Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised Learning for Satellite Image Classification

A new method of classifying satellite images into different categories such as forest, desert, river etc., with the help of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and unsupervised learning method using MATLAB is presented. Dense low-level feature descriptors are extracted and exploited in a novel way to learn a set of basis functions. The low-level feature descriptors are encoded in terms of the basis functions to generate new sparse representation for the feature descriptors. We pool these sparse features by simple averaging and show that this method will help us to choose SVM classifier which is having less cost. Experimental results show its good performance, when tested with different saliency criteria, such as accuracy, less computational time, and the combination of both.
Macrosomic Neonates Carry Increased Risk of Dental Caries in Early Childhood: Findings from a Cohort Study, the Okinawa Child Health Study, Japan

Background Although many studies have discussed health risks in neonates with a low birth weight, few studies have focused on the risks in neonates with a high birth weight. The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in the incidence of dental caries in early childhood are associated with birth weight status. Methods A total of 117,175 children born in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan from 1997 to 2007 were included in this study. Medical professionals collected information about birth records, growth and development, parental child-rearing practices and dental health at 3 months, 18 months and 3 years of age. The risk of dental caries among neonates with macrosomia (birth weight ≥4000 g) was compared with that among neonates with normal weight (2500–3999 g). Sensitivity analyses included ‘large for gestational age’ (LGA, birth weight above the 90th percentile for gestational age), which was relative to ‘appropriate for gestational age’ (birth weight between 10th and 90th percentiles). Relative risks and relative risk increases were estimated by multivariate Poisson regression. Results At 3 years of age, the relative risk increases for dental caries after adjusting for confounding factors were 19% [95% confidence interval (CI), 11%–28%, P < 0.001] for macrosomic neonates and 12% (95% CI, 9%–16%, P < 0.001) for LGA neonates. Conclusion Macrosomia and LGA were associated with an increased risk of dental caries in early childhood. Particular attention should be paid to abnormally large neonates.
Fooled by Search: Housing Prices, Turnover and Bubbles

Theory predicts that the effects of search frictions on house prices from temporary movements in demand should be temporary, while the data suggests it is permanent. The latter implies that movements in demand coupled with search frictions create higher volatility in prices than theory would predict, amplifying price changes, leading to bubbles and depressions. To generate permanent price changes from temporary demand shocks, a textbook search model is combined with a behavioral assumption where house buyers and sellers ignore the effects of search frictions on past prices. The estimated model implies that over half of the real price growth from the housing bubble starting in 1998 is due to the behavioral assumption where households are ‘Fooled by Search. ’ When trend growth of prices is removed, the behavioral assumption explains almost three-fourths of the housing bubble. The estimated model also provides several other results. (1) There is a large inefficiency in the search process of the housing market: buyers have very little bargaining power relative to their impact on creating sales, i.e. the Hosios condition is not met by an order of magnitude. (2) There is evidence of a rise in the fundamental value of houses from 1998 to 2005 that mirrors the loose monetary policy under the Greenspan Federal Reserve. (3) Analysis of the boom and bust of the housing market from 1975 to 1982 suggests that buyers who are choosing to not enter the housing market are rational. Using the last observation to make a back of the envelope projection for the current crisis, turnover will have to fall to its 1982 level and remain there until 2011 before a recovery can begin, driving house prices down to their real levels of 2002-2003
Adherence of streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to fibronectin-coated and uncoated epithelial cells

The relationship between the variability in the fibronectin (Fn) content on human buccal epithelial cells and the capacity of the cells to bind gram-positive (Streptococcus pyogenes) or gram-negative (Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria was investigated. Adhesion experiments performed with mixtures of epithelial cells and mixed suspensions of either S. pyogenes and E. coli or S. pyogenes and P. aeruginosa exhibited three major populations of buccal cells: one of these was able to bind S. pyogenes (gram positive) but neither of the gram-negative bacteria; a second population was able to bind the gram-negative but not the gram-positive bacteria; and a third was able to bind various numbers of both types of organisms. Further adhesion experiments performed with a mixture of epithelial cells and a mixed suspension of S. pyrogens, E. coli, and fluoresceinconjugated methacrylate beads coated with immune immunoglobulin G directed against Fn revealed that the epithelial cells recognizing the gram-positive bacteria were rich in Fn, whereas those recognizing the gram-negative organisms were poor in Fn. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that cells of S. pyogenes bound to epithelial cells coated with Fn, whereas cells of E. coli bound to epithelial cells lacking Fn. These results suggest that Fn on the surfaces of epithelial cells may modulate the ecology of the human oropharyngeal cavity, especially with respect to the colonization of these surfaces by pathogenic gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria.
Assessing AD/HD in College Students

The Barkley Current Symptoms Scale (BCSS)–Self-Report Form was designed to assess attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The purpose of the current study was to add to BCSS psychometric literature in a sample of university students. Comparisons with normative data are provided, and implications for these findings are offered.
Fiscal Rules and Discretion under Persistent Shocks

This paper studies the optimal level of discretion in policymaking. We consider a fiscal policy model where the government has time-inconsistent preferences with a present bias toward public spending. The government chooses a fiscal rule to trade off its desire to commit to not overspend against its desire to have flexibility to react to privately observed shocks to the value of spending. We analyze the optimal fiscal rule when the shocks are persistent. Unlike under independent and identically distributed shocks, we show that the ex ante optimal rule is not sequentially optimal, as it provides dynamic incentives. The ex ante optimal rule exhibits history dependence, with high shocks leading to an erosion of future fiscal discipline compared to low shocks, which lead to the reinstatement of discipline. The implied policy distortions oscillate over time given a sequence of high shocks, and can force the government to accumulate maximal debt and become immiserated in the long run.
A Global View of Gene Activity and Alternative Splicing by Deep Sequencing of the Human Transcriptome

The functional complexity of the human transcriptome is not yet fully elucidated. We report a high-throughput sequence of the human transcriptome from a human embryonic kidney and a B cell line. We used shotgun sequencing of transcripts to generate randomly distributed reads. Of these, 50% mapped to unique genomic locations, of which 80% corresponded to known exons. We found that 66% of the polyadenylated transcriptome mapped to known genes and 34% to nonannotated genomic regions. On the basis of known transcripts, RNA-Seq can detect 25% more genes than can microarrays. A global survey of messenger RNA splicing events identified 94,241 splice junctions (4096 of which were previously unidentified) and showed that exon skipping is the most prevalent form of alternative splicing.
CXCR2 Inhibition Combined with Sorafenib Improved Antitumor and Antiangiogenic Response in Preclinical Models of Ovarian Cancer

Antiangiogenic therapy is important for the treatment of gynecological cancer. However, the therapeutic benefit derived from these treatments is transient, predominantly due to the selective activation of compensatory proangiogenic pathways that lead to rapid development of resistance. We aimed to identify and target potential alternative signaling to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, with a view toward developing a combination of antiangiogenic agents to provide extended therapeutic benefits. We developed a preclinical in vivo phenotypic resistance model of ovarian cancer resistant to antiangiogenic therapy. We measured dynamic changes in secreted chemokines and angiogenic signaling in tumors and plasma in response to anti-VEGF treatment, as tumors advanced from the initial responsive phase to progressive disease. In tumors that progressed following sorafenib treatment, gene and protein expression levels of proangiogenic CXC chemokines and their receptors were significantly elevated, compared with responsive tumors. The chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8), also known as interleukin-8 (IL-8) increase was time-dependent and coincided with the dynamics of tumor progression. We used SB225002, a pharmacological inhibitor of chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2), to disrupt the CXC chemokine-mediated functions of ovarian cancer cells in in vitro assays of cell growth inhibition, spheroid formation, and cell migration. The combination of CXCR2 inhibitor with sorafenib led to a synergistic inhibition of cell growth in vitro, and further stabilized tumor progression following sorafenib in vivo. Our results suggest that CXCR2-mediated chemokines may represent an important compensatory pathway that promotes resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in ovarian cancer. Thus, simultaneous blockage of this proangiogenic cytokine pathway using CXCR2 inhibitors and the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway could improve the outcomes of antiangiogenic therapy.
The Geopolitics of Refugee Studies: A View from the South

In the post-1945 period the policy of Northern states has moved from the neglect of refugees in the Third World, to their use as pawns in Cold War politics, to their containment now. The paper explores in these shifting policy contexts the geopolitics of knowledge production in the field of refugee studies. The arrival of the 'new asylum seekers' in the 1980s signalled the expansion of refugee studies. A 'new approach' took shape which critiqued the established positivist approach to refugee law and created the myth of difference (the idea that great dissimilarities characterized refugee flows in Europe and the Third World). It advocated the rejection of the exile bias of refugee law; reliance on the solution of voluntary repatriation; and responsibility of the state of physical origin. In legitimizing the 'new approach', a key role, so far ignored, has been played by the knowledge production and dissemination functions of UNHCR.
Differential Brillouin fiber sensor based on phase difference on double-sideband pump wave

Abstract. A configuration based on phase difference on a double-sideband pump wave is proposed to detect the differential variation of temperature or strain in single-mode optical fibers. In our configuration, a probe wave only experiences a differential Brillouin gain contributed by the perturbation of temperature or strain in the sensing fiber. As a result, the power limitation of the probe wave can be alleviated and the photodetector in our configuration does not easily become saturated in the case of a longer sensing range. The spatial resolution is determined by the duration of the phase difference on the two sidebands and the signal-to-noise of our system is nearly twice as high as that of a differential pulse-width pair Brillouin optical time domain analysis sensor since a π-phase shift on the pump wave is employed. The properties and performances of our method are also theoretically derived and experimentally validated.
Individualized Internal and External Training Load Relationships in Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players

Aim: The quantification and longitudinal monitoring of athlete training load (TL) provides a scientific explanation for changes in performance and helps manage injury/illness risk. Therefore, accurate and reliable monitoring tools are essential for the optimization of athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to establish the relationship between measures of internal [heart rate (HR) and session RPE (sRPE)] and external TL specific to wheelchair rugby (WR). Methods: Fourteen international WR athletes (age = 29 ± 7 years; body mass = 58.9 ± 10.9 kg) were monitored during 18 training sessions over a 3 month period during the competitive phase of the season. Activity profiles were collected during each training session using a radio-frequency based indoor tracking system (ITS). External TL was quantified by total distance (m) covered as well as time spent and distance covered in a range of classification-specific arbitrary speed zones. Banister's TRIMP, Edwards's summated HR zone (SHRZ), and Lucia's TRIMP methods were used to quantify physiological internal TL. sRPE was calculated as the product of session duration multiplied by perceived exertion using the Borg CR10 scale. Relationships between external and internal TL were examined using correlation coefficients and the 90% confidence intervals (90% CI). Results: sRPE (r = 0.59) and all HR-based (r > 0.80) methods showed large and very large relationships with the total distance covered during training sessions, respectively. Large and very large correlations (r = 0.56 − 0.82) were also observed between all measures of internal TL and times spent and distances covered in low and moderate intensity speed zones. HR-based methods showed very large relationships with time (r = 0.71−0.75) and distance (r = 0.70−0.73) in the very high speed zone and a large relationship with the number of high intensity activities (HIA) performed (r = 0.56−0.62). Weaker relationships (r = 0.32−0.35) were observed between sRPE and all measures of high intensity activity. A large variation of individual correlation co-efficient was observed between sRPE and all external TL measures. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that sRPE and HR-based internal TL measures provide a valid tool for quantifying volume of external TL during WR training but may underestimate HIA. It is recommended that both internal and external TL measures are employed for the monitoring of overall TL during court-based training in elite WR athletes.
In-utero exposure to nelfinavir-ethyl methyl sulfone

Ethyl methyl sulfone contained in nelfinavir between 2007 and 2008 accidentally exposed embryos and fetuses to a powerful mutagen. We report data for 101 HIV-uninfected children exposed in utero included in the French prospective national cohort. The incidence of malformation was similar to that in the cohort as a whole with different drug exposures; no children had developed cancer after 9 years of follow-up.
A New Iterative Threshold Decoding Algorithm for One Step Majority Logic Decodable Block Codes

The performance of iterative decoding algorithm for one-step majority logic decodable (OSMLD) codes is investigated. We introduce a new soft-in soft-out of APP threshold algorithm which is able to decode theses codes nearly as well as belief propagation (BP) algorithm. However the computation time of the proposed algorithm is very low. The developed algorithm can also be applied to product codes and parallel concatenated codes based on block codes. Numerical results on both AWGN and Rayleigh channels are provided. The performance of iterative decoding of parallel concatenated code (17633,8595) with rate 0.5 is only 1.8 dB away from the Shannon capacity limit at a BER of 10. General Terms Information theory and Coding, Signal Processing.
PrP Expression and Replication by Schwann Cells: Implications in Prion Spreading

ABSTRACT Prion infection relies on a continuous chain of PrPc-expressing tissues to spread from peripheral sites to the central nervous system (CNS). Direct neuroinvasion via peripheral nerves has long been considered likely. However, the speed of axonal flow is incompatible with the lengthy delay prior to the detection of PrPSc in the brain. We hypothesized that Schwann cells could be the candidate implicated in this mechanism; for that, it has to express PrPc and to allow PrPSc conversion. We investigated in vivo localization of PrPc in sciatic nerve samples from different strains of mice. We demonstrated that PrPc is mainly localized at the cell membrane of the Schwann cell. We also studied in vitro expression of PrPc in the Schwann cell line MSC-80 and demonstrated that it expresses PrPc at the same location. More specifically, we demonstrated that this glial cell line, when infected in vitro with the mouse Chandler prion strain, both produces the PrPSc till after 18 passages and is able to transmit disease to mice, which then develop the typical signs of prion diseases. It is the first time that infection and replication of PrPSc are shown in a peripheral glial cell line.
The effects of crossed categorization on intergroup evaluations: A meta-analysis

Crossed categorization typically refers to the crossing of two dichotomous social dimensions, resulting in four groups (double in-group, two mixed groups, and double out-group). This paper reports the results of a meta-analysis of the effects of crossed categorization on intergroup evaluations. The present effort was able to contrast and evaluate 11 models previously proposed to account for the effects of crossed categorization. The category differentiation (reduction) model received the most support insofar as (a) it rendered predictions of intergroup evaluations that were significant and of moderate magnitude, and (b) these predictions varied as a significant function of the proposed underlying mechanism for the model (the similarity between the categorization dimensions). We discuss the implications of these results for future research on crossed categorization.
MyWebSteps: Aiding Revisiting with a Visual Web History

This research addresses the general topic of ‘keeping found things found’ by investigating difficulties people encounter when revisiting webpages, and designing and evaluating a novel tool that addresses those difficulties. The research focused on occasional revisits—webpages that people have previously visited on only one day, a week or more ago (i.e. neither frequently nor recently). A 3-month logging study was combined with a laboratory experiment to identify 10 underlying causes of participants’ revisiting failure. Overall, 61% of the failures occurred when a webpage had originally been accessed via search results, was on a topic a participant often looked at or was on a known but large website. Then, we designed a novel visual Web history tool to address the causes of failure and implemented it as a Firefox add-on. The tool was evaluated in a 3-month field study, helped participants succeed on 96% of revisits, and was also used by some participants to review and reminisce about their ‘travels’ online. Revised versions of the tool have been publicly released as the Firefox add-on MyWebSteps.
Health worker preferences for job attributes in Ethiopia : results from a discrete choice experiment

This paper estimates the effectiveness of a range of policy interventions aimed at improving the supply of health workers to rural areas in Ethiopia. Using data from a survey of 861 health workers, it employs stated preference techniques to predict labor market responses of doctors and nurses to changes in rural wages, working conditions, housing benefits, and training opportunities. Doubling wages in areas outside the capital will increase the share of doctors willing to work there from about 7 percent to more than 50 percent. Providing high quality housing would increase physician labor supply to about 27 percent, which is equivalent to paying a wage bonus of about 46 percent. Doubling wages paid to nurses for work in rural areas outside cities increases their labor supply from 4 percent to 27 percent, while the non-wage attribute that is most effective in inducing them to relocate to rural areas is the quality of equipment and drugs. The same impact could be achieved by increasing rural nursing wages by about 57 percent for men and 69 percent for women.
Hispanic Students' Perception of White Teachers' Mastery Goal Orientation Influences Sense of School Belonging

Abstract This study postulated a structural model to investigate the degree of influence that White middle-level teachers who employ mastery goal orientation and academic pressure may have on Hispanic students' sense of school belongingness. Participants were 434 5th and 6th grade students and 21 teachers. Initial proposed model estimates fit the data adequately when employing certain fit criteria (Comparative Fix Index = .92, standardized root mean squared residual = .09). Findings indicated that students' reported feelings of school belonging were positively influenced by White teachers who promoted mastery goal orientation and academic pressure within their classrooms. School belonging, in turn, influenced students' mastery goal orientation.
Philosophical Aspects of the Theory of a Functional System

Scientists in many fields are presently giving the closest attention to study of the potentials of the systems approach for understanding what cannot be comprehended with the analytical approach or, as V. A. Engel'gardt has put it, "an accumulation of material in reduced form. " This approach is in some degree a gesture of despair. It is quite obvious that we now face the danger of drowning in the abundance of data accumulated in terms of "special" problems not tied into a system, and that this threatens loss of general direction.
Estimating the OFDM Carrier Frequency Offset by Locating Null Subcarriers

We present a novel algorithm for estimating the Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) in an OFDM receiver. The algorithm is based on locating the spectral minimas within null subcarriers embedded in the spectrum. This is done by using a scaled DFT algorithm to calculate the spectrum of the OFDM symbol around the null subcarrier, followed by averaging the absolute square of the amplitude. The method is suitable for systems with continuous transmission.
Bank Integration and Financial Constraints: Evidence from U.S. Firms

This paper uses data on publicly-traded firms in the U.S. to analyze the effect of interstate bank integration on the financial constraints borrowers face. A firm-level investment equation is estimated in order to test if bank integration reduces the sensitivity of capital expenditures to the level of internal funds. The staggered deregulation of cross-state bank acquisitions that took place in the U.S. between 1978 and 1994 helps estimate the model. Integration decreases financing constraints for bank-dependent firms. The change in firms’ access to external finance is explained by an increase in the share of locally headquartered geographically diversified banks.