Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced Techniques for Scene Analysis

Abstract : The overall objective of this project is to develop advanced techniques for scene analysis. Specifically, the problems of image registration, tracking, and change detection are considered. In this project, the following new techniques have been developed: 1) robust feature-based algorithm for object tracking, 2) motion-segmentation-based technique for change detection, 3) a target detection algorithm that consists of image differencing, maximum-margin classifier, and diversity combining, 4) a rotation-invariant transform for change detection, 5) a depth-based image registration algorithm, 6) an image registration algorithm that leverages wavelet, 7) a machine learning algorithm to automatically recover 3D surface from sparse 3D points, 8) an automatic surface fitting method for 3D reconstruction from 2D video sequence, and 9) a depth-based image registration method via geometric segmentation.
An association between genotypes at the porcine loci MSTN (GDF8) and CAST and microstructural characteristics of m. longissimus lumborum : a preliminary study

Abstract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the microstructure characteristics of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle and the genotype at porcine loci MSTN and CAST. The study was carried out on 132 unrelated pigs – 93 crosses of Pietrain and (Polish Large White x Polish Landrace) and 39 Stamboek castrated males. Crosses Pi x (PLW x PL), with an equal proportion of castrated males (n=46) and females (n=47), were of genotype CC or CT at the locus RYR1, whereas Stamboek pigs were of genotype CC at this locus. The diameters of slow-twitch oxidative (STO), fast-twitch oxidative (FTO) and fast-twitch glycolytic (FTG) fibers, their per cent share in a bundle and number of fibers per 1 mm2 were determined. Moreover, the analyses covered the frequency of occurrence of pathological fibers, including giant and angular fibers. The parameters examined, characterising the microstructure of LL muscle, were not found to be related to the presence of the C→T polymorphism in exon 3 of the MSTN gene, identified by enzyme TaqI. However, it was shown that the diameters of the STO, FTO and FTG fibres in the LL muscle were significantly smallest in the Stamboek pigs with genotype FF at locus CAST compared to both the remaining genotypes. Among the crosses Pi x (PLW x PL) this genotype was not observed. The content of FTG fibres in a bundle proved to be related to the CAST genotype in Stamboek pigs. The frequency of pathological fibres in the LL muscle was the lowest in pigs with genotype EE at the locus CAST, but only in the case of the crosses Pi x (PLW x PL) was this relation statistically significant. The studies should be continued to determine whether such relations occur in other pig breeds. The frequency of pathological fibres affects meat quality and thus the polymorphism of the CAST gene could be of importance in selection.
Effects of confinement and environment on the electronic structure and exciton binding energy of MoS2 from first principles

Using GW first-principles calculations for few-layer and bulk MoS2, we study the effects of quantum confinement on the electronic structure of this layered material. By solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation, we also evaluate the exciton energy in these systems. Our results are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data. Exciton binding energy is found to dramatically increase from 0.1 eV in the bulk to 1.1 eV in the monolayer. The fundamental band gap increases as well, so that the optical transition energies remain nearly constant. We also demonstrate that environments with different dielectric constants have a profound effect on the electronic structure of the monolayer. Our results can be used for engineering the electronic properties of MoS2 and other transition-metal dichalcogenides and may explain the experimentally observed variations in the mobility of monolayer MoS2.
Development of a New Application for Multimedia Learning with Animation Exaggeration Based on Addie Model

Several studies have shown that a majority of students have problems in learning the topic of integers of the Form One Mathematics. This study was carried out to develop and testing a multimedia learning application with the principles of animation exaggeration on students’ achievement. The experimental study was based on the pre-test postest control group design involving two experimental groups and one control group. The development of the multimedia learning application was based on the ADDIE model. The main data were the mean scores of the pre-test and posttest measurements, and an interview. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out showing that the group that used the multimedia learning application with the principles of animation exaggeration outperformed the other two groups. This result suggests that exaggeration principles can be used in the development of multimedia learning tools to help students learn mathematics, especially for topics with abstract concepts.
Global distribution of deep convection reaching tropopause in 1 year GPM observations

To characterize and quantify tropopause‐reaching deep convection, 1 year of Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Ku band radar echoes are surveyed in relation to several reference levels derived from the ERA‐Interim reanalysis data set. Consistent with the observations of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission over the tropics, the GPM has detected tropopause‐reaching deep convection dominantly over tropical land, especially over Panama and Central Africa. At middle and high latitudes, tropopause‐reaching convective storms are mainly found over land in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer. Compared to those in the tropics, convective cores at middle and high latitudes have relatively larger sizes at the tropopause, especially those over central North America. The zonal distributions of the occurrences of 15 dBZ and 20 dBZ radar echoes at the tropopause show two comparable maxima, one in the tropics and the other in northern middle‐high latitudes. This implies that the convection penetrating the tropopause at northern middle‐high latitudes is as frequent as those over the tropics. It is important to understand their role in the vertical transport of trace gases between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
COMMON FIXED POINT RESULTS FOR NON-LINEAR CONTRACTIONS IN G-METRIC SPACES

We establish common fixed point results for three self-mappings on a G-metric space satisfying non linear contractions. Also, we prove the uniqueness of such common fixed point, as well as studying the G-continuity at such point. Our results extend some known works. Also, an example is given to illustrate our obtained results.
Antihyperlipidemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus L.) leaves in high fat diet fed rats

The 50% hydroalcoholic extract of Hibiscus cannabinus leaves was examined for its antihyperlipidemic effect in in-vivo high fat diet fed model. The activity was assessed by estimation of serum lipid profile viz. total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), stress (TBARS) and liver histopathological studies of control and drug-treated animals. The extract exhibited a strong dose dependent antihyperlipidemic activity and at dose level 400mg/kg p.o. the extract showed a significant decrease in the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TBARS. In addition, the extract markedly prevented the liver microvesicular steatosis in hyperlipidemic rats. The present study demonstrated that the extract exhibits a potent lipid lowering activity in diet induced hyperlipidemia which account for some of the medical claims attributed to this plant
Optimizing the Role of Polymer Blend in the Preparation of Acyclovir Controlled-Release Tablets: An Approach for Better Patient Compliance

This study was carried out to formulate and evaluate controlled release (CR) matrix tablets of Acyclovir using combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. Acyclovir is a guanine derivative and is its half-life is short hence administered five times a day using immediate release tablets. Six formulations (F1-F6) were developed using Ethocel and Carbopol in equal combinations at drug-polymer (D:P) ratio of 10:5, 10:6, 10:7, 10:8, 10:9 and 10:10. Solubility study was performed using six different solvents. The compatibility studies were carried out using FTIR and DSC. According to USP, Quality Control and dimensional tests (hardness, friability, disintegration and thickness) were executed. In-vitro drug release studies of Acyclovir was carried out in dissolution apparatus using using 0.1 N HCl medium at constant temperature of 37 ± 0.5 ºC. In order to analyze the drug release kinetics, five different mathematical models were applied to the release data. The results showed that there was no incompatibility between drug and polymers. Physical QC tests were found within limits of USP. The release was retarded upto 24 hrs and non-fickian in-vitro drug release mechanism was found. A formulation developed using blend of polymers, showed excellent retention and desired release profiles thus providing absolute control for 24 hrs.
Effect of Wrist Resistance Training on Motor Control and Strength in Young Males

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 6-week wrist resistance training on wrist torque control. Nineteen subjects were randomly assigned to either the wrist training group (n=9) or the control group (n=10). The training group performed wrist exercises for six directions (flexion, extension, pronation, supination, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation) while the control group did not. Testing for the isometric torque control error, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, and isokinetic maximum torque (angular velocity of 60o/s wrist movements) were conducted before and after six weeks of resistance training and after every two-week interval of training. The wrist training group showed significant decreases in isometric torque control error in all six directions after the 2-week resistance training, while the control group did not show significant increase or decrease. The training group showed significant increases in the maximum strength in all six directions assessed by 1-RM strength and isokinetic strength tests after the 4-week resistance training, while the control group did not show any statistically significant changes. This study shows that motor control ability significantly improves within the first two weeks of resistance training, while the wrist strength significantly improves within the first four weeks of resistance training in wrist training group compared to the control.
The growing value of age: exploring economic gains from age-specific harvesting in the Northeast Arctic cod fishery

The importance of a fish stock’s age structure is increasingly recognized in economics and ecology. Still, current policies predominately rely on measures of the aggregate biomass. Here, a detailed bio-economic model is calibrated on the Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) fishery to assess the efficiency gains from controlling gear selectivity and explore them under a suite of different scenarios. While the absolute size of economic gains varies drastically with the particular biological modeling assumptions, the relative economic gains from age-differentiated management show that it is high time to move beyond traditional reference points.
Natural Products as Potential Sources of Antidiabetic Drugs

Natural products have played and continue to play an invaluable role in the treatment of various diseases and in drug discovery processes. It has remained a source of new compounds with diversified structural arrangements possessing interesting biological activities for various disease treatments. Drugs from natural products are usually considered to be safer, cheaper, easily available and sometimes more efficacious than purely synthetic ones. In recent years, scientists have been in search for safer and more Review Article Artic le British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 4(17): 2075-2095, 2014 2076 potent drugs from natural sources particularly from medicinal plants. Diabetes is one of the chronic disorders which are associated with high mortality risk. The existing drugs have been identified with one or more adverse effects. In the present review, literature was surveyed to highlight the merits of natural products with regard to their role in diabetic management. Notwithstanding the seemingly decline in the natural product approach to drug discovery in favor of modern approaches such as combinatorial chemistry, literature survey has shown that a lot of research effort is still being directed to natural product in search for new antidiabetic agents. Several antidiabetic phytoconstituents have been isolated from medicinal plants and these were of chemically diversified nature which includes flavonoids, glycosides, terpens, polysaccharides and polypeptides. Based on the merits of nature based medicines, the authors advocate the use of standardized crude forms of some of the natural drugs. Further researches geared towards exploiting the vast array of natural products in our environment and development of the isolated compounds to clinically useful drugs for diabetes management is advocated.
MATERNAL RECOGNITION OF PREGNANCY IN THE MARE – A MINI REVIEW

A number of features of early embryonic development in equids are unusual or unique; these appear to include the critical but poorly understood mechanism(s) responsible for the ‘maternal recognition of pregnancy’. Maternal recognition of pregnancy is the physiological process by which a developing conceptus signals it presence to the maternal organism to prolong the lifespan of the primary corpus luteum (CL) and thereby ensure the continued supply of progesterone that is essential for embryonic survival and development. However, it is not yet clear what the primary conceptus signal to ensure CL prolongation in the horse is, and while a number of potential contributors to maternal recognition and the establishment of pregnancy have been proposed, none have been able to satisfactorily fulfill the criteria required of an intrauterine luteostatic or antiluteolytic factor. On the other hand, it is generally accepted that maternal recognition of pregnancy is of critical importance and that failure to either send or receive the signal appropriately is likely to lead to early embryonic death. Indeed, pregnancy loss at or soon after the expected time of maternal pregnancy recognition (days 10-16 of gestation) is a common, but unpredictable (and therefore difficult to prevent), occurrence in clinical practice and a considerable source of financial loss to the breeding industry.
STRATEGIC VISIONING: INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES IN TOURISM DESTINATION PLANNING

While sustainable development is asserted to underpin contemporary approaches to tourism destination planning and management, the extent to which this legitimately occurs in practice has been repeatedly questioned. Therefore, strategic visioning, a well accepted planning approach in corporate and community contexts, has been proposed as a means of incorporating multiple stakeholder perspectives into the tourism destination planning process. This paper reports on the findings of interviews undertaken with stakeholder participants of two strategic visioning exercises in Australia. Little empirical research on strategic visioning in a tourism destination context has been undertaken and this paper examines the potential of th is approach in addressing the principle of sustainable development in practice.
From Cellulose Dissolution and Regeneration to Added Value Applications — Synergism Between Molecular Understanding and Material Development

Modern society is now demanding “greener” materials due to depleting fossil fuels and increasing environmental awareness. In the near future, industries will need to become more resource-conscious by making greater use of available renewable and sustainable raw materials. In this context, agro-forestry and related industries can in‐ deed contribute to solve many resource challenges for society and suppliers in the near future. Thus, cellulose can be predicted to become an important resource for ma‐ terials due to its abundance and versatility as a biopolymer. Cellulose is found in many different forms and applications. However, the dissolution and regeneration of cellulose are key (and challenging) aspects in many potential applications. This chap‐ ter is divided into two parts: (i) achievements in the field of dissolution and regenera‐ tion of cellulose including solvents and underlying mechanisms of dissolution; and (ii) state-of-the-art production of value-added materials and their applications includ‐ ing manmade textile fibers, hydrogels, aerogels, and all-cellulose composites, where the latter is given special attention.
Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta), a novel coccoid green alga carrying significant biotechnological potential.

Phylogenetic position, morphology and ultrastructure were investigated for biotechnologically remarkable strain Chlorella vulgaris IFR C-111, utilized in various commercial applications. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU and ITS rDNA data revealed that the strain IFR C-111 forms a distinct lineage within the Parachlorella-clade in Chlorellaceae. We describe this organism as a new genus and species, Planktochlorella nurekis. Vegetative cells of this newly recognized species are spherical, possessing a single pot-shaped chloroplast with starch-covered pyrenoid. Asexually it reproduces by the formation of 2-16(-32) autospores. Cell wall is composed of two layers, the outer layer containing extended microfibrillar material. The fuzzy cell wall structure improves the buoyancy resulting in low sedimentation rate of P. nurekis. To resolve the phylogenetic position of Planktochlorella and its relationship to the closely related genera, nucleotide saturation present in the ITS rDNA data was reduced by four different approaches. The resulting topologies pointed to the poor phylogenetic signal in generally utilized SSU and ITS rDNA data and the need of sequencing other molecular markers.
Legionnaires’ Disease and Use of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Αlpha Inhibitors: A Forthcoming Problem?

Abstract Aim: To establish a review in the current literature and to analyze the relation Legionnaires’ disease - TNF-α inhibitors, in order to estimate the real indications for such connection. Material and Methods: The electronic data for PubMed and Google Scholar have been searched, according to the vocabulary: legionellosis, epidemiology, outbreak, diagnosis, pathogenesis, therapy, TNF-α inhibitors, indications, side effects, risk of infection. The obtained studies have been selected in English, according to the relevance by the topic. Results: Selected papers, consisted of ten studies and eight case reports, yielded 35 cases of Legionnaires' disease associated with the use of TNF- α inhibitor treatment. Discussion: There is a prevailing conclusion for increased risk of serious infections while using TNF-α inhibitors and also a deficiency of studies for an association of Legionnaires’ disease with the use of TNF-α inhibitors. Sub-diagnosing and no-existence of screening before the anti-TNF-α therapy blur the factual profile for the researched relation. The possibility for latent infection has not been sufficiently researched. Conclusion: There are indications that Legionnaires’ disease in the therapy with TNF-α inhibitors is indeed a forthcoming problem. Additional target researches are required in order to establish the position of Legionnaires’ disease in the mosaic of anti - TNF-α therapy.
Translationally controlled tumor protein affects colorectal cancer metastasis through the high mobility group box 1-dependent pathway

Recently, accumulating evidence from clinical and experimental researches have suggested that translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) are implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. However, whether there is an interconnection between these two tumor-promoting proteins and how they affect CRC metastasis remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the expression level of TCTP in CRC tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical staining and immunoblotting, and the serum concentration of HMGB1 in patients with CRC was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In vitro, following the modulation of TCTP expression in colon cancer LoVo cells, the translocation behavior of HMGB1 was observed by immunofluorescence assay. Furthermore, the activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in LoVo cells was evaluated by immunoblotting and luciferase assay, and the invasion ability of LoVo cells after different treatments was determined using cell invasion assay. In vivo, xenograft tumor model was established and the correlation of TCTP and HMGB1 expression in xenografted tumors was studied by immunohistochemical examination. The results revealed that the expression level of TCTP in CRC tissue and the serum concentration of HMGB1 in patients with CRC were significantly increased, and there was a strong positive correlation between them. In vitro experiments showed that the overexpression of TCTP on LoVo cells resulted in the release of HMGB1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and into the extracellular space. In addition, the overexpression of TCTP led to the activation of NF-κB in LoVo cells, and this effect was reversed by treatment with antibodies targeting HMGB1 or to its receptors Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and receptor for advanced glycation end products advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Furthermore, inhibition of the HMGB1-TLR4/RAGE-NF-κB pathway significantly inhibited the TCTP-stimulated invasion of LoVo cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the over-expression of TCTP in nude mice promoted the development and spread of xenografted tumors, and concurrently enhanced the expression of HMGB1 in tumor tissues. Collectively, these findings suggested that TCTP promotes CRC metastasis through regulating the behaviors of HMGB1 and the downstream activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Monocular Model-Based 3D Tracking of Rigid Objects: A Survey

Many applications require tracking of complex 3D objects. These include visual servoing of robotic arms on specific target objects, Augmented Reality systems that require real-time registration of the object to be augmented, and head tracking systems that sophisticated interfaces can use. Computer Vision offers solutions that are cheap, practical and non-invasive.This survey reviews the different techniques and approaches that have been developed by industry and research. First, important mathematical tools are introduced: Camera representation, robust estimation and uncertainty estimation. Then a comprehensive study is given of the numerous approaches developed by the Augmented Reality and Robotics communities, beginning with those that are based on point or planar fiducial marks and moving on to those that avoid the need to engineer the environment by relying on natural features such as edges, texture or interest. Recent advances that avoid manual initialization and failures due to fast motion are also presented. The survery concludes with the different possible choices that should be made when implementing a 3D tracking system and a discussion of the future of vision-based 3D tracking.Because it encompasses many computer vision techniques from low-level vision to 3D geometry and includes a comprehensive study of the massive literature on the subject, this survey should be the handbook of the student, the researcher, or the engineer who wants to implement a 3D tracking system.