Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variational Depth From Focus Reconstruction

This paper deals with the problem of reconstructing a depth map from a sequence of differently focused images, also known as depth from focus (DFF) or shape from focus. We propose to state the DFF problem as a variational problem, including a smooth but nonconvex data fidelity term and a convex nonsmooth regularization, which makes the method robust to noise and leads to more realistic depth maps. In addition, we propose to solve the nonconvex minimization problem with a linearized alternating directions method of multipliers, allowing to minimize the energy very efficiently. A numerical comparison to classical methods on simulated as well as on real data is presented.
Title Cardiac regenerative potential of cardiosphere-derived cells from adult doghearts

The regenerative potential of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) for ischaemic heart disease has been demonstrated in mice, rats, pigs and a recently completed clinical trial. The regenerative potential of CDCs from dog hearts has yet to be tested. Here, we show that canine CDCs can be produced from adult dog hearts. These cells display similar phenotypes in comparison to previously studied CDCs derived from rodents and human beings. Canine CDCs can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, conditioned media from canine CDCs promote angiogenesis but inhibit cardiomyocyte death. In a doxorubicin-induced mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), intravenous infusion of canine CDCs improves cardiac function and decreases cardiac fibrosis. Histology revealed that injected canine CDCs engraft in the mouse heart and increase capillary density. Out study demonstrates the regenerative potential of canine CDCs in a mouse model of DCM.
Wireless firmware execution control in computational RFID systems

Current Computational RFID Tags (CRFIDs) are pre-programmed with only a single firmware instance in their flash memories for runtime operation where the functionality of CRFID is pre-determined by the firmware at the time of programming. As a result, the current CRFIDs require wired interface to re-program a new firmware which strictly limits their use to easy-to-reach places. We address this issue by remotely changing the behavior of CRFIDs by switching their firmware through commercial RFID reader and the EPC protocol, without demanding any hardware upgrades to CRFID tags or modification to EPC standard. We articulate the design, implementation and evaluation of FirmSwitch - a wireless scheme that equips CRFIDs with the capability of switching their firmware during runtime. This is achieved by wirelessly passing the encoded switching parameters to CRFID tag through RFID reader which leverages the tag to switch among firmwares and execute them for intended cycles. We further employ the schemes of pre-defined EPC and pre-calculated CRC for computational liberty and energy efficiency. For concept validation, we develop a User Interface to switch between four firmwares and extensively test our scheme. The results show that FirmSwitch offers a minimal energy overhead of 11.5nJ to 2. 037μJ, and incurs a switching delay of 7.8 to 1498 μsec. As overall, our system achieves a success rate of 87% for an interrogation range of 0.5 meter.
Polygraphic studies of the effect of nitroglycerin in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Polygraphic recordings were made before and after o6 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin in 20 normal subjects and in 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease. The following effects of nitroglycerin were observed in both groups: shortening ofejection time, prolongation of pre-ejection period and also of isometric contraction time unrelated to decrease in systolic blood pressure, and increase in heart rate; in the apex cardiogram, retraction of the systolic wave and diminution in amplitude of the A wave which approached the ventricular wave; in the carotid arterial pulse, decrease in the level of the dicrotic notch, disappearance of the tidal wave, and augmentation of the dicrotic wave. When compared with the normal group, pre-ejection period and isometric contraction time were significantly more prolonged (P<o oo5) in the diseased group, the blood pressure was more reduced, and the heart rate showed a greater increase. These alterations in polygraphic parameters after nitroglycerin reflect the decrease in stroke volume and blood pressure, and therefore of cardiac work, induced by the drug.
Disgust Sensitivity, Political Conservatism, and Voting

In two large samples (combined N = 31,045), we found a positive relationship between disgust sensitivity and political conservatism. This relationship held when controlling for a number of demographic variables as well as the “Big Five” personality traits. Disgust sensitivity was also associated with more conservative voting in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In Study 2, we replicated the disgust sensitivity–conservatism relationship in an international sample of respondents from 121 different countries. Across both samples, contamination disgust, which reflects a heightened concern with interpersonally transmitted disease and pathogens, was most strongly associated with conservatism.
Quantitative subanalysis of optical coherence tomography after treatment with ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of ranibizumab on retinal morphology in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) quantitative subanalysis. METHODS Data from 95 patients receiving intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular AMD were collected. StratusOCT images were analyzed using custom software that allows precise positioning of prespecified boundaries on every B-scan. Changes in thickness/volume of the retina, subretinal fluid (SRF), subretinal tissue (SRT), and pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) at week 1 and at months 1, 3, 6, and 9 after treatment were calculated. RESULTS Total retinal volume reached its nadir at month 1, with an average reduction of 0.43 mm(3) (P < 0.001). By month 9, this initial change had been reduced to a mean reduction of 0.32 mm(3) (P = 0.0011). Total SRF volume reached its lowest level by month 1, with an average reduction of 0.24 mm(3) (P < 0.001). This reduction lessened subsequently, to 0.18 mm(3), by month 9. There was an average 0.3-mm(3) decrease in total PED volume by month 1 (P < 0.001), and this later declined further, to 0.45 mm(3), by month 9 (P = 0.0014). Total SRT volume was reduced by an average of 0.07 mm(3) at month 1 (P = 0.0159) and subsequently remained constant. CONCLUSIONS Although neurosensory retinal edema and SRF showed an early reduction to nadir after the initiation of ranibizumab therapy, the effect on the retina was attenuated over time, suggesting possible tachyphylaxis. PED volume showed a slower but progressive reduction. Manual quantitative OCT subanalysis may allow a more precise understanding of anatomic outcomes and their correlation with visual acuity.
Predicting Residential Exposure to Phthalate Plasticizer Emitted from Vinyl Flooring: Sensitivity, Uncertainty, and Implications for Biomonitoring

Background Because of the ubiquitous nature of phthalates in the environment and the potential for adverse human health effects, an urgent need exists to identify the most important sources and pathways of exposure. Objectives Using emissions of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from vinyl flooring (VF) as an illustrative example, we describe a fundamental approach that can be used to identify the important sources and pathways of exposure associated with phthalates in indoor material. Methods We used a three-compartment model to estimate the emission rate of DEHP from VF and the evolving exposures via inhalation, dermal absorption, and oral ingestion of dust in a realistic indoor setting. Results A sensitivity analysis indicates that the VF source characteristics (surface area and material-phase concentration of DEHP), as well as the external mass-transfer coefficient and ventilation rate, are important variables that influence the steady-state DEHP concentration and the resulting exposure. In addition, DEHP is sorbed by interior surfaces, and the associated surface area and surface/air partition coefficients strongly influence the time to steady state. The roughly 40-fold range in predicted exposure reveals the inherent difficulty in using biomonitoring to identify specific sources of exposure to phthalates in the general population. Conclusions The relatively simple dependence on source and chemical-specific transport parameters suggests that the mechanistic modeling approach could be extended to predict exposures arising from other sources of phthalates as well as additional sources of other semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as biocides and flame retardants. This modeling approach could also provide a relatively inexpensive way to quantify exposure to many of the SVOCs used in indoor materials and consumer products.
Two specific populations of GABAergic neurons originating from the medial and the caudal ganglionic eminences aid in proper navigation of callosal axons

The corpus callosum (CC) plays a crucial role in interhemispheric communication. It has been shown that CC formation relies on the guidepost cells located in the midline region that include glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons as well as glial cells. However, the origin of these guidepost GABAergic neurons and their precise function in callosal axon pathfinding remain to be investigated. Here, we show that two distinct GABAergic neuronal subpopulations converge toward the midline prior to the arrival of callosal axons. Using in vivo and ex vivo fate mapping we show that CC GABAergic neurons originate in the caudal and medial ganglionic eminences (CGE and MGE) but not in the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE). Time lapse imaging on organotypic slices and in vivo analyses further revealed that CC GABAergic neurons contribute to the normal navigation of callosal axons. The use of Nkx2.1 knockout (KO) mice confirmed a role of these neurons in the maintenance of proper behavior of callosal axons while growing through the CC. Indeed, using in vitro transplantation assays, we demonstrated that both MGE‐ and CGE‐derived GABAergic neurons exert an attractive activity on callosal axons. Furthermore, by combining a sensitive RT‐PCR technique with in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that CC neurons express multiple short and long range guidance cues. This study strongly suggests that MGE‐ and CGE‐derived interneurons may guide CC axons by multiple guidance mechanisms and signaling pathways. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 647–672, 2013
Adaptive interpolation algorithm for Fast and Efficient Video encoding in H.264

H.264/MPEG-4 AVC is the latest video-coding standard jointly developed by VCEG (Video Coding Experts Group of ITU-T and MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) of ISO/IEC. It uses state of the art video signals algorithms providing enhanced efficiency if compared with previous standards. A 1/4 pel displacement resolution is used in order to reduce the bitrate of the video signal in H.264. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for the reduction of the interpolation computational time. The goal is to adapt the H264 1/4 pel interpolation to the complexity of the video stream to encode, on the basis of our motion detection algorithm. The proposed solution allows decreasing the overall encoder complexity both in low and high complex sequences. This paper illustrates the integration of our motion detection algorithm in the H.264 encoder. The obtained results are compared with the jm86 standard interpolation using different quantization values.
Recent and Emerging Therapeutic Medications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Incretin-Based, Pramlintide, Colesevelam, SGLT2 Inhibitors, Tagatose, Succinobucol

Nearly 285 million people worldwide, with 10% being Americans, suffer from diabetes mellitus and its associated comorbidities. This is projected to increase by 6.5% per year, with 439 million inflicted by year 2030. Both morbidity and mortality from diabetes stem from the consequences of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Of the 285 million with diabetes, over a quarter of a million die per year from related complications, making diabetes the fifth leading cause of death in high-income countries. These startling statistics illustrate the therapeutic failure of current diabetes drugs to retard the progression of diabetes. These statistics further illustrate the continual need for further research and development of alternative drugs with novel mechanisms to slow disease progression and disease complications. The treatment algorithm updated in 2008 by American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes currently recommends the traditional medications of metformin, either as monotherapy or in combination with sulfonylurea or insulin, as the preferred choice in the tier 1 option. The algorithm only suggests addition of alternative medications such as pioglitazone and incretin-based drugs as second-line agents in the tier 2 “less well-validated” option. However, these traditional medications have not proven to delay the progressive course of diabetes as evidence of increasing need over time for multiple drug therapy to maintain sufficient glycemic control. Because current diabetes medications have limited efficacy and untoward side effects, the development of diabetes mellitus drugs with newer mechanisms of action continues. This article will review the clinical data on the newly available incretin-based drugs on the market, including glucagon-like peptide agonists and of dipeptidyl peptidase type-4 inhibitors. It will also discuss 2 unique medications: pramlintide, which is indicated for both type and type-2 diabetes, and colesevelam, which is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for both type-2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. It will further review the clinical data on the novel emerging agents of sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, tagatose, and succinobucol, all currently in phase III clinical trials. This review article can serve as an aid for clinicians to identify clinical indications in which these new agents can be applied in the treatment algorithm.
Condition Evaluation for Speculative Systems: a Streaming Time Series Case

Application systems often need to react with certain actions whenever some preset conditions are satisfied. In many cases, the evaluation of these conditions takes long time, but some prediction of the results can be obtained rather quickly. In this situation, speculation may be a good idea. That is, the system takes predictions (speculation) to prepare (such as prefetch) for the possible reaction. Obviously, the risk is the waste due to false alarms. Higher precision prediction results in less waste, but takes longer time and may reduce/eliminate the opportunity for speculation. A balance needs to be struck. A qualitydriven prediction subsystem is thus necessary, so that the “user” of the prediction subsystem can impose quality (in terms of precision and response-time) requirements. This paper focuses on such a prediciton subsystem with conditions on streaming time series. Two problems need to be solved: how to predict the precision and how to achieve the required precision in an optimized way. The paper introduces a prediction model to tackle the first problem, and presents an algorithm to attack the second. Experiments show that the prediction subsystem works well.
ANTIBODY FORMATION

In 1909, Theobald Smith (1) showed that injection of partially neutralized diphtheria toxin-antitoxin mixtures induced antitoxin formation in experimental animals, but that immunity did not result from mixtures containing a sufficient excess of antitoxin. These observations were subsequently confirmed (2-6) and have been extended to the study of additional antigens, such as tetanus toxoid (7-10), sheep red blood cells (11), poliomyelitis virus (12, 13), and bacteriophage (14, 15). In this paper, several factors affecting the capacity of passively administered antibody to suppress antibody production have been examined. I t has been shown that the degree of antibody suppression is largely determined by the intensity of the antigenic stimulation and the dissociation of the specific complex in vivo. I t has also been found that antibody injected several days after immunization can prevent a primary antibody response in guinea pigs. I t is suggested, therefore, that serum antibody may play a role in the regulation of antibody formation.
A nested phylogenetic reconstruction approach provides scalable resolution in the eukaryotic Tree Of Life

Assembling the Tree Of Life (TOL) faces the pressing challenge of incorporating a rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that different sets of genes are informative at different evolutionary scales. Here, we present a novel phylogenetic approach (Nested Phylogenetic Reconstruction) in which each tree node is optimized based on the genes shared at that taxonomic level. We apply such procedure to reconstruct a 216-species eukaryotic TOL and compare it with a standard concatenation-based approach. The resulting topology is highly accurate, and reveals general trends such as the relationship between branch lengths and genome content in eukaryotes. The approach lends itself to continuous update, and we show this by adding 29 and 173 newly-sequenced species in two consecutive steps. The proposed approach, which has been implemented in a fully-automated pipeline, enables the reconstruction and continuous update of highly-resolved phylogenies of sequenced organisms.
Analytical methods for heavy metals in herbal medicines.

INTRODUCTION It is estimated that about 70-80% of the world's population relies on non-conventional medicine, mainly of herbal origin. However, owing to the nature and sources of herbal medicines, they are sometimes contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which impose serious health risks to consumers. It is critical to analyse source materials for heavy metals in order to ensure that their concentrations meet the related standards or regulations limiting their concentrations in herbal medicines. In this review, different analytical methods for analysis of heavy metals in herbal medicines are discussed. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in analytical methods used to detect heavy metals in herbal medicines. METHODOLOGY We systematically searched and reviewed the research articles regarding analytical methods for heavy metals in herbal medicine from various databases, such as Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Gale InfoTrac, Ingenta, Ovid, ProQuest and ISI Web of Knowledge. RESULTS In this review, we discuss in detail several commonly used and sensitive analytical techniques, including atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, differential pulse polarography, neutron activation analysis and anodic stripping voltammetry. We also provide some application examples of these analytical techniques for heavy metals in herbal medicines.
Randomized loose renaming in o(log log n) time

Renaming is a classic distributed coordination task in which a set of processes must pick distinct identifiers from a small namespace. In this paper, we consider the time complexity of this problem when the namespace is linear in the number of participants, a variant known as loose renaming. We give a non-adaptive algorithm with O( log log n ) (individual) step complexity, where n is a known upper bound on contention, and an adaptive algorithm with step complexity O((log log k)2 ), where k is the actual contention in the execution. We also present a variant of the adaptive algorithm which requires O( k log log k ) total process steps. All upper bounds hold with high probability against a strong adaptive adversary. We complement the algorithms with an Ω(log log n) expected time lower bound on the complexity of randomized renaming using test-and-set operations and linear space. The result is based on a new coupling technique, and is the first to apply to non-adaptive randomized renaming. Since our algorithms use O(n) test-and-set objects, our results provide matching bounds on the cost of loose renaming in this setting.
Capillary filtration‐absorption balance reconsidered in light of dynamic extravascular factors

The evidence for the functional importance of extravascular Starling pressures now seems overwhelming, and when these terms are taken into account it is difficult to uphold the traditional conception that upstream microvascular filtration is largely matched by a sustained downstream reabsorption. Transient absorption can occur, however, during spontaneous vasomotion cycles, during sympathetic‐induced vasoconstriction and during hypovolaemic hypotension. Sustained absorption is possible in specialized tissues where the interstitium is ‘flushed’ by an independent stream (intestinal mucosa, renal cortex, lymph nodes). Both theory and experiment show, however, that absorption cannot be maintained across most low‐pressure exchange segments due to the finite permeability of microvessels to plasma protein, which leads to a rise in pericapillary interstitial oncotic pressure with time around absorbing microvascular segments. Extravascular hydraulic resistance may be a further determinant of net fluid transfer rate in situations where capillary wall resistance is low.
Virulent and Avirulent Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Which Differ in Their Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Content Induce Similar Biological Functions in Macrophages

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) from several protozoan parasites are thought to elicit a detrimental stimulation of the host innate immune system aside their main function to anchor surface proteins. Here we analyzed the GPI biosynthesis of an avirulent Toxoplasma gondii type 2 strain (PTG) by metabolic radioactive labeling. We determined the biological function of individual GPI species in the PTG strain in comparison with previously characterized GPI-anchors of a virulent strain (RH). The GPI intermediates of both strains were structurally similar, however the abundance of two of six GPI intermediates was significantly reduced in the PTG strain. The side-by-side comparison of GPI-anchor content revealed that the PTG strain had only ∼ 34% of the protein-free GPIs as well as ∼ 70% of the GPI-anchored proteins with significantly lower rates of protein N-glycosylation compared to the RH strain. All mature GPIs from both strains induced comparable secretion levels of TNF-α and IL-12p40, and initiated TLR4/MyD88-dependent NF-κBp65 activation in macrophages. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PTG and RH strains differ in their GPI biosynthesis and possess significantly different GPI-anchor content, while individual GPI species of both strains induce similar biological functions in macrophages.