Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complementary Visual Tracking

In this paper, we propose a tracking algorithm which combines two complementary trackers together to supervise each other in dealing with different tracking problems. We design a region tracker based on high-level structure information (incremental PCA), and an object tracker based on mid-level visual cues, and adopt multi-state particle filter to integrate them into a robust tracking framework. While region tracker is more robust to scaling and in-plane rotation, object tracker is more competent in dealing with out-of-plane rotation and deformation. Experiment shows that these two tracker supervise each other against different challenges, and our Complementary Visual Tracking (CVT) framework can resist scaling, deformation, in-plane rotation and out-of-plane rotation simultaneously.
Personalized route recommendation using big trajectory data

When planning routes, drivers usually consider a multitude of different travel costs, e.g., distances, travel times, and fuel consumption. Different drivers may choose different routes between the same source and destination because they may have different driving preferences (e.g., time-efficient driving v.s. fuel-efficient driving). However, existing routing services support little in modeling multiple travel costs and personalization-they usually deliver the same routes that minimize a single travel cost (e.g., the shortest routes or the fastest routes) to all drivers. We study the problem of how to recommend personalized routes to individual drivers using big trajectory data. First, we provide techniques capable of modeling and updating different drivers' driving preferences from the drivers' trajectories while considering multiple travel costs. To recommend personalized routes, we provide techniques that enable efficient selection of a subset of trajectories from all trajectories according to a driver's preference and the source, destination, and departure time specified by the driver. Next, we provide techniques that enable the construction of a small graph with appropriate edge weights reflecting how the driver would like to use the edges based on the selected trajectories. Finally, we recommend the shortest route in the small graph as the personalized route to the driver. Empirical studies with a large, real trajectory data set from 52,211 taxis in Beijing offer insight into the design properties of the proposed techniques and suggest that they are efficient and effective.
Differences in microbial etiology between hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia: a single-center retrospective study in Guang Zhou

Purpose: Nosocomial pneumonia is a common nosocomial infection that includes hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP). It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in microbial etiology and outcomes between HAP and VAP, particularly in related risk factors of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) causing HAP and VAP. Patients and methods: This single-center retrospective, observational study included patients with HAP/VAP. Clinical and epidemiological data of nosocomial pneumonia confirmed by microbial etiology that occurred in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China, from January 2014 to December 2017 were obtained. Results: A total of 313 HAP cases and 106 VAP cases were included. The leading pathogens of HAP and VAP were similar, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens was low, and P. aeruginosa in VAP was less susceptible. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk factors associated with MDRO-HAP were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, antibiotic therapy in the preceding 90 days, and prior endotracheal tracheostomy. The risk factor of MDRO-VAP was ≥5 days of hospitalization. The 30-day mortality rates of HAP and VAP were 18.5% and 42.5%. Conclusion: The leading pathogens were similar in both HAP and VAP, and antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens was low. The risk factors associated with MDRO infection in HAP and VAP have significant variability; hence, attention should be paid to improve prognosis. VAP was associated with poorer outcomes compared with HAP.
Cardiovascular, Metabolic Effects and Dietary Composition of Ad-Libitum Paleolithic vs. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating Diets: A 4-Week Randomised Trial

(1) Background: The Paleolithic diet is popular in Australia, however, limited literature surrounds the dietary pattern. Our primary aim was to compare the Paleolithic diet with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) in terms of anthropometric, metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, with a secondary aim to examine the macro and micronutrient composition of both dietary patterns; (2) Methods: 39 healthy women (mean ± SD age 47 ± 13 years, BMI 27 ± 4 kg/m2) were randomised to either the Paleolithic (n = 22) or AGHE diet (n = 17) for four weeks. Three-day weighed food records, body composition and biochemistry data were collected pre and post intervention; (3) Results: Significantly greater weight loss occurred in the Paleolithic group (−1.99 kg, 95% CI −2.9, −1.0), p < 0.001). There were no differences in cardiovascular and metabolic markers between groups. The Paleolithic group had lower intakes of carbohydrate (−14.63% of energy (E), 95% CI −19.5, −9.7), sodium (−1055 mg/day, 95% CI −1593, −518), calcium (−292 mg/day 95% CI −486.0, −99.0) and iodine (−47.9 μg/day, 95% CI −79.2, −16.5) and higher intakes of fat (9.39% of E, 95% CI 3.7, 15.1) and β-carotene (6777 μg/day 95% CI 2144, 11410) (all p < 0.01); (4) Conclusions: The Paleolithic diet induced greater changes in body composition over the short-term intervention, however, larger studies are recommended to assess the impact of the Paleolithic vs. AGHE diets on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy populations.
Predicting students’ intention to adopt mobile learning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the ability of the integration of technology acceptance model (TAM) and theory of reasoned action (TRA) to predict and explain university students’ intention to use m-learning in schools. Design/methodology/approach In total, 487 students participated in this study. A seven-likert scale survey questionnaire which comprised of 23 items was completed by the students. Structural equation modeling was used as the statistical technique to analyze the data. Findings The study found that the resulting model was fairly able to predict and explain behavioral intention (BI) among students in Ghana. In addition, this study found that attitudes toward use and subjective norm significantly influenced students’ BI to use mobile learning. The model explained 23.0 percent of the variance in BI, 33.8 percent in perceived usefulness and 47.6 percent in attitudes toward use. Of all the three endogenous variables, attitude had the greatest effect on BI. Originality/value Although, the above-mentioned models have been adopted in many studies, few or none have combined TRA and TAM as a research framework to predict and explain students’ intention to use m-learning since m-learning is fairly new in educational environments. Therefore, a model that combines all constructs from TRA and TAM was proposed in this study to explore university students’ intention to use m-learning in schools.
Antioxidant capacities, total phenolics and flavonoids in black and yellow soybeans fermented by Bacillus subtilis: a comparative study of Thai fermented soybeans (thua nao).

B. subtilis TN51 was inoculated in cooked black and yellow soybeans, after incubating at 42oC and 4oC for 48 h, the fermented thua nao were produced. The antioxidant capacities, total pehenolics and flavonoids of the fermented black (TN-BS) and yellow (TN-YS) soybeans were then examined as compared to their cooked non-fermented (CNF) soybeans. It was found that fermentation enhanced the increase of total phenolic and flavonoid contents (except yellow soybean fermentation) as well as antioxidant activities of anti-DPPH radicals and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the soybean extracts. The extracts of CNF black soybean and TN-BS, showed higher total phenolic content, total flavonoids, anti-DPPH radicals and lipid peroxidation inhibition than those of yellow soybean extracts. While, FRAP value was found higher in the extract of TN-YS than that in TN-BS extract. Correlation studies indicated significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive correlation between the total phenolic contents and the values of FRAP in soybean extracts (r = 0.889). Whereas, the contents of total phenolics (r = -0.731) and flavonoids (r = -0.709) were negatively correlated (P ≤ 0.01) with IC50 of DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Also, a significant negative correlation (P ≤ 0.01, r = -7.39) was demonstrated between the total flavonoid contents and IC50 of lipid peroxidation inhibition. These results show that black soybean thua nao produced by powder culture B. subtilis TN51 could be used for possible commercial production of functional food to alleviate oxidative stress.
Effects of Human Oral Mucosal Tissue, Saliva, and Oral Microflora on Intraoral Metabolism and Bioactivation of Black Raspberry Anthocyanins

Our oral cancer chemoprevention trial data implied that patient-specific differences in local retention and metabolism of freeze-dried components of black raspberries (BRB) affected therapeutic responsiveness. Subsequent studies have confirmed that anthocyanins are key contributors to BRB's chemopreventive effects. Consequently, functional assays, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate levels and distribution of BRB anthocyanin-relevant metabolic enzymes in human oral tissues were conducted. Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) analyses of time course saliva samples collected following BRB rinses were conducted to assess local pharmacokinetics and compare the capacities of three different BRB rinse formulations to provide sustained intraoral levels of anthocyanins. Protein profiles showed the presence of key metabolic enzymes in all 15 oral mucosal tissues evaluated, whereas immunohistochemistry confirmed these enzymes were distributed within surface oral epithelia and terminal salivary ducts. β-Glucosidase assays confirmed that whole and microflora-reduced saliva can deglycosylate BRB anthocyanins, enabling generation of the bioactive aglycone, cyanidin. LC/MS-MS analyses showed retention of parent anthocyanins and their functional, stable metabolite, protocatechuic acid, in saliva for up to 4 hours after rinsing. Furthermore, postrinse saliva samples contained glucuronidated anthocyanin conjugates, consistent with intracellular uptake and phase II conversion of BRB anthocyanins into forms amenable to local recycling. Our data show that comparable to the small intestine, the requisite hydrolytic, phase II and efflux transporting enzymes necessary for local enteric recycling are present and functional in human oral mucosa. Notably, interpatient differences in anthocyanin bioactivation and capacities for enteric recycling would impact treatment as retention of bioactivated chemopreventives at the target site would sustain therapeutic effectiveness. Cancer Prev Res; 4(8); 1209–21. ©2011 AACR.
The Naturally Occurring Host Defense Peptide, LL-37, and Its Truncated Mimetics KE-18 and KR-12 Have Selected Biocidal and Antibiofilm Activities Against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli In vitro

Amongst the recognized classes of naturally occurring antimicrobials, human host defense peptides are an important group with an advantage (given their source) that they should be readily translatable to medicinal products. It is also plausible that truncated versions will display some of the biological activities of the parent peptide, with the benefit that they are less costly to synthesize using solid-phase chemistry. The host defense peptide, LL-37, and two truncated mimetics, KE-18 and KR-12, were tested for their inhibitory effects and antibiofilm properties against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, microorganisms commonly implicated in biofilm-related infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Using in silico prediction tools, the truncated peptides KE-18 and KR-12 were selected for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and antibiofilm testing on the basis of their favorable cationicity, hydrophobic ratio, and amphipathicity compared with the parent peptide. Two methods were analyzed for determining peptide efficacy against biofilms; a crystal violet assay and an XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] assay. The biocidal activities (measured by MIC) and antibiofilm activities (measured by a crystal violet assay) appeared to be independent. LL-37 had no biocidal action against C. albicans (MIC > 250 μg/ml) but significant effects in both biofilm-prevention and biofilm-inhibition assays. KE-18 and KR-12 yielded superior MIC values against all three microorganisms. Only KE-18 had a significant effect in the biofilm-prevention assay, which persisted even at sub-MICs. Neither of the truncated peptides were active in the biofilm-inhibition assay. KE-18 was shown to bind lipopolysaccharide as effectively as LL-37 and to bind lipoteichoic acid more effectively. None of the peptides showed hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes at the concentrations tested. KE-18 should be considered for further development as a natural peptide-derived therapeutic for prevention of multi-species biofilm-related infections such as VAP.
The Theory of Assortative Matching Based on Costly Signals

We study two-sided markets with a finite numbers of agents on each side, and with two-sided incomplete information. Agents are matched assortatively on the basis of costly signals. A main goal is to identify conditions under which the potential increase in expected output due to assortative matching (relative to random matching) is completely offset by the costs of signalling. We also study how the signalling activity and welfare on each side of the market change when we vary the number of agents and the distribution of their attributes, thereby displaying effects that are particular to small markets. Finally, we look at the continuous version of our two-sided market model and establish the connections to the finite version. Technically, the paper is based on the very elegant theory about stochastic ordering of (normalized) spacings and other linear combinations of order statistics from distributions with monotone failure rates, pioneered by R. Barlow and F. Proschan (1966, 1975) in the framework of reliability theory.
MR of the cerebral operculum: topographic identification and measurement of interopercular distances in healthy infants and children.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of axial, coronal, and sagittal MR in identification of surface landmarks of the cerebral operculum and to determine the reference values of interopercular distances of each hemisphere in healthy infants and children on MR images. METHODS Two hundred fourteen cerebral opercula of 35 healthy infants and 72 healthy children were retrospectively evaluated from 107 routine MR brain examinations. The surface landmarks of the operculum and interopercular distances of each hemisphere, which were subjectively divided into anterior interopercular distance (anterior sylvian width) and posterior interopercular distance (posterior sylvian width), were recorded from axial, coronal, and sagittal MR images, respectively. The mean value of anterior interopercular distance of each hemisphere was obtained by averaging two linear measurements of the anterior sylvian width from lateral, sagittal, and axial planes of the same side. Likewise, the posterior interopercular distance of each side of the brain was obtained from averaging of two measurements on lateral, sagittal, and coronal planes. RESULTS The landmarks of the operculum were best identified by sagittal MR, followed by axial and coronal images. The average values of left anterior interopercular distance, right anterior interopercular distance, left posterior interopercular distance, and right posterior interopercular distance in infants were 1.9 +/- 1.3, 1.6 +/- 1.1, 0.4 +/- 0.7, and 0.2 +/- 0.4 mm, and in children, 0.9 +/- 1.3, 1.0 +/- 1.4, 0.03 +/- 0.23, and 0.01 +/- 0.07 mm, respectively. Infants showed significantly wider interopercular distances than children. Left anterior interopercular distance was significantly wider than right in infants, but not in children. Male children displayed a more significant increase in anterior interopercular distance than did female children. There was no statistic difference in measurements of anterior interopercular distance and posterior interopercular distance between female and male infants. CONCLUSIONS The operculum should be evaluated with MR in three planes. Infants may show conspicuous sylvian fissures that should not exceed 4.5 mm (mean + 2 SD) anteriorly on axial and sagittal planes and 1.8 mm posteriorly on sagittal and coronal planes. Healthy children who have fully developed opercula should have an anterior interopercular distance of no more than 3.5 mm and a posterior interopercular distance of 0.5 mm.
Fundamental Limits and Practical Implementation

This chapter summarizes theoretically achievable gains and the construction of practical codes for user-cooperation. Most of these results relate to the relay channel, which is a three-terminal channel that captures the essence of usercooperation and serves as one of the primary building blocks for cooperation on a larger scale. In investigating the fundamental limits of relaying, we present information-theoretic results on the achievable throughput of relay channel in mutual-information terms. We also include results on Gaussian channels, and for the practically important case of half-duplex relaying. In the domain of relay coding, we specifically discuss pragmatic code constructions for half as well as full-duplex relaying, using LDPC codes as components.
Glycemic Control Influences Serum Angiogenin Concentrations in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Because diabetes is the most frequent factor responsible for microvascular and macrovascular disease, we investigated angiogenin serum levels within the diabetic patient group. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We investigated 49 patients who met the criteria to be in the diabetic group. Forty nondiabetic patients were included in the control group. We set A1C <7% as well-controlled diabetes. Serum angiogenin level was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS Serum angiogenin levels of poorly controlled patients with type 2 diabetes were significantly lower than those of group with well-controlled diabetes (361.23 ± 126.03 ng/ml vs. 446.37 ± 134.10 ng/ml; P = 0.001). Moreover, they were characterized by a significantly longer duration of the disease (P = 0.006), higher BMI (P = 0.0003), and higher systolic blood pressure (P = 0.01). Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL were not significantly different in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (A1C >7%) have lower angiogenin levels than patients with well-controlled diabetes.
Various penA mutations together with mtrR, porB and ponA mutations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefixime or ceftriaxone.

OBJECTIVES To examine mutations within the penA, mtrR, porB, ponA and pilQ genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to determine their contribution to cephalosporin resistance. METHODS A total of 46 N. gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefixime or ceftriaxone (MICs > or = 0.12 mg/L) and two susceptible isolates were selected. The full sequence of penA and partial sequences previously reported as hot mutation sites of the other genes were analysed. Genotyping by N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) was also performed. RESULTS A mosaic penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP 2) was found in a single isolate that exhibited the highest cefixime MIC (0.5 mg/L). The majority of the isolates with reduced susceptibility to cephalosporins contained non-mosaic PBP 2 sequences, of which PBP 2 pattern XIII was most common (28/46). All isolates with reduced susceptibility to cephalosporins also had mtrR and porB mutations. Two susceptible isolates had the PBP 2 pattern XIV and an incomplete MtrR protein, which was a new mutation. Isolates with identical PBP 2 patterns comprised multiple NG-MAST sequence types. CONCLUSIONS Reduced susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae to ceftriaxone and cefixime was associated with diverse penA mutations, particularly PBP 2 pattern XIII containing an Ala-501-->Val substitution, together with mtrR and porB mutations. The existence of only one strain having the mosaic penA sequence indicated that ceftriaxone and cefixime resistance in Korea is mostly not associated with a mosaic penA sequence. Highly heterogeneous NG-MAST sequence types excluded the clonal expansion of a particular subtype.
Memory-constrained aggregate computation over data streams

In this paper, we study the problem of efficiently computing multiple aggregation queries over a data stream. In order to share computation, prior proposals have suggested instantiating certain intermediate aggregates which are then used to generate the final answers for input queries. In this work, we make a number of important contributions aimed at improving the execution and generation of query plans containing intermediate aggregates. These include: (1) a different hashing model, which has low eviction rates, and also allows us to accurately estimate the number of evictions, (2) a comprehensive query execution cost model based on these estimates, (3) an efficient greedy heuristic for constructing good low-cost query plans, (4) provably near-optimal and optimal algorithms for allocating the available memory to aggregates in the query plan when the input data distribution is Zipf-like and Uniform, respectively, and (5) a detailed performance study with real-life IP flow data sets, which show that our multiple aggregates computation techniques consistently outperform the best-known approach.
Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in the Labor Market for Child Care Teachers

This article examines racial and ethnic discrimination in the child care teacher hiring process. We construct a unique data set that combines a résumé audit study of center-based providers with a follow-up survey of those in the original audit sample. Fictitious résumés were randomly assigned White-, Black-, and Hispanic-sounding names and submitted in response to real teacher job advertisements. The survey was then administered to capture the characteristics of children, teachers, and administrators within the center. These data reveal three key results. First, we find robust evidence of discrimination: Black and Hispanic applicants receive significantly fewer interview requests than observationally equivalent Whites. Second, our results are consistent with a model of customer discrimination: The racial and ethnic composition of the center’s customer base is correlated with the characteristics of job seekers receiving an interview. Finally, we show that states’ child care regulations mitigate the racial and ethnic gap in interview requests.