Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
User-defined motion gestures for mobile interaction

Modern smartphones contain sophisticated sensors to monitor three-dimensional movement of the device. These sensors permit devices to recognize motion gestures - deliberate movements of the device by end-users to invoke commands. However, little is known about best-practices in motion gesture design for the mobile computing paradigm. To address this issue, we present the results of a guessability study that elicits end-user motion gestures to invoke commands on a smartphone device. We demonstrate that consensus exists among our participants on parameters of movement and on mappings of motion gestures onto commands. We use this consensus to develop a taxonomy for motion gestures and to specify an end-user inspired motion gesture set. We highlight the implications of this work to the design of smartphone applications and hardware. Finally, we argue that our results influence best practices in design for all gestural interfaces.
Spherical Mapping Based Descriptors for 3D Object Matching

Matching 3D objects by their similarity is a fundamental problem in computer vision, multimedia databases, molecular biology, computer graphics and a variety of other fields. A challenging aspect of this problem is to find a suitable shape signature/descriptor that can be constructed and compared quickly, while still discriminating between similar and dissimilar shapes. We find that the major problems in comparing 3D mesh objects lie in the non-uniform vertex sampling and level of detail distribution, in the non-uniform polygon topology and in mesh-representation anomalies, so the primary motivation behind the work presented in this paper is the introduction of mesh-parameterization which brings meshes into a form having uniform vertex sampling, uniform polygon topology and filtered anomalies, by spherically mapping the mesh surface. Further, we present two approaches in inferring shape-descriptors from the spherically mapped objects and the results from the conducted experiments.
Evaluation of a new tumor marker for cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments in healthy individuals and prostate cancer patients

The serological results from apparently healthy individuals and prostate cancer patients were evaluated with a new assay called TPAcyk ELISA. This assay has a biochemical specificity for fragments of cytokeratins 8 and 18, and exhibits a low within‐ and between‐assay imprecision. The data indicate a significant difference between the results of males and females, but no significant age‐dependent relation was found. The cut‐off value (95% specificity) for healthy individuals was estimated to be 1.27 ng/mL (n = 190) for males and 0.95 ng/mL (n = 81) for females. When using a cut‐off value of 1.27 ng/mL, we found a sensitivity for prostate cancer patients with T2‐3 N0M0 of about 20%. For patients with metastatic disease, a sensitivity of 75% was found. A higher sensitivity was obtained with patient sera analyzed with PSA than with TPAcyk, particularly in patients with early stages of the disease. We conclude that the results from this new TPAcyk assay were significantly elevated in patients initially diagnosed with poorly differentiated tumors, that patients with localized tumors exhibited low concentrations, and that patients with metastatic disease showed, on average, 8 times higher concentrations than patients with localized disease. The combination of the TPAcyk and PSA results increased the sensitivity for prostate cancer, particularly in patients with metastatic disease. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Videosensor for the Detection of Unsafe Driving Behavior in the Proximity of Black Spots

This paper discusses the overall design and implementation of a video sensor for the detection of risky behaviors of car drivers near previously identified and georeferenced black spots. The main goal is to provide the driver with a visual audio alert that informs of the proximity of an area of high incidence of highway accidents only if their driving behavior could result in a risky situation. It proposes a video sensor for detecting and supervising driver behavior, its main objective being manual distractions, so hand driver supervision is performed. A GPS signal is also considered, the GPS information is compared with a database of global positioning Black Spots to determine the relative proximity of a risky area. The outputs of the video sensor and GPS sensor are combined to evaluate a possible risky behavior. The results are promising in terms of risk analysis in order to be validated for use in the context of the automotive industry as future work.
Recombination Mediators across Cell Cycle Stage by Regulating Transcription of IL-7 Functionally Segregates the Pro-B Cell

Ag receptor diversity involves the introduction of DNA double-stranded breaks during lymphocyte development. To ensure fidelity, cleavage is confined to the G 0-G 1 phase of the cell cycle. One established mechanism of regulation is through periodic degradation of the RAG2 recombinase protein. However, there are additional levels of protection. In this paper, we show that cyclical changes in the IL-7R signaling pathway functionally segregate pro-B cells according to cell cycle status. In consequence, the level of a downstream effector of IL-7 signaling, phospho-STAT5, is inversely correlated with cell cycle expression of Rag, a key gene involved in recombination. Higher levels of phopho-STAT5 in S-G 2 correlate with decreased Rag expression and Rag relocalization to pericentromeric heterochromatin. These cyclical changes in transcription and locus repositioning are ablated upon transformation with v-Abl, which renders STAT5 constitutively active across the cell cycle. We propose that this activity of the IL-7R/ STAT5 pathway plays a critical protective role in development, complementing regulation of RAG2 at the protein level, to ensure that recombination does not occur during replication. Our data, suggesting that pro-B cells are not a single homogeneous population, explain inconsistencies in the role of IL-7 signaling in regulating Igh recombination. D evelopmental progression involves a delicate balance between differentiation, survival, and proliferation. The juxtaposition of the differentiation and proliferation programs is particularly important during lymphocyte development because early developmental stages are punctuated by V(D)J re-combination events, which enable diversification of Ag receptors in B and T lineage cells (1). Because recombination involves the repeated cutting and joining of widely separated gene segments, the process must be tightly regulated to ensure that mistakes do not occur. Indeed, deregulation of recombination can have serious consequences resulting in aberrant chromosomal rearrangements that give rise to leukemia and lymphoma. RAG1 and RAG2 play an essential part in recombination, guiding the process from the cleavage phase through to synapsis and repair. First, RAG proteins recognize and cleave conserved recombination signal sequence elements that flank individual Ag receptor gene segments (2). Next, RAG stabilizes the postcleavage complex to ensure that the four cleaved ends are held in place, which is critical for their proper repair by classical nonhomologous end joining (3). This repair pathway predominates during the G 1 early S phase of cell cycle (4) and is important for maintaining genome stability (5– 7). RAG cleavage is also directed to occur during the G 1-G 0 phase …
Distribution and speciation of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and P in surface sediments of Lake Mariut, Egypt

Abstract Lake Mariut is suffering from pollution as it receives industrial effluents and a mix of sewage from different drains, often lacking treatment systems. Sequential extraction procedures were applied for the speciation of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb) and P in the lake sediment to evaluate their potential bioavailability. Total concentrations of metals had low values compared with the sediment quality guidelines. The chemical speciation data for Mn and Zn indicate a potential pollution level since the non-residual fractions contain up to 77.6 and 64.9% (respectively) of the total metal content. However, Fe, Cu and Pb are mostly linked to the inert fraction. Risk assessment of metals was carried out using the mobility factor, the contamination factor, the risk assessment code and the enrichment factor. All the analytical approaches indicated the accumulation of pollutants exceeding the adsorptive capacity of Lake Mariut sediments. The organic phosphorus fractions dominated in the sediment accounting for 51.4%, while the most abundant form of inorganic phosphorus was Ca-bound phosphorus. The rank order of P fractions was HCl-P > NaOH-P > BD-P > NH4Cl-P > Res-P. The decrease both in the dissolved oxygen level in the lake water and the Fe:P ratio in the lake sediment resulted in the high contribution of the phosphorus fractions to the overlying water.
Reliability of the oral glucose tolerance test in the early postoperative assessment of acromegaly remission.

OBJECT The suppression of growth hormone (GH) to less than 1 microg/L during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is generally considered to be the standard for the assessment of biochemical remission of GH excess following surgery for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. In this study the authors examine the reliability of the results of the early postoperative OGTT (epOGTT) in indicating remission or persistence of active acromegaly. METHODS Data from the case files of 67 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for the first time for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas were reviewed retrospectively. Definitive remission of acromegaly was considered to be present if, without adjuvant therapy and at the most recent follow-up examination, GH was suppressed to less than 1 microg/L during the OGTT, the level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was within normal limits, and there was no clinical or magnetic resonance imaging evidence of persisting disease. The results of the epOGTT (obtained during the 2nd postoperative week) and the 3-month-postoperative OGTT (3mpOGTT) were compared with the patient's outcome at the most recent follow-up examination. A highly sensitive (< or = 0.3 microg/L) immunoradiometric assay for GH and a highly sensitive (< or = 32 microg/L) radioimmunoassay for IGF-I were used. Correct epOGTT findings were noted in 83.6% of the patients: correct normal results (definitive remission of acromegaly) in 55.2% and correct pathological results (persisting acromegaly) in 28.3% of the patients. The rate of false findings was 16.4%: false normal results in 1.5% and false pathological results in 14.9% of the patients. The rate of correct 3mpOGTT findings increased to 98.5%: correct normal results in 68.6% and correct pathological ones in 29.8% of the patients. A false (false pathological) 3pmOGTT result occurred in only one patient (1.5%). At the most recent follow-up examinations (median 3.6 years) all OGTT findings were correct: correct normal results in 70.1% and correct pathological results in 29.9% of the patients. An intact adenopituitary function was associated (p = 0.04) with the occurrence of false epOGTT findings. CONCLUSIONS The high rate of false results, 16.4% for the epOGTT, declined significantly to 1.5% 3 months postoperatively and to 0% at the most recent follow-up examination. The OGTT appears to be more reliable at 3 months postoperatively. Unless there is obvious evidence of persisting disease following surgery for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, adjuvant therapy should be delayed for 3 months postoperatively to avoid subjecting the patient to superfluous treatment.
Impact of climate change on biodiversity and associated key ecosystem services in Africa: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Introduction: Biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystems services are intrinsically dependent on the climate. During the twentieth century, climate change has posed major threats to biodiversity in Africa, and impacts are expected to increase as climate change continues and perhaps even accelerates.Outcomes: Our review shows that the multiple components of climate change are projected to affect all levels of biodiversity, from genes over species to biome level. Loss of biodiversity as a result of climate change can alter the structures and functions of African ecological systems. As a result, the provision of biodiversity-based ecosystem services and the well-being of people that rely on these services are being modified. Of particular concerns are “tipping points” where the exceedance of ecosystem thresholds will possibly lead to irreversible shifts of the structure of ecosystems and their services. In recent years, climate prediction models have portended continued warming and more frequent extreme weather events across the region. Such weather-related disturbances such as El Niño will place a premium on biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystem services that people rely on.Conclusion: As biodiversity underlies all goods and services provided by ecosystems that are crucial for human survival and well-being, this paper synthesizes and discusses observed and anticipated impacts of climate change on biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystem service provision and livelihoods, and what strategies might be employed to decrease current and future risks on the well-being of human in Africa.
Hierarchical modeling of alternative exon usage associations with survival

Exon expression platforms have allowed the detection of associations between alternative exon usage (AEU) and the proliferation of malignant cells in cancer. However, due to inadequate number of studies performed on AEU and the approaches utilized to detect AEU events, well established biomarkers for GBM are not available. The expression of exons corresponding to 25,403 genes was related to the survival of 328 patients diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). An approach that takes exon expression into account was adopted to detect the association between exon expression and survival. Association between expression and survival were identified in 22 single-exon genes 248 genes with 2–25 exons, 1430 genes with >24 and <50 exons and 215 genes with >50 exons. Among the multiple-exon genes exhibiting AEU were epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nidogen2 (NID2) that have known association with GBM. These results are consistent with reports that these genes have 12 and 10 transcripts, respectively.
Channel and Timeslot Co-Scheduling with Minimal Channel Switching for Data Aggregation in MWSNs

Collision-free transmission and efficient data transfer between nodes can be achieved through a set of channels in multichannel wireless sensor networks (MWSNs). While using multiple channels, we have to carefully consider channel interference, channel and time slot (resources) optimization, channel switching delay, and energy consumption. Since sensor nodes operate on low battery power, the energy consumed in channel switching becomes an important challenge. In this paper, we propose channel and time slot scheduling for minimal channel switching in MWSNs, while achieving efficient and collision-free transmission between nodes. The proposed scheme constructs a duty-cycled tree while reducing the amount of channel switching. As a next step, collision-free time slots are assigned to every node based on the minimal data collection delay. The experimental results demonstrate that the validity of our scheme reduces the amount of channel switching by 17.5%, reduces energy consumption for channel switching by 28%, and reduces the schedule length by 46%, as compared to the existing schemes.
Statistical significance of hierarchical multi‐body potentials based on Delaunay tessellation and their application in sequence‐structure alignment

Statistical potentials based on pairwise interactions between Cα atoms are commonly used in protein threading/fold‐recognition attempts. Inclusion of higher order interaction is a possible means of improving the specificity of these potentials. Delaunay tessellation of the Cα‐atom representation of protein structure has been suggested as a means of defining multi‐body interactions.
Approximate max-integral-flow/min-multicut theorems

We establish several approximate max-integral-flow / min-multicut theorems. While in general this ratio can be very large, we prove strong approximation ratios in the case where the min-multicut is a constant fraction ε of the total capacity of the graph. This setting is motivated by several combinatorial and algorithmic applications. Prior to this work, a general max-integral-flow / min-multicut bound was known only for the special case where the graph is a tree. We prove that, for arbitrary graphs, the max-integral-flow / min-multicut ratio is O(ε-1 log k), where k is the number of commodites; for graphs excluding a fixed subgraph as a minor (for instance, planar graphs), O(1 / ε); and, for dense graphs, O(1√ε). Our proofs are constructive in the sense that we give efficient algorithms which compute either an integral flow achieving the claimed approximation ratios, or a witness that the precondition is violated.
Learning Dense 3 D Correspondence

Establishing correspondence between distinct objects is an important and nontrivial task: correctness of the correspondence hinges on properties which are difficult to capture in an a priori criterion. While previous work has used a priori criteria which in some cases led to very good results, the present paper explores whether it is possible to learn a combination of features that, for a given training set of aligned human heads, characterizes the notion of correct correspondence. By optimizing this criterion, we are then able to compute correspondence and morphs for novel heads.
Gravigrade xenarthrans from the early Pleistocene Leisey Shell Pit 1A, Hillsborough County, Florida

Two taxa of ground sloths are present at Leisey Shell Pit 1A Nothrotheriops texanus and Paramylodon harlani. The Irvingtonian sample of Nothrotheriops is sufficiently distinct morphologically to warrant separation from the Rancholabrean species, N. shastensis, and is referred to Nothrotheriops texanus (Hay) (new combination). Individuals of the Irvingtonian P. harlani average smaller than those of the Rancholabrean and there is a general size increase in the lineage from the Blancan to Rancholabrean with only minor morphological changes. Use of Paramylodon instead of Glossotherium for the species P. harlani is nomenclaturally correct.
Soluble CD93 as a Novel Biomarker in Asthma Exacerbation

Asthma research is shifting from studying symptoms and lung functions to the narrow-focus cellular profiles protein analysis, biomarkers, and genetic markers. The transmembrane glycoprotein CD93 is involved in endothelial cell migration, angiogenesis, leukocytes extravasation, apoptosis, innate immunity and inflammation. Relationships between the serum level of soluble CD93 (sCD93) and acute myocardial infarction/premature MI/inflammatory arthritis/skin sclerosis have recently been reported. We hypothesized that sCD93 would be elevated during the acute phase of asthma. We measured the serum level of sCD93 in 57 patients with asthma exacerbation and 57 age-and gender-matched healthy controls. Additionally, sCD93 was reassessed at the time of discharge from the hospital. Clinical characteristics and peak expiratory flow (PEF) of the patients were assessed. The primary outcome was the comparison of serum level of sCD93 between asthmatics and healthy subjects. The sCD93 values ranged from 128 to 789 ng/mL in asthmatics (345.83±115.81) and from 31 to 289 ng/mL in control subjects (169.46±62.43). The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). The association between sCD93 and asthma remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. The differences between asthmatics and controls remained significant on the last day of hospital stay. The association between sCD93 and PEF was not significant. In conclusion, the serum level of soluble CD93 is increased in patients with asthma exacerbation. It also showed that serum levels of sCD93 decreased with treatment of asthma attack. The clinical usefulness of determination of sCD93 as a biomarker of asthma requires further studies.
The Effectiveness of Hearing Conservation Program in the Workplace

Noise induced hearing loss is considered the highest reported problem among workers in the industrial countries, both civilian and military [1-3]. However, Knobloch and Broste [4] argued for the minimization of the problem due to invisibility. The percentage of at-risk employees is significantly high (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1981). The National Institute for Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (n.d.) reported that 20 million workers were noted to be working under background noise on a daily basis. And the expected loudness level is about 75 dB or higher. However, it is not a new observation, since historically it has been highlighted in the 17th century by Ramazzini. This article provides an overview of the effectiveness of hearing conservation program in the workplace and argues for the benefits of applying the rule to both employer and employee. The advantages could be in terms of economy, health, and safety.
Generalized compress-and-forward strategy for relay networks

In this paper, we present a new generalization of the well- known Compress-and-Forward strategy for relay networks. We propose an offset decoding at destination, where destination considers an ordered partition of relays and decodes information of any partition with the help of information from prior partitions. We show that when we do not partition the set of relays, our result improves the result of Kramer, et al. A geometrical method is utilized to unify results of different ordered partitioning. Also, the unified result has a celebrated source-channel coding separation interpretation.
Streptococcus iniae SF1: Complete Genome Sequence, Proteomic Profile, and Immunoprotective Antigens

Streptococcus iniae is a Gram-positive bacterium that is reckoned one of the most severe aquaculture pathogens. It has a broad host range among farmed marine and freshwater fish and can also cause zoonotic infection in humans. Here we report for the first time the complete genome sequence as well as the host factor-induced proteomic profile of a pathogenic S. iniae strain, SF1, a serotype I isolate from diseased fish. SF1 possesses a single chromosome of 2,149,844 base pairs, which contains 2,125 predicted protein coding sequences (CDS), 12 rRNA genes, and 45 tRNA genes. Among the protein-encoding CDS are genes involved in resource acquisition and utilization, signal sensing and transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, and defense against host immune response. Potential virulence genes include those encoding adhesins, autolysins, toxins, exoenzymes, and proteases. In addition, two putative prophages and a CRISPR-Cas system were found in the genome, the latter containing a CRISPR locus and four cas genes. Proteomic analysis detected 21 secreted proteins whose expressions were induced by host serum. Five of the serum-responsive proteins were subjected to immunoprotective analysis, which revealed that two of the proteins were highly protective against lethal S. iniae challenge when used as purified recombinant subunit vaccines. Taken together, these results provide an important molecular basis for future study of S. iniae in various aspects, in particular those related to pathogenesis and disease control.