Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of a Localization System Relying on Monocular Vision and Natural Landmarks

We present a real-time localization system based on monocular vision and natural landmarks. In a learning step, we record a reference video sequence and we use a structure from motion algorithm to build a model of the environment. Then in the localization step, we use this model to establish correspondences between the 3D model and 2D points detected in the current image. These correspondences allow us to compute the current camera localization in real-time. The main topic of this paper is the performance evaluation of the whole system. Four aspects of performance are considered : versatility, accuracy, robustness and speed.
The Vps27/Hrs/STAM (VHS) Domain of the Signal-transducing Adaptor Molecule (STAM) Directs Associated Molecule with the SH3 Domain of STAM (AMSH) Specificity to Longer Ubiquitin Chains and Dictates the Position of Cleavage*

The deubiquitinating enzyme associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM (AMSH) is crucial for the removal of ubiquitin molecules during receptor-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal receptor sorting. AMSH interacts with signal transducing adapter molecule (STAM) 1 or 2, which enhances the activity of AMSH through an unknown mechanism. This stimulation is dependent on the ubiquitin-interacting motif of STAM. Here we investigate the specific mechanism of AMSH stimulation by STAM proteins and the role of the STAM Vps27/Hrs/STAM domain. We show that, in the presence of STAM, the length of the ubiquitin chains affects the apparent cleavage rate. Through measurement of the chain cleavage kinetics, we found that, although the kcat of Lys63-linked ubiquitin chain cleavage was comparable for di- and tri-ubiquitin, the Km value was lower for tri-ubiquitin. This increased affinity for longer chains was dependent on the Vps27/Hrs/STAM domain of STAM and required that the substrate ubiquitin chain contain homogenous Lys63-linkages. In addition, STAM directed AMSH cleavage toward the distal isopeptide bond in tri-ubiquitin chains. Finally, we generated a structural model of AMSH-STAM to show how the complex binds Lys63-linked ubiquitin chains and cleaves at the distal end. These data show how a deubiquitinating enzyme-interacting protein dictates the efficiency and specificity of substrate cleavage.
Effect of pulsing in low‐level light therapy

Low level light (or laser) therapy (LLLT) is a rapidly growing modality used in physical therapy, chiropractic, sports medicine and increasingly in mainstream medicine. LLLT is used to increase wound healing and tissue regeneration, to relieve pain and inflammation, to prevent tissue death, to mitigate degeneration in many neurological indications. While some agreement has emerged on the best wavelengths of light and a range of acceptable dosages to be used (irradiance and fluence), there is no agreement on whether continuous wave or pulsed light is best and on what factors govern the pulse parameters to be chosen.
The foldability landscape of model proteins

Molecular evolution may be considered as a walk in a multidimensional fitness landscape, where the fitness at each point is associated with features such as the function, stability, and survivability of these molecules. We present a simple model for the evolution of protein sequences on a landscape with a precisely defined fitness function. We use simple lattice models to represent protein structures, with the ability of a protein sequence to fold into the structure with lowest energy, quantified as the foldability, representing the fitness of the sequence. The foldability of the sequence is characterized based on the spin glass model of protein folding. We consider evolution as a walk in this foldability landscape and study the nature of the landscape and the resulting dynamics. Selective pressure is explicitly included in this model in the form of a minimum foldability requirement. We find that different native structures are not evenly distributed in interaction space, with similar structures and structures with similar optimal foldabilities clustered together. Evolving proteins marginally fulfill the selective criteria of foldability. As the selective pressure is increased, evolutionary trajectories become increasingly confined to “neutral networks,” where the sequence and the interactions can be significantly changed while a constant structure is maintained. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 427–438, 1997
Multi-objective quantum-inspired evolutionary algorithm-based optimal control of two-link inverted pendulum

This paper proposes a method to generate an optimal trajectory of nonlinear dynamical system and concurrently optimize multiple performance criteria. As the dimensionality of system increases, it is difficult to find values of cost/reward function of conventional optimal controllers. In order to solve this problem, the proposed method employs iterative linear quadratic regulator and multi-objective quantum-inspired evolutionary algorithm to generate various optimal trajectories that satisfy multiple performance criteria. Fuzzy measure and fuzzy integral are also employed for global evaluation by integrating the partial evaluation of each solution over criteria with respect to user's degree of consideration for each criterion. Effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by computer simulation carried out for the problem of stabilizing two-link inverted pendulum model.
Development of Rotational Water Allocation Plan for Jaisamand Irrigation Project

The rapid increase in agricultural production will be required to meet area under irrigation or by increasing the yields of existing cropped area when using similar or even reduced water resources (Shah and Dalwadi, 2011). Irrigation water is one of the most important inputs in irrigated agriculture. In India, the total irrigated area is only one third of the total cropping area but it produces about two third of total agriculture production (Upadhya et al., 2010). So to fulfil the future demand, it is necessary to increase the total irrigated area and increase the efficiency of irrigation systems. Poor irrigation performance typical in many irrigated areas around the world resulted in important social, economic and environmental problems, so that the modernisation of these areas is required to ensure their profitability and sustainability. The social and economic importance of irrigation, the existence of many aged irrigation and the planned new irrigation developments make it necessary to diagnose the present water use at the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 12 (2017) pp. 2309-2320 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Generalized diffusion tensor imaging and analytical relationships between diffusion tensor imaging and high angular resolution diffusion imaging

A new method for mapping diffusivity profiles in tissue is presented. The Bloch‐Torrey equation is modified to include a diffusion term with an arbitrary rank Cartesian tensor. This equation is solved to give the expression for the generalized Stejskal‐Tanner formula quantifying diffusive attenuation in complicated geometries. This makes it possible to calculate the components of higher‐rank tensors without using the computationally‐difficult spherical harmonic transform. General theoretical relations between the diffusion tensor (DT) components measured by traditional (rank‐2) DT imaging (DTI) and 3D distribution of diffusivities, as measured by high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) methods, are derived. Also, the spherical tensor components from HARDI are related to the rank‐2 DT. The relationships between higher‐ and lower‐rank Cartesian DTs are also presented. The inadequacy of the traditional rank‐2 tensor model is demonstrated with simulations, and the method is applied to excised rat brain data collected in a spin‐echo HARDI experiment. Magn Reson Med 50:955–965, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Altered functional connectivity of primary visual cortex in early blindness

In early blindness, the primary visual area (PVA) loses the ability to process visual information, and shifts to working on the processing of somatosensory input, auditory input, and some higher‐level cognitive functions. It has not yet been investigated whether such functional changes can lead to alterations of the functional connectivity between the PVA and other brain areas in resting state. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in the functional connectivity of the PVA between early blind and sighted subjects using resting functional MRI data. The altered functional connectivity was identified by comparing the correlation coefficients of the PVA with other brain areas between 16 early blind subjects (blindness onset within 1 year of age) and 32 gender‐ and age‐matched healthy sighted volunteers. Compared with the sighted, the early blind subjects showed decreased functional connectivity between the left PVA and the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), pre‐ and postcentral gyri, superior parietal lobule, and the left superior and middle temporal gyri. Early blind subjects also showed decreased functional connectivity between the right PVA and the bilateral SMA, pre‐ and postcentral gyri. Our findings suggest that early deprivation of a single sensory modality induces alterations of functional connectivity between the deprived functional area and other associated brain areas. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
From Oysters to Cockles at Hjarnø Sund: Environmental and Subsistence Changes at a Danish Mesolithic Site

ABSTRACT Archaeological fieldwork at Hjarnø Sund in Horsens Fjord (eastern Jutland, Denmark) has explored an eroding Mesolithic shell midden. Its stratigraphy is characterized by two layers, containing marine mollusk taxa typically collected by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers for food. In the field, the lower layer appeared to be dominated by oysters (Ostrea edulis), while the upper one by cockles (Cerastoderma edule), which was confirmed by our zooarchaeological study. Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating on shells and paired charcoal samples from the two layers indicate that these are chronologically consecutive (separated by as little as 0–163 yr [95.4%]) and that the oyster-to-cockle shift dated between ~5500–5300 and ~5300–5200 cal BC (around or just after the Kongemose/Ertebølle transition). The shell midden at Hjarnø Sund is, thus, one of the oldest-known in Denmark, demonstrating that intensive shellfish exploitation was a hallmark of the Ertebølle culture from its inception. Oyster-to-cockle shifts, thus, also occurred at times other than the Mesolithic–Neolithic Transition and may have been ultimately caused by local shoreline displacements, resulting from changes in sedimentation, possibly induced by drops in relative sea level.
Saving in Southeast Asia and Latin America Compared: Searching for Policy Lessons

This paper examines empirical determinants of private saving for a sample of economies in Southeast Asia and Latin America over the period 1975-95. It uses panel estimations to establish relationships between private saving rates and a range of policy and nonpolicy variables. The findings show that fiscal policy, particularly social security arrangements, influence private saving; also macroeconomic stability and financial deepening appear to have been important in accounting for differences in saving behavior between the two regions.
Detection of Calcified and Noncalcified Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque by Contrast-Enhanced, Submillimeter Multidetector Spiral Computed Tomography: A Segment-Based Comparison With Intravascular Ultrasound

Background—We investigated the ability of multidetector spiral computed tomography (MDCT) to detect atherosclerotic plaque in nonstenotic coronary arteries. Methods and Results—In 22 patients without significant coronary stenoses, contrast-enhanced MDCT (0.75-mm collimation, 420-ms rotation) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) of one coronary artery were performed. A total of 83 coronary segments were imaged by IVUS (left main, 19; left anterior descending, 51; left circumflex, 4; right coronary, 9). MDCT data sets were evaluated for the presence and volume of plaque in the coronary artery segments. Results were compared with IVUS in a blinded fashion. For the detection of segments with any plaque, MDCT had a sensitivity of 82% (41 of 50) and specificity of 88% (29 of 33). For calcified plaque, sensitivity was 94% (33 of 36) and specificity 94% (45 of 47). Coronary segments containing noncalcified plaque were detected with a sensitivity of 78% (35 of 45) and specificity of 87% (33 of 38), but presence of exclusively noncalcified plaque was detected with only 53% sensitivity (8 of 15). If analysis was limited to the 41 proximal segments (segments 1, 5, 6, and 11 according to American Heart Association classification), sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 88% for any plaque, 95% and 91% for calcified plaque, and 91% and 89% for noncalcified plaque. MDCT substantially underestimated plaque volume per segment as compared with IVUS (24±35 mm3 versus 43±60 mm3, P <0.001). Conclusions—The results indicate the potential of MDCT to detect coronary atherosclerotic plaque in patients without significant coronary stenoses. However, further improvements in image quality will be necessary to achieve reliable assessment, especially of noncalcified plaque throughout the coronary tree.
Transcriptome Profiling of Tomato Fruit Development Reveals Transcription Factors Associated with Ascorbic Acid, Carotenoid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) serves as a research model for fruit development; however, while it is an important dietary source of antioxidant nutrients, the transcriptional regulation of genes that determine nutrient levels remains poorly understood. Here, the transcriptomes of fruit at seven developmental stages (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days after flowering) from two tomato cultivars (Ailsa Craig and HG6-61) were evaluated using the Illumina sequencing platform. A total of 26,397 genes, which were expressed in at least one developmental stage, were detected in the two cultivars, and the expression patterns of those genes could be divided into 20 groups using a K-mean cluster analysis. Gene Ontology term enrichment analysis indicated that genes involved in RNA regulation, secondary metabolism, hormone metabolism and cell wall metabolism were the most highly differentially expressed genes during fruit development and ripening. A co-expression analysis revealed several transcription factors whose expression patterns correlated with those of genes associated with ascorbic acid, carotenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. This transcriptional correlation was confirmed by agroinfiltration mediated transient expression, which showed that most of the enzymatic genes in the ascorbic acid biosynthesis were regulated by the overexpression of each of the three transcription factors that were tested. The metabolic dynamics of ascorbic acid, carotenoid and flavonoid were investigated during fruit development and ripening, and some selected transcription factors showed transcriptional correlation with the accumulation of ascorbic acid, carotenoid and flavonoid. This transcriptome study provides insight into the regulatory mechanism of fruit development and presents candidate transcription factors involved in secondary metabolism.
Impact of Cold Ischemia on Mitochondrial Function in Porcine Hearts and Blood Vessels

The effects of cold storage using Custodiol® (Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate, HTK) or isotonic saline solution on mitochondrial function in hearts (left and rights ventricles) and various blood vessels of pigs were investigated. Hearts, saphenous veins, internal-mammary-arteries and aortas of male landrace pigs were harvested and exposed to cold ischemia in either saline or Custodiol-HTK solution. Mitochondrial function was measured in situ in permeabilized fibers by high-resolution respirometry. Mitochondrial respiratory capacities (maximal respiration rates) were similar in the right and left ventricle in controls and after 14 h of cold storage were significantly better preserved in Custodiol-HTK than in saline solution. Mitochondrial respiration rates in various blood vessels including aorta, arteries and veins were less than 5% of myocardium rates. In contrast to the pig heart, in some blood vessels, like veins, mitochondrial function remained stable even after 24 h of cold ischemia. HTK-Custodiol protection of mitochondrial function after prolonged cold ischemia was observed in the myocardium but not in blood vessels. HTK-Custodiol solution thus offers significant protection of myocardial mitochondria against cold ischemic injury and can be used as efficient preservation solution in organ transplantation but probably has no benefit for blood vessels preservation. Analysis of mitochondrial function can be used as a valuable approach for the assessment of cold ischemic injury in various tissues including pig heart and various blood vessels.
Neural correlates of verbal creativity: differences in resting-state functional connectivity associated with expertise in creative writing

Neural characteristics of verbal creativity as assessed by word generation tasks have been recently identified, but differences in resting-state functional connectivity (rFC) between experts and non-experts in creative writing have not been reported yet. Previous electroencephalography (EEG) coherence measures during rest demonstrated a decreased cooperation between brain areas in association with creative thinking ability. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare 20 experts in creative writing and 23 age-matched non-experts with respect to rFC strengths within a brain network previously found to be associated with creative writing. Decreased rFC for experts was found between areas 44 of both hemispheres. Increased rFC for experts was observed between right hemispheric caudate and intraparietal sulcus. Correlation analysis of verbal creativity indices (VCIs) with rFC values in the expert group revealed predominantly negative associations, particularly of rFC between left area 44 and left temporal pole. Overall, our data support previous findings of reduced connectivity between interhemispheric areas and increased right-hemispheric connectivity during rest in highly verbally creative individuals.
Detecting overlapping communities of weighted networks by central figure algorithm

In recent years, the community structures in complex networks has become a research hotspot. In this paper, we focus on weighted networks and propose a unique algorithm on detecting overlapping communities of weighted networks based on central figure with considerable accuracy. In the algorithm, all the central figures are first extracted. Then to each central figure, nodes are absorbed by closures and weak ties. The experiments are based on LFR Benchmark. Through the experiment, we can know that the performance of our algorithm is better than that of COPRA (Community Overlap Propagation Algorithm) algorithm.
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Activity Persists During Chronic β-Adrenoceptor Blockade in Experimental and Human Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND Considerable evidence suggests that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) overactivity plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF), a condition characterized by excessive β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) stimulation. Recent studies indicate a significant cross talk between β-AR signaling and CaMKII activation presenting CaMKII as a possible downstream mediator of detrimental β-AR signaling in HF. In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic β-AR blocker treatment on CaMKII activity in human and experimental HF. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunoblot analysis of myocardium from end-stage HF patients (n=12) and non-HF subjects undergoing cardiac surgery (n=12) treated with β-AR blockers revealed no difference in CaMKII activity when compared with non-β-AR blocker-treated patients. CaMKII activity was judged by analysis of CaMKII expression, autophosphorylation, and oxidation and by investigating the phosphorylation status of CaMKII downstream targets. To further evaluate these findings, CaMKIIδC transgenic mice were treated with the β1-AR blocker metoprolol (270 mg/kg*d). Metoprolol significantly reduced transgene-associated mortality (n≥29; P<0.001), attenuated the development of cardiac hypertrophy (-14±6% heart weight/tibia length; P<0.05), and strongly reduced ventricular arrhythmias (-70±22% premature ventricular contractions; P<0.05). On a molecular level, metoprolol expectedly decreased protein kinase A-dependent phospholamban and ryanodine receptor 2 phosphorylation (-42±9% for P-phospholamban-S16 and -22±7% for P-ryanodine receptor 2-S2808; P<0.05). However, this was paralled neither by a reduction in CaMKII autophosphorylation, oxidation, and substrate binding nor a change in the phosphorylation of CaMKII downstream target proteins (n≥11). The lack of CaMKII modulation by β-AR blocker treatment was confirmed in healthy wild-type mice receiving metoprolol. CONCLUSIONS Chronic β-AR blocker therapy in patients and in a mouse model of CaMKII-induced HF is not associated with a change in CaMKII activity. Thus, our data suggest that the molecular effects of β-AR blockers are not based on a modulation of CaMKII. Directly targeting CaMKII may, therefore, further improve HF therapy in addition to β-AR blockade.