontology; KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; MOD, Model Organism Database; MS, mass spectrometry; NCBI, National Center for Biotechnological Information; ORF, open reading frame; Pfam, Protein families; PLEX, Protein Link Explorer; TR, transcriptional regulator; Y2H, yeast two-hybrid. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews Vol. 24, 213-242 (2007)
Explorations in Design Space

The methodology of AI as the general study of natural and artiicial intelligence is outlined, including exploration of designs for a variety of behaving systems, for both scientiic and engineering purposes. Thèdesign-stance' treats minds as sophisticated self-monitoring, self-modifying control systems. Diierent architectures can satisfy that description. Exploration of possible requirements and designs for complete agents is important not only for engineering purposes but also for bringing together hitherto fragmentary studies of mind in various disciplines, providing a basis for an adequate set of descriptive concepts, clarifying various evolutionary questions, and making it possible to understand what goes wrong in various human activities and which remedies might work. This requires studying niches as well as designs.
Low-Income Housing and Crime: The Influence of Housing Development and Neighborhood Characteristics

This study examines the distribution of crime across various types of low-income housing developments and estimates the main and interactive effects of housing development and neighborhood characteristics on crime. Negative binomial regression models were estimated to observe the influence of security and design features, neighborhood concentrated disadvantage, residential stability, and nearby nonresidential land use on crime at the housing developments. The findings suggest that low-income housing developments are not uniformly criminogenic, and both development characteristics and neighborhood conditions are relevant for understanding crime in low-income housing developments. Implications for prevention are discussed.
Phylogenetic analysis of nematode nuclear 18S rDNA sequences indicates the genus Tripylina Brzeski, 1963 (Nematoda: Tripylidae de Man, 1876) should be placed in Enoplida

We have made an extensive study of New Zealand representatives of nematodes from the family Tripylidae de Man, 1876. Based on SSU DNA sequence data and phylogenetic analysis, the genera Tripylina Brzeski, 1964 and Trischistoma Cobb, 1913 are not closely related to Tripyla Bastian, 1865, the type genus of the family Tripylidae de Man 1876. The genus Tripylina is sister to Trischistoma and Trefusia de Man, 1893 and is more closely related to Enoplida than to Triplonchida. Our phylogenetic results indicate that Tripylina should be placed in Enoplida.
DIGITAL PROMOTION USAGE IN CULTIVATING BRAND ENGAGEMENT AMONG MILLENNIALS USERS AT STARBUCKS INDONESIA

In reaching the millennials to have a consumer engagement with the Starbucks brand, the giant coffee has globally reaching out to millions of its consumers by way of digital platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. This method has also been implemented by Starbucks Indonesia as they realize they must utilize new media to complement their traditional way of marketing in creating positive perception among the young generation. Digital promotion by using applications such as LINE, Instagram and Twitter has helped generating interest among the millennials users in cultivating brand engagement prior to purchase. The data was collected using qualitative method of conducting a focus group discussion and a quantitative method of survey among the millennials in Jakarta between the age of 16 – 36 years old. Narrative analysis was used to analyze the findings of both the focus group discussion and the survey by applying literature review of consumer-brand engagement (Vivek, Beatty, & Morgan, 2011) and bandwagon (Neil, 2016). The data found that although Starbucks Indonesia has been engaging with its millennials consumers by way of digital promotion, it is solely a transactional engagement. They only used the digital advertisement solely to obtain promotional advantages. The study provides several recommendations that could be applied by Starbucks Indonesia to cultivate a long-lasting brand engagement with the millennials by way of digital promotion.
Focusing of time-reversed reflections

Abstract Recently time-reversal techniques have emerged as a new, important and fascinating discipline within wave propagation. Many of the problems involved can best be understood, analysed and optimized based on a random field model for the medium. Here we discuss stable refocusing of second-order time-reversed reflections. This phenomenon may appear as surprising at first. However, we show how it can be understood in very simple terms viewing the wavefield as a stochastic process. We give sufficient conditions on Green's function of the propagation problem for the phenomenon to happen. In particular we discuss acoustic wave propagation in the regime of weak random medium fluctuations and explicitly give the derivation of stable refocusing in this case, illustrating it with numerical examples.
a New Color Correction Method for Underwater Imaging

Abstract. Recovering correct or at least realistic colors of underwater scenes is a very challenging issue for imaging techniques, since illumination conditions in a refractive and turbid medium as the sea are seriously altered. The need to correct colors of underwater images or videos is an important task required in all image-based applications like 3D imaging, navigation, documentation, etc. Many imaging enhancement methods have been proposed in literature for these purposes. The advantage of these methods is that they do not require the knowledge of the medium physical parameters while some image adjustments can be performed manually (as histogram stretching) or automatically by algorithms based on some criteria as suggested from computational color constancy methods. One of the most popular criterion is based on gray-world hypothesis, which assumes that the average of the captured image should be gray. An interesting application of this assumption is performed in the Ruderman opponent color space lαβ, used in a previous work for hue correction of images captured under colored light sources, which allows to separate the luminance component of the scene from its chromatic components. In this work, we present the first proposal for color correction of underwater images by using lαβ color space. In particular, the chromatic components are changed moving their distributions around the white point (white balancing) and histogram cutoff and stretching of the luminance component is performed to improve image contrast. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method under gray-world assumption and supposing uniform illumination of the scene. Moreover, due to its low computational cost it is suitable for real-time implementation.
Prognostic Significance of Tissue Leptin Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Purpose Leptin is encoded by the ob gene and is involved in the control of food intake and energy expenditure. Recent studies have implicated leptin expression to be an indicator of tumor features and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of tissue expression of leptin with the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. Methods Patients who had undergone a curative surgical resection for a colorectal adenocarcinoma from 2000 to 2004 were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analyses of leptin expression were performed, and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated. Results Clinical data and tumor tissues of 146 patients were evaluated. The mean age was 68.6 ± 11.3 years, and 61.0% were men. Immunohistochemically, the rates of negative, weak, moderate, and strong leptin expression were 2.7% (4 of 146), 5.5% (8 of 146), 43.2% (63 of 146), and 48.6% (71 of 146), respectively. We compared the negative, weak, and moderate expression group (group A) with the strong expression group (group B). Leptin expression was inversely associated with nodal stage (P = 0.007) between the two groups. Leptin expression was not significantly associated with differentiation (P = 0.37), T stage (P = 0.16), and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (P = 0.49), and no significant differences in the disease-free and the overall survivals (P = 0.78 and P = 0.61) were observed. Conclusion Results demonstrated an inverse association of nodal stage with high leptin expression. Higher leptin expression level might predict better oncologic outcome. However, further studies are warranted to identify the exact role of leptin expression in colorectal cancer.