Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preserving Structure in Model-Free Tracking

Model-free trackers can track arbitrary objects based on a single (bounding-box) annotation of the object. Whilst the performance of model-free trackers has recently improved significantly, simultaneously tracking multiple objects with similar appearance remains very hard. In this paper, we propose a new multi-object model-free tracker (using a tracking-by-detection framework) that resolves this problem by incorporating spatial constraints between the objects. The spatial constraints are learned along with the object detectors using an online structured SVM algorithm. The experimental evaluation of our structure-preserving object tracker (SPOT) reveals substantial performance improvements in multi-object tracking. We also show that SPOT can improve the performance of single-object trackers by simultaneously tracking different parts of the object. Moreover, we show that SPOT can be used to adapt generic, model-based object detectors during tracking to tailor them towards a specific instance of that object.
A multiscale model for glioma growth : formal diffusion limit and application to diffusion tensor imaging data

Gliomas are a class of rarely curable tumors arising from abnormal glia cells in the human brain. The understanding of glioma growth patterns is essential for both radiological therapy as well as surgical treatment. Currently, DTI is not only the preferred radiological method in glioma prognosis, but also allows to infer the white matter fibre structure of the brain in a noninvasive way. Kinetic PDE theory provides an appropriate framework to include patient specific DTI data into a class of mesoscopic transport equation models for glioma growth. The multiscale model for glioma invasion considered here is a version of the setting in [30] involving integrin binding dynamics on the subcellular (microscopic) level and accounting for individual cell behavior on the mesoscopic level. With the aid of scaling arguments corresponding macroscopic PDEs of advection-diffusion type are deduced for the evolution of tumor cell density, which is hence characterized w.r. t. the tumor diffusion tensor and the tumor drift velocity. Our microscopic model for the binding of integrins to tissue fibers leads to an additional advection term on the macroscale, which is crucial for explaining the anisotropic character of the invasion. Numerical simulations illustrate the predictions of the model w.r. t. glioma spread and highlight this relevance of receptor dynamics.
An Unusual Discontinuity in the X-Ray Surface Brightness Profile of NGC 507: Evidence of an Abundance Gradient?

We present results from a 45 ks Chandra ACIS-I observation of the nearby (z = 0.01646) NGC 507 group. The X-ray surface brightness profile of the outer region of the group is well described by an isothermal β-profile consistent with earlier ROSAT observations. We find a sharp edge or discontinuity in the radial surface brightness profile 55 kpc east and southeast of NGC 507 covering an ~125° arc. At the sharpest part of the discontinuity, the surface brightness declines by a factor of ~2 over a distance of 6.9 kpc (~15''). The inner and outer gas temperatures across the discontinuity differ by only about 0.2 keV (interior and exterior gas temperatures are 1.2 and 1.4 keV, respectively). Spectral analysis indicates that there is a gradient in the elemental abundance across the discontinuity, and comparison with the low-resolution NRAO VLA Sky Survey radio maps suggests that the discontinuity is aligned with a low surface brightness radio lobe. We conclude that the appearance of this discontinuity may be the result of two phenomena: the transonic (ℳ ~ 0.75-1) expansion/inflation of the radio lobe close to our line of sight and the transport of high-abundance material from the center of the galaxy due to this expansion.
Comparison of IoT platform architectures: A field study based on a reference architecture

The Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining increasing attention. The overall aim is to interconnect the physical with the digital world. Therefore, the physical world needs to be measured and translated into processible data. Further, data has to be translated into commands to be executed by actuators. Due to the growing awareness of IoT, the amount of offered IoT platforms rises as well. The heterogeneity of IoT platforms is the consequence of multiple different standards and approaches. This leads to problems of comprehension, which can occur during the design up to the selection of an appropriate solution. We tackle these issues by introducing an IoT reference architecture based on several state-of-the-art IoT platforms. Furthermore, the reference architecture is compared to three open-source and one proprietary IoT platform. The comparison shows that the reference architecture provides a uniform basis to understand, compare, and evaluate different IoT solutions. The considered state-of-the-art IoT platforms are OpenMTC, FIWARE, SiteWhere, and Amazon Web Services IoT.
An Introduction to the Methods of Inquiry in Social Sciences

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is an introduction to methods for conducting inquiries in social sciences. A method of inquiry is an organized and systematic scientific approaches used by scholars for controlled investigations and experiments to efficiently solve theoretical and practical problems, generating discoveries and/or science advances. The paper here presents, briefly, the development of models of inquiry in the philosophy of science. After that, it introduces general methods of inquiry (deduction, induction, abduction and hypothetical-deductive approaches) and specific models of scientific inquiry in social sciences, such as multiple working hypotheses. In general, modern scientific research is multifaceted and requires different approaches for generating new concepts, new hypothesis and theories. Different methods of inquiry directed to solve problems in science can be complementary approaches that foster knowledge creation within and between research fields. Keywords. Methods of inquiry, Philosophy of science, Models of inquiry, Scientific research, Conduct of inquiry. JEL. A20, A29, B40, B49.
Effects of in ovo injection of prebiotics and synbiotics on the productive performance and microstructural features of the superficial pectoral muscle in broiler chickens.

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 2 prebiotics and 2 synbiotics injected in ovo on productivity parameters, quality, and microstructure of the superficial pectoral muscle in 35-day-old broiler chickens. On day 12 of incubation, 9,000 eggs Ross 308 were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups treated with different bioactives in ovo injected: C, control with physiological saline; PI, with 1.760 mg inulin; PB, with 0.528 mg of commercial prebiotic Bi2tos; SI, with 1.760 mg inulin and 1,000 CFU Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis IBB SL1; SB, with 0.528 mg Bi2tos and 1,000 CFU Lactococcus lactis spp. cremoris IBB SC1. The synbiotic solution contained 20 μl bacterial suspension and 180 μl prebiotic solution. For productive parameters and further tests ten male birds for each experimental group were used. The birds were slaughtered on day 35 of age. At slaughter, samples of the left pectoral muscles were taken and preserved by freezing in liquid nitrogen. The pH and color of the meat were evaluated at 45 min and 24 h post-mortem. Water holding capacity (WHC) was measured and expressed as the percentage of free water in meat. Microscopic specimens were analysed using MultiScan software for the measurement of the percentage of oxidative and glycolytic fibres and mean diameter of the muscle fibres. In ovo injection of prebiotics Bi2tos had a positive effect on body weight. In prebiotic group (PI) a negative impact on hatchability was observed. Prebiotics and synbiotics had no influence on the yield of the carcass and pectoral muscle. Bioactive compounds had a significant effect on the quality of meat parameters such as: pH 24 h (PI and PB group), L* 45' (SI and SB group), and WHC (groups PB, SI, and SB). The analysis of the enzymatic profile showed a significant increase in the percentage of glycolytic fibres in the pectoral muscle from chicken treated with a synbiotic with the addition of inulin (group SI).
The acquisition of word order in L2 Norwegian: The case of subject and object shift

This article reports on a syntactic acceptability judgement study of 59 adult L2/Ln learners of Norwegian and a group of native controls, studying subject and object shift. These constructions involve movement of (mainly) pronominal subjects or objects across negation/adverbs. Both subject shift and object shift display considerable micro-variation in terms of syntax and information structure, dependent on factors such as nominal type (pronoun vs. full DP), function (subject vs. object), and information status (given vs. new/focused). Previous studies have shown that Norwegian children have an early preference for the unshifted position in both constructions, but that they acquire subject shift relatively early (before age 3). Object shift, on the other hand, is typically not in place until after age 6–7. Importantly, children are conservative learners, and never shift elements that should not move in the adult language. The results of the current study show that L2/Ln learners do not make all the fine distinctions that children make, in that they have a clear preference for all subjects in shifted position and all objects in unshifted position, although some distinctions fall into place with increased proficiency. Importantly, unlike children, the L2/Ln learners are not conservative learners; rather, they over-accept syntactic movement in several cases. The equivalent to this in language production would be to apply syntactic movement where it is not attested in the target language, which would be the opposite behaviour to that observed in L1 children.
The Effects of Comorbidity on the Benefits and Harms of Treatment for Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review

Background There are concerns about the potential for unintentional harms when clinical practice guidelines are applied to patients with multimorbidity. The objective was to summarize the evidence regarding the effect(s) of comorbidity on the outcomes of medication for an index chronic condition. Methods A systematic review was conducted of studies published in MEDLINE and Cochrane Trials before May 2012. The search strategy was constructed to identify articles indexed with “comorbidity” or a related term or by a given condition and one or more additional specified comorbid conditions. The search yielded 3252 articles, of which 37 passed the title/abstract screening process, and 22 were included after full-text review. An additional 23 articles were identified by screening the reference lists for included articles. Information was extracted on study design; population; therapy; comparison groups; outcome(s); main findings. Findings Indexing of articles was inconsistent, with no term for “multimorbidity,” and rare use of “comorbidity”. Only one article examined the effects of comorbidity per se, finding no benefit of tight control of DM among persons with high comorbidity, defined using a comorbidity index. The remainder examined pairs of conditions, the majority of which were post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials and which found no difference in outcomes according to whether a comorbid condition was present. Several demonstrated no difference or an increased risk of adverse outcome among persons with DM and tight control of HTN as compared to usual control. Several demonstrated lack of benefit of statins among persons with end-stage renal disease. Conclusions There is limited evidence regarding the effects of multiple comorbidities on treatment outcomes. The majority of studies demonstrated no effect of a single comorbid condition on outcomes. Additional studies examining a broad range of comorbidity are required, along with clear and consistent indexing to allow for improved synthesis of the evidence.
The Prosensory Function of Sox2 in the Chicken Inner Ear Relies on the Direct Regulation of Atoh1

The proneural gene Atoh1 is crucial for the development of inner ear hair cells and it requires the function of the transcription factor Sox2 through yet unknown mechanisms. In the present work, we used the chicken embryo and HEK293T cells to explore the regulation of Atoh1 by Sox2. The results show that hair cells derive from Sox2-positive otic progenitors and that Sox2 directly activates Atoh1 through a transcriptional activator function that requires the integrity of Sox2 DNA binding domain. Atoh1 activation depends on Sox transcription factor binding sites (SoxTFBS) present in the Atoh1 3′ enhancer where Sox2 directly binds, as shown by site directed mutagenesis and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). In the inner ear, Atoh1 enhancer activity is detected in the neurosensory domain and it depends on Sox2. Dominant negative competition (Sox2HMG-Engrailed) and mutation of the SoxTFBS abolish the reporter activity in vivo. Moreover, ChIP assay in isolated otic vesicles shows that Sox2 is bound to the Atoh1 enhancer in vivo. However, besides activating Atoh1, Sox2 also promotes the expression of Atoh1 negative regulators and the temporal profile of Atoh1 activation by Sox2 is transient suggesting that Sox2 triggers an incoherent feed-forward loop. These results provide a mechanism for the prosensory function of Sox2 in the inner ear. We suggest that sensory competence is established early in otic development through the activation of Atoh1 by Sox2, however, hair cell differentiation is prevented until later stages by the parallel activation of negative regulators of Atoh1 function.
Correlation matrix memories : improving performance for capacity and generalisation

The human brain is an extremely powerful pattern recogniser, as well as being capable of displaying amazing feats of memory. It is clear that human memory is associative; we recall information by associating items together so that one may be used to recall another. This model of memory, where items are associated as pairs rather than stored at a particular location, can be used to implement computer memories which display powerful properties such as robustness to noise, a high storage capacity and the ability to generalise. One example of such a memory is the Binary Correlation Matrix Memory (CMM), which in addition to the previously listed properties is capable of operating extremely quickly in both learning and recall, as well as being well suited for hardware implementation. These memories have been used as elements of larger pattern recognition architectures, solving problems such as object recognition, text recognition and rule chaining, with the memories being used to store rules. Clearly, the performance of the memories is a large factor in the performance of such architectures. This thesis presents a discussion of the issues involved with optimising the performance of CMMs in the context of larger architectures. Two architectures are examined in some detail, which motivates a desire to improve the storage capacity and generalisation capability of the memories. The issues surrounding the optimisation of storage capacity of CMMs are discussed, and a method for improving the capacity is presented. Additionally, while CMMs are able to generalise, this capability is often ignored. A method for producing codes suitable for storage in a CMM is presented, which provides the ability to react to previously unseen inputs. This potentially adds a powerful new capability to existing architectures.
Increase in endemic Neisseria meningitidis capsular group W sequence type 11 complex associated with severe invasive disease in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND In England and Wales, the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease has been declining for more than a decade, but meningococcal group W (MenW) cases have been increasing since 2009. METHODS Public Health England conducts enhanced national surveillance of invasive meningococcal disease in England and Wales. Detailed clinical information was obtained for all laboratory-confirmed MenW cases diagnosed during 3 epidemiologic years (2010-2011 to 2012-2013), alongside whole-genome sequencing analysis of the clinical isolates. RESULTS The year-on-year increase in invasive MenW disease across all age groups since 2009-2010 was due to rapid endemic expansion of a single clone belonging to the sequence type 11 complex (cc11). In 2013-2014, MenW was responsible for 15% of all invasive meningococcal disease. All but 1 of the recent MenW:cc11 isolates were very closely related, consistent with recent clonal expansion. Clinical follow-up of all 129 MenW cases diagnosed during 2010-2011 to 2012-2013 revealed that most patients were previously healthy (n = 105 [81%]), had not travelled abroad prior to illness and the majority presented with septicemia (n = 63 [49%]), meningitis (n = 16 [12%]) or both (n = 21 [16%]); however, one-quarter had atypical presentations including pneumonia (n = 15 [12%]), septic arthritis (n = 9 [7%]), and epiglottitis/supraglottitis (n = 5 [4%]). Forty-eight (37%) required intensive care and 15 (12%) died. There was no association between infecting strain, clinical disease, or outcome. CONCLUSIONS The recent increase in invasive MenW disease in England and Wales is due to rapid endemic expansion of a single clone belonging to cc11 and is associated with severe disease with unusual clinical presentations. This increase will require careful monitoring in the coming years.
Enhancing the Role of the Boards of Directors of State-Owned Enterprises

This Working Paper summarises the main findings of an interview exercise that was conducted with the Chairs and other key board members in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) owned by OECD member governments. The work was part of an ongoing exercise in developing OECD best practices for organising SOE boards.The interviews confirmed that reforming the functioning of SOE boards is seen as a top priority in many countries due to continued pressure to increase SOE performance. Even where SOE performance is good or equivalent to the private sector, governments seek to better performance by further adjusting governance practices. A key strategy has been to provide boards with greater powers and the autonomy to exercise their powers; enhance board composition to ensure they have the necessary skills to achieve their goals; and ensuring the independence of board members including by shielding them from political intervention.It appears that in SOE governance, the private sector usually defines the best practice standard. It is almost uniform practice for governments to seek to improve performance by emulating private sector practices. Important national differences in SOE board practices were, however, detected. One example concerns decision making rights such as, for example, the right of the board to appoint the CEO. Increasingly, what appears to distinguish best practice from less good practice, is not legal rights, but rather the manner in which the government influences the course of SOEs.The Working Paper concludes that the key success factors for the public ownership function in enhancing SOE boards include a shared vision for the governance reforms that are to be achieved; clearly communicated policies and objectives to SOEs; abstaining from ad-hoc interventions in SOEs once their objectives have been defined; well-designed training programmes for board members as well as the government ownership representatives; enhanced channels of communications between CEOs, boards and the ownership function; and increased transparency around the conduct of SOE boards, management and the government ownership function.
Codification, meritocracy and performativity: debilitating factors for black pre-service teachers

This article presents an argument and commentary about the concomitant effects of codification, meritocracy and performativity in the academic performance of a cohort of black African Foundation Phase Bachelor of Education degree students at a previously predominantly white institution of higher learning. The objective of this paper is to illustrate the point that the combination of codification, meritocracy and performativity has potentially debilitating ramifications for the performance of this cohort of pre-service teachers. In this instance, language is a codification mechanism and a means towards epistemological access. This paper posits the viewpoint that the sociocultural backgrounds of the cohort predispose them to the resultant negative effects of the combination of the three factors. The study that forms the basis of this article used the qualitative theoretical orientation of the transformative paradigm to pursue a critical emancipatory and transformative theoretical agenda. This agenda is embodied in the recommendations that are informed by an infusion of the literature, the participants’ observations, as accrued from the data, and the researcher’s reflections. The intention of this social-justice-oriented support strategy is to make an implied decolonial contribution towards counteracting and diffusing the potentially debilitating effects of the combination of codification, meritocracy and performativity.
Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement and Their Associations With Indirect Bullying, Direct Bullying, and Pro-Aggressive Bystander Behavior

This study examined the links between seven specific mechanisms of moral disengagement and indirect bullying, direct bullying, and pro-aggressive bystander behavior. In addition, the moderating role of gender on these associations was examined. Participants were 317 Swedish students in Grades 4 to 8 ( X ¯ age = 12 . 6 , SD = 1.35; 62% girls). Multivariate multiple regression analyses showed that indirect bullying was predicted by gender and victim attribution. Direct bullying was predicted by moral justification, and for girls, by victim attribution. Pro-aggressive bystander behavior was predicted by diffusion of responsibility, victim attribution, gender, and age. That is, boys and younger students were more prone to take the aggressor’s side compared with girls and older students. Furthermore, the relation between pro-aggressive bystander behavior and distortion of consequences appeared stronger in boys than in girls. These results highlight the relative importance of specific moral disengagement mechanisms and may have implications for interventions targeting bullying.