Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectral Regression for Efficient Regularized Subspace Learning

Subspace learning based face recognition methods have attracted considerable interests in recent years, including principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), locality preserving projection (LPP), neighborhood preserving embedding (NPE) and marginal Fisher analysis (MFA). However, a disadvantage of all these approaches is that their computations involve eigen- decomposition of dense matrices which is expensive in both time and memory. In this paper, we propose a novel dimensionality reduction framework, called spectral regression (SR), for efficient regularized subspace learning. SR casts the problem of learning the projective functions into a regression framework, which avoids eigen-decomposition of dense matrices. Also, with the regression based framework, different kinds of regularizes can be naturally incorporated into our algorithm which makes it more flexible. Computational analysis shows that SR has only linear-time complexity which is a huge speed up comparing to the cubic-time complexity of the ordinary approaches. Experimental results on face recognition demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our method.
The chromosomal passenger complex: guiding Aurora-B through mitosis

During mitosis, the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) orchestrates highly different processes, such as chromosome alignment, histone modification, and cytokinesis. Proper and timely localization of this complex is the key to precise control over the enzymatic core of the CPC, the Aurora-B kinase. We discuss the molecular mechanisms by which the CPC members direct the dynamic localization of the complex throughout cell division. Also, we summarize posttranslational modifications that occur on the CPC and discuss their roles in regulating localization and function of this mitotic complex.
Genotypic Analyses of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O157 Nonmotile Isolates Recovered from Beef Cattle and Carcasses at Processing Plants in the Midwestern States of the United States

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O157 nonmotile isolates (E. coli O157) previously were recovered from feces, hides, and carcasses at four large Midwestern beef processing plants (R. O. Elder, J. E. Keen, G. R. Siragusa, G. A. Barkocy-Gallagher, M. Koohmaraie, and W. W. Laegreid, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:2999–3003, 2000). The study implied relationships between cattle infection and carcass contamination within single-source lots as well as between preevisceration and postprocessing carcass contamination, based on prevalence. These relationships now have been verified based on identification of isolates by genomic fingerprinting.E. coli O157 isolates from all positive samples were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA after digestion with XbaI. Seventy-seven individual subtypes (fingerprint patterns) grouping into 47 types were discerned among 343 isolates. Comparison of the fingerprint patterns revealed three clusters of isolates, two of which were closely related to each other. Remarkably, isolates carrying both Shiga toxin genes and nonmotile isolates largely fell into specific clusters. Within lots analyzed, 68.2% of the postharvest (carcass) isolates matched preharvest (animal) isolates. For individual carcasses, 65.3 and 66.7% of the isolates recovered postevisceration and in the cooler, respectively, matched those recovered preevisceration. Multiple isolates were analyzed from some carcass samples and were found to include strains with different genotypes. This study suggests that mostE. coli O157 carcass contamination originates from animals within the same lot and not from cross-contamination between lots. In addition, the data demonstrate that most carcass contamination occurs very early during processing.
Does colorspace transformation make any difference on skin detection?

Skin detection is an important process in many of computer vision algorithms. It usually is a process that starts at a pixel-level, and that involves a pre-process of colorspace transformation followed by a classification process. A colorspace transformation is assumed to increase separability between skin and non-skin classes, to increase similarity among different skin tones, and to bring a robust performance under varying illumination conditions, without any sound reasonings. In this work, we examine if the colorspace transformation does bring those benefits by measuring four separability measurements on a large dataset of 805 images with different skin tones and illumination. Surprising results indicate that most of the colorspace transformations do not bring the benefits which have been assumed.
Microsatellite Evidence for High Frequency of Multiple Paternity in the Marine Gastropod Rapana venosa

Background Inferring of parentage in natural populations is important in understanding the mating systems of a species, which have great effects on its genetic structure and evolution. Muricidae, a large group (approximately 1,600 species) of marine gastropods, are poorly investigated in patterns of multiple paternity and sperm competition based on molecular techniques. The veined Rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, a commercially important muricid species with internal fertilization, is an ideal species to study the occurrence and frequency of multiple paternity and to facilitate understanding of their reproductive strategies. Methodology/Principal Findings We developed five highly polymorphic microsatellites in R. venosa and applied them to identify multiple paternity in 19 broods (1381 embryos) collected from Dandong, China. Multiple paternity was detected in 17 (89.5%) of 19 broods. The number of sires per brood ranged from 1 to 7 (4.3 on average). Of the 17 multiply sired broods, 16 (94.1%) were significantly skewed from equal paternal contributions, and had a dominant sire which was also dominant in each assayed capsule. Conclusions Our results indicate that a high level of multiple paternity occurs in the wild population of R. venosa. Similar patterns of multiple paternity in the 2–6 assayed capsules from each brood imply that fertilization events within the body of a female occur mostly (but not entirely) as random draws from a “well-but-not-perfectly blended sperm pool” of her several mates. Strongly skewed distributions of fertilization success among sires also suggest that sperm competition and/or cryptic female choice might be important for post-copulatory paternity biasing in this species.
Specifying the Forecast Generating Process for Exchange Rate Survey Forecasts

This paper contributes to the literature on the modeling of survey forecasts using learning variables. We use individual industry data on yen-dollar exchange rate predictions at the two week, three month, and six month horizons supplied by the Japan Center for International Finance. Compared to earlier studies, our focus is not on testing a single type of learning model, whether univariate or mixed, but on searching over many types of learning models to determine if any are congruent. In addition to including the standard expectational variables (adaptive, extrapolative, and regressive), we also include a set of interactive variables which allow for lagged dependence of one industry’s forecast on the others. Our search produces a remarkably small number of congruent specifications-even when we allow for 1) a flexible lag specification, 2) endogenous break points and 3) an expansion of the initial list of regressors to include lagged dependent variables and use a General-to-Specific modeling strategy. We conclude that, regardless of forecasters’ ability to produce rational forecasts, they are not only “different,” but different in ways that cannot be adequately represented by learning models.
The consumption of alcohol in fourteen European countries : A comparative econometric analysis

This paper analyses time series data on alcohol consumption in 14 European countries. The study is similar to that of Selvanathan (1991), but is the rst to utilize quantity index data on the demand for alcoholic beverages. Flexible models of alcohol consumption using quantity index data and absolute alcohol in litres per adult have been speci ed to nd similarities in consumer preferences. The SURE method and Wald tests were used to test for common parameters across the countries and to obtain the corresponding restricted estimates. Comparable price indices for alcoholic beverages and total expenditure variables were constructed to capture di erences in price levels and the consumers' purchasing power between the countries. The results show that the demand for alcoholic beverages has been declining for noneconomic factors since the mid-1980s. The hypothesis of common preferences was clearly rejected by the data. However, the tests revealed that total expenditure a ects the demand for alcohol equally across the countries and that the price parameters are equal within the three groups, i.e. the monopoly countries, wine producers and the other countries with the exception of the Netherlands. The common estimate of the expenditure parameter suggests that alcoholic beverages are considered to be normal goods but not luxuries. The results indicate that the demand for alcoholic beverages is more easily controllable by excise taxes in the monopoly countries than elsewhere. In the wine-producing countries demand is relatively price-inelastic. The value of price elasticity indicates that taxes have not been set at their revenue-maximizing levels in the monopoly countries. In addition, the parameter for lagged absolute alcohol consumption, which is included to capture addictive features, is both positive and signi cant only in the monopoly countries. In the case of absolute alcohol consumption, the similarities in the parameter values were not as clear as in analysing the demand for alcoholic beverages. The data did not support the hypothesis of equal price parameters within the three groups of countries. However, restricted estimates showed that the general pattern was also repeated here. Analysis of absolute alcohol consumption revealed that the countryspeci c level parameters were the major factor in explaining the di erences among the countries. Economic variables, the price of alcohol and total expenditure played a subsidiary but important role. It would appear that harmonization of consumption levels is more easily achieved by equal price levels rather than by equal levels in real expenditure per capita.
Acquisition , Compression , and Synthesis of Bidirectional Texture Functions

Real world surfaces such as tree bark, moss, sponge, and fur often have complicated geometry that leads to effects such as self-shadowing, masking, specularity, and interreflection as the lighting or viewpoint in a scene changes. We use image based techniques to analyze and represent bidirectional texture functions, or BTFs, with correct geometric and lighting effects. A basis for the apparent BRDF of points on the surface is determined and used to compress the texture datasets, as well as provide a space for comparison of texture elements across all lights and views. The compression method reduces the approximately 10,000 images in each 6-D lighting, viewpoint, and spatial variation texture dataset to under 2 MB.
Characterization of Complement Factor H Binding to Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O:3

ABSTRACT A number of bacteria bind factor H (FH), the negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, to avoid complement-mediated killing. Here we show that a gram-negative enteric pathogen, Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3, uses two virulence-related outer membrane (OM) proteins to bind FH. With Y. enterocolitica O:3 mutant strains displaying different combinations of surface factors relevant to complement resistance, we demonstrated that the major receptor for FH is the OM protein YadA. Another OM protein, Ail, also contributes to FH binding provided that it is not blocked by distal parts of the lipopolysaccharide (i.e., the O antigen and the outer core hexasaccharide). Importantly, we demonstrated that surface-bound FH was functional; both YadA- and Ail-bound FH displayed cofactor activity for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b. With truncated recombinant FH constructs, we located the binding site of Ail specifically to short consensus repeats 6 and 7 of FH, while YadA showed a novel type of FH-binding pattern and appears to bind FH throughout the entire FH molecule. We thus conclude that Y. enterocolitica, via YadA and Ail, recruits functionally active FH to its surface. FH binding appears to be an important mechanism of the complement resistance of this pathogen.
Prediction of steel flow stresses under hot working conditions

An austenitic stainless steel was deformed in torsion over a temperature range of 900-1200 °C using strain rates of 1, 5 and 10 s-1. The stress vs. strain curves determined were corrected for deformation heating and the flow stress was found to rise in the initial work-hardening regime, reaching a maximum before dropping to the steady state due to softening brought about by dynamic recrystallization. In order to determine the onset of dynamic recrystallization, diagrams of work-hardening rate vs. applied stress were drawn up for the hardening region of the flow stress curves. The flow stress curves were modeled by adjusting an evolution equation having one internal variable that describes the plastic behavior in the work-hardening regime to the experimental data. The flow stress after the onset of dynamic recrystallization was determined by incorporating the fractional softening into the evolution equation. Describing the effects of temperature and strain rate on the evolution equation through Zener-Hollomon parameters, a database was constructed for use in computer models to predict the roll force of rolling or forging loads under hot working conditions.
Enhancing Protein Conformational Space Sampling Using Distance Profile-Guided Differential Evolution

De novo protein structure prediction aims to search for low-energy conformations as it follows the thermodynamics hypothesis that places native conformations at the global minimum of the protein energy surface. However, the native conformation is not necessarily located in the lowest-energy regions owing to the inaccuracies of the energy model. This study presents a differential evolution algorithm using distance profile-based selection strategy to sample conformations with reasonable structure effectively. In the proposed algorithm, besides energy, the residue-residue distance is considered another measure of the conformation. The average distance errors of decoys between the distance of each residue pair and the corresponding distance in the distance profiles are first calculated when the trial conformation yields a larger energy value than that of the target. Then, the distance acceptance probability of the trial conformation is designed based on distance profiles if the trial conformation obtains a lower average distance error compared with that of the target conformation. The trial conformation is accepted to the next generation in accordance with its distance acceptance probability. By using the dual constraints of energy and distance in guiding sampling, the algorithm can sample conformations with lower energies and more reasonable structures. Experimental results of 28 benchmark proteins show that the proposed algorithm can effectively predict near-native protein structures.
Co-expression of t(15;17) and t(8;21) in a Case of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Review of the Literature

Additional chromosomal abnormalities in acute myelogenous leukemia have been identified as one of the most important prognostic factors. Favorable chromosomal changes such as t(8;21), inv(16), and t(15;17) are associated with higher rates of complete remission and event-free survival. Translocation (15;17) characterizes acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (French-American-British class M3) in almost all patients. Secondary chromosomal abnormalities are also present in approximately 23%-29% of patients with newly diagnosed APL. The prognostic implications of t(8;21) and other secondary cytogenetic aberrations in APL are reviewed here. We present a 47-year-old woman diagnosed with APL whose initial cytogenetic analysis included both t(8;21) and t(15;17). The initial induction chemotherapy included 3 days of idarubicin (12 mg/m2/day) and daily all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA; 45 mg/m2/day). At the sixth week of treatment, a control bone marrow biopsy was found to be normocellular, t(15;17) bcr3 and t(8;21) were negative, and t(15;17) bcr1 fusion transcripts were reduced from 5007 (1.78525699%) copies per 1 µg RNA to 40 (0.00062020%) with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Consolidation with 4 days of idarubicin (5 mg/m2/day), ATRA (45 mg/m2/day for 15 days), and cytarabine (1 g/m2/day for 4 days) was then started. However, the patient became pancytopenic and had neutropenic fever after consolidation treatment. Unfortunately, she died 3 months after the time of APL diagnosis, due to acute respiratory distress syndrome-like respiratory problems and multiorgan dysfunction requiring respiratory support and hemodialysis. Conflict of interest:None declared.
Matrix assembly, regulation, and survival functions of laminin and its receptors in embryonic stem cell differentiation

Laminin-1 is essential for early embryonic basement membrane assembly and differentiation. Several steps can be distinguished, i.e., the expression of laminin and companion matrix components, their accumulation on the cell surface and assembly into basement membrane between endoderm and inner cell mass, and the ensuing differentiation of epiblast. In this study, we used differentiating embryoid bodies derived from mouse embryonic stem cells null for γ1-laminin, β1-integrin and α/β-dystroglycan to dissect the contributions of laminin domains and interacting receptors to this process. We found that (a) laminin enables β1-integrin–null embryoid bodies to assemble basement membrane and achieve epiblast with β1-integrin enabling expression of the laminin α1 subunit; (b) basement membrane assembly and differentiation require laminin polymerization in conjunction with cell anchorage, the latter critically dependent upon a heparin-binding locus within LG module-4; (c) dystroglycan is not uniquely required for basement membrane assembly or initial differentiation; (d) dystroglycan and integrin cooperate to sustain survival of the epiblast and regulate laminin expression; and (e) laminin, acting via β1-integrin through LG1–3 and requiring polymerization, can regulate dystroglycan expression.
Expression analysis of vernalization and day-length response genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) indicates that VRNH2 is a repressor of PPDH2 (HvFT3) under long days

The response to vernalization and the expression of genes associated with responses to vernalization (VRNH1, VRNH2, and VRNH3) and photoperiod (PPDH1 and PPDH2) were analysed in four barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines: ‘Alexis’ (spring), ‘Plaisant’ (winter), SBCC058, and SBCC106 (Spanish inbred lines), grown under conditions of vernalization and short days (VSD) or no vernalization and long days (NVLD). The four genotypes differ in VRNH1. Their growth habits and responses to vernalization correlated with the level of expression of VRNH1 and the length of intron 1. ‘Alexis’ and ‘Plaisant’ behaved as expected. SBCC058 and SBCC106 showed an intermediate growth habit and flowered relatively late in the absence of vernalization. VRNH1 expression was induced by cold for all genotypes. Under VSD, VRNH1 expression was detected in the SBCC genotypes later than in ‘Alexis’ but earlier than in ‘Plaisant’. VRNH2 was repressed under short days while VRNH1 expression increased in parallel. VRNH3 was detected only in ‘Alexis’ under NVLD, whereas it was not expressed in plants with the active allele of VRNH2 (SBCC058 and ‘Plaisant’). Under VSD, PPDH2 was expressed in ‘Alexis’, SBCC058, and SBCC106, but it was only expressed weakly in ‘Alexis’ under NVLD. Further analysis of PPDH2 expression in two barley doubled haploid populations revealed that, under long days, HvFT3 and VRNH2 expression levels were related inversely. The timing of VRNH2 expression under a long photoperiod suggests that this gene might be involved in repression of PPDH2 and, indirectly, in the regulation of flowering time through an interaction with the day-length pathway.
Inverse Conductivity Problem with One Measurement: Uniqueness of Balls in ℝ3

We prove that the location and size of an unknown ball D entering the conductivity equation $\mbox{div}((1+(k-1)\chi_D)\nabla u)=0$ in a bounded domain $\Omega\subset {\Bbb R}^3$ are uniquely determined by any single nonzero Cauchy data $(u, \pd{u}{\nu})$ on $\bO$.
Sexual Dimorphism in Developmental Programming of the Bovine Preimplantation Embryo Caused by Colony-Stimulating Factor 21

ABSTRACT Physiology of the adult can be modified by alterations in prenatal development driven by the maternal environment. Developmental programming, which can be established before the embryo implants in the uterus, can affect females differently than males. The mechanism by which sex-specific developmental programming is established is not known. Here we present evidence that maternal regulatory signals change female embryos differently than male embryos. In particular, actions of the maternally derived cytokine CSF2 from Day 5 to Day 7 of development affected characteristics of the embryo at Day 15 differently for females than males. CSF2 decreased length and IFNT secretion of female embryos but increased length and IFNT secretion of male embryos. Analysis of a limited number of samples indicated that changes in the transcriptome and methylome caused by CSF2 also differed between female and males. Thus, sex-specific programming by the maternal environment could occur when changes in secretion of maternally derived regulatory molecules alter development of female embryos differently than male embryos.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACTANT-FREE, FLUORESCENT POLY(LACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC) ACID NANOPARTICLES TARGETED TO INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE -1

Targeted drug delivery to endothelial cells lining the vasculature can improve treatment of many pathologies. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in many diseases, is a good determinant for endothelial targeting of drug nanoparticles (NPs). In this study we synthesized surfactant-free, FITC-labeled poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) NPs coated with anti-ICAM, and used fluorescence microscopy and radiotracing to study their interaction with endothelial cells in culture and in vivo. These NPs were stable in storage conditions and degraded in conditions mimicking intracellular lysosomes. Furthermore, NPs showed specific ICAM-1 binding, which was enhanced in diseased-like conditions, followed by efficient uptake and lysosomal trafficking via Title of Document: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACTANT-FREE, FLUORESCENT POLY(LACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC) ACID NANOPARTICLES TARGETED TO INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE -1 Zois Tsinas, Master of Science, 2014 Directed By: Associate Professor Silvia Muro, Fischell Department of Bioengineering & Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research the CAM-mediated pathway. Intravenous administration of NPs in mice resulted in organ-specific accumulation, most prominently the lungs. Hence, surfactant-free, FITC-labeled anti-ICAM PLGA NPs enabled the study of NP interactions with biological systems, which along with their fast degradation profile in physiologicallike conditions, will guide future therapeutic applications. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACTANT-FREE, FLUORESCENT POLY(LACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC) ACID NANOPARTICLES TARGETED TO INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE -1