Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Perfect Match: 3D Point Cloud Matching With Smoothed Densities

We propose 3DSmoothNet, a full workflow to match 3D point clouds with a siamese deep learning architecture and fully convolutional layers using a voxelized smoothed density value (SDV) representation. The latter is computed per interest point and aligned to the local reference frame (LRF) to achieve rotation invariance. Our compact, learned, rotation invariant 3D point cloud descriptor achieves 94.9% average recall on the 3DMatch benchmark data set, outperforming the state-of-the-art by more than 20 percent points with only 32 output dimensions. This very low output dimension allows for near realtime correspondence search with 0.1 ms per feature point on a standard PC. Our approach is sensor- and scene-agnostic because of SDV, LRF and learning highly descriptive features with fully convolutional layers. We show that 3DSmoothNet trained only on RGB-D indoor scenes of buildings achieves 79.0% average recall on laser scans of outdoor vegetation, more than double the performance of our closest, learning-based competitors. Code, data and pre-trained models are available online at https://github.com/zgojcic/3DSmoothNet.
Genetic and Pathogenicity Diversity of Aphanomyces euteiches Populations From Pea-Growing Regions in France

Aphanomyces euteiches is an oomycete pathogen with a broad host-range on legumes that causes devastating root rot disease in many pea-growing countries and especially in France. Genetic resistance is a promising way to manage the disease since consistent QTL controlling partial resistance have been identified in near isogenic lines of pea. However, there are still no resistant pea varieties cultivated in France. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic diversity of A. euteiches populations from the major pea-growing regions in France. A collection of 205 isolates, from soil samples collected in infested pea fields located in five French regions, was established and genotyped using 20 SSR markers. Thirteen multilocus genotypes were found among the 205 isolates which displayed a low genotypic richness (ranged from 0 to 0.333). Two main clusters of isolates were identified using PCoA and STRUCTURE, including a predominant group comprising 88% of isolates and another group representing 12% of isolates mainly from the Bourgogne region. A subset of 34 isolates, representative of the fields sampled, was phenotyped for aggressiveness on a set of resistant and susceptible varieties of four legume hosts (pea, faba bean, vetch, alfalfa). Significant differences in disease severity were found among isolates and three groups of aggressiveness comprising 16, 17, and 2 isolates, respectively, were identified using HCA analysis. A higher diversity in pathogen aggressiveness was observed among isolates from Bourgogne, which included different legumes in its crop history. Little relationship was observed between genetic clusters and pathogenicity in the subset of 34 isolates, as expected using neutral markers. This study provides useful knowledge on the current state of low to moderate diversity among A. euteiches populations before resistant pea varieties are grown in France. New insights and hypotheses about the major factors shaping the diversity and evolution of A. euteiches are also discussed.
Approximate and Stochastic Greedy Optimization

We consider two greedy algorithms for minimizing a convex function in a bounded convex set: an algorithm by Jones [1992] and the Frank-Wolfe (FW) algorithm. We first consider approximate versions of these algorithms. For smooth convex functions, we give sufficient conditions for convergence, a unified analysis for the well-known convergence rate of O(1/k) together with a result showing that this rate is the best obtainable from the proof technique, and an equivalence result for the two algorithms. We also consider approximate stochastic greedy algorithms for minimizing expectations. We show that replacing the full gradient by a single stochastic gradient can fail even on smooth convex functions. We give a convergent approximate stochastic Jones algorithm and a convergent approximate stochastic FW algorithm for smooth convex functions. In addition, we give a convergent approximate stochastic FW algorithm for nonsmooth convex functions. Convergence rates for these algorithms are given and proved.
Effect of oral hygiene programmes on oral opportunistic pathogens during stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVES This study was to assess the effectiveness of a conventional oral hygiene care programme (COHCP) and an advanced oral hygiene care programme (AOHCP) on prevalence and viable counts of oral opportunistic pathogens among patients undergoing stroke rehabilitation. METHODS A total of 94 patients were randomized to two groups. Subjects were block randomized to either (a) COHCP: manual toothbrushing with oral hygiene instruction (OHI); or (b) AOHCP: powered toothbrushing, mouthrinsing with chlorhexidine and OHI. Prevalence and viable counts of oral opportunistic pathogens including yeasts, aerobic and facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, were assessed at baseline, the end of 3 and 6 months. RESULTS No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of oral opportunistic pathogens within each group over the clinical trial period. A significant decrease in the viable counts of S. aureus was found over the clinical trial period within AOHCP group (p < 0.05), while the viable counts of yeasts and anaerobic gram-negative bacillus (AGNB) remained stable within each group. Regression analysis failed to detect an association between intervention and the prevalence/viable counts of oral opportunistic pathogens. CONCLUSIONS Neither oral healthcare programme significantly affects AGNB, yeast or S. aureus over the study period in terms of prevalence and viable counts.
Exosomes: Basic Biology and Technological Advancements Suggesting Their Potential as Ischemic Heart Disease Therapeutics

Exosomes are small nano-sized vesicles that deliver biologically active RNA molecules and proteins to recipient cells through binding, fusion or endocytosis. There is emerging evidence that endogenous exosomes released by cardiovascular cells and progenitor cells impact cell survival and proliferation, thus regulating angiogenesis, cardiac protection and repair. These cardioprotective and regenerative traits have the potential to translate in to novel therapeutic options for post-ischaemic cardiac regeneration, thus potentially delaying the progression to ischaemic heart failure. Cellular stressors influence exosomes' secretion and the molecular composition of the exosome cargo, thus impacting on the above processes. Evidences are emerging that loading of proteins and RNAs in the exosomes cargos can be manipulated. Similarly, manipulation of exosomes surface proteins' expression to target exosomes to specific cells and tissues is doable. In addition, nature-inspired synthetic exosomes can be assembled to deliver specific clues to the recipient cells, including proliferative and differentiation stimuli, or shed paracrine signals enabling to reconstructing the heart homeostatic micro-environment. This review will describe exosome biogenesis and emerging evidence of exosome-mediated regenerative cell-to-cell communications and will conclude discussing possibilities of using exosomes to treat ischemic heart disease.
A Comparative Study of Actual and Perceived Academic Competence of Iranian EAP Postgraduate Students

Academic writing is a major concern for many university students. Despite extensive literature on students’ academic writing, little attention has been focused on students’ writing experience and practice in higher education. To fill this gap, the present study compared actual and perceived academic writing competence of postgraduate students who were enrolled in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses. First, measures of actual and perceived academic writing competence were developed and validated in Phase 1, using a separate sample of EAP postgraduate students (n = 391) in Ilam province, Iran. Phase 2 examined postgraduate students’ academic writing competence perceptions and the ways through which their perceptions might have differed from their actual academic performance. Then the developed measures of actual and perceived academic writing competence, which exhibited acceptable reliability and good model-data fit, were distributed among a sample of 210 EAP postgraduate students from nine different academic fields. The results of data analysis revealed significant differences in perceptions and actual academic practices of students across different academic fields of study.
Gaussian process emulators for 1D vascular models

One-dimensional numerical models of the arterial vasculature are capable of simulating the physics of pulse wave transmission and reflection. These models are computationally efficient and represents and ideal choice with great translational opportunities in healthcare. However, the use of these models in a patient-specific scenario is hampered by the difficulty in measuring the model inputs (parameters, boundary conditions, and initial conditions) in the clinical setting. As a result, most of the model inputs are noisy or missing, and the inputs uncertainty is transmitted to the model outputs. A fundamental step in the model development consists in performing a sensitivity and uncertainty analysis aimed at understanding how variations on the inputs affect the output variability, with the final aim of instruct the measurement process. A typical sensitivity analysis conducted by means of \break Monte Carlo sampling is computationally expensive due to the large number of runs required. A novel approach aimed at reducing the computational time consists in using a statistical emulator capable of mimicking mean and variance behaviours of the 1D deterministic model. In this study, emulators built through Gaussian process method are used to predict outcomes of a 1D finite-volume solver for networks of elastic vessels. The 1D model is discussed and validated showing good agreement with published results. The emulator approach for sensitivity analysis is validated against Monte Carlo sampling and a 99.9% reduction in computational time is obtained. This methodology is further applied in the context of cerebral vasospasm where the sensitivity analysis results are used to identify new biomechanical metrics for this pathology. The novel biomarkers are effective at detecting the cerebral vasospasm better than the currently used one. In particular, the progression of the disease is characterised from an early onset even when the vasospasm is occurring at some distance away from the measurement location.
The Determinants of Terrorist Shocks' Cross-Market Transmission

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of the cross-market transmission mechanism for terrorist shocks, focusing on two major terrorist events and 68 national stock markets. Design/methodology/approach - The paper generates daily abnormal returns from a three-factor world asset-pricing model. Abnormal returns are then regressed on proxies of three transmission mechanisms; a world integration channel, a bilateral integration channel, and a liquidity channel. Findings - The findings indicate that terrorism shocks are diffused cross-nationally in a non-uniform manner. This paper finds empirical support for all three channels when considered separately. The bilateral integration channel contains the highest explanatory power since it is found that a third country's trade linkages with the “ground-zero” country explain about 24 percent of the stock market reaction. A country's share in the world trade, a proxy for the world integration channel, is able to explain about 12 percent of abnormal-return variation, while the liquidity channel exhibits the lowest predictive power, with the value of stock trading explaining about 6 percent. A hybrid model, where proxies for all channels are included, shows that only the bilateral trade linkages with the “ground-zero” country are significant determinants of the stock market reaction. Practical implications - Provides evidence useful for portfolio management and authorities' assessment of terrorist shocks' impact on capital markets. Originality/value - It is the first study that investigates the determinants of cross-market transmission of terrorist shocks.
Effect of different sources of lipids on the performance and immune response in broiler chicken.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different sources of lipid on performance indexes and immune responses in broiler chicken. Four hundred and twenty four one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308), randomly divided into five treatments as a completely randomized design, consisting four replicates of 21 birds per each. Chicks were assigned to receive one source of lipid either tallow or corn oil or sunflower oil or flaxseed oil or olive oil in their diet. Antibody titre against IBD (Gumboro) and IBV (Bronchite) and Heterophile to Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio as indexes of immune responses, at days 28 and 42 of age and feed conception, weight gain and feed efficiency at whole of period, as indexes of performances, were measured. The diet contain corn oil, showed the best performance indexes with significant different than other treatments (P<0.05). In comparison of diet consists of corn oil, flaxseed oil containing high ratio of n-3 PUFA, had a higher H:L ratio (P<0.05). Result indicated that antibody production in chicks fed flaxseed oil against IBV at day 28 and against IBD at day 42 of age were less than the other chicks. Although the chicks fed Sunflower oil showed lower antibody production against IBD at day 28 of age. In this study, it was concluded that the use of flaxseed oil as only source of lipid in diet can result in decreased antibody production because of lower efficiency of energy usage. Also H:L ratio was affected by lipid source and corn oil among used lipids had the lowest H:L ratio and higher performance indexes, that is useful for wellbeing and health of broiler chicks.
Developing Critical Reading of Argumentative Text: Effects of a Comprehension Strategy Intervention

This article reports a single-group intervention study designed to improve critical reading proficiency among adolescents. Critical reading in the study is defined as 1) being able to identify written argumentative structure; 2) being able to analyze arguments in terms of relevance and sustainability; and 3) being able to evaluate argumentation through written, critical response. A multiple strategy approach for critical reading instruction was implemented over the course of six weeks (15 lessons) in four classes in Swedish 9th grade (N=74). Classroom activities included reading of argumentative texts, teacher modeling of three strategies (identifying, analyzing, and evaluating), frequent discussions, and response writing to argumentative texts. Results indicated that low and middle achievers made significant and large improvements from pretest to posttest, while for high achievers the intervention seemed to have no effect at all. Closer analysis also revealed that the ability to analyze arguments accounted for the largest proportion of improvement.
Measurement tools of autism severity and selected neurocognitive processes in individuals with ASD

According to the latest theories explaining the pathomechanism and course of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this disorder is characterized by abnormalities in the development of neurocognitive processes, such as executive functions, “theory of mind”, cognitive style, or sensory integration processes. The structure of these processes is not homogenous, which has implications for measurement methodology. The type of indicators of the course and development level of neurocognitive processes analyzed by a researcher entails the need to choose an appropriate measurement tool. The behavioral indicators (verbal and nonverbal behavior of the participants) are measured with the use of observation sheets. On the other hand, the neurophysiological indicators are measured with the use of high-technology equipment, such as: computed tomography (CT), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), or eye tracker. By systematizing the tools most often used by researchers to measure sensory integration processes, the level of development of “theory of mind” and empathizing skills, as well as autism severity in individuals with ASD, the article reveals the relationship between the formulated hypothesis and the type of measured indicators of the abovementioned variables. It therefore suggests that a project of research should be set by the investigator within a methodological approach that is relevant for the verification of the formulated hypothesis.
When Fixed Price Meets Priority Auctions: Competing Firms with Different Pricing and Service Rules

Many service systems offer multiple modes of service, where each mode differs in price as well as the priority of service. We consider a service system where service is offered via two modes. In the first mode, customers obtain service at a fixed price, and the service discipline is first-in-first-out (FIFO). In the second mode, referred to as the bid-based priority mode, customers submit a bid to obtain service, get serviced in the descending order of their bids, and make payments equal to their bids. We assume the customers are heterogeneous, with different waiting costs, and choose the mode of service strategically on arrival. We establish the existence and uniqueness of a symmetric equilibrium, and characterize the structure of the equilibrium strategy. In particular, we show that the equilibrium strategy has a simple threshold structure, where customers with either high or low waiting cost choose to obtain service from the bid-based priority mode, whereas those with moderate waiting cost choose to obtain service from the FIFO mode. We use the equilibrium characterization to numerically study the service provider’s revenue. In particular, we numerically explore conditions under which operating a dual-mode system may generate more revenue than a bid-based priority mode with optimal reserve price.
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND FIBROMYALGIA PAIN AND SEVERITY

We aimed to analyze the relationship of anxiety and depression with fibromyalgia pain and severity. The study comprised 127 women aged 51.9±7 years. Anxiety and depression was assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and fibromyalgia severity with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Pain was assessed by four indicators: tenderness (tender points count [TPC] and algometer score) and the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF36)-pain and FIQ-pain subscales. Perceived pain, as measured by SF36-pain, was worse in the severe anxiety-group compared with the low and mild anxietygroups and in the severe compared with the low depression-group. Perceived pain, as measured by FIQ, was higher for the severe compared to the low anxietygroup. Tenderness, as measured by algometer score and TPC, did not differ among anxiety and depression categories. HADS-anxiety scores ≥8 were associated with an increased odds ratio of severe fibromyalgia. HADS-depression scores ≥ 8 were associated with severe fibromyalgia. Overall, women with higher levels of anxiety and depression present increased pain perception and risk of severe fibromyalgia. Consequently, anxiety and depression should be detected
Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) Among Incarcerated Population of Potiskum Medium Security Prison Potiskum Yobe State: Study of Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been identified as the major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries, where the resources for their management are scarce [1]. Herpes Simplex Type-2 (HSV-2) is a one of the sexually transmitted disease and it is one of the most common courses of Genetal Ulcer Disease (GUD) [2]. HSV is a long life infection with rare to frequent recurrences of symptomatic and asymptomatic genetal shedding of 2-serotypes of virus most commonly HSV-2 and sometimes HSV-1 [3]. The effort to control STDs in developing countries are hampered by inadequate number of specialists STD clinics to support the need of population, lack of suitable diagnostic techniques and ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 3 (2015) pp. 632-637 http://www.ijcmas. com
Patient injuries in primary total hip replacement Nationwide analysis in Finland

© 2016 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Nordic Orthopedic Federation. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) DOI 10.3109/17453674.2015. 1135662 Background and purpose — Although the results of primary total hip replacements (THRs) are generally excellent, sometimes serious complications arise. Some of these severe complications are considered to be patient injuries. We analyzed primary THRrelated patient injuries in a nationwide setting. Patients and methods — We evaluated all the primary THRrelated patient injury claims in Finland between 2008 and 2010. We used the original medical records and 2 nationwide registries, the Care Register for Social Welfare and Health Care and the Patient Injury Claim Register. Results — We identifi ed 563 claims, 44% of which were compensated (n = 250). Of these 250 compensated claims, 79% were considered to be avoidable (treatment injuries) and 21% were severe unexpected infections (with a preoperative infection risk of less than 2%). The most common type of technical error was cup malposition (31%). High-volume hospitals (with an annual primary THR volume ≥ 400) had a lower patient injury rate. In lower-volume hospitals (with an annual primary THR volume of < 400), the relative risks (RRs) of patient injury for any reason, due to technical errors, or because of cup malposition were 2-fold (95% CI: 1.6–3.1), 4-fold (95% CI: 2.3–6.2), and 9-fold (95% CI: 3–28), respectively, compared to high-volume hospitals. Interpretation — Our study provides the fi rst comprehensive nationwide data on THR-related patient injury types. Hospital volume was associated with the quality and quantity of errors detected. An annual hospital volume of ≥ 400 primary THRs was established as a protective factor against patient injuries.
Impact of nitrogen seeding on confinement and power load control of a high-triangularity JET ELMy H-mode plasma with a metal wall

This paper reports the impact on confinement and power load of the high-shape 2.5 MA ELMy H-mode scenario at JET of a change from all carbon plasma-facing components to an all metal wall. In preparation to this change, systematic studies of power load reduction and impact on confinement as a result of fuelling in combination with nitrogen seeding were carried out in JET-C and are compared with their counterpart in JET with a metallic wall. An unexpected and significant change is reported on the decrease in the pedestal confinement but is partially recovered with the injection of nitrogen.