Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bio-inspired sound source localization compensated for sound diffraction by binaural head and torso

The outer ears of most mammals are relatively large, transformable, and complicated in shape. In humans, the ears are located on opposite sides of the head. Although sound is diffracted by the outer ear, head, and body, sound diffraction has not been considered in previous biological neural approaches to sound source localization. In the present paper, the effect of sound diffraction on sound source localization is evaluated and a new method for compensating for sound diffraction in sound source localization is proposed in which a similar model to an owl's auditory system is applied to a binaural human head and torso.
Who is Fiddling with Prices?: Building and Deploying a Watchdog Service for E-commerce

We present the design, implementation, validation, and deployment of the Price Sheriff, a highly distributed system for detecting various types of online price discrimination in e-commerce. The Price Sheriff uses a peer-to-peer architecture, sandboxing, and secure multiparty computation to allow users to tunnel price check requests through the browsers of other peers without tainting their local or server-side browsing history and state. Having operated the Price Sheriff for several months with approximately one thousand real users, we identify several instances of cross-border price discrimination based on the country of origin. Even within national borders, we identify several retailers that return different prices for the same product to different users. We examine whether the observed differences are due to personal-data-induced discrimination or A/B testing, and conclude that it is the latter.
Monitoring the Expression Pattern of 1300 Arabidopsis Genes under Drought and Cold Stresses by Using a Full-Length cDNA Microarray

Full-length cDNAs are essential for functional analysis of plant genes. Using the biotinylated CAP trapper method, we constructed full-length Arabidopsis cDNA libraries from plants in different conditions, such as drought-treated, cold-treated, or unstressed plants, and at various developmental stages from germination to mature seed. We prepared a cDNA microarray using ∼1300 full-length Arabidopsis cDNAs to identify drought- and cold-inducible genes and target genes of DREB1A/CBF3, a transcription factor that controls stress-inducible gene expression. In total, 44 and 19 cDNAs for drought- and cold-inducible genes, respectively, were isolated, 30 and 10 of which were novel stress-inducible genes that have not been reported as drought- or cold-inducible genes previously. Twelve stress-inducible genes were identified as target stress-inducible genes of DREB1A, and six of them were novel. On the basis of RNA gel blot and microarray analyses, the six genes were identified as novel drought- and cold-inducible genes that are controlled by DREB1A. Eleven DREB1A target genes whose genomic sequences have been registered in the GenBank database contained the dehydration-responsive element (DRE) or DRE-related CCGAC core motif in their promoter regions. These results show that our full-length cDNA microarray is a useful material with which to analyze the expression pattern of Arabidopsis genes under drought and cold stresses, to identify target genes of stress-related transcription factors, and to identify potential cis-acting DNA elements by combining the expression data with the genomic sequence data.
Directed forgetting of complex pictures in an item method paradigm

An item-cued directed forgetting paradigm was used to investigate the ability to control episodic memory and selectively encode complex coloured pictures. A series of photographs was presented to 21 participants who were instructed to either remember or forget each picture after it was presented. Memory performance was later tested with a recognition task where all presented items had to be retrieved, regardless of the initial instructions. A directed forgetting effect—that is, better recognition of “to-be-remembered” than of “to-be-forgotten” pictures—was observed, although its size was smaller than previously reported for words or line drawings. The magnitude of the directed forgetting effect correlated negatively with participants’ depression and dissociation scores. The results indicate that, at least in an item method, directed forgetting occurs for complex pictures as well as words and simple line drawings. Furthermore, people with higher levels of dissociative or depressive symptoms exhibit altered memory encoding patterns.
Ready-to-Eat Cereal Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality: Prospective Analysis of 367,442 Individuals

Background: Intakes of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) have been inversely associated with risk factors of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers; however, their relations with total and cause-specific mortality remain unclear. Objective: To prospectively assess the associations of RTEC intakes with all causes and disease-specific mortality risk. Design: The study included 367,442 participants from the prospective National Institutes of Health (NIH)–AARP Diet and Health Study. Intakes of RTEC were assessed at baseline. Results: Over an average of 14 years of follow-up, 46,067 deaths were documented. Consumption of RTEC was significantly associated with reduced risk of mortality from all-cause mortality and death from CVD, diabetes, all cancer, and digestive cancer (all p for trend < 0.05). In multivariate models, compared to nonconsumers of RTEC, those in the highest intake of RTEC had a 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality and 10%–30% lower risk of disease-specific mortality. Within RTEC consumers, total fiber intakes were associated with reduced risk of mortality from all-cause mortality and deaths from CVD, all cancer, digestive cancer, and respiratory disease (all p for trend < 0.005). Conclusions: Consumption of RTEC was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality and mortality from specific diseases such as CVD, diabetes, and cancer. This association may be mediated via greater fiber intake.
Blood‐mediated scavenging of cerebrospinal fluid glutamate

The maintenance of brain extracellular glutamate (Glu) at levels below its excitotoxic threshold is performed by Glu transporters present on glia and neurons as well as on brain capillary endothelial cells which remove brain Glu into blood. The feasibility of accelerating the naturally occurring brain‐to‐blood Glu efflux was studied using paradigms based on the fate of Glu present in the cerebrospinal fluid or infused into the brain ventricles and monitored before, during, and after decreasing blood Glu levels with pyruvate and oxaloacetate, the respective Glu co‐substrates of the blood resident enzymes glutamate–pyruvate transaminase and glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase. Results from cerebroventricular perfusions with [3H]Glu, intracerebroventricular injections of [3H]Glu, and measurements of the basal CSF Glu levels point out to the same conclusion that the intravenous administration of pyruvate and oxaloacetate which decreases blood Glu levels accelerates the brain‐to‐blood Glu efflux. We conclude that the brain extracellular Glu levels can be controlled in part by the blood Glu levels. The results may provide not only a rational explanation for the inhibition of Glu release and neuroprotective effects of parentally administered pyruvate in hemorrhagic shock and forebrain ischemia but could also outline a potential strategy for the removal of excess Glu in various neurodegenerative disorders.
Fast and robust segmentation of spherical particles in volumetric data sets from brightfield microscopy

In this article we present an approach for a precise segmentation of spherical particles in transmitted light image stacks. A main goal was its fast operation and a high robustness to occlusions and agglomerations of the particles. The system is based on a voting procedure that finds the centers and radii of the particles and a subsequent precise segmentation with an active contour approach. To meet the demands of an online pollenmonitor for high speed and low memory consumption a multi-scale approach was applied. The proposed techniques successfully segmented the pollen grains in a vast amount of different air samples (about 2.7TB of raw data). The results on one of the most cluttered samples are presented in this paper.
A Neural Network to Identify Human Subjects with Electrocardiogram Signals

This paper presents a neural network developed to identify human subjects using electrocardiogram (ECG) signals collected from an "in-house" wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor. In this project, noises were first removed from the raw signals with wavelet filters. ECG cycles were then extracted from the filtered signals and decomposed into wavelet coefficient structures. These coefficient structures were used as input vectors to a 3-layer feedforward neural network that generates the identification results. In the current study, 61 datasets collected from 23 subjects were utilized to train the neural network, which thereafter was tested with 15 new datasets from 15 different subjects. All the 15 subjects in the experiment were successfully identified. The testing results demonstrate that the neural network is effective. Keywords—Coefficient structure, electrocardiogram, neural network, neural network training, wavelet decomposition
Flocks, herds, and schools: a distributed behavioral model

The aggregate motion of a flock of birds, a herd of land animals, or a school of fish is a beautiful and familiar part of the natural world. But this type of complex motion is rarely seen in computer animation. This paper explores an approach based on simulation as an alternative to scripting the paths of each bird individually. The simulated flock is an elaboration of a particle systems, with the simulated birds being the particles. The aggregate motion of the simulated flock is created by a distributed behavioral model much like that at work in a natural flock; the birds choose their own course. Each simulated bird is implemented as an independent actor that navigates according to its local perception of the dynamic environment, the laws of simulated physics that rule its motion, and a set of behaviors programmed into it by the "animator. " The aggregate motion of the simulated flock is the result of the dense interaction of the relatively simple behaviors of the individual simulated birds.
Improving web spam detection with re-extracted features

Web spam detection has become one of the top challenges for the Internet search industry. Instead of using some heuristic rules, we propose a feature re-extraction strategy to optimize the detection result. Based on the predicted spamicity obtained by the preliminary detection, through the host level web graph, three types of features are extracted. Experiments on WEBSPAM-UK2006 benchmark show that with this strategy, the performance of web spam detection can be improved evidently.
Object‐Oriented Identification of Coherent Structures in Large Eddy Simulations: Importance of Downdrafts in Stratocumulus

A novel methodology is proposed to characterize coherent structures in large eddy simulations. Based on two passive tracers emitted respectively at the surface and at cloud top, the object‐oriented framework allows individual characterization of coherent tridimensional plumes within the flow. Applying this method in a simulation of the diurnal cycle of a marine stratocumulus‐topped boundary layer shows that coherent updraft and downdraft structures contribute to most of the total transport of heat and moisture, although covering a small part of the domain volume. On average, downdrafts contribute equally compared to updrafts for moisture fluxes and more than updrafts for heat fluxes. The relative contribution of updraft and downdraft objects to heat transport exhibits a large diurnal cycle, which suggests cloud‐turbulence‐radiation interaction. Our results suggest that subgrid downdraft properties within stratocumulus‐topped boundary layers should be represented through nonlocal mass‐flux parameterization in climate models.
Greenlandic Inuit show genetic signatures of diet and climate adaptation

Greenlanders' genomes signal a fatty diet The evolutionary consequences of inhabiting a challenging environment can be seen within the genomes of Greenland Inuit. Fumagalli et al. have found signs of selection for genetic variants in fat metabolism, not just for promoting heat-producing brown fat cells but also for coping with the large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in their seafood diet (see the Perspective by Tishkoff). Genes under selection in these populations have a strong effect on height and weight of up to 2 cm and 4 kg, respectively, as well as a protective effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Science, this issue p. 1343; see also p. 1282 Inuit populations in Greenland have adapted genetically to their environment and to their high-fat diet. [Also see Perspective by Tishkoff] The indigenous people of Greenland, the Inuit, have lived for a long time in the extreme conditions of the Arctic, including low annual temperatures, and with a specialized diet rich in protein and fatty acids, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). A scan of Inuit genomes for signatures of adaptation revealed signals at several loci, with the strongest signal located in a cluster of fatty acid desaturases that determine PUFA levels. The selected alleles are associated with multiple metabolic and anthropometric phenotypes and have large effect sizes for weight and height, with the effect on height replicated in Europeans. By analyzing membrane lipids, we found that the selected alleles modulate fatty acid composition, which may affect the regulation of growth hormones. Thus, the Inuit have genetic and physiological adaptations to a diet rich in PUFAs.
New Perspectives on Rodent Models of Advanced Paternal Age: Relevance to Autism

Offspring of older fathers have an increased risk of various adverse health outcomes, including autism and schizophrenia. With respect to biological mechanisms for this association, there are many more germline cell divisions in the life history of a sperm relative to that of an oocyte. This leads to more opportunities for copy error mutations in germ cells from older fathers. Evidence also suggests that epigenetic patterning in the sperm from older men is altered. Rodent models provide an experimental platform to examine the association between paternal age and brain development. Several rodent models of advanced paternal age (APA) have been published with relevance to intermediate phenotypes related to autism. All four published APA models vary in key features creating a lack of consistency with respect to behavioral phenotypes. A consideration of common phenotypes that emerge from these APA-related mouse models may be informative in the exploration of the molecular and neurobiological correlates of APA.
Frequency and Variability of Five Non-Metric Dental Crown Traits in the Primary and Permanent Dentitions of a Racially Mixed Population from Cali, Colombia

The purpose of this study was to determinethe prevalence and variability of five non-metric dentalcrown traits (Carabelli cusp, protostylid, groove pattern,and cusps 6 and 7) in the deciduous (Um2 and Lm2)and permanent (UM1 and LM1) teeth in children inthe mixed-dentition, and to compare these frequencieswith the literature. A descriptive study was conductedto characterize the dental morphology of young subjectsin mixed dentition stages. The Arizona State UniversityDental Anthropology System (ASUDAS) and Grine,Sciulli, and Hanihara methods were used as referenceto compare the prevalence of dental traits in dentalcasts from 100 subjects from a Colombian racially mixedpopulation. The high prevalence of furrows and pits ofthe Carabelli cusp, minor expressions of the protostylid(foramen cecum), and the low frequencies of cusps 5 and6, plus the behavior of the expression of groove patterncollectively suggest that this group reflects influences byboth the Mongoloid and Caucasoid dental complexes.Correspondence of trait expression in both the primaryand permanent dentition was also demonstrated (P< 0.05). Some of the non-metric trait frequencies alsoexhibited sexual dimorphism.
CRYGD gene analysis in a family with autosomal dominant congenital cataract: evidence for molecular homogeneity and intrafamilial clinical heterogeneity in aculeiform cataract.

PURPOSE To present a previously unreported four generation affected Mexican pedigree with congenital hereditary aculeiform cataract caused by a mutation in the gammaD-crystallin (CRYGD) gene. METHODS A four generation family with 14 available members of whom 8 were affected was analyzed. Interventions included complete ophthalmological examination, cataract phenotype characterization, PCR amplification, and automated DNA sequencing of the 2 exons and exon/intron junctions of the CRYGD gene. RESULTS A heterozygous missense mutation consisting of a G to A transition at nucleotide position 411 in exon 2 that predicts an Arg to His replacement in residue 58 (R58H) of the CRYGD protein was demonstrated. Intrafamilial clinical heterogeneity was observed as one affected member exhibited a coral-like cataract. CONCLUSIONS The R58H mutation described in this Mexican family is identical to that demonstrated previously in three unrelated families with aculeiform cataract, suggesting that this type of cataract has a specific molecular basis represented by the Arg to His change at residue 58 of CRYGD. However, intrafamilial clinical heterogeneity associated with this mutation can occur as evidenced by the identification of a subject in this family exhibiting a coral-like cataract, a phenotype classically distinguished from aculeiform cataract. To our knowledge, this is the first example of phenotypic heterogeneity associated with the Arg 58 His CRYGD mutation.
A Geographical Analysis of Food Access in the Greater Hartford Area of Connecticut

Food access is an important measurement in food deserts and food insecurity research, yet it is one, which has not been defined or employed systematically in urban settings. To some authors access refers to physical distance to grocery stores, or simply the number of stores, while to others it characterizes factors such as price and quality of food sold. This ambiguity leads to contrasting delineation of food deserts, which has ramifications on estimating its effects on vulnerable populations and subsequent food policies. The main goal of this dissertation is to formulate a taxonomic index of access, which summarizes a set of multidimensional factors accessibility, availability, affordability, acceptability, and accommodation. This index is an extension of Penchansky and Thomas’ theoretical model of access and its relation to consumer satisfaction. The secondary objectives are to i) design and build a user-friendly toolbox in a popular GIS software package (ESRI’s ArcGIS) to calculate travel time by public transit time between points of interest using Google Direction API; ii) assess the vulnerability of food insecurity among low-income and ethnic minorities in the events of supermarket redlining; and iii) using survey data assess the role and needs of local grocery stores to be an alternative source of nutritious foods in place of large chain supermarkets. These objectives were tested and analyzed in the study area including the City of Hartford as well as the Greater Hartford Area of Connecticut including 29 towns. The data came from disparate sources of secondary data and a comprehensive survey of 99 grocery stores on the availability, price, and quality of items in a typical food basket. Comparing with suburban towns in Connecticut, city of Hartford had lowest scores of the comprehensive 5A-Indicator and 61% of block-groups were identified as food deserts. This is in contrast with USDA’s delineation of 33% of block-groups as food deserts. If we disaggregate the 5 dimensions, one of the major findings is the significant variability of the average availability, acceptability and accommodation, with Hartford faring much worse than that of other the towns. Compared with the large chain supermarkets located in the suburban towns, local small and medium sized grocery stores in Hartford offered lower prices of food items but these stores lacked in terms of other dimensions of access such as the acceptable quality of food and internal cleanliness and organization, and accommodative factors such as well-lit parking lot and convenient hours of operation. There is no study to our knowledge to date, which has applied such a robust model of access to identify and understand the implications of low access to nutritious and affordable food on neighborhoods and communities experiencing food insecurity. We hope this study can help influence recommendations for the Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy and promote action from other city agencies to improve food availability, quality, and stores’ internal/external appearances in Hartford.
Complex and multi-allelic copy number variation in human disease

Hundreds of copy number variants are complex and multi-allelic, in that they have many structural alleles and have rearranged multiple times in the ancestors who contributed chromosomes to current humans. Not only are the relationships of these multi-allelic CNVs (mCNVs) to phenotypes generally unknown, but many mCNVs have not yet been described at the basic levels—alleles, allele frequencies, structural features—that support genetic investigation. To date, most reported disease associations to these variants have been ascertained through candidate gene studies. However, only a few associations have reached the level of acceptance defined by durable replications in many cohorts. This likely stems from longstanding challenges in making precise molecular measurements of the alleles individuals have at these loci. However, approaches for mCNV analysis are improving quickly, and some of the unique characteristics of mCNVs may assist future association studies. Their various structural alleles are likely to have different magnitudes of effect, creating a natural allelic series of growing phenotypic impact and giving investigators a set of natural predictions and testable hypotheses about the extent to which each allele of an mCNV predisposes to a phenotype. Also, mCNVs’ low-to-modest correlation to individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may make it easier to distinguish between mCNVs and nearby SNPs as the drivers of an association signal, and perhaps, make it possible to preliminarily screen candidate loci, or the entire genome, for the many mCNV–disease relationships that remain to be discovered.
Synchronization Criteria of Chaos Systems with Time- delay Feedback Control

For the time-delay feedback control of chaos synchronization problem, an idea of Lyapunov functional with time-delay decomposition is presented. Some delay-dependent synchronization criteria are formulated in the form of matrix inequalities. The controller gain with maximum allowed timede lay can be achieved by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities (LM Is). A s imulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the design method. K eywords: synchronization, chaos system, time-delay feedback, de lay decomposition, linear matrix inequality (LM I).