Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-Stream Transformer Networks for Video-Based Face Alignment

In this paper, we propose a two-stream transformer networks (TSTN) approach for video-based face alignment. Unlike conventional image-based face alignment approaches which cannot explicitly model the temporal dependency in videos and motivated by the fact that consistent movements of facial landmarks usually occur across consecutive frames, our TSTN aims to capture the complementary information of both the spatial appearance on still frames and the temporal consistency information across frames. To achieve this, we develop a two-stream architecture, which decomposes the video-based face alignment into spatial and temporal streams accordingly. Specifically, the spatial stream aims to transform the facial image to the landmark positions by preserving the holistic facial shape structure. Accordingly, the temporal stream encodes the video input as active appearance codes, where the temporal consistency information across frames is captured to help shape refinements. Experimental results on the benchmarking video-based face alignment datasets show very competitive performance of our method in comparisons to the state-of-the-arts.
Addition of low-dose valproic acid to saline resuscitation provides neuroprotection and improves long-term outcomes in a large animal model of combined traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND Combined traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hemorrhagic shock (HS) is highly lethal. In a nonsurvival model of TBI + HS, addition of high-dose valproic acid (VPA) (300 mg/kg) to hetastarch reduced brain lesion size and associated swelling 6 hours after injury; whether this would have translated into better neurologic outcomes remains unknown. It is also unclear whether lower doses of VPA would be neuroprotective. We hypothesized that addition of low-dose VPA to normal saline (NS) resuscitation would result in improved long-term neurologic recovery and decreased brain lesion size. METHODS TBI was created in anesthetized swine (40–43 kg) by controlled cortical impact, and volume-controlled hemorrhage (40% volume) was induced concurrently. After 2 hours of shock, animals were randomized (n = 5 per group) to NS (3× shed blood) or NS + VPA (150 mg/kg). Six hours after resuscitation, packed red blood cells were transfused, and animals were recovered. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed for acetylated histone-H3 at lysine-9. A Neurological Severity Score (NSS) was assessed daily for 30 days. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed on Days 3 and 10. Cognitive performance was assessed by training animals to retrieve food from color-coded boxes. RESULTS There was a significant increase in histone acetylation in the NS + VPA–treated animals compared with NS treatment. The NS + VPA group demonstrated significantly decreased neurologic impairment and faster speed of recovery as well as smaller brain lesion size compared with the NS group. Although the final cognitive function scores were similar between the groups, the VPA-treated animals reached the goal significantly faster than the NS controls. CONCLUSION In this long-term survival model of TBI + HS, addition of low-dose VPA to saline resuscitation resulted in attenuated neurologic impairment, faster neurologic recovery, smaller brain lesion size, and a quicker normalization of cognitive functions.
The course of the efferent cardiac nerves of the sheep *

Three Dorset Horn, twelve Clun Forest and twenty-six Welsh Mountain sheep of both sexes were used. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 4 years and their weights from 14-3 to 76-1 kg. Four sheep were anaesthetized with a mixture of chloralose (Hopkins and Williams, 17-0-59-0 mg/kg body weight) and urethane (May and Baker, 170-590 mg/kg) intravenously; during the experiment anaesthesia was maintained by intravenous infusion of 260-7-86 mg of chloralose and 26-0-78-6 mg of urethane/kg/hr. Except for one sheep which was anaesthetized throughout with intravenous pentobarbital (Nembutal, Abbott Laboratories), the remainder, after induction with pentobarbital (16.0-36-4 mg/kg), were anaesthetized by continuous intratracheal cyclopropane (10-150 ml./min) with oxygen (50-300 ml./min) administered from a Boyle's apparatus in a closed circuit with soda-lime for CO2 absorption. In most of the experiments an intravenous transfusion of either plasma substitute or homologous blood (50-200 ml./hr) was maintained throughout. The cervical sympathetic and vagal nerves were first isolated and prepared for subsequent stimulation or dividing, after which one of three surgical procedures was followed: (1) The thoracic vagal trunks and their connexions were exposed by splitting the sternum along the mid line in eight experiments; or (2) parts of the thoracic sympathetic chains and their branches in twenty-five other experiments were exposed by resecting two to nine ribs on one side or both, either by a dorsal approach through the muscular attachments of the scapula or ventrally by dissection of the pectoral muscles; or (3) laminectomy of the seventh cervical to the eighth thoracic vertebrae was performed in five further experiments. These last experiments were performed because the rami communicantes of the middle and upper thoracic sympathetic ganglia are very short and inaccessible, and it was impossible to stimulate them without danger of current spread to the ganglia themselves (see Fig. 1). When exposed the spinal cord was covered with warm liquid paraffin, and moist silk ligatures were
The Rise and Decline of Prospective Memory Performance across the Lifespan

In the present study, the trajectory of prospective memory across the lifespan was investigated in a total of 200 participants from five age groups (4- to 6-year-old children, 13- to 14-year-old adolescents, 19- to 26-year-old adults, 55- to 65-year-old adults, and 65- to 75-year-old adults). In an event-based prospective memory task the prospective and the retrospective components were assessed separately. For the prospective component, the results showed better performance for adolescents and young adults than for children and 65- to 75-year-old adults. In addition, participants belonging to the latter group were more likely to forget the retrospective component after having noticed the prospective memory targets. Overall, these results indicate that across the lifespan prospective memory performance follows a similar inverted u-shape function as is well known for retrospective episodic memory.
Beyond First-Year Composition: Academic English Instructional Support for International Transfer Students.

While many US colleges and universities off er specialized writing courses for multilingual students entering as freshmen, including international students, there is typically little instructional support for the academic English needs of international transfer students. Th is article describes the development and implementation of a writing course at a four-year university intended for upperdivision multilingual transfer students, with focus on international students. Starting with the proposal stage, it summarizes consultations with administrators and faculty to procure funding, identify a target population, and seek input for defi ning course objectives. Description of course implementation includes syllabi, student profi les, and student feedback from course evaluations and writing portfolio introductions on the most helpful and most challenging aspects of the course. Student feedback offers suggestions for writing instruction in lower-division courses. In conclusion, this article recommends further development of specialized writing courses for upper-division international multilingual writers.
Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of three odorant binding protein gene transcripts in Dendrolimus species (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Pine caterpillar moths, Dendrolimus spp. (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), are serious economic pest of pines. Previously, phylogenetic analyses of Dendrolimus using different methods yielded inconsistent results. The chemosensory systems of insects may play fundamental roles in promoting speciation. Odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) participate in the first step of odor detection. Studying the evolution of OBPs in closely related species may help us to identify their role in speciation. We identified three OBPs – one pheromone‐binding protein and two general odorant‐binding proteins – from male antennae of four Dendrolimus species, D. superans (Butler), D. punctatus (Walker), D. kikuchii Matsumura, and D. houi Lajonquiere, the olfactory recognition systems of which had not been previously investigated. We analyzed their molecular characteristics and compared their sequences to those of OBPs in D. tabulaeformis Tsai et Liu. Ka/Ks ratio analyses among the five Dendrolimus species indicate that PBP1 genes experienced more evolutionary pressure than the GOBPs. Phylogenetic relationships of PBP1 and GOBP1 both indicated that D. houi was the basal species, then branched D. kikuchii, while D. tabulaeformis, D. punctatus, and D. superans evolved more recently. These relationships are consistent with the changes in sex pheromone components of these five species. Dendrolimus tabulaeformis and D. punctatus are closely related sister species. However, the distances among GOBP2 sequences in the five Dendrolimus were very short, and the relationships of D. houi and D. kikuchii could not be resolved. Integrating our results with those of previous studies, we hypothesized that D. kikuchii, D. punctatus and D. superans evolved from the basal ancestor because of sex pheromone mutations and environmental pressure.
Process control for enhanced L-phenylalanine production using different recombinant Escherichia coli strains.

A novel fed-batch approach for the production of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) with recombinant E. coli is presented concerning the on-line control of the key fermentation parameters glucose and tyrosine. Two different production strains possessing either the tyrosine feedback resistant aroF(fbr) (encoding tyrosine feedback resistant DAHP-synthase (3-desoxy-D-arabino-heptusonate-7-phosphate)) or the wild-type aroF(wt) were used as model systems to elucidate the necessity of finding an individual process optimum for each genotype. With the aid of tyrosine control, wild-type aroF(wt) could be used for L-Phe production achieving higher final L-Phe titers (34 g/L) than the aroF(fbr) strain (28 g/L) and providing higher DAHP-synthase activities. With on-line glucose control, an optimum glucose concentration of 5 g/L could be identified that allowed a sufficient carbon supply for L-Phe production while at the same time an overflow metabolism leading to acetate by-product formation was avoided. The process approach is suitable for other production strains not only in lab-scale but also in pilot-scale bioreactors.
Mediation of Norepinephrine‐Stimulated Cyclic AMP Accumulation by Adrenergic Receptors in Hypothalamic and Preoptic Area Slices: Effects of Estradiol

Adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists were employed to establish (a) which receptor subtypes mediate the cyclic AMP response to norepinephrinc in hypo‐ thalamic and preoptic area slices from gonadectomized female rats and (b) which receptor subtypes might be modulated by the steroid hormone estradiol. Slice cyclic AMP levels were elevated by the β receptor agonist isoproterenol, but not by α1 (phenylephrine, methoxamine) or α2 (clonidine) agonists. However, the a agonist phenylephrine potentiated the effect of the β agonist isoproterenol on slice cyclic AMP accumulation. In slices from rats given no hormone treatment, the β antagonist propranolol inhibited norepinephrine‐stimulated cyclic AMP production, while the α1 antagonist prazosin was without effect. In contrast, the cyclic AMP response to norepinephrine in slices from estradiol‐treated rats was blocked more effectively by prazosin than by propranolol Estradiol treatment also attenuated the production of cyclic AMP by the β agonist isoproterenol. The data suggest (a) that norepinephrine induction of cyclic AMP accumulation in hypothalamic and preoptic area slices is med ated by β receptors and potentiated by a receptor activation and (b) that estradiol depresses β and increases α1 eceptor function in slices from brain regions associated with reproductive physiology.
DIVERGENT PATTERNS OF INTEGRATION AND REDUCED CONSTRAINT IN THE HUMAN HIP AND THE ORIGINS OF BIPEDALISM

When compared to other hominids—great apes including humans—the human pelvis reveals a fundamental reorganization of bony morphology comprised of multiple trait‐level changes, many of which are associated with bipedal locomotion. Establishing how patterns of integration—correlations and covariances among traits—within the pelvis have evolved in concert with morphology is essential to explaining this evolutionary transition because integration may facilitate or constrain morphological evolution. Here, we show that the human hip bone has significantly lower levels of integration and constraint overall when compared to other hominids, that the focus of these changes is on traits hypothesized to play major functional roles in bipedalism, and we provide evidence that the human hip was reintegrated in a pattern distinct from other members of this group. Additionally, the evolutionary transition from a nonhuman great ape‐like to human hip bone morphology was significantly easier to traverse using the human integration pattern in each comparison, which suggests hominin patterns may have evolved to facilitate this transition. Our results suggest natural selection for bipedalism broke down earlier hominid integration patterns, allowing relevant traits to respond to separate selection pressures to a greater extent than was previously possible, and reintegrated traits in a way that could have facilitated evolution along the vector specifying ancestral hominid and hominin morphological differences.
Effect of hydrogen peroxide on growth of Candida, Cryptococcus, and other yeasts in simulated blood culture bottles

The addition of hydrogen peroxide to blood contained in liquid culture medium increased the dissolved-O2 partial pressure in direct proportion to the volume injected. The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the growth of subcultured clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Torulopsis glabrata, and other yeasts and on the growth of blood culture isolates of representative pathogenic bacteria was compared with its effect on their growth in vented and unvented stationary bottles. C. albicans and C. neoformans grew significantly better in bottles to which hydrogen peroxide had been added than in vented or unvented bottles. The advantage of hydrogen peroxide over venting was most marked with several slowly growing strains. Similar results were obtained in shaker cultures with strains of C. albicans which were inoculated directly from positive blood cultures. The effect of hydrogen peroxide tended to diminish during serial passage. T. glabrata grew less well when hydrogen peroxide was added, perhaps because of the absence of oxidase. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis was not significantly inhibited or augmented by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The growth of Escherichia coli was inhibited slightly. The value of the addition of hydrogen peroxide to blood cultures to improve the isolation of yeasts needs to be established by a clinical trial which would compare this method with established methods.
Growth hormone deficiency short stature in a third world adult endocrine clinic: usefulness of clonidine test in its diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Short stature (SS) can be treatable; yet the diagnostic value of a simple test in correctly identifying the two common etiologies in developing countries, viz., growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and normal variant short stature (NVSS), has not been reported in a typical third world population. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of clonidine test in differentiating short stature caused by GHD from NVSS. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Data of subjects evaluated for growth hormone deficiency SS at a Saudi Arabian university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clonidine and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were conducted on 60 subjects aged 12 years and above with SS, while peak stimulated growth hormone cut off value of < 10 microg/l was used to diagnose GHD. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Sensitivity and specificity for clonidine test and ITT were computed, while receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed from the results in order to assess the diagnostic usefulness of the two tests. Mann-Whitney test was used to determine level of significance. RESULTS Clonidine test showed superior sensitivity and specificity, viz., 81% and 82%, as against 65% and 59% for ITT respectively. Overall, the efficiency of clonidine test in correctly differentiating short stature caused by GHD from NVSS was higher, viz., 90%, compared to ITT's 77%. CONCLUSIONS Clonidine test proved to be an excellent test for initial assessment of GHD and may be used as a screening test for short stature in third world countries.
Psychiatric diagnoses and behaviour problems from childhood to early adolescence in young people with severe intellectual disabilities

Background. While general population studies indicate an increase in the rate of psychiatric disorder in adolescence, little is known about the course of mental health and behaviour problems between childhood and adolescence in young people with severe intellectual disabilities. Method. From a sample of 111 children with severe intellectual disability who had been identified from the registers of six special schools at 4–11 years of age, 82 were traced and reassessed 5 years later at the age of 11–17 years. Behaviour problems were assessed by means of parental interviews conducted in the family home and parent and teacher questionnaires. Parental reports of psychiatric diagnoses were checked against health records. Results. With most behaviour problems, including aggression, destructive behaviour and self-injury, there was little difference in rates between the two assessment occasions. However, in spite of this overall pattern of stability, the rates of some behaviour problems, including overactivity, showed significant reductions between childhood and early adolescence. Persistence rates for most behaviour problems appeared comparable to those reported for similar behaviours in general population studies of children. There was no significant difference in the proportion of cases with psychiatric diagnoses between the two assessment occasions, although brief psychotic episodes emerged in three cases in adolescence. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the prevalence of mental health and behavioural problems in young people with severe learning disabilities remains relatively stable between childhood and adolescence, although some specific behaviour problems diminish. However, a small minority of children may develop severe psychiatric disorders in adolescence.
Activation of Vα14+ Natural Killer T Cells by α-Galactosylceramide Results in Development of Th1 Response and Local Host Resistance in Mice Infected with Cryptococcus neoformans

ABSTRACT We examined the effect of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) on the synthesis of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and local resistance in mice infected intravenously with Cryptococcus neoformans. The level of IFN-γ in serum increased on day 3, reached a peak level on day 7, and decreased to the basal level on day 14 postinfection in mice treated with α-GalCer, while in vehicle-treated mice, no increase was detected at any time points except for a small increase on day 7. Such effects were not observed in NKT-KO mice. In CD4KO mice, minor synthesis of IFN-γ was detected on day 3 in sera but was completely abolished by day 7. The α-GalCer-induced IFN-γ production on day 3 was partially reduced in mice depleted of NK cells by treatment with anti-asialo-GM1 antibody (Ab). Spleen cells obtained from infected and α-GalCer-treated mice on day 7 produced a large amount of IFN-γ upon restimulation with live organisms, while only a marginal level of production was detected in splenocytes from infected and vehicle-treated mice. Such effects were abolished in CD4KO and NKT-KO mice. Finally, the fungal loads in the lungs and spleen on days 7 and 14 were significantly reduced in α-GalCer-treated mice compared to those in control mice. In NKT-KO mice, local resistance elicited by α-GalCer was completely abolished, although no obvious exacerbation of infection was detected. Furthermore, treatment with anti-IFN-γ monoclonal Ab mostly abrogated the protective effect of this agent. Thus, our results indicated that activation of Vα14+ NKT cells resulted in an increased Th1 response and local resistance to C. neoformans through production of IFN-γ.
Adjustment to an Artificial Limb: A Qualitative Perspective

The purpose of this study was to identify factors considered to be important in the adjustment to amputation and the wearing of a prosthetic limb from the perspective of the person who has had a lower limb amputation. Hence, focus group methodology was employed as a means of acquiring perspectives within a population of young adults who had a lower limb amputation. Preliminary thematic analysis revealed that factors such as self-image, social, physical and practical concerns, the meaning attributed to and the acceptance of the amputation and support among others were important in the adjustment process. These findings have substantial implications for directing future research.
HPV genotype prevalence in cervical specimens with abnormal cytology: A report from north-east Italy

We have investigated the prevalence of HPV DNA in cervical samples collected from 1335 women with abnormal Pap test and analysed the degree of association of HPV genotype with cervical cytological abnormality and also with patient age. The study was principally aimed at providing some cross-sectional figures on the epidemiology of HPV in our area, where the ethnic background is expected to rapidly evolve due to extensive immigration from overseas. 471 (35.3%) of the 1335 patients screened were positive for HPV DNA. A clear association was observed between cytological findings and the proportion of patients with positive HPV PCR, namely 24.0% HPV positivity in the ASCUS group (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), 48.7% in LSIL group (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), and 71.9% in HSIL group (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions) (p-value < 0.001). High-risk (HR) HPV prevalence appeared to be different from other areas of the world; we have detected a high prevalence rate of HPV-16, 31, and 58 and a low prevalence rate of HPV-18 and 11. The prevalence of both HR and low risk (LR) genotype groups was clearly related to age (p-value < 0.001), since the prevalence of LR group had a nadir between 41 and 50 y of age and 2 peaks at 15–20 y and at over 60 y, while the curve of prevalence of HR genotypes displayed an almost inverse trend.