Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Multiallelic Selection Using a Moran Model

We present a Moran-model approach to modeling general multiallelic selection in a finite population and show how it may be used to develop theoretical models of biological systems of balancing selection such as plant gametophytic self-incompatibility loci. We propose new expressions for the stationary distribution of allele frequencies under selection and use them to show that the continuous-time Markov chain describing allele frequency change with exchangeable selection and Moran-model reproduction is reversible. We then use the reversibility property to derive the expected allele frequency spectrum in a finite population for several general models of multiallelic selection. Using simulations, we show that our approach is valid over a broader range of parameters than previous analyses of balancing selection based on diffusion approximations to the Wright–Fisher model of reproduction. Our results can be applied to any model of multiallelic selection in which fitness is solely a function of allele frequency.
Distinct Elements is Hard Even for Random Data Streams

We continue the study of approximating the number of distinct elements in the data stream model to within a (1 ± ) factor with constant probability. It was shown by Indyk and Woodruff (FOCS, 2003) that if the stream may consist of arbitrary data arriving to the streaming algorithm in an arbitrary order, then any 1-pass algorithm requires Ω(1/ ) bits of space to perform this task. In an attempt to bypass this lower bound, Chakrabarti et al (STOC, 2008) define a robust streaming model in which the stream may consist of arbitrary data, but it arrives to the algorithm in a random order. However, even in this model the authors were able to show an Ω(1/ ) lower bound. This is because the adversary can still choose the data arbitrarily. We take this a step further and show that even with random data and a random ordering, there is an Ω(1/ ) lower bound. This holds even if each successive stream item is drawn independently and uniformly at random from a subset of items. Our result subsumes all previous ones and shows that this potentially practical assumption of random data does not help. Another relaxation of the problem is to allow multiple passes over the data stream. We also show that even with random data, if in each pass a linear sketch over GF (2) of the data is computed (possibly adaptively), then there is an Ω(1/ ) lower bound. Known approximation algorithms compute such sketches. Previously, nothing better than an Ω(1/ ) bound was known for any class of multi-pass algorithms in any of the above data stream models. Our bound applies to all such models.
ACCURATE TRACKING OF OBJECTS USING LEVEL SETS

Our current work presents an approach to tackle the challenging task of tracking objects in Internet videos taken from large web repositories such as YouTube. Such videos more often than not, are captured by users using their personal hand-held cameras and cellphones and hence suffer from problems such as poor quality, camera jitter and unconstrained lighting and environmental settings. Also, it has been observed that events being recorded by such videos usually contain objects moving in an unconstrained fashion. Hence, tracking objects in Internet videos is a very challenging task in the field of computer vision since there is no a-priori information about the types of objects we might encounter, their velocities while in motion or intrinsic camera parameters to estimate the location of object in each frame. Hence, in this setting it is clearly not possible to model objects as single homogenous distributions in feature space. The feature space itself cannot be fixed since different objects might be discriminable in different sub-spaces. Keeping these challenges in mind, in the current proposed technique, each object is divided into multiple fragments or regions and each fragment is represented in Gaussian Mixture model (GMM) in a joint feature-spatial space. Each fragment is automatically selected from the image data by adapting to image statistics using a segmentation technique. We introduce the concept of strength map which represents a probability distribution of the image statistics and is used to detecting the object. We extend our goal of tracking object to tracking them with accurate boundaries thereby making the current task more challeng-
New Architectures and Algorithm for Optical Pattern Recognition using Joint Transform Correlation Technique

Recently, there is increasing interest in using joint transform correlation (JTC) technique for optical pattern recognition. In this technique, the target and reference images are jointed together in the input plane and no matched filter is required. In this paper, the JTC is investigated using simulation technique. A new discrimination decision algorithm is proposed to recognize the correlation output for different object shapes (dissimilar shapes). Also, new architectures are proposed to overcome the main problems of the conventional JTC.
Discovery and Characterization of Novel, Potent, and Selective Cytochrome P450 2J2 Inhibitors

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2J2 is one of the human CYPs involved in phase I xenobiotics metabolism. It is mainly expressed in extrahepatic tissues, including intestine and cardiovascular systems. The general role of CYP2J2 in drug metabolism is not yet fully understood, and the recent discovery that CYP2J2 can metabolize a wide range of structurally diverse drugs and its primary distribution in the intestine suggest its potentially indispensable role in first-pass intestinal metabolism and involvement in drug-drug interaction. To fully characterize its role in drug metabolism, selective and potent inhibitors of CYP2J2 are necessary tools. In the current study, 69 known drugs were screened for the inhibition of CYP2J2, and we discovered a number of marketed drugs as potent and selective CYP2J2 inhibitors. In particular, telmisartan and flunarizine have CYP2J2 inhibition IC50 values of 0.42 μM and 0.94 μM, respectively, which are at least 10-fold more selective against all other major metabolizing CYPs; moreover, they are not substrates of CYP2J2 and show no time-dependent inhibition toward this CYP. The results of enzyme kinetics studies, supported by molecular modeling, have also elucidated that telmisartan is a mixed-type inhibitor, and flunarizine competitively inhibits CYP2J2. The Ki for telmisartan is 0.19 μM, with an α value, an indicator of the type of inhibition mechanism, of 2.80, and flunarizine has a Ki value of 0.13 μM. These newly discovered CYP2J2 inhibitors can be potentially used as a tool to study CYP2J2 in drug metabolism and interaction in a clinical setting.
The "Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology" Journal Club Series: Highlights on Recent Papers in Gait and Posture

We are glad to introduce the third Journal Club. The third edition is focused on several relevant studies published in the last years in the field of Gait and Posture, chosen by our Editorial Board members. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you a passion for sport seen also from the scientific point of view. The Editorial Board members wish you an inspiring lecture.
Energetic Optimisation of Foraging Honeybees: Flexible Change of Strategies in Response to Environmental Challenges

Heterothermic insects like honeybees, foraging in a variable environment, face the challenge of keeping their body temperature high to enable immediate flight and to promote fast exploitation of resources. Because of their small size they have to cope with an enormous heat loss and, therefore, high costs of thermoregulation. This calls for energetic optimisation which may be achieved by different strategies. An ‘economizing’ strategy would be to reduce energetic investment whenever possible, for example by using external heat from the sun for thermoregulation. An ‘investment-guided’ strategy, by contrast, would be to invest additional heat production or external heat gain to optimize physiological parameters like body temperature which promise increased energetic returns. Here we show how honeybees balance these strategies in response to changes of their local microclimate. In a novel approach of simultaneous measurement of respiration and body temperature foragers displayed a flexible strategy of thermoregulatory and energetic management. While foraging in shade on an artificial flower they did not save energy with increasing ambient temperature as expected but acted according to an ‘investment-guided’ strategy, keeping the energy turnover at a high level (∼56–69 mW). This increased thorax temperature and speeded up foraging as ambient temperature increased. Solar heat was invested to increase thorax temperature at low ambient temperature (‘investment-guided’ strategy) but to save energy at high temperature (‘economizing’ strategy), leading to energy savings per stay of ∼18–76% in sunshine. This flexible economic strategy minimized costs of foraging, and optimized energetic efficiency in response to broad variation of environmental conditions.
Image Fusion for Spatial Enhancement of Hyperspectral Image via Pixel Group Based Non-Local Sparse Representation

Restricted by technical and budget constraints, hyperspectral images (HSIs) are usually obtained with low spatial resolution. In order to improve the spatial resolution of a given hyperspectral image, a new spatial and spectral image fusion approach via pixel group based non-local sparse representation is proposed, which exploits the spectral sparsity and spectral non-local self-similarity of the hyperspectral image. The proposed approach fuses the hyperspectral image with a high-spatial-resolution multispectral image of the same scene to obtain a hyperspectral image with high spatial and spectral resolutions. The input hyperspectral image is used to train the spectral dictionary, while the sparse codes of the desired HSI are estimated by jointly encoding the similar pixels in each pixel group extracted from the high-spatial-resolution multispectral image. To improve the accuracy of the pixel group based non-local sparse representation, the similar pixels in a pixel group are selected by utilizing both the spectral and spatial information. The performance of the proposed approach is tested on two remote sensing image datasets. Experimental results suggest that the proposed method outperforms a number of sparse representation based fusion techniques, and can preserve the spectral information while recovering the spatial details under large magnification factors.
Gas, dust and star formation in distant radio galaxies

In this thesis I discuss recent observations of distant (z > 2) radio galaxies. There is strong evidence that radio galaxies are the progenitors of the brightest cluster ellipticals and are among the most luminous and massive galaxies at any epoch, allowing relatively detailed studies of their formation process out to large distances. Submillimeter emission has been detected in many, implying star formation rates of order 1000 Msun/yr over scales of tens of kpc, consistent with a scenario in which these galaxies are currently forming the bulk of their eventual stellar population. Many radio galaxies also host giant (~ 150 kpc) emission line nebulae. We obtaind very deep narrow-band Ly-a images for a select few of these. The observations show spectacular detail with a wealth of morphological structure, such as extended (~ 80 kpc) filamentary structures, giving insight in feedback processes during their formation. I discuss the possible origin and the ionization source of these halos in connection with the sub-mm results, and discuss possible implications for theories of galaxy formation.
The effects of collective interdependence efficacy on the difficulty of self-chosen group goals

This study examined the effects of collective interdependence efficacy on the difficulty of self-chosen group goals and performance levels. Teamwork interdependence KSAs were manipulated by false feedback in an experimental setting. Groups of threp participants did a group task and then rated their collective efficacy perceptions. Performance measures were collected and goals were set for a second task. The manipulation of collective interdependence efficacy had the desired effect, those participants in the positive condition reported higher> levels of collective interdependence efficacy than those in the negative condition. These findings give support to the importance of teamwork interdependenGe KSAs in the development of collective interdependence efficacy perceptions. This is an especially potent finding because no task related feedback was given. In addition, a positive relationship between collective interdependence efficacy and performance resulted. This was a surprising finding, not often found in the laboratory. There were difficulties in the interpretation of the goal measures. As a result, partial support was found for the relationship between collective interdependence efficacy and goals, and goals to performance. This study adds evidence to the importance of teamwork interdependence KSAs in the development of
An Outbreak of Staphylococcus Aureus Strains with Reduced Susceptibility to Glycopeptides in a French General Hospital

enhance in a ring pattern or homogeneously [17]. Autopsy and biopsy examination of these lesions reveals them to be hard or firm on gross examination and with a granulomatous inflammatory response [15, 21]. Larger, usually more acute lesions may have a central mass containing only cryptococci [22]. At one time, surgical therapy was believed necessary in all cases of cryptococcoma [21]. With the availability of CT technology, antifungal therapy without surgery became the most common approach [15, 23]. Use of systemic antifungal therapy, especially amphotericin B, with follow-up CSF analysis and neuroimaging is currently the standard in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Surgery is currently limited to diagnostic procedures performed when it is not clear whether a comorbid condition or infection exists. Because this is the current approach to cryptococcoma, it is not generally known how long to expect persistence of these lesions on neuroimaging. Most reports follow patients with serial studies for a period of a few months. Only rarely are the results of neuroimaging reported beyond 1 year [24]. We have described 3 patients followed for 17 years. Each had cryptococcomas by CT or MRI that diminished slowly or remained essentially unchanged over this period. The duration of follow up and repeat cerebrospinal testing documented no obvious disease activity in these patients. We believe each of these patients was cured of their cryptococcal infection. Although an increase in size of a cryptococcal lesion should raise concern about disease activity, persistence should not.
Handgrip strength and cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND Cognitive decline and dementia are associated with disability and premature death in old age. We examined whether low handgrip strength predicts subsequent cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans. METHODS We worked with a 7-year prospective cohort of 2160 noninstitutionalized Mexican Americans aged 65 years or older from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) who had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score > or = 21 at baseline. Measures included: (i) sociodemographic factors (age, gender, and education), handgrip strength, and near and distant visual impairment from baseline interview; and (ii) MMSE, body mass index (BMI), and medical conditions (stroke, heart attack, diabetes, depression, and hypertension) from four waves of data collection. RESULTS Using general linear mixed models, we found a significant trend with scores in the lowest quartile of handgrip strength at baseline to be associated with lower MMSE scores over time (estimate = -1.28, standard error = 0.16; p <.0001). There was a significant handgrip Strength-by-Time interaction with MMSE scores. Participants in the lowest handgrip strength quartile had a greater cognitive decline over time (estimate = -0.26, standard error = 0.07; p <.001) than did those participants in the highest quartile. This association remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSION Older Mexican Americans with reduced handgrip strength at baseline demonstrated a statistically significant decline in cognitive function over a 7-year period. By contrast, participants in the highest handgrip strength quartile maintained a higher level of cognitive function.
Thermal expansion and magnetostriction of pure and doped RAgSb2 (R = Y, Sm, La) single crystals

Data on temperature-dependent, anisotropic thermal expansion in pure and doped RAgSb2 (R = Y, Sm, La) single crystals are presented. Using the Ehrenfest relation and heat capacity measurements, uniaxial pressure derivatives for long range magnetic ordering and charge density wave transition temperatures are evaluated and compared with the results of the direct measurements under hydrostatic pressure. In-plane and c-axis pressure have opposite effects on the phase transitions in these materials, with in-plane effects being significantly weaker. Quantum oscillations in magnetostriction were observed for the three pure compounds, with the possible detection of new frequencies in SmAgSb2 and LaAgSb2. The uniaxial (along the c-axis) pressure derivatives of the dominant extreme orbits (β) were evaluated for YAgSb2 and LaAgSb2.
Experimental implementation of a model-based inverse filter to attenuate hysteresis in an atomic force microscope

This paper addresses the development and experimental validation of a model-based, open loop control design for mitigating the frequency-dependent effects of hysteresis in an atomic force microscope (AFM). The models are based on homogenized energy relations which characterize the hysteretic constitutive behavior of the piezoceramic AFM stage. Approximate model inverses are then employed as filters to linearize transducer dynamics for control design. When experimentally implemented in open loop control designs, inverse compensation in this manner produces an approximately tenfold increase in tracking accuracy as compared with the unfiltered case.
Management of Acute Otitis Media After Publication of the 2004 AAP and AAFP Clinical Practice Guideline

OBJECTIVES: Observation without initial antibiotic therapy was accepted as an option for acute otitis media (AOM) management in the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians clinical practice guideline. The guideline also recommended amoxicillin as the first-line treatment for most children, and analgesic treatment to reduce pain if it was present. Our objective was to compare the management of AOM after publication of the 2004 guideline. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2002–2006 (N = 1114), which occurred in US physicians' offices. The patients were children aged 6 months to 12 years who were diagnosed with AOM. The time comparisons were the 30-month periods before and after the guideline. The main outcome was the encounter rate at which no antibiotic-prescribing was reported. Secondary outcomes were the identification of factors associated with encounters at which no antibiotic-prescribing was reported and antibiotic- and analgesic-prescribing rates. RESULTS: The rate of AOM encounters at which no antibiotic-prescribing was reported did not change after guideline publication (11%–16%; P = .103). Independent predictors of an encounter at which no antibiotic-prescribing was reported were the absence of ear pain, absence of reported fever, and receipt of an analgesic prescription. After guideline publication, the rate of amoxicillin-prescribing increased (40%–49%; P = .039), the rate of amoxicillin/clavulanate-prescribing decreased (23%–16%; P = .043), the rate of cefdinir-prescribing increased (7%–14%; P = .004), and the rate of analgesic-prescribing increased (14%–24%; P = .038). CONCLUSIONS: Although management of AOM without antibiotics has not increased after the publication of the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians clinical practice guideline, children who did not receive antibiotics were more likely to have mild infections. In accordance with the guideline, the prescribing of amoxicillin and analgesics has increased. Contrary to the guideline, the prescribing of amoxicillin/clavulanate has decreased, whereas the prescribing of cefdinir has increased.
Technology Complexity , Personal Innovativeness And Intention To Use Wireless Internet Using Mobile Devices In Malaysia

Wireless Internet on mobile devices (WIMD) technology is rapidly growing in many countries including Malaysia. As WIMD is still in its growing stage, it is appropriate to conduct research on technology adoption of WIMD. This paper analyses the intention to use WIMD among Malaysians. The study adopted the Technology acceptance model (TAM) as it is considered to be one of the best models to study technology adoption. Questionnaires were distributed to 350 mobile phone and Internet users, from which 301 responded. The findings show Technology complexity and personal innovativeness have a positive impact on intention to use WIMD.
Rigorous Performance Evaluation of Smartphone GNSS/IMU Sensors for ITS Applications

With the rapid growth in smartphone technologies and improvement in their navigation sensors, an increasing amount of location information is now available, opening the road to the provision of new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) services. Current smartphone devices embody miniaturized Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and other sensors capable of providing user position, velocity and attitude. However, it is hard to characterize their actual positioning and navigation performance capabilities due to the disparate sensor and software technologies adopted among manufacturers and the high influence of environmental conditions, and therefore, a unified certification process is missing. This paper presents the analysis results obtained from the assessment of two modern smartphones regarding their positioning accuracy (i.e., precision and trueness) capabilities (i.e., potential and limitations) based on a practical but rigorous methodological approach. Our investigation relies on the results of several vehicle tracking (i.e., cruising and maneuvering) tests realized through comparing smartphone obtained trajectories and kinematic parameters to those derived using a high-end GNSS/IMU system and advanced filtering techniques. Performance testing is undertaken for the HTC One S (Android) and iPhone 5s (iOS). Our findings indicate that the deviation of the smartphone locations from ground truth (trueness) deteriorates by a factor of two in obscured environments compared to those derived in open sky conditions. Moreover, it appears that iPhone 5s produces relatively smaller and less dispersed error values compared to those computed for HTC One S. Also, the navigation solution of the HTC One S appears to adapt faster to changes in environmental conditions, suggesting a somewhat different data filtering approach for the iPhone 5s. Testing the accuracy of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors for a number of maneuvering (speeding, turning, etc.,) events reveals high consistency between smartphones, whereas the small deviations from ground truth verify their high potential even for critical ITS safety applications.