Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salient Object Detection via Recursive Sparse Representation

Object-level saliency detection is an attractive research field which is useful for many content-based computer vision and remote-sensing tasks. This paper introduces an efficient unsupervised approach to salient object detection from the perspective of recursive sparse representation. The reconstruction error determined by foreground and background dictionaries other than common local and global contrasts is used as the saliency indication, by which the shortcomings of the object integrity can be effectively improved. The proposed method consists of the following four steps: (1) regional feature extraction; (2) background and foreground dictionaries extraction according to the initial saliency map and image boundary constraints; (3) sparse representation and saliency measurement; and (4) recursive processing with a current saliency map updating the initial saliency map in step 2 and repeating step 3. This paper also presents the experimental results of the proposed method compared with seven state-of-the-art saliency detection methods using three benchmark datasets, as well as some satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle remote-sensing images, which confirmed that the proposed method was more effective than current methods and could achieve more favorable performance in the detection of multiple objects as well as maintaining the integrity of the object area.
Validating Precision Estimates in Horizontal Wind Measurements from a Doppler Lidar

Abstract. Results from a recent field campaign are used to assess the accuracy of wind speed and direction precision estimates produced by a Doppler lidar wind retrieval algorithm. The algorithm, which is based on the traditional velocity-azimuth-display (VAD) technique, estimates the wind speed and direction measurement precision using standard error propagation techniques, assuming the input data (i.e., radial velocities) to be contaminated by random, zero-mean, errors. For this study, the lidar was configured to execute an 8-beam plan-position-indicator (PPI) scan once every 12 min during the 6-week deployment period. Several wind retrieval trials were conducted using different schemes for estimating the precision in the radial velocity measurements. The resulting wind speed and direction precision estimates were compared to differences in wind speed and direction between the VAD algorithm and sonic anemometer measurements taken on a nearby 300 m tower. All trials produced qualitatively similar wind fields with negligible bias but substantially different wind speed and direction precision fields. The most accurate wind speed and direction precisions were obtained when the radial velocity precision was determined by direct calculation of radial velocity standard deviation along each pointing direction and range gate of the PPI scan. By contrast, when the instrumental measurement precision is assumed to be the only contribution to the radial velocity precision, the retrievals resulted in wind speed and direction precisions that were biased far too low and were poor indicators of data quality.
Temporal dynamics of spontaneous MEG activity in brain networks

Functional MRI (fMRI) studies have shown that low-frequency (<0.1 Hz) spontaneous fluctuations of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal during restful wakefulness are coherent within distributed large-scale cortical and subcortical networks (resting state networks, RSNs). The neuronal mechanisms underlying RSNs remain poorly understood. Here, we describe magnetoencephalographic correspondents of two well-characterized RSNs: the dorsal attention and the default mode networks. Seed-based correlation mapping was performed using time-dependent MEG power reconstructed at each voxel within the brain. The topography of RSNs computed on the basis of extended (5 min) epochs was similar to that observed with fMRI but confined to the same hemisphere as the seed region. Analyses taking into account the nonstationarity of MEG activity showed transient formation of more complete RSNs, including nodes in the contralateral hemisphere. Spectral analysis indicated that RSNs manifest in MEG as synchronous modulation of band-limited power primarily within the theta, alpha, and beta bands—that is, in frequencies slower than those associated with the local electrophysiological correlates of event-related BOLD responses.
Divalent Metal Ions in Plant Mitochondria and Their Role in Interactions with Proteins and Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage to Respiratory Function1[W][OA]

Understanding the metal ion content of plant mitochondria and metal ion interactions with the proteome are vital for insights into both normal respiratory function and the process of protein damage during oxidative stress. We have analyzed the metal content of isolated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mitochondria, revealing a 26:8:6:1 molar ratio for iron:zinc:copper:manganese and trace amounts of cobalt and molybdenum. We show that selective changes occur in mitochondrial copper and iron content following in vivo and in vitro oxidative stresses. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography charged with Cu2+, Zn2+, and Co2+ was used to identify over 100 mitochondrial proteins with metal-binding properties. There were strong correlations between the sets of immobilized metal affinity chromatography-interacting proteins, proteins predicted to contain metal-binding motifs, and protein sets known to be oxidized or degraded during abiotic stress. Mitochondrial respiratory chain pathways and matrix enzymes varied widely in their susceptibility to metal-induced loss of function, showing the selectivity of the process. A detailed study of oxidized residues and predicted metal interaction sites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme aconitase identified selective oxidation of residues in the active site and showed an approach for broader screening of functionally significant oxidation events in the mitochondrial proteome.
Evaluation of Investor Behaviour in Urban Regeneration

The financing of urban regeneration and levering of private-sector investment remains a major policy issue. This article, utilising the results of a behavioural survey, analyses the motivations of investors and their participation across a range of regeneration initiatives. The pattern of investment activity over the market cycle, reasons for holding an urban regeneration portfolio, evaluative factors and perspectives concerning the attraction of private finance into urban regeneration are considered. The findings indicate that regeneration initiatives provide a significant cushioning effect but that, in terms of holding projects in a property portfolio or evaluating schemes, market-based factors relating to return and risk are core influences.
An empirical case against the use of genetic-based learning classifier systems as forecasting devices

We adapt a genetic-based learning classifier system to a forecast evaluation exercise by making its key parameters endogenous and taking into account the need of convergence of the learning algorithm, an issue usually neglected in the literature. Doing so, we find it hard for the algorithm to beat simpler ones based on recursive regressions and on the random walk in forecasting stock returns. We then argue that our results cast doubts on the plausibility of using learning classifier systems to represent agents process of expectations formation, an approach commonly found into the agent-based computational finance literature.
Aspects of the Labour Market for New Graduates in Ireland: 1982-1997

Using a survey on the first destinations of award recipients in higher education from 1982 to 1997, the trend in first destinations and starting salaries for primary level graduates in Ireland is studied. The data show that despite large increases in supply throughout the 1980s, the average real wage received by recent graduates increased by 25 per cent over the decade. This phenomenon is explained by a combination of rising emigration and increasing demand during the period. With the onset of economic recession in 1990 and lower levels of emigration and demand, the real wage fell between 1990 and 1995. The paper finds that the increase in supply during this period was the main reason for the fall in real wages.
The effects of 8 weeks of two different training methods on on-sight lead climbing performance.

BACKGROUND Despite climbing being an increasingly popular sporting pursuit, there have been very few scientific evaluations of appropriate training methods for competitive climbers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week climbing-specific muscular hypertrophy (MH) or muscular endurance (ME) resistance training program on the on-sight lead climbing performance in a similar setting to a World Cup. METHODS Twenty-three elite male and female climbers (age: 25.5±6.7 years; height: 1.72±0.08 m; body mass: 63.4±7.7 kg; measured on-sight level: 20.8±2.0 IRCRA [International Rock Climbing Research Association]) participated in 8 weeks' worth of MH (N.=11) or ME (N.=12) training. Before the training (FT1), after 8 weeks of training (FT2), and after a 2-week tapering period (FT3), the participants climbed an on-sight lead route in a similar setting to a world cup. RESULTS Climbers were able to perform significantly more moves (P=0.019; P<0.001) and climbed significantly harder (P=0.014; P<0.001) with FT2 and FT3 versus FT1. Climbing moves per unit time increased significantly when comparing FT2 to FT1 (P=0.007) and showed a tendency to increase when comparing FT3 to FT1 (P=0.061). However, there was no interaction effect between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that climbing-specific ME, as well as MH resistance training, improved on-sight lead climbing performance in a similar setting to a world cup. For competing climbers and climbing coaches, we recommend inclusion of the same proportions of climbing-specific ME and MH resistance training in their training programs to enhance on-sight lead climbing performance.
News Startups as Agents of Innovation

For-profit digital news startups backed by large investors, venture capital, and technology entrepreneurs have taken on an increasingly significant role in the journalism industry. This article examines 10 startups by focusing on the manifestos these new organizations offer when they introduce themselves to the public. These manifestos are an example of metajournalistic discourse, or interpretive discourse about journalism, that publicly define how journalism is changing—or is not. In identifying and touting the superiority of their technological innovations, the manifestos simultaneously affirm and critique existing journalistic practices while rethinking longstanding boundaries between journalism and technology.
Intercellular gap formation induced by thrombin in confluent cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE Thrombin is formed at the site of intraocular hemorrhage and may be important in the development of progressive retinal damage. The authors observed that thrombin-treated bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell cultures develop intercellular gaps and initiated this study to examine in detail the effects of thrombin on RPE cell morphology, adhesion, and cytoskeleton. METHODS Confluent cultures of bovine RPE cells were incubated for various times (0 to 24 hours) with alpha-thrombin (0.1 to 100 U/ml) or enzymatically inactive thrombin. Intercellular gaps were quantitated by light microscopy in ten representative fields (magnification X400) as number of gaps per field (gaps/f). RPE cytoskeleton was studied using immunofluorescent staining for vinculin and F-actin. The mechanism of thrombin-induced RPE cell gap formation was studied by preincubation with specific drugs, including a protein kinase inhibitor (staurosporine), protein kinase C inhibitors (H-7 and calphostin C), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) inducer (forskolin), and cytoskeleton-disrupting agents (cytochalasin B or colchicine). RESULTS Intercellular gaps (20 to 80 microns in diameter) were markedly increased in number in thrombin-treated cultures in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner and were associated with an alteration in the distribution of F-actin and vinculin. Whereas control cultures showed 3.3 +/- 2.4 gaps/f, incubation with 8 U/ml of alpha-thrombin for 3 hours resulted in 44.8 +/- 15.3 gaps/f. These changes were most prominent shortly after the 3-hour coincubation, but the cultures did return to their original confluent state within 24 hours. Cultures treated with an enzymatically inactive thrombin showed fewer intercellular gaps than those treated with enzymatically active thrombin but had significantly more intercellular gaps than control cultures. Thrombin-induced intercellular gap formation was blocked by preincubation with forskolin (14.6 +/- 7.1 gaps/f), staurosporine (10.2 +/- 5.0 gaps/f), or H-7 (24.5 +/- 9.8 gaps/f). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to an enzymatically active thrombin results in formation of intercellular gaps between cultured RPE cells. Inhibition of this phenomenon by protein kinase inhibitors and by a cAMP inducer suggests that this effect is mediated, at least in part, through protein kinase C- and cAMP-dependent pathways. Thrombin generation associated with intraocular hemorrhage may thus result in direct damage to the RPE monolayer, possibly via the same pathway(s).
Data link control for multiple input multiple output wireless systems

This paper investigates the adaptation of data link error control protocols to be more efficient over MIMO wireless links. Data link mechanisms control, among other things, the transmission errors at the link layer, whereas MIMO is a physical layer technology that handles the wireless link with a notably high efficiency and flexibility. A new cross layer protocol is proposed in this paper in order to improve the performance of error control mechanism by making use of the multi-channel transmission characteristics. The main idea is to divide each link layer data unit (block) into sub-blocks and transmit the sub-blocks from different transmit antennas and therefore take advantage of the spatial "diversity". Besides, the division helps the receiver to recognize some error-free parts of a block; consequently new algorithms that exploit this feature are proposed and analyzed. In addition, different methods for providing higher link reliability to retransmitted data are explored.
TheConvergence of the Italian Regions and Unemployment: Theory and Evidence

We explore the links between the halt of the convergence process of Italian regions at the beginning of the 1970s and the increase in regional unemployment dispersion. We consider a neoclassical exogenous growth model with an imperfect labor market and show that during the transitional dynamics the imperfections of the labor market negatively influence the output growth rate. In particular, the model implies that centralized bargaining is likely to set a national minimum wage that is too high with respect to the labor productivity of the less developed regions, resulting in a negative impact on their per capita output growth. We test the implications of the model on a regional panel data set using the GMM framework. Both our market distortion measure and the unemployment rate are found to significantly lower the growth rate of per capita output.
Visual pain score during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy using no anaesthesia or three different types of local anaesthetic application

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the pain score during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy using three different anaesthetic applications and no anaesthesia. Material and methods. One-hundred men undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized to four groups. Group 1 (n = 25) received no anaesthesia, group 2 (n = 25) was administered a perianal lidocaine injection, group 3 (n = 25) was administered a periprostatic lidocaine injection, and group 4 (n = 25) was administered a combination of perianal–intrarectal lidocaine–prilocaine cream. The anaesthetic application was given 5 min before the procedure. All patients were asked to indicate the level of pain experienced on a visual analogue scale (VAS) during three situations, including when the TRUS probe was inserted and 15 min and 2 weeks after biopsy. Results. Mean pain scores were similar in all groups at the time of probe insertion. Mean pain scores showed statistically significant differences between group 1 and the other groups, except for group 4, 15 min after the procedure. Group 3 showed better pain control 15 min after biopsy and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.043). The VAS scores were similar 2 weeks after the procedure in all groups. Conclusions. Anaesthetic application before TRUS-guided prostate biopsy may be advocated. The application of periprostatic lidocaine seems to be the most advantageous method for lowering the perception of pain.
Refinement of Landmark Detection and Extraction of Articulator-Free Features for Knowledge-Based Speech Recognition

Refinement methods for landmark detection and extraction of articulator-free features for a knowledge-based speech recognition system are described. Sub-band energy difference profiles are used to detect landmarks, with additional parameters used to improve accuracy. For articulator-free feature extraction, duration, relative energy, and silence detection are additionally used to find [continuant] and [strident] features. Vowel, obstruent and sonorant consonant landmarks, and locations of voicing onsets and offsets are detected within a unified framework with 85% accuracy overall. Additionally, 75% and 79% of [continuant] and [strident] features, respectively, are detected from landmarks. key words: speech recognition, acoustic events, landmark detection
Beyond social capital: the role of perceived legitimacy and entrepreneurial intensity in achieving funding success and superior venture performance in women-led Russian SMEs

The growth of the number of women-led enterprises has contributed to the global economy. However, the growth has outpaced the research and understanding of which factors influence the performance and development of individual firms. Our results reveal that social capital influences entrepreneurial perceptions of legitimacy competence and financial competence success. In an indirect but important manner, social capital affects financial performance via perceptions of legitimacy. Moreover, entrepreneurs' intensity towards the business is associated with their perception of financial competence and firm performance. Results further show that perceived legitimacy plays a key role in signalling to others the credibility of the firm. The paper discusses implications for women in emerging and transitioning economies as more women seek out and leverage their own networks towards their own sustainability.
Improvement in the Magnetic Properties of Ni–Fe Thin Films on Thick Nb Electrodes Using Oxidation and Low-Energy Ar Ion Milling

We developed a method to engineer the surface topography of Nb underlayers using surface oxidation followed by low-energy Ar ion milling to improve the properties of subsequently deposited magnetic Ni<sub>80</sub>Fe <sub>20</sub> (Permalloy) thin films. They had reduced coercivity <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{c}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, increased remanent squareness, and improved magnetic anisotropy due to the reduced roughness of the Nb underlayer, especially at high spatial frequency (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$> 25\,\mu {\text{m}}^{- 1}$</tex-math></inline-formula>). Typical results for 2.4 nm thick Ni<sub>80</sub>Fe<sub>20 </sub> films deposited on 100 nm thick Nb were an easy-axis coercivity <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $H_{{\rm{ce}}}= 3.7$</tex-math></inline-formula> Oe (compared to 6 Oe without underlayer smoothing), a hard-axis <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{{\rm{ch}}}= 1.5$</tex-math></inline-formula> Oe (5.5 Oe without smoothing), an easy-axis remanent squareness (ratio of remanent and saturation magnetizations) <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Sq_{e}= 0.92$</tex-math></inline-formula>, a hard-axis remanent squareness <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Sq_{h}= 0.25$</tex-math></inline-formula>, and a uniaxial anisotropy <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{k}= 6.0$</tex-math></inline-formula> Oe, all measured at a temperature of 10 K. This ion-smoothing technique could potentially be used to improve the properties of magnetic layers in superconducting memory and other magnetoelectronic devices that utilize a thick underlayer that serves as an electrical contact.
What Goes Around Comes Around? Experimental Evidence of the Effect of Rewards on Tax Compliance

The current experimental study examined the effect of monetary rewards on tax compliance. Eighty-six participants were randomly assigned to one control and two reward conditions (low vs. high reward). Overall, tax compliance was not affected by the rewards. However, a change in compliance strategies was observed. It seems that rewards provoked an all-or-nothing behavior. Whereas in the reward conditions, participants were either completely honest or evaded all of their income, in the control condition, the amount of evasion varied more strongly. Furthermore, audited compliant taxpayers who are rewarded evaded less in the following period compared with audited compliant taxpayers who experienced no rewards.
Excess Comovement of Stock Returns: Evidence from Cross-Sectional Variation in Nikkei 225 Weights

Relative to their weights in a value-weighted index, a number of stocks in Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index are overweighted by a factor of 10 or more. I document a strong positive relation between overweighting and the comovement of a stock with other stocks in the Nikkei index, and a negative relationship between index overweighting and comovement with stocks outside of the index. The cross-sectional approach resolves endogeneity problems associated with event study demonstrations of excess comovement. A trading strategy that bets on the reversion of stock prices of overweighted stocks generates economic profits, confirming that the observed comovement patterns are excessive, and providing further evidence that comovement of stock returns can be a consequence of commonality in trading behavior.
On some computational and analytic aspects of chern-weil forms

[This thesis is divided into two parts. In the computational part, we calculate the characteristic forms of a trivial bundle equipped with a special metric. We apply this to prove a holomorphic Venice lemma. The same techniques are applied to give shorter proofs of Liu's calculation of Bando-Futaki invariants of projective hypersurfaces and Mourougane's calculation of the Bott-Chern forms of the Euler sequence of a projectivised bundle. In the analytic part, we introduce a generalised Monge-Ampere equation and treat it using the method of continuity. We also prove a local existence result for a real version of this equation.
New Evidence on the Long-Term Effects of Employment Training Programs

This research utilizes new data to track the earnings effect of the National Supported Work experiment (NSW) on the youth and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) target groups for 8 years following training. The research indicates that the NSW's effect on the AFDC recipients ranged from $375 to $525 in 1978 dollars during the years 1982-86. The sum of the estimated earnings effects for the AFDC treatments over the observed posttraining period more than offset the costs of the training program. The NSW was found to have no discernible effect on the earnings of the youth target group.