Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression-identity Fusion Network for Facial Expression Recognition

Research shows that the facial expression recognition is strongly related to the person’s identity. This paper presents an expression-identity fusion network to address the great inter-subject variations in facial expression recognition. The model is designed to jointly learn identity-related features and expression-related features via two branches with the same expression image input. A bilinear module is introduced to fuse two kinds of features and learn the relationship between them. Experimental results show that identity-related features can greatly boost the performance of facial expression recognition. Our method outperforms most of the state-of-the-art. On two popular facial expression databases (CK+ and Oulu-CASIA), our method achieves 96.02% and 85.21% recognition accuracy, respectively.
Redirected Walking in Place

This paper describes a method for allowing people to virtually move around a CAVE™ without ever having to turn to face the missing back wall. We describe the method, and report a pilot study of 28 participants, half of whom moved through the virtual world using a hand-held controller, and the other half used the new technique called 'Redirected Walking in Place' (RWP). The results show that the current instantiation of the RWP technique does not result in a lower frequency of looking towards the missing wall. However, the results also show that the sense of presence in the virtual environment is significantly and negatively correlated with the amount that the back wall is seen. There is evidence that RWP does reduce the chance of seeing the blank wall for some participants. The increased sense of presence through never having to face the blank wall, and the results of this pilot study show the RWP has promise and merits further development.
Ferrimagnetic Nanochains‐Based Mesenchymal Stem Cell Engineering for Highly Efficient Post‐Stroke Recovery

Unsatisfactory post‐stroke recovery has long been a negative factor in the prognosis of ischemic stroke due to the lack of pharmacological treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)‐based therapy has recently emerged as a promising strategy redefining stroke treatment; however, its effectiveness has been largely restricted by insufficient therapeutic gene expression and inadequate cell numbers in the ischemic cerebrum. Herein, a non‐viral and magnetic field‐independent gene transfection approach is reported, using magnetosome‐like ferrimagnetic iron oxide nanochains (MFIONs), to genetically engineer MSCs for highly efficient post‐stroke recovery. The 1D MFIONs show efficient cellular uptake by MSCs, which results in highly efficient genetic engineering of MSCs to overexpress brain‐derived neurotrophic factor for treating ischemic cerebrum. Moreover, the internalized MFIONs promote the homing of MSCs to the ischemic cerebrum by upregulating CXCR4. Consequently, a pronounced recovery from ischemic stroke is achieved using MFION‐engineered MSCs in a mouse model.
The value of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in predicting postoperative recovery in patients with cervical spondylosis myelopathy: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis was designed to elucidate whether preoperative signal intensity changes could predict the surgical outcomes of patients with cervical spondylosis myelopathy on the basis of T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images. We searched the Medline database and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for this purpose and 10 studies meeting our inclusion criteria were identified. In total, 650 cervical spondylosis myelopathy patients with (+) or without (-) intramedullary signal changes on their T2-weighted images were examined. Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were used to summarize the data. Patients with focal and faint border changes in the intramedullary signal on T2 magnetic resonance imaging had similar Japanese Orthopaedic Association recovery ratios as those with no signal changes on the magnetic resonance imaging images of the spinal cord did. The surgical outcomes were poorer in the patients with both T2 intramedullary signal changes, especially when the signal changes were multisegmental and had a well-defined border and T1 intramedullary signal changes compared with those without intramedullary signal changes. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging including T1 and T2 imaging can thus be used to predict postoperative recovery in cervical spondylosis myelopathy patients.
Anaerobic Biodegradation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Pathways and Prospects

Aromatic hydrocarbons contaminate many environments worldwide, and their removal often relies on microbial bioremediation. Whereas aerobic biodegradation has been well studied for decades, anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation is a nascent field undergoing rapid shifts in concept and scope. This review presents known metabolic pathways used by microbes to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons using various terminal electron acceptors; an outline of the few catabolic genes and enzymes currently characterized; and speculation about current and potential applications for anaerobic degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons.
Supervisor variance in psychotherapy outcome in routine practice

Abstract Objective: Although supervision has long been considered as a means for helping trainees develop competencies in their clinical work, little empirical research has been conducted examining the influence of supervision on client treatment outcomes. Specifically, one might ask whether differences in supervisors can predict/explain whether clients will make a positive or negative change through psychotherapy. Method: In this naturalistic study, we used a large (6521 clients seen by 175 trainee therapists who were supervised by 23 supervisors) 5-year archival data-set of psychotherapy outcomes from a private nonprofit mental health center to test whether client treatment outcomes (as measured by the OQ-45.2) differed depending on who was providing the supervision. Hierarchical linear modeling was used with clients (Level 1) nested within therapists (Level 2) who were nested within supervisors (Level 3). Results: In the main analysis, supervisors explained less than 1% of the variance in client psychotherapy outcomes. Conclusions: Possible reasons for the lack of variability between supervisors are discussed.
Rapid Coding of Scene Features via Ensemble Statistical Processing

Ensemble perception utilizes patterns in our visual field to quickly and accurately process summary statistics for multiple types of information. Typically investigated used object and face ensembles, no known experiment has addressed the statistical coding of scene ensembles, despite a neuroanatomical link between scene and ensemble perception (Cant & Xu, 2012). For this study, spatially derived scene ensembles were examined, and average scene features of content (measured by levels of perceived naturalness and manufacturedness) and spatial boundary (measured by how open or closed the scene ensemble appears) were rated. It was found that: a) average ratings given for a scene ensemble will be correlated with the average of the ratings given for the individual scenes comprising the ensemble, and b) scene ensemble ratings can occur both rapidly and accurately in a fraction of a second.
The Causal Effect of Vitamin D Binding Protein (DBP) Levels on Calcemic and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study

In this study, Richards and colleagues undertook a Mendelian randomization study to determine whether vitamin D binding protein (DBP) levels have a causal effect on common calcemic and cardiometabolic diseases. They concluded that DBP has no demonstrable causal effect on any of the diseases or traits investigated here, except Vit D levels. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Increase in Th17-associated CCL20 and decrease in Th2-associated CCL22 plasma chemokines in active ANCA-associated vasculitis

Deviations in T helper (Th) subpopulations, including expansion of Th17 (1, 2), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) (ANCA-associated vasculitis). Th-associated cytokines occur at low concentrations in plasma whereas chemokine responses are commonly 10to 50-fold more intense than those of cytokines (3). Moreover, chemokines are strongly linked
Segmentation of Tuberculosis Bacilli Using Watershed Transformation and Fuzzy C-Means

The easily transmitted Tuberculosis (TB) disease is attributed to the fact that Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria/viruses can be transmitted through the air. One of the methods to screen the TB disease is by reading sputum slides. Sputum slides are colored sputum samples of TB patients placed on microscopic slides. However, TB disease microscopic analysis has some limitations since it requires high accuracy reading and well-trained health personnel to avoid errors in the process of interpretation. Furthermore, the number of TB patients in the Primary Health Care (PHC) and the process of manual calculation of bacteria in a field of view often complicate the decision-making in the screening process conducted by the medical staffs. In this paper, the researchers propose the use of Watershed Transformation and Fuzzy C-Means combination to help solve the problem. The researchers collect the photo shooting of three PHC in Indonesia with 55 images of sputum from different TB patients. The assessed results of the proposed method are compared with the opinions of three Microbiology doctors. The comparison shows Cohen’s Kappa Coefficient value of 0.838. It suggests that the proposed method can detect Acid Resistant Bacteria (ARB) although it needs some improvement to achieve higher accuracy.
The role of calcium in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mating reaction

The mating reaction of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii entails a rapid series of cell-cell interactions leading to cell fusion. We have demonstrated (Pasquale, S. M., and U. Goodenough. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 105:2279-2293) that cAMP plays a key role in this process: gametic flagellar adhesion elicits a sharp increase in intracellular cAMP, and presentation of dibutyryl-cAMP to unmated gametes elicits all known mating responses. The present study evaluates the role of Ca2+ in this system. We document that the mating-induced increase in cAMP, and hence the mating responses themselves, are blocked by a variety of drugs known to interfere with Ca(2+)-sensitive processes. These data suggest that Ca(2+)-mediated events may couple adhesion to the generation of cAMP. Such events, however, appear to be localized to the flagellar membrane; we find no evidence for the mating-related increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ that has been postulated by others. Indeed, by monitoring the length of the Ca(2+)-sensitive centrin-containing nucleus-basal body connector, we show that cytosolic free Ca2+ levels, if anything, decrease in response to cAMP signaling. We confirm a previous report that Ca2+ levels increase in the mating medium, but document that this represents a response to augmented cAMP levels and not a prelude. Finally, we show that IP3 levels remain constant throughout the mating reaction. These results are discussed in terms of the various signal transduction systems that have now been identified in Chlamydomonas.
Pesticide in the Mississippi River floodplain and its possible linkage to colon cancer risk in the US

Abstract Result of this study shows that elevated colorectal cancer risk in Mississippi River floodplain of the United States is likely linked to historically high pesticide application. Mississippi River basin produces about 80% of major US crops and has about two-thirds of US pesticides used for agriculture. Historically, heavy pesticide application and agricultural irrigation were reported to result in high pesticide residues in surface water, fish and wells of Mississippi embayment. Risk ratio of colorectal cancer incidence in 86 counties of Mississippi River floodplain was about 29% higher than that of other counties in the 48 contiguous states. Risk ratio of colon cancer mortality in 63 counties of Mississippi embayment was 33% higher than that of other counties in the 48 states between 1999 and 2016. Risk ratios of colorectal cancer incidence and colon cancer mortality in Mississippi River floodplain are higher after smoking and diabetes factors were filtered off. Previous studies have linked exposure to pesticide with type-II diabetes and the latter was linked to increasing colon cancer risk by about 27%. Result here suggests that pesticide may be an independent risk factor directly associated with elevated colon cancer risk in Mississippi River floodplain.
Non-equilibrium quantum dynamics of condensed matter models.

In this dissertation, we studied the generation of squeezed states induced by a timedependent interaction and the influence of temperature on the strength of the squeezing in a condensed matter model. The model studied comprised two quantum harmonic oscillators, with a time-dependent, non-linear coupling between them. The influence of the thermal bath on the non-equilibrium dynamics of the model was represented in terms of non-Hamiltonian thermostats and a collection of independent harmonic oscillators with Ohmic spectral density. The equations of motion were studied in the Wigner representation, which introduces a phase space description for the model. The representation of the system in quantum phase space allowed us to investigate the difference between purely classical evolution and the relative importance of quantum corrections with respect to the dynamics. The dynamics was studied by means of computer simulation techniques. The numerical simulation of the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of both time-dependent and non-linear interactions allowed us to investigate conditions beyond those in recent literature [1, 2].
Diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides ATCC 17023 blocks induction of cachectin in macrophages by lipopolysaccharide

Purified diphosphoryl lipid A (DPLA) obtained from the nontoxic lipopolysaccharide of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides ATCC 17023 was shown to block the induction of cachectin (tumor necrosis factor) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line by toxic deep-rough-chemotype lipopolysaccharide (ReLPS) of Escherichia coli in a concentration-dependent manner. The ReLPS-to-DPLA mass ratios of 1:10 and 1:100 (when 1.0 ng of ReLPS per ml was used) gave 55 and 95% inhibitions, respectively, of the induction of cachectin. Since the structure of the DPLA from R. sphaeroides is so similar to that of the lipid A moiety of the toxic ReLPS from E. coli, we suggest that this inhibition could have been due to competitive binding by DPLA to the active sites on the macrophage. This DPLA could become a useful reagent to study the nature of lipopolysaccharide/lipid A binding in macrophages and perhaps other responding cells.
Every Filter Extracts A Specific Texture In Convolutional Neural Networks

Many works have concentrated on visualizing and understanding the inner mechanism of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) by generating images that activate some specific neurons, which is called deep visualization. However, it is still unclear what the filters extract from images intuitively. In this paper, we propose a modified code inversion algorithm, called feature map inversion, to understand the function of filter of interest in CNNs. We reveal that every filter extracts a specific texture. The texture from higher layer contains more colours and more intricate structures. We also demonstrate that style of images could be a combination of these texture primitives. Two methods are proposed to reallocate energy distribution of feature maps randomly and purposefully. Then, we inverse the modified code and generate images of diverse styles. With these results, we provide an explanation about why Gram matrix of feature maps \cite{Gatys_2016_CVPR} could represent image style.
Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Sense of Control

Being discriminated against is an unpleasant and stressful experience, and its connection to reduced psychological well-being is well-documented. The present study hypothesized that a sense of control would serve as both mediator and moderator in the dynamics of perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. In addition, variations by age, gender, and race in the effects of perceived discrimination were explored. Data from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) survey (N = 1,554; age range = 45 to 74) provided supportive evidence for the hypotheses. The relationships between perceived discrimination and positive and negative affect were reduced when sense of control was controlled, demonstrating the role of sense of control as a mediator. The moderating role of sense of control was also supported, but only in the analysis for negative affect: the combination of a discriminatory experience and low sense of control markedly increased negative affect. In addition, age and gender variations were observed: the negative impact of perceived discrimination on psychological well-being was more pronounced among younger adults and females compared to their counterparts. The findings elucidated the mechanisms by which perceived discrimination manifested its psychological outcomes, and suggest ways to reduce adverse consequences associated with discriminatory experiences.
Postembryonic growth of the optic tectum in goldfish. II. Modulation of cell proliferation by retinal fiber input

The proliferation of cells in the germinal zone of the optic tectum of adult goldfish was studied following unilateral optic nerve crush or removal of one eye. Dividing germinal cells were labeled with [3H]thymidine, which was injected at various times (0 to 30 days) following surgery; fish were sacrificed after short (48 hr) survival times. The numbers of labeled nuclei in the tectal germinal zones were compared on the two sides (intact and denervated). We show that permanent removal of optic input (by enucleation) resulted in a sustained depression of [3H]thymidine incorporation in the tectal germinal zone on the denervated compared to the intact side. Temporary denervation (by optic nerve crush) initially had a similar effect; however, upon reinnervation of the tectum by regenerating optic fibers, proliferation was enhanced on the experimental side compared to the intact side. Because cells in the germinal zone are known to produce new tectal cells, neurons as well as glia, in the normal growing adult brain (Raymond, P. A. and S. S. Easter, Jr. (1983) J. Neurosci. 3: 1077–1091), some of the proliferating cells may have been generating neurons. This inference is supported by the observation that in two fish whose right eye had been removed more than 2 years earlier, there were fewer neurons in the denervated tectum than in the intact tectum. Thus, it is likely that the observed decrease in incorporation of [3H]thymidine by cells in the germinal zone of the denervated optic tectum resulted in a slower rate of addition of new tectal cells on the affected side. We conclude that cytogenesis in the germinal zone of the growing optic tectum of adult goldfish is regulated by optic fiber input. This mechanism may be important in matching the rates of growth of retina and tectum in the normal brain of the growing adult fish.
Title Exploring Total Power Saving from High Temperature of Server Operations Permalink

The inlet air temperature of a data center is directly related to the efficiency of the cooling system. If the temperature can be raised without significant negative impacts on the power consumption and lifetime reliability of the IT equipments, the data center cooling can be more efficient and the cost of operation can be reduced. In this work, we analyze the power overhead and reliability loss of a server system by raising its operating temperature. By making changes to the processor implementation, our simulation results show that the total power consumption of data center can be reduced by 10% to 30% with 10◦C to 15◦C increase in inlet air temperature, while achieving the same reliability and performance goals.
Coupled Generative Adversarial Nets

We propose the coupled generative adversarial nets (CoGAN) framework for generating pairs of corresponding images in two diﬀerent domains. The framework consists of a pair of generative adversarial nets, each responsible for generating images in one domain. We show that by enforcing a simple weight-sharing constraint, the CoGAN learns to generate pairs of corresponding images without existence of any pairs of corresponding images in the two domains in the training set. In other words, the CoGAN learns a joint distribution of images in the two domains from images drawn separately from the marginal distributions of the individual domains. This is in contrast to the existing multi-modal generative models, which require corresponding images for training. We apply the CoGAN to several pair image generation tasks. For each task, the GoGAN learns to generate convincing pairs of corresponding images. We further demonstrate the applications of the CoGAN framework for the domain adaptation and cross-domain image generation tasks
The Relationship between Thermoregulation and REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease

Background This study explored the relationship between symptoms of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, thermoregulation and sleep in Parkinson’s Disease. Methods The study group comprised 12 patients with Parkinson’s Disease and 11 healthy age-matched controls. We investigated markers of thermoregulation (core-body temperature profile), circadian rhythm (locomotor actigraphy) and sleep (polysomnography). Results The mesor (the mean value around which the core temperature rhythm oscillates) of the core-body temperature in patients with Parkinson’s Disease was significantly lower than that of controls. In addition, the nocturnal fall in CBT (the difference between the mesor and the nadir temperature) was also significantly reduced in PD patients relative to controls. Furthermore, in patients the reduction in the amplitude of their core-body temperature profile was strongly correlated with the severity of self-reported rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder symptom, reduction in the percentage of REM sleep and prolonged sleep latency. By contrast, these disturbances of thermoregulation and sleep architecture were not found in controls and were not related to other markers of circadian rhythm or times of sleep onset and offset. Conclusions These findings suggest that the brainstem pathology associated with disruption of thermoregulation in Parkinson’s disease may also contribute to rapid eye movement sleep behavioural disorder. It is possible that detailed analysis of the core-body temperature profile in at risk populations such as those patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder might help identify those who are at high risk of transitioning to Parkinson’s Disease.