Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Object and Scene Classification: what does a Supervised Approach Provide us?

Given a set of images of scenes containing different object categories (e.g. grass, roads) our objective is to discover these objects in each image, and to use this object occurrences to perform a scene classification (e.g. beach scene, mountain scene). We achieve this by using a supervised learning algorithm able to learn with few images to facilitate the user task. We use a probabilistic model to recognise the objects and further we classify the scene based on their object occurrences. Experimental results are shown and evaluated to prove the validity of our proposal. Object recognition performance is compared to the approaches of He et al. (2004) and Marti et al. (2001) using their own datasets. Furthermore an unsupervised method is implemented in order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of our supervised classification approach versus an unsupervised one
The Fail-Heterogeneous Architectural Model

Fault tolerant distributed protocols typically utilize a homogeneous fault model, either fail-crash or fail-Byzantine, where all processors are assumed to fail in the same manner. In practice, due to complexity and evolvability reasons, only a subset of the nodes can actually be designed to have a restricted, fail-crash failure mode, provided that they are free of design faults. Based on this consideration, we propose a fail-heterogeneous architectural model for distributed systems which considers two classes of nodes: (a) full-fledged execution nodes, which can be fail-Byzantine, and (b) lightweight, validated coordination nodes, which can only be fail-crash. To illustrate the model we introduce HeterTrust as a practical trustworthy service replication protocol. It has a low latency overhead, requires few execution nodes with diversified design, and prevents intruded servers from disclosing confidential data. We also discuss applications of the model to DoS attacks mitigation and to group membership.
Observing the quantum behavior of light in an undergraduate laboratory

While the classical, wavelike behavior of light (interference and diffraction) has been easily observed in undergraduate laboratories for many years, explicit observation of the quantum nature of light (i.e., photons) is much more difficult. For example, while well-known phenomena such as the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering strongly suggest the existence of photons, they are not definitive proof of their existence. Here we present an experiment, suitable for an undergraduate laboratory, that unequivocally demonstrates the quantum nature of light. Spontaneously downconverted light is incident on a beamsplitter and the outputs are monitored with single-photon counting detectors. We observe a near absence of coincidence counts between the two detectors—a result inconsistent with a classical wave model of light, but consistent with a quantum description in which individual photons are incident on the beamsplitter. More explicitly, we measured the degree of second-order coherence between the output.
Sertraline and Fluoxetine Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Results of a Double-Blind, 6-Month Treatment Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy and tolerability of sertraline and fluoxetine in the treatment of obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD). Outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for OCD, with a Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive (Y-BOCS) total score ≥ 17, an NIMH Global Obsessive-Compulsive (NIMH-OC) scale score ≥ 7, and a CGI-Severity score ≥ 4 were randomized to 24 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline (N = 77) or fluoxetine (N = 73). Primary efficacy measures consisted of the Y-BOCS, the NIMH-OC scale, and the CGI-Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) scales. Equivalent and significant (p < 0.001) improvement was found at week 24 in Y-BOCS and NIMH-OC scale scores for sertraline and fluoxetine. After 12 weeks, 49.2% of patients on sertraline were rated on the CGI-S scale as being mildly ill or not ill compared to 24.6% on fluoxetine (p < 0.01). A Cox analysis found patients on sertraline to have a statistically nonsignificant 42% greater likelihood of achieving a response by week 12 (CGI-I, much or very much improved; 95% CI, 0.85, 2.38;p = 0.18). Sertraline treatment also resulted in a higher proportion of remissions than fluoxetine (defined as a CGI-I ≤ 2 and a Y-BOCS score ≤ 11), both at week 12 (20% vs. 8%; χ2, 3.95;df 1;p = 0.047) and week 24 (36% vs. 22%; χ2, 3.18;df, 1;p = 0.075). Both medications were welltolerated and demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of outpatients with moderate to severe OCD with the subjects treated with sertraline showing a greater likelihood of remission as well as an earlier improvement on some but not all efficacy measures
The interplay of various sources of noise on reliability of species distribution models hinges on ecological specialisation

Digitized species occurrence data provide an unprecedented source of information for ecologists and conservationists. Species distribution model (SDM) has become a popular method to utilise these data for understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of species, and for modelling biodiversity patterns. Our objective is to study the impact of noise in species occurrence data (namely sample size and positional accuracy) on the performance and reliability of SDM, considering the multiplicative impact of SDM algorithms, species specialisation, and grid resolution. We created a set of four ‘virtual’ species characterized by different specialisation levels. For each of these species, we built the suitable habitat models using five algorithms at two grid resolutions, with varying sample sizes and different levels of positional accuracy. We assessed the performance and reliability of the SDM according to classic model evaluation metrics (Area Under the Curve and True Skill Statistic) and model agreement metrics (Overall Concordance Correlation Coefficient and geographic niche overlap) respectively. Our study revealed that species specialisation had by far the most dominant impact on the SDM. In contrast to previous studies, we found that for widespread species, low sample size and low positional accuracy were acceptable, and useful distribution ranges could be predicted with as few as 10 species occurrences. Range predictions for narrow-ranged species, however, were sensitive to sample size and positional accuracy, such that useful distribution ranges required at least 20 species occurrences. Against expectations, the MAXENT algorithm poorly predicted the distribution of specialist species at low sample size.
Schema-inhibitors of Happiness and their Remediation contribution to Positive Psychotherapy

The author describes his own concept of happiness, which he has derived from an original theory of personality. Personality structure consists of four subsystems: motivational, executive, egotic, and character. The definition of happiness as a synergic unity of joy, bliss, self-actualization, and meaning comes from the concept of saturation of these personality substructures. Further he focuses on factors which hinder life happiness and shows the possibility to implement schema therapy in the area of positive psychotherapy. Both therapeutic systems can be interconnected in the following manner; that is we can use schemas (Young et al.) to explain the origin of conflicts (Peseschkian).
KIR2DS4 is a product of gene conversion with KIR3DL2 that introduced specificity for HLA-A*11 while diminishing avidity for HLA-C

Human killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are distinguished by expansion of activating KIR2DS, whose ligands and functions remain poorly understood. The oldest, most prevalent KIR2DS is KIR2DS4, which is represented by a variable balance between “full-length” and “deleted” forms. We find that full-length 2DS4 is a human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I receptor that binds specifically to subsets of C1+ and C2+ HLA-C and to HLA-A*11, whereas deleted 2DS4 is nonfunctional. Activation of 2DS4+ NKL cells was achieved with A*1102 as ligand, which differs from A*1101 by unique substitution of lysine 19 for glutamate, but not with A*1101 or HLA-C. Distinguishing KIR2DS4 from other KIR2DS is the proline–valine motif at positions 71–72, which is shared with KIR3DL2 and was introduced by gene conversion before separation of the human and chimpanzee lineages. Site-directed swap mutagenesis shows that these two residues are largely responsible for the unique HLA class I specificity of KIR2DS4. Determination of the crystallographic structure of KIR2DS4 shows two major differences from KIR2DL: displacement of contact loop L2 and altered bonding potential because of the substitutions at positions 71 and 72. Correlation between the worldwide distributions of functional KIR2DS4 and HLA-A*11 points to the physiological importance of their mutual interaction.
Analysis of Optimum Frame Synchronization Based on Periodically Embedded Sync Words

We present new tight bounds for evaluating the performance of sync word-based frame synchronization algorithms in the periodically embedded case. We consider antipodal signaling with coherent detection over additive white Gaussian noise and both optimal and suboptimal search techniques. Our bounds are very close to results obtained through simulation and tend asymptotically (for increasing signal-to-noise ratios) to the exact performance.
Beneficial Effects of Hematopoietic Growth Factor Therapy in Chronic Ischemic Stroke in Rats

Background and Purpose— Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability worldwide. Currently, there is no effective treatment for stroke survivors. Stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) are the growth factors regulating hematopoiesis. We have previously observed that SCF and G-CSF have neuroprotective and functional effects on acute brain ischemia. In the present study, the beneficial effects of SCF and G-CSF on chronic brain ischemia were determined. Methods— SCF, G-CSF, or SCF+G-CSF was administered subcutaneously to rats 3.5 months after induction of ischemic stroke by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neurological deficits were evaluated by limb placement test and foot fault test over time. Field-evoked potential was performed 19 weeks after treatment. Infarct volume was histologically determined using serial coronal sections. Results— Significant functional improvement was seen in SCF+G-CSF-treated rats 1, 5, and 17 weeks after injections. SCF alone also improved functional outcome, but it did not show as stable improvement as SCF+G-CSF. No functional benefit was seen in G-CSF-treated rats. Field-evoked potential studies further confirmed the behavioral data that the normal pattern of neuronal activity was reestablished in the lesioned brain of the rats with good functional outcome. Interestingly, infarction volume was also significantly reduced in SCF+G-CSF-treated rats. Conclusion— These data provide first evidence that functional restoration in chronic brain ischemia can be attained using hematopoietic growth factors.
Extracting Baseline Electricity Usage Using Gradient Tree Boosting

To understand how specific interventions affect a process observed over time, we need to control for the other factors that influence outcomes. Such a model that captures all factors other than the one of interest is generally known as a baseline. In our study of how different pricing schemes affect residential electricity consumption, the baseline would need to capture the impact of outdoor temperature along with many other factors. In this work, we examine a number of different data mining techniques and demonstrate Gradient Tree Boosting (GTB) to be an effective method to build the baseline. We train GTB on data prior to the introduction of new pricing schemes, and apply the known temperature following the introduction of new pricing schemes to predict electricity usage with the expected temperature correction. Our experiments and analyses show that the baseline models generated by GTB capture the core characteristics over the two years with the new pricing schemes. In contrast to the majority of regression based techniques which fail to capture the lag between the peak of daily temperature and the peak of electricity usage, the GTB generated baselines are able to correctly capture the delay between the temperature peak and the electricity peak. Furthermore, subtracting this temperature-adjusted baseline from the observed electricity usage, we find that the resulting values are more amenable to interpretation, which demonstrates that the temperature-adjusted baseline is indeed effective.
Maintaining state constraints in relational databases: a proof theoretic basis

If a relational database is required to satisfy a set of integrity constraints, then when the database is updated, one must ensure that it continues to satisfy the constraints. It is desirable not to have to evaluate each constraint after each update. A method is described that takes a constraint <italic>C</italic> and a class of updates, and either proves that an update in the class cannot violate <italic>C</italic>, or produces a formula <italic>C'</italic> (a complete test) that is satisfied before the update if and only if <italic>C</italic> would continue to be satisfied were the update to occur. <italic>C'</italic> is frequently much easier to evaluate than <italic>C</italic>. In addition, a formula <italic>D</italic> (a sufficient test) is sometimes produced such that if <italic>D</italic> is satisfied before the update, then <italic>C</italic> would continue to be satisfied were the update to occur. The method is proved correct. The method is substantially more general than other reported techniques for this problem. The method has been implemented, and a number of experiments with the implementation are presented.
Characterization and Functional Studies of the Murine T‐Lymphocyte Response to Mycobacterium leprae Antigen

Mice were immunized with, Mycobacterium leprae in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, and sensitized lymphocytes were obtained from draining lymph nodes. The lymphocytes thus obtained proliferated specifically in vitro in the presence of M. leprae antigen, and this response was shown to be both T‐ccll and macrophage dependent. T‐cell blasts generated in vitro in response to M. leprae antigen were grown in the presence of interlcukin‐2 (IL‐2), The proliferative response of these blasts to M. leprae antigen was strictly dependent on the presence of syngeneic spleen cells as antigen‐presenting cells. M. leprae‐Immune F, blasts responding to the antigen in the context of either parental H‐2 haplotype‐hearing accessory cell could be obtained by positive selection from an F, hybrid‐responding cell population. By means of flow microfluorometry the T‐cell phenotype of the M. leprae‐specific T‐cell blasts was found to be Thy‐1+ and to be composed of Lyt‐1+ and Lyt‐2+ subpopulations. Functionally, the blasts were shown to transfer delaycd‐lype hypersensitivity locally to non‐immunized recipients and to have cytolytic activity. Limiting dilution analysis showed the frequency of M. leprae‐responding cells from blasts grown in IL‐2 to be approximately 1/333.
Risk factors, prevalence, and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan: systematic review

Abstract Objectives To assess the available evidence on the prevalence, aetiology, treatment, and prevention of anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan. Design Systematic review of published literature. Studies reviewed 20 studies, of which 17 gave prevalence estimates and 11 discussed risk factors. Main outcome measures Prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders, risk factors, effects of treatment. Results Factors positively associated with anxiety and depressive disorders were female sex, middle age, low level of education, financial difficulty, being a housewife, and relationship problems. Arguments with husbands and relational problems with in-laws were positively associated in 3/11 studies. Those who had close confiding relationships were less likely to have anxiety and depressive disorders. Mean overall prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in the community population was 34% (range 29-66% for women and 10-33% for men). There were no rigorously controlled trials of treatments for these disorders. Conclusions Available evidence suggests a major social cause for anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan. This evidence is limited because of methodological problems, so caution must be exercised in generalising this to the whole of the population of Pakistan.
Implicit attributional style revisited: Evidence for a state-specific “self-decreasing” implicit attributional style in patients with persecutory delusions

Introduction. Although evidence suggests a discrepancy between the implicit and explicit attributional style (AS) in persons with persecutory delusions, this line of research has also produced conflicting findings. Thus, the aim of this study was to explain inconsistent results in implicit AS by introducing a modified assessment of implicit AS, which offered three attributional loci (internal, personal, and situational) instead of two (internal and external) as in previous studies and by investigating the associations between implicit AS, implicit self-esteem, explicit AS, and explicit self-esteem. Methods. Patients with acute persecutory delusions, patients with remitted persecutory delusions, and nonclinical controls were assessed in their implicit and explicit AS and implicit and explicit self-esteem. Results. Deluded patients presented an implicit “self-decreasing” AS compared to remitted patients and controls: They attributed negative events more towards themselves and positive events more towards situational factors, whereas their explicit self-serving AS was comparable to controls. Patients' implicit self-decreasing AS was associated with low implicit self-esteem. In addition, compared to remitted patients and controls, deluded patients presented low explicit and normal implicit self-esteem. Conclusions. The results shed light on the inconsistent findings in previous studies and indicate that persecutory delusions might be fed by implicit self-decreasing AS and an unstable self-esteem.
Assessing Interference from Mental Workload Using a Naturalistic Simulated Driving Task: A Pilot Study

Previous work has shown that drivers engaged in concurrent cognitive tasks exhibit some adaptive behaviors to enhance safety, such as increasing their headway distance, despite the fact that other aspects of safety might be compromised. However, these studies often test steady-state behaviors (e.g., car-following) that might not be representative of traffic situations in which drivers' goals and intentions are constantly changing (i.e., involving tactical vehicle control). In two simulator experiments, we examined the impact of mental workload on drivers engaged in a “naturalistic” tactical driving task. In Experiment 1, we explored the safety margins (distances) that drivers maintain between themselves and vehicles around them when completing a passing maneuver. In Experiment 2, we examined safety margins and performance under less constrained, yet more realistic and dynamic conditions. In both experiments, we found no evidence that drivers adjust their safety margins to account for the additional demands of performing a cognitive task. The implications for steady-state experimental scenarios versus more dynamic ones are discussed.
Cerebral blood volume and oxygenation among poststroke hemiplegic patients: effects of 13 rehabilitation tasks measured by near-infrared spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE To measure with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) the changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex of poststroke patients with hemiplegia performing several rehabilitation tasks and to analyze the different effects of the tasks. DESIGN Case series pilot study. SETTING Hospitals and facilities near Tsukuba, Japan. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-four healthy volunteers and 44 patients with hemiplegia. INTERVENTIONS For healthy volunteers, conventional rehabilitation tasks of head-up tilt (HUT), calculation, and ergometer. For patients with hemiplegia, these 3 tasks plus reading aloud, listening to music, reciprocal extension, nonparalyzed extension, passive range of motion, pulley, bridge, facilitation, stand-up, and gait. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral oxygen volume (COV) in the prefrontal region sensed by a noninvasive NIRS device placed midforehead in healthy volunteers or on the impaired side in patients with hemiplegia. Computer analysis of the quality and quantity of the CBV and COV change patterns. RESULTS In healthy subjects, the change patterns of the 3 tasks were clearly different: decrease in COV with HUT, limited increase in CBV and COV with calculation tasks, and gradual increase in CBV and COV with ergometer tasks. In patients with hemiplegia, significant (positive) CBV changes were observed in ergometer, facilitation, stand-up, and gait and significant (negative) changes with Romover. Significant (positive) COV changes were observed in ergometer and facilitation and (negative) in HUT. CONCLUSIONS NIRS is useful for monitoring the change in regional hemodynamics and oxygenation in rehabilitation; some tasks commonly used in rehabilitation, such as ergometer and facilitation, increase both CBV and COV in the affected prefrontal cortex of patients with hemiplegia.
Seasonality of active tuberculosis notification from 2005 to 2014 in Xinjiang, China

Objectives Xinjiang is one of the highest TB-burdened provinces of China. A time-series analysis was conducted to evaluate the trend, seasonality of active TB in Xinjiang, and explore the underlying mechanism of TB seasonality by comparing the seasonal variations of different subgroups. Methods Monthly active TB cases from 2005 to 2014 in Xinjiang were analyzed by the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal amplitude (SA) was calculated and compared within the subgroups. Results A total of 277,300 confirmed active TB cases were notified from 2005 to 2014 in Xinjiang, China, with a monthly average of 2311±577. The seasonality of active TB notification was peaked in March and troughed in October, with a decreasing SA trend. The annual 77.31% SA indicated an annual mean of additional TB cases diagnosed in March as compared to October. The 0–14-year-old group had significantly higher SA than 15–44-year-old group (P<0.05). Students had the highest SA, followed by herder and migrant workers (P<0.05). The pleural TB cases had significantly higher SA than the pulmonary cases (P <0.05). Significant associations were not observed between SA and sex, ethnic group, regions, the result of sputum smear microcopy, and treatment history (P>0.05). Conclusion TB notification in Xinjiang shows an apparent seasonal variation with a peak in March and trough in October. For the underlying mechanism of TB seasonality, our results hypothesize that winter indoor crowding increases the risk of TB transmission, and seasonality was mainly influenced by the recent exogenous infection rather than the endogenous reactivation.
Familial dyslexia: neurocognitive and genetic correlation in a large Finnish family

Neuropsychological findings of individuals with dyslexia (n=24) from a large, three‐generation Finnish family are presented. We have previously performed whole genome linkage scanning in this family and found that dyslexia in this kindred segregates with a single locus in the pericentromeric area of chromosome 3. Those included in the analyses were carefully evaluated for general cognitive ability, reading and spelling skills, and reading‐related neurocognitive skills. The neurocognitive type of dyslexia segregating in this family consisted of deficits in phonological awareness, verbal short‐term memory, and rapid naming. Severe dyslexia also seemed to be connected with a general language difficulty and was most common in the eldest generation.