Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A point-event detection algorithm for the analysis of contrast bolus in fluoroscopic images of the coronary arteries

The paradigm of event detection is general enough to be used in a multitude of applications from various domains. In this contribution we describe an improved method to mark the appearance of blood mixed with contrast agent in a sequence of fluoroscopic images of the coronary arteries. This is needed for various computer-vision based technologies aimed at supporting the physician during a Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA is a surgical intervention conducted for the purpose of reopening blocked coronary arteries. We show how to extract a feature describing the amount of contrast agent present in each fluoroscopic image and how to establish a threshold over this feature, to separate the event of contrast-agent appearing from the normal case, when no contrast agent is present. For this purpose we estimate the likelihood of feature-values given the normal case and decide to mark the event for images whose feature has a very small likelihood. We test our algorithm on a number of sequences acquired in clinical routine.
Effect of hardening model on the weld residual stress field in pipe girth welds

Accurate estimates of weld residual stress fields in welded components are necessary for conducting structural assessments where stress corrosion cracking and/or fatigue are of interest. The aim of the study is to determine whether finite element simulations of the weld residual stress field give the best agreement with experimental measurements if an isotropic, kinematic or mixed material hardening model is used. Two girth weld geometries are considered with thicknesses of 19mm and 65mm and radius to thickness ratios of 10.5 and 2.8, respectively.
Very Low Density Lipoprotein Triglyceride Metabolism in Relatives of Hypertriglyceridemic Probands: Evidence for Genetic Control of Triglyceride Removal

The production and catabollsm of very low density lipoprotein triglycerides (VLDL-TG) were determined In 11 index patients with primary hypertriglycerldemla and In their 70 first-degree relatives. In the probands the mean value for VLDL-TG production rate was twice normal, and the mean fractional catabollc rate (FCR) was reduced to 50% from normal. A similar kinetic pattern was also observed In most hypertriglyceridemic relatives. In the normotrlglycerldemlc relatives the mean values of both kinetic parameters were comparable to those of controls. No kinetic differences were observed between families with familial hypertriglycerldemla, familial combined hyperllpldemla, or genetically unclassified hypertriglyceridemia (all diagnosed by lipoprotein phenotypes). Thus, no explanation for the phenotyplc differences between the two forms of familial hyperilpoprotelnemla was found In plasma VLDL-TG metabolism. When the families were grouped according to the VLDL-TG production rate of the proband, there was no significant difference between the VLDL-TG production rates of relatives of “overproducer” probands and relatives of the probands with normal VLDL-TG production rate. In contrast, relatives of low FCR probands had significantly lower mean FCR than the relatives of probands with a normal FCR. This difference In FCR was present both In hypertriglyceridemic and normotrlglycerldemlc relatives. These results suggest that the catabollsm (llpolysls) of VLDL-TG Is under genetic control, whereas the VLDL-TG production rate Is mainly related to obesity. It Is likely that hypertriglyceridemia often develops on the basis of VLDL overproduction In individuals who have a genetically low VLDL triglyceride removal (llpolytlc) capacity.
The Undecided Have the Key: Interaction-Driven Opinion Dynamics in a Three State Model

The effects of interpersonal interactions on individual’s agreements result in a social aggregation process which is reflected in the formation of collective states, as for instance, groups of individuals with a similar opinion about a given issue. This field, which has been a longstanding concern of sociologists and psychologists, has been extended into an area of experimental social psychology, and even has attracted the attention of physicists and mathematicians. In this article, we present a novel model of opinion formation in which agents may either have a strict preference for a choice, or be undecided. The opinion shift emerges, in a threshold process, as a consequence of a cumulative persuasion for either one of the two opinions in repeated interactions. There are two main ingredients which play key roles in determining the steady states: the initial fraction of undecided agents and the change in agents’ persuasion after each interaction. As a function of these two parameters, the model presents a wide range of solutions, among which there are consensus of each opinion and bi-polarization. We found that a minimum fraction of undecided agents is not crucial for reaching consensus only, but also to determine a dominant opinion in a polarized situation. In order to gain a deeper comprehension of the dynamics, we also present the theoretical framework of the model. The master equations are of special interest for their nontrivial properties and difficulties in being solved analytically.
The neural basis of metacognitive ability

Ability in various cognitive domains is often assessed by measuring task performance, such as the accuracy of a perceptual categorization. A similar analysis can be applied to metacognitive reports about a task to quantify the degree to which an individual is aware of his or her success or failure. Here, we review the psychological and neural underpinnings of metacognitive accuracy, drawing on research in memory and decision-making. These data show that metacognitive accuracy is dissociable from task performance and varies across individuals. Convergent evidence indicates that the function of the rostral and dorsal aspect of the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) is important for the accuracy of retrospective judgements of performance. In contrast, prospective judgements of performance may depend upon medial PFC. We close with a discussion of how metacognitive processes relate to concepts of cognitive control, and propose a neural synthesis in which dorsolateral and anterior prefrontal cortical subregions interact with interoceptive cortices (cingulate and insula) to promote accurate judgements of performance.
Map-reduce-merge: simplified relational data processing on large clusters

Map-Reduce is a programming model that enables easy development of scalable parallel applications to process a vast amount of data on large clusters of commodity machines. Through a simple interface with two functions, map and reduce, this model facilitates parallel implementation of many real-world tasks such as data processing jobs for search engines and machine learning. However,this model does not directly support processing multiple related heterogeneous datasets. While processing relational data is a common need, this limitation causes difficulties and/or inefficiency when Map-Reduce is applied on relational operations like joins. We improve Map-Reduce into a new model called Map-Reduce-Merge. It adds to Map-Reduce a Merge phase that can efficiently merge data already partitioned and sorted (or hashed) by map and reduce modules. We also demonstrate that this new model can express relational algebra operators as well as implement several join algorithms.
An algorithmic analysis of the role of unequal crossover in alpha-satellite DNA evolution.

Human DNA consists of a large number of tandem repeat sequences. Such sequences are usually called satellites, with the primary example being the centromeric alpha-satellite DNA. The basic repeat unit of the alpha-satellite DNA is a 171 bp monomer. However, with the exception of peripheral alpha-satellite DNA, monomers can be grouped into blocks of k-monomers (4 < k < 20) between which the divergence rate is much smaller (e.g. 5%). Perhaps the simplest and best understood mechanism for tandem repeat array evolution is the unequal crossover. Although it is possible that the alpha-satellite sequence developed as a result of subsequent unequal crossovers only, no formal computational framework seems to have been developed to verify this possibility. In this paper we develop such a framework and perform experiments which seem to indicate that pericentromeric alpha-satellite segments (which are devoid of higher-order structure) are evolutionarily distinct from the higher-order repeat segments. It is likely that the higher order repeats developed independently in distinct regions of the genome and were carried into their current locations through an unknown mechanism of transposition.
Synthesis and characterization of waterborne polyurethane and polyurethane-urea towards eco-friendly materials by cellulose nanocrystals and plant extracts incorporation

In this work, environmentally friendly anionic waterborne polyurethane and polyurethane-urea dispersions were synthesized in order to prepare films by casting. The effect of molar composition and synthesis route were analyzed on the waterborne polyurethane and polyurethane-urea dispersions, as well as the properties of films. Furthermore, these dispersions were used for the preparation of new eco-friendly materials. In this way, cellulose nanocrystals were isolated for the preparation of nanocomposite films. The effect of matrix nature, cellulose nanocrystals content and their incorporation route were analyzed in the final properties of the nanocomposites. Moreover, electrospun nanocomposite mats were prepared from waterborne polyurethane-cellulose nanocrystals dispersions using poly(ethylene oxide) as polymer template. The effect of varying the nanoreinforcement content and incorporation route was analyzed in the morphology and surface behavior of mats. In a second section, extracts containing bioactive compounds from two plants (Salvia officinalis L. and Melissa officinalis L.), were obtained for being incorporated to polyurethane-urea dispersions in order to confer antimicrobial properties. Three different incorporation routes were designed for the incorporation of different extract contents. Polyurethane-urea dispersions containing plant extracts were characterized and films were prepared. The final properties of films were analyzed and antimicrobial tests were carried out against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.
Collective Movement in the Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana): Early Joiners Write the Rule of the Game

Collective behavior has recently attracted a great deal of interest in both natural and social sciences. While the role of leadership has been closely scrutinized, the rules used by joiners in collective decision making have received far less attention. Two main hypotheses have been proposed concerning these rules: mimetism and quorum. Mimetism predicts that individuals are increasingly likely to join collective behavior as the number of participants increases. It can be further divided into selective mimetism, where relationships among the participants affect the process, and anonymous mimetism, where no such effect exists. Quorum predicts that a collective behavior occurs when the number of participants reaches a threshold. To probe into which rule is used in collective decision making, we conducted a study on the joining process in a group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) in Huangshan, China using a combination of all-occurrence and focal animal sampling methods. Our results show that the earlier individuals joined movements, the more central a role they occupied among the joining network. We also found that when less than three adults participated in the first five minutes of the joining process, no entire group movement occurred subsequently. When the number of these early joiners ranged from three to six, selective mimetism was used. This means higher rank or closer social affiliation of early joiners could be among the factors of deciding whether to participate in movements by group members. When the number of early joiners reached or exceeded seven, which was the simple majority of the group studied, entire group movement always occurred, meaning that the quorum rule was used. Putting together, Macaca thibetana used a combination of selective mimetism and quorum, and early joiners played a key role in deciding which rule should be used.
Fiscal Policy and Growth in Developing Asia

In this paper we empirically explore the relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth in developing Asia. The region’s overall level of taxes and government spending are substantially lower than those prevailing in advanced economies. Nevertheless, there are conceptual grounds why fiscal policy, including the composition of taxes and government spending, can have a significant effect on growth, as our empirical analysis shows. In line with economic theory, property taxes have a more benign impact on growth than direct taxes, and spending more on education has a sizable positive impact on growth.
Analytical modelling of multistage ATM switches with backpressure control schemes

Performance modelling of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching is an active research area in high-speed communication. This paper presents a Markov modelling framework for analyzing a shared buffer ATM multistage-interconnection network (MIN) under a variety of buffer management and backpressure schemes proposed by other researchers and by the authors. A standard iterative computation approach is used to solve the steady-state probabilities. The analytical results are shown together with the simulation results, confirming the usefulness of each backpressure scheme. Consequently, the results show that cell loss can be reduced when several backpressure schemes are combined together with pushout, as compared to a single conventional backpressure scheme.
MicroRNA-214 Promotes Myogenic Differentiation by Facilitating Exit from Mitosis via Down-regulation of Proto-oncogene N-ras*

Vertebrate muscle differentiation is coordinated by an intricate network of transcription factors requiring proliferating myogenic precursors to withdraw irreversibly from the cell cycle. Recent studies have implicated a large number of microRNAs exerting another layer of control in many aspects of muscle differentiation. By annealing to short recognition sequences in the 3′-untranslated region, microRNAs attenuate target gene expression through translation repression or mRNA degradation. Here, we show that miR-214 promotes myogenic differentiation in mouse C2C12 myoblasts at a step preceding the induction of p21 and myogenin. Blocking miR-214 function with a 2′-O-methylated double-stranded inhibitor maintained C2C12 cells in the active cell cycle, thereby inhibiting the myogenic differentiation. By global gene expression profiling, we identified the proto-oncogene N-ras as one of miR-214 targets. Furthermore, manipulating the N-Ras level with small interfering RNA or adenovirus-mediated forced expression either augmented or attenuated the effect of miR-214, respectively. Thus, our data uncovered a novel microRNA-mediated mechanism that controls myogenic differentiation.
Products of the porcine group C rotavirus NSP3 gene bind specifically to double-stranded RNA and inhibit activation of the interferon-induced protein kinase PKR

The porcine group C rotavirus (Cowden strain) NSP3 protein (the group C equivalent of the group A gene 7 product, formerly called NS34) shares homology with known double-stranded RNA-binding proteins, such as the interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR. A clone of NSP3, expressed both in vitro and in COS-1 cells, led to the synthesis of minor amounts of a product with an M(r) of 45,000 (the expected full-length M(r) of NSP3) and major amounts of products with M(r)s of 38,000 and 8,000. Restriction enzyme digestion analysis prior to expression in vitro and amino-terminal sequence analysis suggest that the products with M(r)s of 38,000 and 8,000 are cleavage products of the protein with an M(r) of 45,000. The full-length protein and the product with an M(r) of 8,000, both of which contain the motif present in double-stranded RNA-binding proteins, bound specifically to double-stranded RNA. The products with M(r)s of 45,000 and 8,000 were also detected in Cowden strain-infected MA104 cells. NSP3 products expressed in COS-1 cells were capable of inhibiting activation of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase similar to other double-stranded RNA-binding proteins, and NSP3 products expressed in HeLa cells were capable of rescuing the replication of an interferon-sensitive deletion mutant of vaccinia virus.
Mondo/ChREBP-Mlx-Regulated Transcriptional Network Is Essential for Dietary Sugar Tolerance in Drosophila

Sugars are important nutrients for many animals, but are also proposed to contribute to overnutrition-derived metabolic diseases in humans. Understanding the genetic factors governing dietary sugar tolerance therefore has profound biological and medical significance. Paralogous Mondo transcription factors ChREBP and MondoA, with their common binding partner Mlx, are key sensors of intracellular glucose flux in mammals. Here we report analysis of the in vivo function of Drosophila melanogaster Mlx and its binding partner Mondo (ChREBP) in respect to tolerance to dietary sugars. Larvae lacking mlx or having reduced mondo expression show strikingly reduced survival on a diet with moderate or high levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose. mlx null mutants display widespread changes in lipid and phospholipid profiles, signs of amino acid catabolism, as well as strongly elevated circulating glucose levels. Systematic loss-of-function analysis of Mlx target genes reveals that circulating glucose levels and dietary sugar tolerance can be genetically uncoupled: Krüppel-like transcription factor Cabut and carbonyl detoxifying enzyme Aldehyde dehydrogenase type III are essential for dietary sugar tolerance, but display no influence on circulating glucose levels. On the other hand, Phosphofructokinase 2, a regulator of the glycolysis pathway, is needed for both dietary sugar tolerance and maintenance of circulating glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, we show evidence that fatty acid synthesis, which is a highly conserved Mondo-Mlx-regulated process, does not promote dietary sugar tolerance. In contrast, survival of larvae with reduced fatty acid synthase expression is sugar-dependent. Our data demonstrate that the transcriptional network regulated by Mondo-Mlx is a critical determinant of the healthful dietary spectrum allowing Drosophila to exploit sugar-rich nutrient sources.
Demultiplexing illumination via low cost sensing and nanosecond coding

Several computer vision algorithms require a sequence of photographs taken in different illumination conditions, which has spurred development in the area of illumination multiplexing. Various techniques for optimizing the multiplexing process already exist, but are geared toward regular or high speed cameras. Such cameras are fast, but code on the order of milliseconds. In this paper we propose a fusion of two popular contexts, time of flight range cameras and illumination multiplexing. Time of flight cameras are a low cost, consumer-oriented technology capable of acquiring range maps at 30 frames per second. Such cameras have a natural connection to conventional illumination multiplexing strategies as both paradigms rely on the capture of multiple shots and synchronized illumination. While previous work on illumination multiplexing has exploited coding at millisecond intervals, we repurpose sensors that are ordinarily used in time of flight imaging to demultiplex via nanosecond coding strategies.
Closed-Form Performance Analysis of Variable Gain Relaying over Non-Identical Nakagami-m Fading Channel

This paper analyzes the performance bound of variable gain relaying over non-identical Nakagami-m fading channel, and the closed-form expressions for average bit error probability (ABEP) of binary phase shift keying (BPSK)modulation and multiple amplitude modulation (M-AM) are derived. Numerical and simulation results show that the deduced performance bound is a tight lower bound especially at medium and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Fermions, T-duality and effective actions for D-branes in bosonic backgrounds

We find the effective action for any D-brane in a general bosonic background of supergravity. The results are explicit in component fields up to second order in the fermions and are obtained in a covariant manner. No interaction terms between fermions and the field $f=b+F$, characteristic of the bosonic actions, are considered. These are reserved for future work. In order to obtain the actions, we reduce directly from the M2-brane world-volume action to the D2-brane world-volume action. Then, by means of T-duality, we obtain the other Dp-brane actions. The resulting Dp-brane actions can be written in a single compact and elegant expression.
Human Bone Marrow: A Reservoir for “Enhanced Effector Memory” CD8+ T Cells with Potent Recall Function1

The role of human bone marrow (BM) CD8+ T cells in the immune response to viral Ags is poorly defined. We report here the identification and characterization of a functionally enhanced effector memory CD8+ T cell population (TEM) in the BM of patients undergoing total joint replacement for osteoarthritis. These BM-derived TEM differ strikingly from correlate cells in peripheral blood (PB), expressing elevated levels of CD27, HLA-DR, CD38, CD69, and unique patterns of chemokine receptors. Interestingly, while BM TEM have low levels of resting perforin and granzyme B, these molecules evidence profound up-regulation in response to TCR stimulation resulting in enhanced cytotoxic potential. Moreover, compared with the TEM subset in PB, BM CD8+ TEM cells demonstrate a more vigorous recall response to pooled viral Ags. Our results reveal that human BM serves as a repository for viral Ag-specific TEM with great therapeutic potential in vaccine development.