Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Full Image Interactive Segmentation by Leveraging Within-image Appearance Similarity

We propose a new approach to interactive full-image semantic segmentation which enables quickly collecting training data for new datasets with previously unseen semantic classes (A demo is available at this https URL). We leverage a key observation: propagation from labeled to unlabeled pixels does not necessarily require class-specific knowledge, but can be done purely based on appearance similarity within an image. We build on this observation and propose an approach capable of jointly propagating pixel labels from multiple classes without having explicit class-specific appearance models. To enable long-range propagation, our approach first globally measures appearance similarity between labeled and unlabeled pixels across the entire image. Then it locally integrates per-pixel measurements which improves the accuracy at boundaries and removes noisy label switches in homogeneous regions. We also design an efficient manual annotation interface that extends the traditional polygon drawing tools with a suite of additional convenient features (and add automatic propagation to it). Experiments with human annotators on the COCO Panoptic Challenge dataset show that the combination of our better manual interface and our novel automatic propagation mechanism leads to reducing annotation time by more than factor of 2x compared to polygon drawing. We also test our method on the ADE-20k and Fashionista datasets without making any dataset-specific adaptation nor retraining our model, demonstrating that it can generalize to new datasets and visual classes.
IDEA AND PERSPECT IVE A hierarchical theory of macroecology

*Correspondence: E-mail: sophia. passy@uta.edu Abstract The relationships of local population density (N ) with body size (M ) and distribution (D ) have been extensively studied because they reveal how ecological and historical factors structure species communities; however, a unifying model explaining their joint behaviour, has not been developed. Here, I propose a theory that explores these relationships hierarchically and predicts that: (1) at a metacommunity level, niche breadth, population density and regional distribution are all related and size-dependent and (2) at a community level, the exponents b and d of the relationships N ~ M b and N ~ D d are functions ( f ) of the environment and, consequently, species richness (S ), allowing the following reformulation of the power laws: N ~ M f(S) and N ~ D . Using this framework and continental data on stream environment, diatoms, invertebrates and fish, I address the following fundamental, but unresolved ecological questions: how do species partition their resources across environments, is energetic equivalence among them possible, are generalists more common than specialists, why are locally abundant species also regionally prevalent, and, do microbes have different biogeography than macroorganisms? The discovery that community scaling behaviour is environmentally constrained calls for better integration of macroecology and environmental science.
Modeling individual-level heterogeneity in racial residential segregation

We investigate the dynamic relationship between residential choices of individuals and resulting long-term aggregate segregation patterns, allowing for feedback effects of macrolevel neighborhood conditions on residential choices. We reinterpret past survey data on whites’ attitudes about desired neighborhoods as revealing large heterogeneity in whites’ tolerance of black neighbors. Through agent-based modeling, we improve on a previous model of residential racial segregation by introducing individual-level heterogeneity in racial tolerance. Our model predicts, in the long run, a lower level of residential racial segregation than would be true with homogeneous racial tolerance. Further analysis shows that whites’ tolerance of black neighbors is closely associated with their overall racial attitudes toward blacks.
Prehypertension prior to or during early pregnancy is associated with increased risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and gestational diabetes

Objective: To examine whether and to what extent pre/early-pregnancy blood pressure (BP) in the prehypertensive range contributes to the development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: The cohort consisted of women who had their prenatal care and delivered a live singleton neonate at the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center during 2005–2010. Women with prepregnancy hypertension (HTN) were excluded from the analysis. Among the remaining women, pre/early-pregnancy prehypertension (preHTN) was defined as two consecutive elevated BPs (SBP ≥ 120 or DBP ≥ 80) at separate ambulatory visits in the period from 1 year prior to pregnancy through the first trimester. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E), were identified by ICD-9 diagnoses. Mid-pregnancy 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests were used to identify GDM. Multivariable logistic and robust Poisson regression was used to test the association between preHTN and each outcome, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Among 7802 women with at least two BP measures prior to or early in pregnancy, 2156 (27.6%) had preHTN. Overall, 653 (8.4%) developed a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, 373 (4.8%) had PE/E, and 1877 (24.1%) developed GDM. After covariate adjustment, women with preHTN were 2.65 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.22–3.16], 2.17 (95% CI 1.72–2.73), and 1.20 (95% CI 1.09–1.33) times as likely to develop any hypertensive disorder, PE/E, and GDM, respectively, compared to normotensive women. Conclusion: Prospective studies aimed at evaluating whether women with preHTN detected prior to or early in pregnancy may benefit from more intensive screening and/or interventions to prevent hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and GDM are needed.
Comprehensive microRNA expression profiling of the hematopoietic hierarchy

The hematopoietic system produces a large number of highly specialized cell types that are derived through a hierarchical differentiation process from a common stem cell population. miRNAs are critical players in orchestrating this differentiation. Here, we report the development and application of a high-throughput microfluidic real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) approach for generating global miRNA profiles for 27 phenotypically distinct cell populations isolated from normal adult mouse hematopoietic tissues. A total of 80,000 RT-qPCR assays were used to map the landscape of miRNA expression across the hematopoietic hierarchy, including rare progenitor and stem cell populations. We show that miRNA profiles allow for the direct inference of cell lineage relations and functional similarity. Our analysis reveals a close relatedness of the miRNA expression patterns in multipotent progenitors and stem cells, followed by a major reprogramming upon restriction of differentiation potential to a single lineage. The analysis of miRNA expression in single hematopoietic cells further demonstrates that miRNA expression is very tightly regulated within highly purified populations, underscoring the potential of single-cell miRNA profiling for assessing compartment heterogeneity.
Plasma sheet and (nonstorm) ring current formation from solar and polar wind sources

We consider the formation of the plasma sheet and geosynchronous region (nonstorm) ring current in the framework of collisionless test particle motions in three-dimensional magnetospheric fields obtained from self-consistent MHD simulations. Simulation results are compared with observations of the near-Earth plasma sheet from the Polar spacecraft during 2001 and 2002. Many particles were initiated in two regions representative of the solar wind source upstream of the bow shock and the polar wind source outside the plasmasphere, both of which are dominated by protons (H+). Proton trajectories are run until they precipitate into the atmosphere, escape from the simulation space, or become stably trapped. These calculations produce a database of proton characteristics in each 1 RE3 volume element of the magnetosphere and yield velocity distributions as well as bulk plasma properties. We report results reflecting steady growth phase conditions after 45 min of southward interplanetary field, BZ = −5 nT (BY = 0), and for conditions resulting after 2 hours of northward BZ = +5 nT. The results for simulated velocity distributions are consistent with the Polar soundings of the current sheet from lobe to lobe and with AMPTE/CCE observations of (nonstorm) ring current region protons. The simulations help us identify the differentiation between solar and polar wind H+ ions in observations. The weak NBZ ring current-like pressure is primarily polar wind protons, while the moderately active SBZ ring current-like pressure is primarily solar wind protons. The solar and polar wind contributions to the SBZ ring current are comparable in density, but the solar protons have a higher average energy. For SBZ, solar wind protons enter the nonstorm ring current region primarily via the dawn flank and to a lesser degree via the midnight plasma sheet. For NBZ, solar wind protons enter the ring current-like region via the cusp and flanks. Polar wind protons enter the nonstorm ring current through the midnight plasma sheet in both cases. Solar and ionospheric plasmas thus take different transport paths to the geosynchronous (nonstorm) ring current region and may thus be expected to respond differently to substorm dynamics of the magnetotail.
Procalcitonin levels correlates with the pathogeny and severity of community acquired pneumonia

Background: The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the role of PCT (procalcitonin) in diagnosis and prognosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) by a meta-analysis. Methods: Two researchers independently performed a retrieve on the databases of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane published in English up to July 2015. The search strategy was (“community acquired pneumonia” OR CAP) AND procalcitonin. The risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI (confidence interval) was used for the analysis of dichotomous data. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% CI were used to perform the analysis for continuous outcomes. All statistical analyses were performed by using RevMan (Review Manager) 5.3 software and Stata 12.0 statistical software package. Heterogeneity was analyzed with the Cochran Q test and I2 test. Stata 12.0 was used to perform sensitivity analysis. Results: A total of 15 studies (6401 adult patients diagnosed with CAP) were selected in this meta-analysis. The number of patient mortality in PCT≥0.5 ng/ml was twice that of PCT<0.5 ng/ml (RR = 0.50 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.62)). The number of patients that pathogen could be detected was 1.31 times that of could not be detected (RR = 1.31 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.55)). PCT levels of death cases were significantly higher than those of survival cases (SMD = -0.31 (95% CI: -0.50, -0.13)). The sensitivity analysis showed that this meta-analysis result was stable. Conclusions: Serum PCT levels are significantly related with detection of CAP pathogen and severity of CAP cases.
İLKÖĞRETİM OKULU MÜDÜRLERİNDEN BEKLENEN ROLLER VE KARŞILANMA DÜZEYLERİ

Bu arastirmada, ilkogretim okulu mudurlerinden beklenen roller ve karsilanma duzeyleri karsilastirmaliiliskisel tarama modeline uygun olarak incelenmistir. Arastirmada; arastirmaci tarafindan gelistirilen “Ilkogretim Okulu Mudurlerinden Beklenen Roller ve Karsilanma Duzeyleri” isimli olcek kullanilmistir. Arastirmanin evrenini ulkemizin yedi farklicografi bolgesindeki 14 il’ de 2004-2005 egitimogretim yilinda gorev yapan tesadufi kume ornekleme yontemi ile secilen mufettisler, mudurler ve ogretmenler olusturmaktadir. Arastirmada; Aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma, t testi, ANOVA, Tukey HSD testi kullanilmistir. Arastirmada mufettis, mudur ve ogretmenlerin cinsiyet, gorev ve mesleki kidemlerine gore mudurlerden bekledikleri roller ve bu rollerin karsilanma duzeyleri arasinda faklilik olup olmadigi arastirilmistir. Ayrica, tum grup, mufettis, mudur ve ogretmenlerin mudurlerden oncelikle bekledikleri roller ve bu rollerin karsilanma durumlariincelenmistir. Arastirma sonucunda, bazidegiskenler bakimindan tum grup, mufettisve mudur ve ogretmenlerin goruslerinin farklilastigitespit edilmistir.
The Effect of Financial Access on Networks : Evidence from a Field Experiment in Nepal ∗

We study how an exogenous expansion in formal financial access affects the structure of the network of financial transactions. We use a unique panel dataset that contains detailed information on the network of financial transactions before and after a field experiment that randomly gave access to a savings account to half of the households in 19 slums in Nepal. We provide evidence that the intervention has affected the network of financial transactions, and we show that not taking this network change into accounts bias downwards the estimates of a standard peer effect model. While previous literature has mostly taken the network structure as exogenous, our paper attempts to shed light on the individuals strategic incentives to link formation. JEL codes: D85; G21; O17
Psychological distress and coping in breast cancer patients and healthy women whose parents survived the Holocaust

Psychological distress levels of breast cancer patients whose parents were Holocaust survivors (‘second‐generation Holocaust’ patients) were previously shown to be significantly higher than those of a matched group of patients with non‐traumatized parents. In this study, we investigated whether this effect reflects only the generally higher distress levels of second‐generation Holocaust women or whether breast cancer patients with traumatized parents also present lower adaptation abilities, which result in increased distress to the breast cancer diagnosis.
Evaluating Computer-Assisted Language Learning: An Integrated Approach to Effectiveness Research in CALL

Schools, colleges and universities are investing a great deal in the purchase of computer resources for the teaching of modern languages, butwhether these resources make a measurable difference to the learning of language students is still unclear. In this book the author outlinesthe existing evidence for the impact of computers on language learning and makes the case for an integrated approach to the evaluationof computer-assisted language learning (CALL). Drawing on current and past research linked to CALL and e-learning, the author builds acomprehensive model for evaluating not just the software used in language learning, but also the teaching and learning that takes place incomputer-based environments, and the digital platforms themselves. This book will be of interest not only to language teachers and CALLresearchers, but also to those interested in e-learning and general research methodology, as well as designers of educational software, digitallabs, virtual learning environments (VLEs) and institutional budget holders.
Premature Expression of Chemokine Receptor CCR9 Impairs T Cell Development

During thymocyte development, CCR9 is expressed on late CD4−CD8− (double-negative (DN)) and CD4+CD8+ (double-positive) cells, but is subsequently down-regulated as cells transition to the mature CD4+ or CD8+ (single-positive (SP)) stage. This pattern of expression has led to speculation that CCR9 may regulate thymocyte trafficking and/or export. In this study, we generated transgenic mice in which CCR9 surface expression was maintained throughout T cell development. Significantly, forced expression of CCR9 on mature SP thymocytes did not inhibit their export from the thymus, indicating that CCR9 down-regulation is not essential for thymocyte emigration. CCR9 was also expressed prematurely on immature DN thymocytes in CCR9 transgenic mice. Early expression of CCR9 resulted in a partial block of development at the DN stage and a marked reduction in the numbers of double-positive and SP thymocytes. Moreover, in CCR9-transgenic mice, CD25high DN cells were scattered throughout the cortex rather than confined to the subcapsular region of the thymus. Together, these results suggest that regulated expression of CCR9 is critical for normal development of immature thymocytes, but that down-regulation of CCR9 is not a prerequisite for thymocyte emigration.
Tooth-surface-specific Effects of Xylitol

The Xylitol for Adult Caries Trial was a three-year, double-blind, multi-center, randomized clinical trial that evaluated the effectiveness of xylitol vs. placebo lozenges in the prevention of dental caries in caries-active adults. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to investigate whether xylitol lozenges had a differential effect on cumulative caries increments on different tooth surfaces. Participants (ages 21-80 yrs) with at least one follow-up visit (n = 620) were examined at baseline, 12, 24, and 33 months. Negative binomial and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) for xylitol’s differential effect on cumulative caries increments on root and coronal surfaces and, among coronal surfaces, on smooth (buccal and lingual), occlusal, and proximal surfaces. Participants in the xylitol arm developed 40% fewer root caries lesions (0.23 D2FS/year) than those in the placebo arm (0.38 D2FS/year; IRR = 0.60; 95% CI [0.44, 0.81]; p < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between xylitol and control participants in the incidence of smooth-surface caries (p = .100), occlusal-surface caries (p = .408), or proximal-surface caries (p = .159). Among these caries-active adults, xylitol appears to have a caries-preventive effect on root surfaces (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00393055).
Vertebral osteophyte of pre-modern Korean skeletons from Joseon tombs

Spinal osteophytic changes are known to be affected by differences in age, sex, population, and mechanical stress. We examined Joseon skeletons (n=87) to obtain vertebral osteophytosis data on a pre-modern Korean population. The mean osteophytic value (MOV) of vertebrae increased in the cervical-thoracic-lumbar order. More severe osteophytosis was found in the vertebrae (C5, T9, T10, and L4) farthest from the line of gravity, while the general pattern of vertebral osteophytosis appeared similar to those of previous reports on other skeletal series. More severe osteophytes were much more common in the males, possibly due to their engaging in more strenuous physical labor than that of females. We also observed MOV patterns seemingly unique to the Joseon people, and findings not typically reported in previous studies. Although a full explanation of the factors contributing to vertebral-osteophytic development in Joseon Koreans will require further studies, the present results are meaningful to anatomists and anthropologists interested in osteophytic patterns occurring in an East Asian population.
Differences in Peak Impact Accelerations Among Foot Strike Patterns in Recreational Runners

Introduction Running-related injuries (RRIs) occur from a combination of training load errors and aberrant biomechanics. Impact loading, measured by peak acceleration, is an important measure of running biomechanics that is related to RRI. Foot strike patterns may moderate the magnitude of impact load in runners. The effect of foot strike pattern on peak acceleration has been measured using tibia-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs), but not commercially available insole-embedded IMUs. The aim of this study was to compare the peak acceleration signal associated with rearfoot (RFS), midfoot (MFS), and forefoot (FFS) strike patterns when measured with an insole-embedded IMU. Materials and Methods Healthy runners ran on a treadmill for 1 min at three different speeds with their habitual foot strike pattern. An insole-embedded IMU was placed inside standardized neutral cushioned shoes to measure the peak resultant, vertical, and anteroposterior accelerations at impact. The Foot strike pattern was determined by two experienced observers and evaluated using high-speed video. Linear effect mixed-effect models were used to quantify the relationship between foot strike pattern and peak resultant, vertical, and anteroposterior acceleration. Results A total of 81% of the 187 participants exhibited an RFS pattern. An RFS pattern was associated with a higher peak resultant (0.29 SDs; p = 0.029) and vertical (1.19 SD; p < 0.001) acceleration when compared with an FFS running pattern, when controlling for speed and limb, respectively. However, an MFS was associated with the highest peak accelerations in the resultant direction (0.91 SD vs. FFS; p = 0.002 and 0.17 SD vs. RFS; p = 0.091). An FFS pattern was associated with the lowest peak accelerations in both the resultant and vertical directions. An RFS was also associated with a significantly greater peak acceleration in the anteroposterior direction (0.28 SD; p = 0.033) than an FFS pattern, while there was no difference between MFS and FFS patterns. Conclusion Our findings indicate that runners should be grouped by RFS, MFS, and FFS when comparing peak acceleration, rather than the common practice of grouping MFS and FFS together as non-RFS runners. Future studies should aim to determine the risk of RRI associated with peak accelerations from an insole-embedded IMU to understand whether the small observed differences in this study are clinically meaningful.
Cardiorespiratory responses during underwater and land treadmill exercise in college athletes.

CONTEXT Underwater treadmill (UTM) exercise is being used with increased frequency for rehabilitation of injured athletes, yet there has been little research conducted on this modality. OBJECTIVE To determine the cardiorespiratory responses of UTM vs land treadmill (LTM) exercise, particularly with respect to the relationship between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2). DESIGN AND SETTING This quantitative original research took place in sports medicine and athletic training facilities at Wake Forest University. PARTICIPANTS 11 Wake Forest University student athletes (20.8 ± 0.6 y, 6 women and 5 men). INTERVENTION All participants completed the UTM and LTM exercise-testing protocols in random order. After 5 min of standing rest, both UTM and LTM protocols had 4 stages of increasing belt speed (2.3, 4.9, 7.3, and 9.6 km/h) followed by 3 exercise stages at 9.6 km/h with increasing water-jet resistance (30%, 40%, and 50% of jet capacity) or inclines (1%, 2%, and 4% grade). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A Cosmed K4b2 device with Polar monitor was used to collect HR, ventilation (Ve), tidal volume (TV), breathing frequency (Bf), and VO2 every minute. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also obtained each minute. RESULTS There was no significant difference between UTM and LTM for VO2 at rest or during any stage of exercise except stage 3. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between UTM and LTM for HR, Ve, Bf, and RPE on any exercise stage. Linear regression of HR vs VO2, across all stages of exercise, indicates a similar relationship in these variables during UTM (r = .94, y = .269x - 10.86) and LTM (r = .95, y = .291x - 12.98). CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that UTM and LTM exercise elicits similar cardiorespiratory responses and that HR can be used to guide appropriate exercise intensity for college athletes during UTM.