Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rule of thumb: Deep derotation for improved fingertip detection

We investigate a novel global orientation regression approach for articulated objects using a deep convolutional neural network. This is integrated with an in-plane image derotation scheme, DeROT, to tackle the problem of per-frame fingertip detection in depth images. The method reduces the complexity of learning in the space of articulated poses which is demonstrated by using two distinct state-of-the-art learning based hand pose estimation methods applied to fingertip detection. Significant classification improvements are shown over the baseline implementation. Our framework involves no tracking, kinematic constraints or explicit prior model of the articulated object in hand. To support our approach we also describe a new pipeline for high accuracy magnetic annotation and labeling of objects imaged by a depth camera.
Quantifying the impact of urban area expansion on groundwater recharge and surface runoff

ABSTRACT In this surface water modelling study, a new spatial evaluation for assessing the impact of urbanization was applied for the semi-arid watersheds intersecting with the Gaza coastal aquifer. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated in a semi-automated approach for streamflow in the main watersheds. The results show that the model could simulate water budget components adequately within the complex semi-arid watersheds. Linear relationships between the change in urban area and the corresponding change in surface runoff or percolation were concluded for the urbanized sub-basins. The urban-surface runoff index (USI) and the urban-percolation index (UPI) were developed to represent a micro-level evaluation of different urban change scenarios in the sub-basins. The global urban-surface runoff index (GUSI) and the global urban-percolation index (GUPI) were derived as macro-level factors reflecting the influence on the overall Gaza coastal aquifer due to urban area expansion. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor E. Rozos
Paleozoic ophiolites and blueschists in Japan and Russian Primorye in the tectonic framework of East Asia: A synthesis

Abstract Ophiolites and high‐pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks are studied to test continuation of Paleozoic and early Mesozoic geological units from Japan to Primorye over the Japan Sea. The early Paleozoic ophiolites are present on both sides, and the late Paleozoic ophiolite of south‐western Japan may also have its counterpart in Primorye. The Shaiginskiy HP schist and the associated Avdakimov gneiss in Primorye, both tectonically underlying the early Paleozoic ophiolitic complex, yield a 250‐Ma phengite and hornblende K–Ar age, which is intermediate between those of the Renge (280–330 Ma) and Suo (170–220 Ma) blueschists in south‐western Japan. This age also coincides with that of the coesite‐bearing eclogites in the Sulu–Dabie suture in China and several medium‐pressure metamorphic rocks in East Asia. On the basis of these results and other geological data, the authors propose the ‘Yaeyama promontory’ model for an eastward extension of the Sulu–Dabie suture. The collision suture warps southward into the Yellow Sea and detours around Korea, turns to the north at Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Archipelago of Ryukyu, where it changes into a subduction zone and further continues toward south‐western Japan and Primorye. Most ophiolites from this area represent crust–mantle fragments of an island arc–back‐arc basin system, and the repeated formation of ophiolite–blueschist associations may be due to the repetition of the Mariana‐type non‐accreting subduction and Nankai‐type accreting subduction.
Characteristics of neuro‐effector transmission in the smooth muscle layer of dog bronchiole and modifications by autacoids.

Electrical and mechanical properties of smooth muscle cells and of neuro‐effector transmission in the smooth muscle layer of the dog bronchiole (about 1 mm in diameter) were studied with double‐sucrose‐gap, micro‐electrode or tension recording methods. Electrical field stimulation of short duration (50 microseconds) applied to the whole tissue excited the intrinsic nerves, and evoked excitatory junction potentials (e.j.p.s) followed by a twitch‐like tension; these were abolished by tetrodotoxin (10(‐7) M) or by atropine (10(‐6) M). 5‐Hydroxytryptamine (10(‐5) M) produced a tonic contracture of the bronchiole, and electrical field stimulation applied during the tonic contracture produced an initial phasic contraction and a subsequent relaxation. Atropine (10(‐6) M) and propranolol (10(‐6) M) selectively abolished the phasic contraction and relaxation, respectively, indicating that dog bronchiolar muscles are innervated by excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory adrenergic nerve fibres. E.j.p.s and twitch contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation at 3 min intervals showed a gradual reduction in amplitude during superfusion with normal Krebs solution, and this reduction was overcome by pre‐treatment with indomethacin (10(‐5) M). The mean value of the resting membrane potential of the bronchiole smooth muscle cells was ‐70.2 +/‐ 2.2 mV (+/‐ S.D., n = 150), and an action potential was superimposed on e.j.p.s in 50% of the muscle cells examined when the amplitude of e.j.p.s exceeded 35 mV. During repetitive field stimulation at 0.1‐0.2 Hz, the amplitude of the e.j.p.s gradually increased (facilitation); this phenomenon was markedly enhanced by indomethacin (10(‐5) M) and was depressed by exogenously applied prostaglandins in low concentrations (10(‐11)‐10(‐8) M). Histamine (5 X 10(‐8)‐5 X 10(‐7) M) enhanced the amplitude of e.j.p.s and twitch contraction evoked by field stimulation, and this effect was antagonized by mepyramine (10(‐7) M). Histamine (10(‐7) M) enhanced the amplitude of the ACh‐induced contraction when a relatively low concentration (10(‐7) M) of ACh was applied, but not when concentrations of 10(‐6) M‐ or 10(‐5) M‐ACh were applied. Histamine had no effects on the facilitation of e.j.p. Bronchiolar smooth muscle cells therefore showed larger resting potentials and a greater tendency to fire action potentials than trachealis muscle, and prostaglandins and histamine are involved in inhibitory and accelerative mechanisms related to excitatory neuro‐effector transmission, respectively.
Pupil dilation deconvolution reveals the dynamics of attention at high temporal resolution

The size of the human pupil increases as a function of mental effort. However, this response is slow, and therefore its use is thought to be limited to measurements of slow tasks or tasks in which meaningful events are temporally well separated. Here we show that high-temporal-resolution tracking of attention and cognitive processes can be obtained from the slow pupillary response. Using automated dilation deconvolution, we isolated and tracked the dynamics of attention in a fast-paced temporal attention task, allowing us to uncover the amount of mental activity that is critical for conscious perception of relevant stimuli. We thus found evidence for specific temporal expectancy effects in attention that have eluded detection using neuroimaging methods such as EEG. Combining this approach with other neuroimaging techniques can open many research opportunities to study the temporal dynamics of the mind’s inner eye in great detail.
Non-Gaussianity of Low Frequency Heart Rate Variability and Sympathetic Activation: Lack of Increases in Multiple System Atrophy and Parkinson Disease

The correlates of indices of long-term ambulatory heart rate variability (HRV) of the autonomic nervous system have not been completely understood. In this study, we evaluated conventional HRV indices, obtained from the daytime (12:00–18:00) Holter recording, and a recently proposed non-Gaussianity index (λ; Kiyono et al., 2008) in 12 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and 10 patients with Parkinson disease (PD), known to have varying degrees of cardiac vagal and sympathetic dysfunction. Compared with the age-matched healthy control group, the MSA patients showed significantly decreased HRV, most probably reflecting impaired vagal heart rate control, but the PD patients did not show such reduced variability. In both MSA and PD patients, the low-to-high frequency (LF/HF) ratio and the short-term fractal exponent α1, suggested to reflect the sympathovagal balance, were significantly decreased, as observed in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with sympathetic overdrive. In contrast, the analysis of the non-Gaussianity index λ showed that a marked increase in intermittent and non-Gaussian HRV observed in the CHF patients was not observed in the MSA and PD patients with sympathetic dysfunction. These findings provide additional evidence for the relation between the non-Gaussian intermittency of HRV and increased sympathetic activity.
Patient and surgeon views on maximum acceptable waiting times for joint replacement.

OBJECTIVE To assess patient and surgeon views on maximum acceptable waiting times (MAWT) for hip and knee replacement, their determinants and their relationship to levels of urgency based on the Western Canada Waiting List Priority Criteria Score (PCS). METHODS At the decision date for surgery, orthopaedic surgeons assessed consecutive patients with the PCS and MAWT. Patients were surveyed 3-12 months post-surgery for MAWT and potential determinants. RESULTS The patient sample of 208 was 56% female, mean age 69 years (SD 11). Mean MAWT for patients was 18 weeks (SD 11) and for surgeons, 17 weeks (SD 11). Median MAWT for three levels of urgency (PCS) ranged from 13-17 weeks (patients) and 9-26 weeks (surgeons). Patient MAWT was unrelated to the surgeon-rated measures: MAWT (r=.05) and the PCS (r=-.10). Multiple regression analysis showed that males, knee vs. hip replacement, a longer waiting time and a perception of fairness in regard to waiting time were significant predictors of longer patient MAWT. Knee replacement, a better ability to walk without significant pain and less potential for progression of the disease were significant predictors of longer surgeon MAWT. CONCLUSIONS Patient and surgeon perspectives on MAWT are important to the development of waiting time benchmarks. Benchmarks based on levels of urgency ensure a more transparent and fair process for waiting time management. Knowledge of determinants of MAWT should inform better management of waiting time and access, by understanding the basis of patient and physician views on acceptable waiting times.
MiR-30a-5p Suppresses Tumor Metastasis of Human Colorectal Cancer by Targeting ITGB3

Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in a wide range of malignant diseases, confirming their crucial role in tumor metastasis. MiRNA-30a-5p, a member of the miR-30 family, has been implicated in many types of cancers, including colorectal cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide. Methods: qRT-PCR, Western blot, Transwell assay,luciferase reporter assay were performed in the present study. Results: In this study, miR-30a-5p was found to be significantly downregulated in human colorectal cancer tissue specimens and cell lines compared with non-cancerous tissues and cells. The overexpression of miR-30a-5p inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of colorectal cancer cells and suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a crucial process in metastasis. Bioinformatic algorithms and luciferase reporter assays revealed that integrin β3 (ITGB3) is a direct target of miR-30a-5p. Importantly, overexpression of ITGB3 in colorectal cancer cells rescued these cells from miR-30a-5p-mediated suppression of metastasis and restored the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conclusion: Taken together, our study provides the first evidence that miR-30a-5p suppresses colon cancer metastasis through the inhibition of ITGB3. Thus, targeting miR-30a-5p might serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Comparisons between POLDER 2 and MODIS/Terra aerosol retrievals over ocean

[1] This paper presents a comparison between simultaneous radiance measurements and aerosol retrievals of POLDER 2/ADEOS 2 and MODIS/Terra, two instruments devoted to monitor the Earth and its atmosphere from space. This study focuses on aerosol remote sensing over ocean. Geophysical results from both inversions are compared. MODIS and POLDER total radiance (and also polarized radiance for POLDER) measurements are compared with radiance simulations based on POLDER and MODIS inversed aerosol products (cross-simulations). Such comparisons emphasize advantages of each instrument and its inversion process. Both instruments generally agree on aerosol retrievals except when POLDER detects nonspherical particles within the coarse mode, which is not possible for MODIS. Combining measurements provided by POLDER 2 and MODIS, the spectral variation of optical properties of nonspherical aerosols can be derived. In order to retrieve more accurately aerosol optical properties, combining directional and polarized information from POLDER 2 with simultaneous MODIS spectral data is needed. The results of this study will guide us in the realization of a coupled inversion scheme.
Probable secondary transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli between people living with and without pets

Companion animals are considered as one of the reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant (AR) bacteria that can be cross-transmitted to humans. However, limited information is available on the possibility of AR bacteria originating from companion animals being transmitted secondarily from owners to non-owners sharing the same space. To address this issue, the present study investigated clonal relatedness among AR E. coli isolated from dog owners and non-owners in the same college classroom or household. Anal samples (n=48) were obtained from 14 owners and 34 non-owners; 31 E. coli isolates were collected (nine from owners and 22 from non-owners). Of 31 E. coli, 20 isolates (64.5%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 16 isolates (51.6%) were determined as multi-drug resistant E. coli. Six isolates (19.4%) harbored integrase genes (five harbored class I integrase gene and one harbored class 2 integrase gene, respectively). Pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis identified three different E. coli clonal sets among isolates, indicating that cross-transmission of AR E. coli can easily occur between owners and non-owners. The findings emphasize a potential risk of spread of AR bacteria originating from pets within human communities, once they are transferred to humans. Further studies are needed to evaluate the exact risk and identify the risk factors of secondarily transmission by investigating larger numbers of isolates from pets, their owners and non-owners in a community.
Construct Rigidity after Fatigue Loading in Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy with or without Adjacent Interbody Structural Cages

Introduction Studies document rod fracture in pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) settings where disk spaces were preserved above or adjacent to the PSO. This study compares the multidirectional bending rigidity and fatigue life of PSO segments with or without interbody support. Methods Twelve specimens received bilateral T12–S1 posterior fixation and L3 PSO. Six received extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) cages in addition to PSO at L2–L3 and L3–L4; six had PSO only. Flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation (AR) tests were conducted up to 7.5 Newton-meters (Nm) for groups: (1) posterior fixation, (2) L3 PSO, (3) addition of cages (six specimens). Relative motion across the osteotomy (L2–L4) and entire fixation site (T12–S1) was measured. All specimens were then fatigue tested for 35K cycles. Results Regardingmultiaxial bending, there was a significant 25.7% reduction in AR range of motion across L2–L4 following addition of cages. Regarding fatigue bending, dynamic stiffness, though not significant (p = 0.095), was 22.2% greater in the PSO + XLIF group than in the PSO-only group. Conclusions Results suggest that placement of interbody cages in PSO settings has a potential stabilizing effect, which is modestly evident in the acute setting. Inserting cages in a second-stage surgery remains a viable option and may benefit patients in terms of recovery but additional clinical studies are necessary to confirm this.
THE "PATHOLOGIC SIZE" OF THE MASTOID AIR CELL SYSTEM.

A survey presenting the anatomic and the pathologic size variation theories for the pneumatization of the mastoid air cell system and its size variation in the population is given. It shows the fundamental prerequisites for the two controversial theories. The inadmissability of claiming a gradual decrease of a size previously existing as caused by a productive mastoiditis is illuminated.A destructive or productive and obliterating mastoiditis cannot be claimed to cause a gradual narrowing of the size of the mastoid air cell system. Such a theory cannot be supported by conclusions of analogy between the obliteration of the bulla of the ear in the guinea pig in experimental studies of induced infections and the effect of a mastoiditis in the human ear. In the bulla we are dealing with one single air cell, whereas in the mastoid we have quite a number of communicating air cells. In addition, the bulla experiment must show signs of the infectious productive and obliterating process both on the X-ray and histo.
Improving Archaeologists’ Online Archive Experiences Through User-Centred Design

Traditionally, the preservation of archaeological data has been limited by the cost of materials and the physical space required to store them, but for the last 20 years, increasing amounts of digital data have been generated and stored online. New techniques in digital photography and document scanning have dramatically increased the amount of data that can be retained in digital format, while at the same time reducing the physical cost of production and storage. Vast numbers of hand written notes, grey literature documents, images of assemblages, contexts, and artefacts have been made available online. However, accessing these repositories is not always straightforward. Superficial interaction design, sparsely populated metadata, and heterogeneous schemas may prevent users from working the data that they need within archaeological archives. In this article, we present the work of the Digging into Archaeological Data and Image Search Metadata project (DADAISM), a multidisciplinary project that draws together the work of researchers from the fields of archaeology, interaction design, image processing and text mining to create an interactive system that supports archaeologists in their tasks in online archives. By adopting a user-centred approach with techniques grounded in contextual design, we identified the phases of archaeologists work in online archives, which are distinctive to this user group. The insights from this work drove the design and evaluation of an interactive system that successfully integrates content-based image based retrieval and improved metadata searching to deliver a positive user experience when working with online archives.
Vector Symbolic Architectures answer Jackendoff's challenges for cognitive neuroscience

Jackendoff (2002) posed four challenges that linguistic combinatoriality and rules of language present to theories of brain function. The essence of these problems is the question of how to neurally instantiate the rapid construction and transformation of the compositional structures that are typically taken to be the domain of symbolic processing. He contended that typical connectionist approaches fail to meet these challenges and that the dialogue between linguistic theory and cognitive neuroscience will be relatively unproductive until the importance of these problems is widely recognised and the challenges answered by some technical innovation in connectionist modelling. This paper claims that a little-known family of connectionist models (Vector Symbolic Architectures) are able to meet Jackendoff's challenges.
Shear wave splitting, continental keels, and patterns of mantle flow

In this study we investigated the origin of seismic anisotropy in the mantle beneath North America. In particular, we evaluated whether shear wave splitting patterns in eastern North America are better explained by anisotropy caused by lithospheric deformation, anisotropy due to mantle flow beneath the lithosphere, or a combination of both. We examined new measurements of shear wave splitting from the Missouri to Massachusetts broadband seismometer array (MOMA), the North American Mantle Anisotropy and Discontinuity experiment (NOMAD), as well as splitting parameters from several previous studies. We developed a simple finite difference model that approximates mantle flow around a complex, three-dimensional continental lithospheric keel. To evaluate potential anisotropy from mantle flow beneath the lithosphere in eastern North America, we compared shear wave splitting observations to predicted splitting parameters calculated using this mantle flow model. Our results indicate that a significant portion of observed shear wave splitting in eastern North America can be explained by mantle flow around the continental keel. However, shear wave splitting patterns in a few regions of eastern North America indicate that a component of lithospheric anisotropy must exist, particularly in regions containing the largest keel thicknesses. For eastern North America, as well as for splitting observations in Australia, Europe, and South America, we favor a model in which anisotropy is controlled by a combination of both lithospheric deformation and subcontinental mantle flow.
Effects of water and melt on seismic velocities and their application to characterization of seismic reflectors

The effects of a silicate melt and water on seismic velocities are compared at relatively small fluid fraction (less than 20 vol.%) on the basis of a theoretical model of composite materials, to show that the two fluids are clearly characterized by the velocity ratio Vp/Vs. For a silicate melt, Vp/Vs increases with increasing fluid fraction. When a significant reflection is expected, Vp/Vs becomes much larger than 2. For water, Vp/Vs decreases as the fluid fraction increases to 10 vol.% then it increases. But it remains similar to a solid state value (about 1.8), unless the amount of water exceeds 15 vol.%. This will be a good measure to distinguish between two candidates for seismic reflectors: partially molten rocks and rocks containing free water. If a reflector can be treated as a thin low velocity layer, the velocity ratio in it can be estimated from the frequency dependence of reflection coefficient.
Development and characterization of a lux-modified 2,4-dichlorophenol-degrading Burkholderia sp. RASC.

lux-marked biosensors for assessing the toxicity and bioremediation potential of polluted environments may complement traditional chemical techniques. luxCDABE genes were introduced into the chromosome of the 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP)-mineralizing bacterium, Burkholderia sp. RASC c2, by biparental mating using the Tn4431 system. Experiments revealed that light output was constitutive and related to cell biomass concentration during exponential growth. The transposon insertion was stable and did not interrupt 2,4-DCP-degradative genes, and expression of luxCDABE did not constitute a metabolic burden to the cell. A bioluminescence response was detectable at sublethal 2,4-DCP concentrations: at < 10.26 microg ml(-1), bioluminescence was stimulated (e.g. 218% of control), but at concentrations >60 microg ml(-1) it declined to < 1%. Investigating the effect of [14C]-2,4-DCP concentration on the evolution of 14CO2 revealed that, for initial concentrations of 2.5-25 microg ml(-1), approximately equals 55% of the added 14C was mineralized after 24 h compared with <1% at 50 and 100 microg ml(-1). Inhibition of 2,4-DCP mineralization between 25 and 50 microg ml(-1) corresponded well to the EC50 value (33.83 microg ml(-1)) obtained from bioluminescence inhibition studies. lux-marked RASC c2 may therefore be used as a functionally (i.e. 2,4-DCP degrader) and environmentally relevant biosensor of toxicity and biodegradation inhibition.