Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indicator Cokriging-Based Subpixel Land Cover Mapping With Shifted Images

Subpixel mapping (SPM) is a technique for predicting the spatial distribution of land cover classes in remote sensing images at a finer spatial resolution level than those of the input images. Indicator cokriging (ICK) has been found to be an effective and efficient SPM method. The accuracy of this model, however, is limited by insufficient constraints. In this paper, the accuracy of the ICK-based SPM model is enhanced by using additional information gained from multiple shifted images (MSIs). First, each shifted image is utilized to compute the conditional probability of class occurrence at any fine spatial resolution pixel (i.e., subpixel) using ICK, and a set of conditional probability maps for all classes are generated for each image. The multiple ICK-derived conditional probability maps are then integrated, according to the estimated subpixel shifts of MSI. Lastly, class allocation at the subpixel scale is implemented to produce SPM results. The proposed algorithm was tested on two synthetic coarse spatial resolution remote sensing images and a set of real Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. It was evaluated both visually and quantitatively. The experimental results showed that more accurate SPM results can be generated with MSI than with a single observed coarse image in conventional ICK-based SPM. In addition, the accuracy of the proposed method is higher than that of the existing Hopfield neural network (HNN)-based SPM and the HNN with MSI.
Heterosynaptic enhancement of the excitability of hippocampal mossy fibers by long‐range spill‐over of glutamate

Several classes of ionotropic receptors have been reported to depolarize the axonal membrane of hippocampal mossy fibers. Both kainate receptors and GABAA receptors are localized on axons and/or presynaptic terminals, and these receptors have been known to be activated by synaptically released glutamate and GABA which spill out from the synaptic clefts. However the relative contribution of these two receptors in modulating the excitability of mossy fiber axon was not reported so far. In this study, we revealed that glutamate spilled out from commissural/associational synapses evoked the facilitation of antidromic population spikes of mossy fibers. Increase in amplitude and decrease in latency of population spikes suggest that the number of recruited mossy fibers increases by depolarization of axonal membrane. Application of non‐NMDA receptor antagonist CNQX (10 μM) almost abolished this effect. TBOA (30 μM), an inhibitor of glutamate transporter, prolonged the duration of heterosynaptic facilitation. These results suggest that glutamate released from distant commissural/associational synapses spills out from synaptic cleft and activates the kainate receptors on the mossy fibers of CA3 region, and plays a major role in modulating presynaptic excitability than GABA. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Toxoplasma Kinase ROP18: An Active Member of a Degenerate Family

Intracellular parasitism defines the most intimate of interactions between a pathogen and host. Inherent in this equation are the needs of the pathogen to enter the cell and establish a replication-permissive niche while neutralizing and subverting cellular defenses. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is particularly adept at every stage of intracellular parasitism, which has contributed to its being among the most cosmopolitan parasites on the planet [1]. Toxoplasma is a member of the Apicomplexa, so noted by the presence of specialized cytoskeletal and secretory organelles (the apical complex) that play a critical role in invasion [2]. Most prominent among these secretory organelles are the club-shaped rhoptries [3,4]. Recent work, including a detailed cataloging of the rhoptry proteome [5], coupled with the availability of the T. gondii genome and gene expression data (http://www.ToxoDB.org; [6]), have resulted in new insights into rhoptry functions. Among the activities inferred from the analysis of the proteomic and genomic data was a family of predicted serine threonine kinases related to the rhoptry protein ROP2 [7]. While ROP2 and several other members of the ROP2 family retain “molecular fossils,” reflecting their ancestry as kinases, they do not possess kinase activity on account of degeneracy and deletions at key catalytic sites [7]. However, bioinfomatic and structural prediction studies reveal that two members, ROP16 and ROP18, do retain all the elements needed to classify them as true kinases [7].
Price Adjustment at Multiproduct Retailers

We empirically study the price adjustment process at multiproduct retail stores. We use a unique store level data set for five large supermarket and one drugstore chains in the U.S., to document the exact process required to change prices. Our data set allows us to study this process in great detail, describing the exact procedure, stages, and steps undertaken during the price change process. We also discuss various aspects of the microeconomic environment in which the price adjustment decisions are made, factors affecting the price adjustment decisions, and firm-level implications of price adjustment decisions. Specifically, we examine the effects of the complexity of the price change process on the stores’ pricing strategy. We also study how the steps involved in the price change process, combined with the laws governing the retail price setting and adjustment, along with the competitive market structure of the retail grocery industry, influence the frequency of price changes. We also examine how the mistakes that occur in the price change process influence the actions taken by these multiproduct retailers. In particular, we study how these mistakes can make the stores vulnerable to civil law suits and penalties, and also damage their reputation. We also show how the mistakes can lead to stock outs or unwanted inventory accumulations. Finally, we discuss how retail stores try to minimize these negative effects of the price change mistakes.
The Molecular Genetic Events in Colorectal Cancer and Diet

Compelling evidence suggests that dietary intakes directly influence colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Initial observations that CRC incidence is not ubiquitous worldwide, with incidence rates varying up to twenty-five fold between populations (Parkin et al., 2005), indicate the large degree to which this cancer type is influenced by diet and environment. Additionally, observations that migration of individuals confers rapid (within one generation) adoption of the CRC incidence of the host population (Boyle & Langman, 2000; McMichael & Giles, 1988), suggest that dietary and environmental factors determine the risk of colorectal neoplasia to a degree similar to, or in excess of, genetic predisposition. As diagnosis and treatment of CRC have improved, the study of the pathogenesis of colorectal neoplasia has increased. The most frequent precursor of CRC is the adenoma. As a proportion of adenomas, those of large size, with villous architecture and high grade dysplasia often progress to invasive adenocarcinoma, and this progression is associated with accumulation of mutations and other genetic and epigenetic changes. In the effort to understand the mechanisms and causes of colorectal cancer development, molecular genetic analyses have identified a variety of molecular changes and protein targets involved in colorectal tumourigenesis. The greater understanding of genetic, epigenetic and expression changes that occur during the development and progression of CRC has shown that these neoplasms do not comprise a single disease. Instead, colorectal cancers comprise a collection of distinct and independent neoplastic pathways, such as those pathways displaying chromosomal instability (CIN), microsatellite instability (MSI) or gene promoter activity changes due to the epigenetic phenomenon of methylation at CG dinucleotides (referred to as CIMP: CpG island methylation phenotype, whereby CpG describes dinoculeotides of cytosine and guanosine, separated by the characteristic phosphate group in the DNA structure). Each pathway subtype is characterised by individual genetic and molecular characteristics (Poulogiannis, 9
Sphingosine Kinase 2 Inhibition and Blood Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Levels

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) levels are significantly higher in blood and lymph than in tissues. This S1P concentration difference is necessary for proper lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissue and to maintain endothelial barrier integrity. Studies with mice lacking either sphingosine kinase (SphK) type 1 and 2 indicate that these enzymes are the sole biosynthetic source of S1P, but they play different roles in setting S1P blood levels. We have developed a set of drug-like SphK inhibitors, with differing selectivity for the two isoforms of this enzyme. Although all SphK inhibitors tested decrease S1P when applied to cultured U937 cells, only those inhibitors with a bias for SphK2 drove a substantial increase in blood S1P in mice and this rise was detectable within minutes of administration of the inhibitor. Blood S1P also increased in response to SphK2 inhibitors in rats. Mass-labeled S1P was cleared more slowly after intravenous injection into SphK2 inhibitor–treated mice or mice lacking a functional SphK2 gene; thus, the increased accumulation of S1P in the blood appears to result from the decreased clearance of S1P from the blood. Therefore, SphK2 appears to have a function independent of generating S1P in cells. Our results suggest that differential SphK inhibition with a drug might afford a method to manipulate blood S1P levels in either direction while lowering tissue S1P levels.
Nonlinear silicon photonics

Silicon is evolving as a versatile photonic platform with multiple functionalities that can be seamlessly integrated. The tool box is rich starting from the ability to guide and amplify multiple wavelength sources at GHz bandwidths, to optomechanical MEMS. The strong confinement of light in ultra small structures also enables the generation of strong optical forces. We have recently shown that nonlinear optical forces can enable controllable manipulation of photonic structures. These advances should enable future micro-optomechanical systems (MOMS) with novel and distinct functionalities. A research area that recently has emerged is nonlinear optics using silicon photonics. Since the birth of nonlinear optics, researchers have continually focused on developing efficient nonlinear optical devices that require low optical powers. The strong light confinement in silicon waveguides results in a high effective nonlinearity ad enables fine tuning of waveguide dispersion which is essential for phase matching of parametric nonlinear optical processes such as four-wave-mixing (FWM) We demonstrated FWM-based frequency conversion in waveguides using as little as 1 mW of pump power in a ring-resonator geometry, and ~100 mW of pump power over bandwidths exceeding 800 nm in a straight-waveguide device. In addition, by using the concept of time-space duality we have shown the temporally stretching and compressing of optical waveforms which allows for seamless transformation between the GHz and THz regimes.
I-PpoI and I-CreI homing site sequence degeneracy determined by random mutagenesis and sequential in vitro enrichment.

Plasmid libraries containing partially randomized cleavage sites for the eukaryotic homing endonucleases I-PpoI and I-CreI were constructed, and sites that could be cleaved by I-PpoI or I-CreI were selectively recovered by successive cycles of cleavage and gel separation followed by religation and growth in Escherichia coli. Twenty-one different I-PpoI-sensitive homing sites, including the native homing site, were isolated. These sites were identical at four nucleotide positions within the 15 bp homing site, had a restricted pattern of base substitutions at the remaining 11 positions and displayed a preference for purines flanking the top strand of the homing site sequence. Twenty-one different I-CreI-sensitive homing sites, including the native site, were isolated. Ten nucleotide positions were identical in homing site variants that were I-CreI-sensitive and required the addition of SDS for efficient cleavage product release. Four of these ten positions were identical in homing sites that did not require SDS for product release. There was a preference for pyrimidines flanking the top strand of the homing site sequence. Three of the 24 I-CreI homing site nucleotide positions apparently lacked informational content, i. e. were permissive of cleavage when occupied by any nucleotide. These results suggest that I-PpoI and I-CreI make a large number of DNA-protein contacts across their homing site sequences, and that different subsets of these contacts may be sufficient to maintain a high degree of sequence-specific homing site recognition and cleavage. The sequential enrichment protocol we used should be useful for defining the sequence degeneracy and informational content of other homing endonuclease target sites.
Enhanced Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocyte Maturation Using a Dual Microgradient Substrate

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) raise many possibilities for cardiac research but they exhibit an immature phenotype, which influences experimental outcomes. The aim of our research is to investigate the effects of a topographical gradient substrate on the morphology and function of commercially available hiPSC-CM. The lateral dimensions the microgrooves on the substrate varied from 8 to 100 μm space between the 8 μm grooves on one axis and from ∼5 nm to ∼1 μm in depth on the other axis. Cells were seeded homogeneously across the substrate and according to the manufacturers protocols. At days 4 and 10, measures of eccentricity, elongation, orientation, sarcomere length (SL), and contractility of the hiPSC-CM were taken. Only the deepest and widest region (8–30 μm wide and 0.85–1 μm deep) showed a significantly higher percentage of hiPSC-CM with an increased eccentricity (31.3 ± 6.4%), elongation (10.4 ± 4.3%), and orientation (<10°) (32.1 ± 2.7%) when compared with the control (flat substrate) (15.8 ± 5.0%, 3.4 ± 2.7%, and 10.6 ± 1.1%, respectively). Additionally, during stimulus-induced contraction, the relaxation phase of the twitch was prolonged (400 ms) compared to nonelongated cells (200 ms). These findings support the potential use of dual microgradient substrates to investigate substrate topographies that stimulate migration and/or maturation of hiPSC-CM.
[Acceptance of wearing a hearing aid by children].

BACKGROUND Having one or 2 hearing aids is not a guarantee that a child will wear the instruments constantly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hearing aid acceptance by children (assessed using the daily wearing time). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 116 parents of a patient population of persistent hearing-impaired children with a need for a hearing aid (average age 51.1 +/- 30.1 months) rated the wearing acceptance of their children on a 5-point-Likert-scale. This assessment was made after the child had received its individual hearing aid for its specific disorder (on average after 5 months). Hearing levels ranged from mild to profound. RESULTS 58.6% of the children accepted their electroacoustic aids amplier "excellent" or "good", 18.1% did it "average", 23.3% "bad" to "miserable" or even "not at all". There was no significant difference between girls and boys. The wearing acceptance from children with unilateral hearing impairments was reduced, especially from those with chronic conductive disorders by malformations of the ears. Very young children (prelingual hearing impairments), mainly those with additional handicaps and/or not German speaking homes demonstrated a "bad" to missing wearing behaviour. Hearing acceptance did not correlate with the severity of the disorder. CONCLUSION The wearing acceptance as one aspect of compliance should be rated before each regular hearing aid control. Finally it is an efficient and sensitive mean to detect faulty amplification and changed diagnosis.
Representing hybrid automata by action language modulo theories*

Abstract Both hybrid automata and action languages are formalisms for describing the evolution of dynamic systems. This paper establishes a formal relationship between them. We show how to succinctly represent hybrid automata in an action language which in turn is defined as a high-level notation for answer set programming modulo theories—an extension of answer set programs to the first-order level similar to the way satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) extends propositional satisfiability (SAT). We first show how to represent linear hybrid automata with convex invariants by an action language modulo theories. A further translation into SMT allows for computing them using SMT solvers that support arithmetic over reals. Next, we extend the representation to the general class of non-linear hybrid automata allowing even non-convex invariants. We represent them by an action language modulo ordinary differential equations, which can be compiled into satisfiability modulo ordinary differential equations. We present a prototype system cplus2aspmt based on these translations, which allows for a succinct representation of hybrid transition systems that can be computed effectively by the state-of-the-art SMT solver dReal.
Alternative Break programs and the factors that contribute to changes in students' lives

Title of the Dissertation: Alternative Break Programs and the Factors that Contribute to Changes in Students' Lives Elizabeth Kathleen Niehaus, Doctor of Philosophy, 2012 Dissertation directed by: Associate Professor Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to and ways in which student participants in Alternative Break (AB) programs report that their AB experience influenced their intentions or plans to volunteer, engage in advocacy, or study or travel abroad, or their major or career plans. Additional analysis explored the specific program characteristics related to the influence of the AB experience on students’ lives in these six ways, and differences between domestic and international AB programs. The theoretical basis of this study was provided by Mezirow’s (1991, 1997, 2000) theory of Transformative Learning, Fishbein and Ajzen’s (1975) theory of Reasoned Action, and Etzioni (1992) theory of Normative-Affective Decision Making. Building on these three theories, Astin’s (1991) Inputs-Environments-Outcomes (IEO) model provided structure to the analysis and interpretation of the relationships between student, program, and institutional characteristics and the outcomes in question. The data from this study were collected as part of the National Survey of Alternative Breaks, a multi-institutional survey of students who participated in Alternative Spring Break programs in 2011. Overall 2187 students responded to the survey, representing 443 separate AB trips and 97 colleges and universities. Data from the survey were analyzed following the above conceptual framework (modified to account for the nesting of the data) using descriptive analysis and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The results of this study show that students overwhelmingly do report that their AB experience influences these outcomes, and there are a number of program characteristics related to the influence of the AB programs. The extent to which students were emotionally challenged and able to connect their AB experience to larger social issues, the frequency with which students wrote in individual journals, the amount students learned from their interactions with community members and other students on their trip, and the comprehensiveness of the reorientation program after returning to campus were all significant, positive predictors of all or most of the outcomes explored. Finally, an international program location was significantly related to the influence of the AB experience on students’ intentions or plans to study or travel abroad. ALTERNATIVE BREAK PROGRAMS AND THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CHANGES IN STUDENTS’ LIVES
BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF VIRULENT AND AVIRULENT STRAINS OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS

Although anthrax was the first disease shown to be caused by bacteria, there is much that we still do not understand about the disease and the responsible organism Bacillus anthracis. In many areas a great deal of information has been accumulated about the organism, such as nutritional requirements for growth, factors affecting capsule formation, some conditions required for toxin production, and factors affecting sporulation. However, in spite of all this knowledge there are many unsolved problems concerning its virulence. To attest to this fact it is necessary only to point out that the only way to grade cultures with respect to virulence is to test them in animals. Within certain limits strains can be screened by presumptive tests in vitro, but confirmation can be attained only by animal tests. Two factors that almost certainly are associated with virulence are the capsule and toxin. This report consists mostly of summaries of the current status of our knowledge about each of these factors.
Variation-adaptive feedback control for networks-on-chip with multiple clock domains

This paper discusses the use of networks-on-chip (NoCs) consisting of multiple voltage-frequency islands to cope with power consumption, clock distribution and parameter variation problems in future multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs). In this architecture, communication within each island is synchronous, while communication across different islands is achieved via mixed-clock mixed-voltage queues. In order to dynamically control the speed of each domain in the presence of parameter and workload variations, we propose a robust feedback control methodology. Towards this end, we first develop a state-space model based on the utilization of the inter-domain queues. Then, we identify the theoretical conditions under which the network is controllable. Finally, we synthesize state feedback controllers to cope with workload variations and minimize power consumption. Experimental results demonstrate robustness to parameter variations and more than 40% energy savings by exploiting workload variations through dynamic voltage-frequency scaling (DVFS) for a hardware MPEG-2 encoder design.
Statistical Motion Model Based on the Change of Feature Relationships: Human Gait-Based Recognition

We offer a novel representation scheme for view-based motion analysis using just the change in the relational statistics among the detected image features, without the need for object models, perfect segmentation, or part-level tracking. We model the relational statistics using the probability that a random group of features in an image would exhibit a particular relation. To reduce the representational combinatorics of these relational distributions, we represent them in a Space of Probability Functions (SoPF), where the Euclidean distance is related to the Bhattacharya distance between probability functions. Different motion types sweep out different traces in this space. We demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of this representation in the context of recognizing persons from gait. In particular, on outdoor sequences: (1) we demonstrate the possibility of recognizing persons from not only walking gait, but running and jogging gaits as well; (2) we study recognition robustness with respect to view-point variation; and (3) we benchmark the recognition performance on a database of 71 subjects walking on soft grass surface, where we achieve around 90 percent recognition rates in the presence of viewpoint variation.