Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal perception of material properties

The human ability to perceive materials and their properties is a very intricate multisensory skill and as such not only an intriguing research subject, but also an immense challenge when creating realistic virtual presentations of materials. In this paper, our goal is to learn about how the visual and auditory channels contribute to our perception of characteristic material parameters. At the center of our work are two psychophysical experiments performed on tablet computers, where the subjects rated a set of perceptual material qualities under different stimuli. The first experiment covers a full collection of materials in different presentations (visual, auditory and audio-visual). As a point of reference, subjects also performed all ratings on physical material samples. A key result of this experiment is that auditory cues strongly benefit the perception of certain qualities that are of a tactile nature (like "hard--soft", "rough--smooth"). The follow-up experiment demonstrates that, to a certain extent, audio cues can also be transferred to other materials, exaggerating or attenuating some of their perceived qualities. From these results, we conclude that a multimodal approach, and in particular the inclusion of sound, can greatly enhance the digital communication of material properties.
An Efficient Image Retrieval Technique using Shape Context Feature

ncreasing demands for image retrieval in field such as health informatics, biometrics, and crime prevention has forced developers to explore ways to manage and retrieve images more efficiently. An automated way to retrieve images based on the content or features of the images itself is provided by CBIR. Shape is one of key visual features used by human for distinguishing visual data along with other features of color and texture. Therefore, this work investigates one of the shape representation method shape context which helps in efficient CBIR. The main aim of this research is to look for and develop promising shape descriptor(s) which was found to be Shape Context for image retrieval and also to improve efficiency. The Shape context descriptor is contour based which focuses on irregular shapes. The time consuming step of shape context matching is reduced in this work up to approx. 48% on an average. The proposed work reduces the computational complexity maintaining its overall accuracy.
Limits of Multi-Discounted Markov Decision Processes

Markov decision processes (MDPs) are controllable discrete event systems with stochastic transitions. The payoff received by the controller can be evaluated in different ways, depending on the payoff function the MDP is equipped with. For example a mean-payoff function evaluates average performance, whereas a discounted payoff function gives more weights to earlier performance by means of a discount factor. Another well-known example is the parity payoff function which is used to encode logical specifications. Surprisingly, parity and mean-payoff MDPs share two non-trivial properties: they both have pure stationary optimal strategies and they both are approximable by discounted MDPs with multiple discount factors (multi- discounted MDPs). In this paper we unify and generalize these results. We introduce a new class of payoff functions called the priority weighted payoff functions, which are generalization of both parity and mean-payoff functions. We prove that priority weighted MDPs admit optimal strategies that are pure and stationary, and that the priority weighted value of an MDP is the limit of the multi-discounted value when discount factors tend to 0 simultaneously at various speeds.
Boundary Element-Associated Factor 32B Connects Chromatin Domains to the Nuclear Matrix

ABSTRACT Chromatin domain boundary elements demarcate independently regulated domains of eukaryotic genomes. While a few such boundary sequences have been studied in detail, only a small number of proteins that interact with them have been identified. One such protein is the boundary element-associated factor (BEAF), which binds to the scs′ boundary element of Drosophila melanogaster. It is not clear, however, how boundary elements function. In this report we show that BEAF is associated with the nuclear matrix and map the domain required for matrix association to the middle region of the protein. This region contains a predicted coiled-coil domain with several potential sites for posttranslational modification. We demonstrate that the DNA sequences that bind to BEAF in vivo are also associated with the nuclear matrix and colocalize with BEAF. These results suggest that boundary elements may function by tethering chromatin to nuclear architectural components and thereby provide a structural basis for compartmentalization of the genome into functionally independent domains.
Applications of an Athymic Nude Mouse Model of Nonhealing Critical-Sized Calvarial Defects

Calvarial bone defects are a common clinical scenario in craniofacial surgery. Numerous approaches are used to reconstruct skull defects, and each possesses its own inherent disadvantages. This fact underscores the opportunity to develop a novel method to repair osseous defects in craniofacial surgery. Recent literature strongly suggests that cell-based therapies in the form of regenerative medicine may be a developing paradigm in reconstructive surgery. Although numerous studies have probed osteoprogenitor cells from mice, few have explored the biology of human cells in the setting of osteogenesis in an equally rigorous manner. This study proposes a nude mouse model of critical-sized calvarial defects to study the in vivo biology of human osteoprogenitor cells. Critical-sized 4.0-mm calvarial defects were created in nude mice (n = 15) with a custom trephine drill bit outfitted to a dental drill handpiece. During the craniotomy, the dura mater was spared from injury. Gross inspection, routine histology, and micro-computed tomographic scanning were performed at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks postoperatively. There was no calvarial healing in any of the animals by 16 weeks. The dura mater remained intact in all subjects. Gross, histologic, and radiographic assays confirmed these findings. Although several studies have implanted human osteoprogenitor cells in vivo in various animal models, few have documented the appropriate controls or conditions necessary to support the potential to translate benchtop findings into clinical applications. We propose in this study that the nude mouse critical-sized calvarial defect model will be valuable with increasing investigations with human osteoprogenitor cells.
Properties and expression of Ca2+-activated K+ channels in H9c2 cells derived from rat ventricle.

H9c2 is a clonal myogenic cell line derived from embryonic rat ventricle that can serve as a surrogate for cardiac or skeletal muscle in vitro. Using whole cell clamp with H9c2 myotubes, we observed that depolarizing pulses activated slow outward K+ currents and then slow tail currents. The K+ currents were abolished in a Ca2+-free external solution, indicating that they were Ca2+-activated K+ currents. They were blocked by apamin, a small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channel antagonist (IC50 = 6.2 nM), and by d-tubocurarine (IC50 = 49.4 μM). Activation of SK channels exhibited a bell-shaped voltage dependence that paralleled the current-voltage relation for L-type Ca2+ currents ( I Ca,L). I Ca,L exhibited a slow time course similar to skeletal I Ca,L, were unaffected by apamin, and were only slightly depressed by d-tubocurarine. RT-PCR analysis of the mRNAs revealed that rSK3, but not rSK1 or rSK2, was expressed in H9c2 myotubes but not in myoblasts. These results suggest that rSK3 channels are expressed in H9c2 myotubes and are primarily activated by I Ca,L directly or indirectly via Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Robust Face Recovery For Hybrid Surface Visualization

Abstract Modern adquisition techniques provide 3D datasetswith unprecedented detail. Both triangle-based andpoint-based techniques have been proposed for efﬁ-cient rendering of these objects. We present a newtechniqueforinteractivevisualizationofvolumetricdata which combines polygonal faces for ﬂat areasand oriented points for curved regions. The paperfocuses on extracting large polygonal faces fromvoxel data. The key ingredient is a region-growingalgorithmwhichmaintainsa discreterepresentationof the set of planes that satisfy a separability prob-lem. A robust representation of this set of planesbased on a discretized 4D convex polytope is alsodiscussed. The proposed face extraction algorithmisabletorecoverinformationatsub-voxelprecisionand automatically detects sharp edges. 1 Introduction Current adquisition techniques such as laser rangescanners and medical imaging devices provide verylarge 3D datasets with unprecedented detail. Overthelastfewyears,anumberoftechniqueshavebeenproposed for the interactive visualization of suchlarge datasets.Inaconventional approach,theseobjectsareren-dered through a triangle mesh extracted from theraw data. Most surface reconstruction techniquesfromdatasampledon3Dgridsareextensionsofthewell-known Marching Cubes (MC) algorithm [12]. These techniques often suffer from two problems:uniform over-tessellation and alias artifacts. Strate-gies for alleviating over-tessellation include Dis-creteMC[13]andmesh simpliﬁcation; ontheotherhand, several techniques address feature-preservingextraction [10, 8]. In recent years, strategies for discretizing syn-thetic graphics objects into point-based representa-tions [18, 15] have become an attractive alternativefor rendering very large scanned objects. Compar-ing both approaches, point primitives outperformtrianglesincurvedareaswhereastriangleprimitivescould be a more compact representation for ﬂat re-gions, provided that these regions are convenientlydetected. Therefore, for a method combining bothkinds of primitives, efﬁcient detection of ﬂat re-gionsandfeature-preservingreconstructionoflargepolygonal faces is required.This paper focuses on the problem of extractinglarge polygonal faces from volume datasets. Weshow that resulting meshes can be used in combi-nation with point-rendering approaches for efﬁcientrendering of complex datasets involving a mixtureof planar and curved regions.The input model is ﬁrst converted into a setof face-connected voxels called
The Efficacy of Small Interfering RNAs Targeted to the Type 1 Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor (IGF1R) Is Influenced by Secondary Structure in the IGF1R Transcript*

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) is often overexpressed by tumors and mediates growth and apoptosis protection. We previously showed that antisense reagents complementary to the IGF1R translation start site enhance radio- and chemosensitivity and impair Atm function. However these agents induce relatively modest IGF1R down-regulation and affect insulin receptor levels. To identify alternative sites for molecular targeting, we utilized scanning oligonucleotide arrays to probe the secondary structure of IGF1R mRNA. This strategy enabled selection of antisense oligonucleotides that generated high heteroduplex yield with IGF1R but not insulin receptor transcripts. Antisense oligonucleotides that hybridized strongly toIGF1R mRNA caused IGF1R down-regulation within intact tumor cells, whereas weakly hybridizing oligonucleotides were inactive. Furthermore, the ability of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to block IGF1R expression correlated with the accessibility of the target sequence within the transcript. Thus, siRNAs corresponding to weakly hybridizing oligonucleotides caused minor IGF1R down-regulation, whereas siRNAs homologous to accessible targets induced profound sequence-specific IGF1R gene silencing, blocked IGF signaling, and enhanced tumor cell radiosensitivity. This indicates that secondary structure in the target transcript has a major effect on siRNA efficacy. These findings have implications for siRNA design and suggest that IGF1R-targeting agents incorporating this mode of action have potential as anticancer therapy.
Revisiting Cross-Channel Information Transfer for Chromatic Aberration Correction

Image aberrations can cause severe degradation in image quality for consumer-level cameras, especially under the current tendency to reduce the complexity of lens designs in order to shrink the overall size of modules. In simplified optical designs, chromatic aberration can be one of the most significant causes for degraded image quality, and it can be quite difficult to remove in post-processing, since it results in strong blurs in at least some of the color channels. In this work, we revisit the pixel-wise similarity between different color channels of the image and accordingly propose a novel algorithm for correcting chromatic aberration based on this cross-channel correlation. In contrast to recent weak prior-based models, ours uses strong pixel-wise fitting and transfer, which lead to significant quality improvements for large chromatic aberrations. Experimental results on both synthetic and real world images captured by different optical systems demonstrate that the chromatic aberration can be significantly reduced using our approach.
Regulation of Leukemic Cell Differentiation through the Vitamin D Receptor at the Levels of Intracellular Signal Transduction, Gene Transcription, and Protein Trafficking and Stability

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D) exerts its biological activities through vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is a member of the superfamily of steroid receptors, that act as ligand-dependent transcription factors. Ligated VDR in complex with retinoid X receptor (RXR) binds to regulatory regions of 1,25(OH)2D-target genes. 1,25(OH)2D is able to induce differentiation of leukemic blasts towards macrophage-like cells. Many different acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines respond to 1,25(OH)2D by increasing CD14 cell surface receptor, some additionally upregulate CD11b and CD11c integrins. In untreated AML cells VDR protein is present in cytosol at a very low level, even though its mRNA is continuously expressed. Ligation of VDR causes protein stabilization and translocation to the cell nuclei, where it regulates transcription of target genes. Several important groups of genes are regulated by 1,25(OH)2D in HL60 cells. These genes include differentiation-related genes involved in macrophage function, as well as a gene regulating degradation of 1,25(OH)2D, namely CYP24A1. We summarize here the data which demonstrate that though some cellular responses to 1,25(OH)2D in AML cells are transcription-dependent, there are many others which depend on intracellular signal transduction, protein trafficking and stabilization. The final effect of 1,25(OH)2D action in leukemic cells requires all these acting together.
WASP: Scalable Bayes via barycenters of subset posteriors

The promise of Bayesian methods for big data sets has not fully been realized due to the lack of scalable computational algorithms. For massive data, it is necessary to store and process subsets on dierent machines in a distributed manner. We propose a simple, general, and highly ecient approach, which first runs a posterior sampling algorithm in parallel on dierent machines for subsets of a large data set. To combine these subset posteriors, we calculate the Wasserstein barycenter via a highly ecient linear program. The resulting estimate for the Wasserstein posterior (WASP) has an atomic form, facilitating straightforward estimation of posterior summaries of functionals of interest. The WASP approach allows posterior sampling algorithms for smaller data sets to be trivially scaled to huge data. We provide theoretical justification in terms of posterior consistency and algorithm eciency. Exam
Rapid embedded hardware/software system generation

This paper presents an RTL generation scheme for a SimpleScalar/PISA instruction set architecture with system calls to implement C programs. The scheme utilizes ASIPmeister, a processor generation tool. The RTL generated is available for download. The second part of the paper shows a method of reducing the PISA instruction set and generating a processor for a given application. This reduction and generation can be performed within an hour, making this one of the fastest methods of generating an application specific processor. For five benchmark applications, we show that on average, processor size can be reduced by 30%, energy consumed reduced by 24%, and performance improved by 24%.
Bidirectional DC - DC Converters for Energy Storage Systems

Bidirectional dc-dc converters (BDC) have recently received a lot of attention due to the increasing need to systems with the capability of bidirectional energy transfer between two dc buses. Apart from traditional application in dc motor drives, new applications of BDC include energy storage in renewable energy systems, fuel cell energy systems, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The fluctuation nature of most renewable energy resources, like wind and solar, makes them unsuitable for standalone operation as the sole source of power. A common solution to overcome this problem is to use an energy storage device besides the renewable energy resource to compensate for these fluctuations and maintain a smooth and continuous power flow to the load. As the most common and economical energy storage devices in medium-power range are batteries and super-capacitors, a dc-dc converter is always required to allow energy exchange between storage device and the rest of system. Such a converter must have bidirectional power flow capability with flexible control in all operating modes. In HEV applications, BDCs are required to link different dc voltage buses and transfer energy between them. For example, a BDC is used to exchange energy between main batteries (200-300V) and the drive motor with 500V dc link. High efficiency, lightweight, compact size and high reliability are some important requirements for the BDC used in such an application. BDCs also have applications in line-interactive UPS which do not use double conversion technology and thus can achieve higher efficiency. In a line-interactive UPS, the UPS output terminals are connected to the grid and therefore energy can be fed back to the inverter dc bus and charge the batteries via a BDC during normal mode. In backup mode, the battery feeds the inverter dc bus again via BDC but in reverse power flow direction. BDCs can be classified into non-isolated and isolated types. Non-isolated BDCs (NBDC) are simpler than isolated BDCs (IBDC) and can achieve better efficiency. However, galvanic isolation is required in many applications and mandated by different standards. The
Factor Adjustments after Deregulation: Panel Evidence from Colombian Plants

We analyze nonlinear adjustments of capital and labor using plant data from the Colombian Annual Manufacturing Survey, allowing for interdependence in adjustments of the two factors. We find nonlinear employment and capital adjustments. We also find that capital shortages reduce hiring, and labor surpluses reduce capital shedding. Moreover, we find that job destruction and capital formation increased after factor market deregulation in Colombia. Finally, we find that completely eliminating frictions in factor adjustment would yield a substantial increase in aggregate productivity through improved allocative efficiency, but that the actual impact of the Colombian deregulation on productivity was modest.
BioSig: A Free and Open Source Software Library for BCI Research

Software development is a key issue in brain-computer interface (BCI) research. Software can show the similarities and differences of different data processing methods. It can also make clear which hyperparameters must be determined for particular algorithms. And it can demonstrate whether certain concepts are compatible or not. With BioSig's comprehensive library of free and open source tools, combined with existing EEG databases, like those from BCI competitions, BCI researchers can avoid having to reinvent the wheel on every project.
Hydrologic functioning of the deep critical zone and contributions to streamflow in a high‐elevation catchment: Testing of multiple conceptual models

High‐elevation mountain catchments are often subject to large climatic and topographic gradients. Therefore, high‐density hydrogeochemical observations are needed to understand water sources to streamflow and the temporal and spatial behaviour of flow paths. These sources and flow paths vary seasonally, which dictates short‐term storage and the flux of water in the critical zone (CZ) and affect long‐term CZ evolution. This study utilizes multiyear observations of chemical compositions and water residence times from the Santa Catalina Mountains Critical Zone Observatory, Tucson, Arizona to develop and evaluate competing conceptual models of seasonal streamflow generation. These models were tested using endmember mixing analysis, baseflow recession analysis, and tritium model “ages” of various catchment water sources. A conceptual model involving four endmembers (precipitation, soil water, shallow, and deep groundwater) provided the best match to observations. On average, precipitation contributes 39–69% (55 ± 16%), soil water contributes 25–56% (41 ± 16%), shallow groundwater contributes 1–5% (3 ± 2%), and deep groundwater contributes ~0–3% (1 ± 1%) towards annual streamflow. The mixing space comprised two principal planes formed by (a) precipitation‐soil water‐deep groundwater (dry and summer monsoon season samples) and (b) precipitation‐soil water‐shallow groundwater (winter season samples). Groundwater contribution was most important during the wet winter season. During periods of high dynamic groundwater storage and increased hydrologic connectivity (i.e., spring snowmelt), stream water was more geochemically heterogeneous, that is, geochemical heterogeneity of stream water is storage‐dependent. Endmember mixing analysis and 3H model age results indicate that only 1.4 ± 0.3% of the long‐term annual precipitation becomes deep CZ groundwater flux that influences long‐term deep CZ development through both intercatchment and intracatchment deep groundwater flows.
Do Individuals’ Perceptions of International Climate Policy Affect Their Climate-Friendly Activities?

A substantial body of economic literature provides potential explanations for individuals’ voluntary contributions to public goods, focusing on the roles of social norms and feelings of warm glow or responsibility. This paper provides additional theoretical insights and empirical evidence on the effect of people’s perceptions of international climate policy on the provision of the public good climate protection. We distinguish between perceptions on aspects of perceived justification, procedural justice, and trust in international climate negotiations and agreements. Our empirical results on individuals’ stated future and past adoption of a wide range of climate-friendly activities in China, Germany, and the US suggest that the perceived justification of international climate policy motivates future climate protection efforts. In a broader interpretation, the propensity to voluntarily contribute to the public good is higher the more efficient the public good providing process. We further find that citizens in Germany (but not in China or the US) tend to compensate a perceived lack of procedural trust by additional climate-friendly activities. In comparison, citizens in the US (but not in China or Germany) tend to compensate a perceived lack of procedural justice. Our findings are robust to various model specifications.