Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Extended Filtered Channel Framework for Pedestrian Detection

Pedestrian detection is an important example of object detection and has attracted much attention. Many works have shown that good image features provide high detection accuracy, and a few works have investigated enhancing low-level features (e.g., gradient and color features) using a filtered layer (i.e., convolutional layer) to obtain enhanced features or filtered channel features. To investigate whether these features are saturated, this paper adopts the concept of filtered channel features and strengthens them by adding more convolutional layers. Acting as convolution kernels, multilayer filters are applied to low-level features to obtain the extended filtered channel features, providing a powerful feature extractor with multilayer transformation for pedestrian detection. The proposed extended filtered channel framework (ExtFCF) achieves competitive performance on widely used benchmark datasets (Caltech, INRIA, and KITTI datasets), using only histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and CIE-LUV [a color space composing of luminance (L) and two chrominance (UV) components by International Commission on Illumination] color features (HOG+LUV) as low-level features. One representative ExtFCF implementation achieves the best result compared with the current best traditional pedestrian detection methods on the Caltech dataset.
Functional inactivation of p73, a homolog of p53 tumor suppressor protein, by human papillomavirus E6 proteins

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly implicated as a causative agent in the etiology of cervical cancer. Of its gene products, E6 binds to and inactivates p53 tumor suppressor protein by ubiquitin/proteasome‐dependent degradation. Recently, p73, a novel family of p53, has been identified and demonstrated, like p53, to activate p21WAF1. Here we show that p73 is also inactivated by HPV‐E6, but ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis is not responsive. Yeast two‐hybrid and GST pull‐down assays indicate a physical interaction between p73 and either HPV‐16 or HPV‐11 E6 proteins in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The transactivation domain (amino acid residues 1 to 49) is found to be absolutely required for the interaction. Transient co‐expression of E6 significantly inhibits the p73‐mdiated activation of p21WAF1 promoter in a p53‐defective C33A cell line. Using Gal4‐p73 fusion protein, we demonstrate that E6 inhibition of p73 transactivation function is independent of sequence‐specific DNA binding, which is confirmed by a direct electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Moreover, E6 inhibits p73 function by interfering with the activity of the amino‐terminal activation domain. Co‐transfection of E6 mutants reveals that the same portion of E6 appears to be responsible for the inactivation of p53 and p73 function. However, the inactivation mechanism of p73 is clearly different from that of p53, because p73, unlike p53, is inactivated by both high‐ and low‐risk E6s and is not susceptible to E6‐dependent proteolysis. These overall results, consequently, suggest that in addition to the inactivation of p53, the functional interference of p73 by HPV‐E6 may, at least in part, contribute to E6‐mediated transformation and hyperproliferation of cervical cells. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Joint Video and Sparse 3D Transform-Domain Collaborative Filtering for Time-of-Flight Depth Maps

This paper proposes a novel strategy for depth video denoising in RGBD camera systems. Today's depth map sequences obtained by state-of-the-art Time-of-Flight sensors suffer from high temporal noise. All high-level RGB video renderings based on the accompanied depth map's 3D geometry like augmented reality applications will have severe temporal flickering artifacts. We approached this limitation by decoupling depth map upscaling from the temporal denoising step. Thereby, denoising is processed on raw pixels including uncorrelated pixel-wise noise distributions. Our denoising methodology utilizes joint sparse 3D transform-domain collaborative filtering. Therein, we extract RGB texture information to yield a more stable and accurate highly sparse 3D depth block representation for the consecutive shrinkage operation. We show the effectiveness of our method on real RGBD camera data and on a publicly available synthetic data set. The evaluation reveals that our method is superior to state-of-the-art methods. Our method delivers improved flicker-free depth video streams for future applications, which are especially sensitive to temporal noise and arbitrary depth artifacts.
Investigation on the frailty status of the elderly inpatients in Shanghai using the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss) questionnaire

Abstract This study was to investigate the frailty status of inpatients older than 65 years old in Shanghai. A 6-month cross-sectional survey was conducted using FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss) questionnaire. Totally 587 patients were included. The data, including demographic characteristics, constipation, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, grip strength, and muscle strength, were collected. The data of serum prealbumin, serum albumin, serum total protein, and hemoglobin were obtained from laboratory blood tests. The incidence of nonfrailty, prefrailty, and frailty was 0.249, 0.417, and 0.334, respectively. The high incidence age of frailty was 86 to 90 years old (0.342), and the high incidence age of prefrailty was 65 to 70 years old (0.282). There was significant difference in the grip strength among different degrees of frailty (P < .01). The influencing factors related to prefrailty included prealbumin, grip strength, urinary retention, constipation and education level of illiterate (P < .05). The populations with high prealbumin level, high grip strength and illiteracy population were not easy to enter the prefrailty period, while those with constipation (OR (odds ratio) = 1.867, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.046–3.330) and urinary retention (OR = 7.007, 95% CI: 1.137–2.757) were more likely to enter the prefrailty period. Factors associated with frailty included age, prealbumin, grip strength, muscle strength, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and constipation (P < .05). The populations with high prealbumin level, high grip strength, and high muscle strength were not easy to enter frailty period, while those with older age (OR = 1.141, 95% CI: 1.085–1.200), urinary incontinence (OR = 10.314, 95% CI: 1.950–54.548), urinary retention (OR = 3.058, 95% CI: 1.571–5.952), and constipation (OR = 3.004, 95% CI: 1.540–5.857) were easy to enter frailty period. The high incidence ages of frailty and prefrailty are 86 to 90 years old and 65 to 70 years old, respectively. Age, low education level, low grip strength, low muscle strength, low serum prealbumin, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, and constipation are the risk factors of frailty. It is recommended to include frailty as an indicator in the existing assessment to rate the disease and develop a disease observation plan.
Sciatic nerve transection triggers release and intercellular transfer of a genetically expressed macromolecular tracer in dorsal root ganglia

We recently developed a genetic transneuronal tracing approach that allows for the study of circuits that are altered by nerve injury. We generated transgenic (ZW‐X) mice in which expression of a transneuronal tracer, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), is induced in primary sensory neurons, but only after transection of their peripheral axon. By following the transneuronal transport of the tracer into the central nervous system (CNS) we can label the circuits that are engaged by the WGA‐expressing damaged neurons. Here we used the ZW‐X mouse line to analyze dorsal root ganglia (DRG) for intraganglionic connections between injured sensory neurons and their neighboring “intact” neurons. Because neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression is strongly induced in DRG neurons after peripheral axotomy, we crossed the ZW‐X mouse line with a mouse that expresses Cre recombinase under the influence of the NPY promoter. As expected, sciatic nerve transection triggered WGA expression in NPY‐positive DRG neurons, most of which are of large diameter. As expected, double labeling for ATF‐3, a marker of cell bodies with damaged axons, showed that the tracer predominated in injured (i.e., axotomized) neurons. However, we also found the WGA tracer in DRG cell bodies of uninjured sensory neurons. Importantly, in the absence of nerve injury there was no intraganglionic transfer of WGA. Our results demonstrate that intraganglionic, cell‐to‐cell communication, via transfer of large molecules, occurs between the cell bodies of injured and neighboring noninjured primary afferent neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2648–2657, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biobjective transmitter optimization for service integration in MIMO Gaussian broadcast channel

This paper considers a two-receiver multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Gaussian broadcast channel model with integrated services. Specifically, two sorts of service messages are combined and served simultaneously: one multicast message intended for both receivers and one confidential message intended for only one receiver and kept perfectly secure from the other receiver. Our goal is to jointly design the transmit covariances of the multicast message and confidential message, such that the secrecy capacity region is maximized. This maximization problem is a biobjective optimization problem, but can be converted into a general scalar optimization problem via our proposed method of scalarization. Nonetheless, the equivalent scalar problem is nonconvex by nature. To circumvent the nonconvex issue, a provably convergent difference-of-concave (DC) approach is introduced to solve it in an iterative fashion. In view of the high computational complexity of the DC approach, a power splitting method is also devised for fast implementation of service integration. The security performance and computational efficiency of our proposed algorithms are finally demonstrated by numerical results.
Socio-cultural factors influencing and maintaining yam and cowpea diversity in Benin

Yam and cowpea are important elements in the food culture of local communities in the Transitional Guinea-Sudan Zone of Benin. Yam and cowpea serve to satisfy vital needs in households and in communities, but also play an essential role in the rituals and ceremonies of the agrarian civilizations of Benin. The diversity of rituals, food habits, technological traits and food security strategies for the two crops contributes to the maintenance of varietal diversity. It is not possible for one or even a few varieties to meet all needs. The more a variety is culturally and socially embedded, the greater the chance that it will meet acceptance on the local and regional market. Farmers' ambition to meet market demands in order to satisfy socio-economic needs also sustains and increases varietal diversity. Especially female farmers growing cowpea showed positive diversity maintenance behaviour. Overall, the study shows that the management of on-farm genetic resources is a socially and culturally constructed system. Any external strategy to improve management of on-farm diversity should take into account these social and cultural aims.
Protein cross-links: universal isolation and characterization by isotopic derivatization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A general method of unequivocally identifying and obtaining sequence information on cross-linked peptides derived by proteolytic digestion of cross-linked proteins has been developed. The method is based on isotopic labeling of alpha-amino groups with 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Proteins containing covalent cross-link(s) are reductively methylated to convert lysine residues to dimethyl lysine. The methylated protein is partially hydrolyzed and the liberated alpha-amino termini are derivatized with an equimolar mixture of DNFB and [(2)H(3)]DNFB. Dinitrophenyl (DNP)-labeled peptides may be fractionated into mono- and bis-DNP pools by chromatography on phenyl media. The bis-DNP peptides are further separated by reverse-phase HPLC and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The molecular ions of cross-linked peptides are unambiguously identified as 1:2:1 triplets in the mass spectrum resulting from the binomial distribution of isotopic label in the bis-DNP derivative. Sequence information can be elucidated from the unique product ion patterns which are generated from in-source fragmentation at an elevated cone voltage. Analysis of the disulfide cross-linked peptide (VTCG)(2) was undertaken as a proof of concept and the generality of the method was demonstrated by isolating and sequencing the isopeptide bond of polyubiquitin.
Dual-tDCS Enhances Online Motor Skill Learning and Long-Term Retention in Chronic Stroke Patients

Background: Since motor learning is a key component for stroke recovery, enhancing motor skill learning is a crucial challenge for neurorehabilitation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising approach for improving motor learning. The aim of this trial was to test the hypothesis that dual-tDCS applied bilaterally over the primary motor cortices (M1) improves online motor skill learning with the paretic hand and its long-term retention. Methods: Eighteen chronic stroke patients participated in a randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double bind trial. During separate sessions, dual-tDCS or sham dual-tDCS was applied over 30 min while stroke patients learned a complex visuomotor skill with the paretic hand: using a computer mouse to move a pointer along a complex circuit as quickly and accurately as possible. A learning index involving the evolution of the speed/accuracy trade-off was calculated. Performance of the motor skill was measured at baseline, after intervention and 1 week later. Results: After sham dual-tDCS, eight patients showed performance worsening. In contrast, dual-tDCS enhanced the amount and speed of online motor skill learning compared to sham (p < 0.001) in all patients; this superiority was maintained throughout the hour following. The speed/accuracy trade-off was shifted more consistently after dual-tDCS (n = 10) than after sham (n = 3). More importantly, 1 week later, online enhancement under dual-tDCS had translated into superior long-term retention (+44%) compared to sham (+4%). The improvement generalized to a new untrained circuit and to digital dexterity. Conclusion: A single-session of dual-tDCS, applied while stroke patients trained with the paretic hand significantly enhanced online motor skill learning both quantitatively and qualitatively, leading to successful long-term retention and generalization. The combination of motor skill learning and dual-tDCS is promising for improving post-stroke neurorehabilitation.
Transmission rate control of ASO-TDMA in multi-hop maritime communication network

We consider a ship ad-hoc network (SANET) that extends the service coverage for data communication with the multi-hop connectivity among the ships. In this paper, we propose two means of transmission rate control to maximize the system throughput subject to the reservation-based random access that is is inherent to the ad-hoc self-organizing TDMA (ASO-TDMA) protocol in SANET. It has been demonstrated that the proposed control schemes can maintain the maximum system throughput adaptively as the number of ships varies for the different hop ranges and their target attempt rates.
Profits from Technical Trading Rules

I examine the predictability of daily returns for the Dow Jones Industrial Average by comparing the technical trading rules developed by Allen and Karjalainen (1999) with moving average rules studied by Brock, Lakonishok, and LeBaron (1992). I argue that this comparison lends support to the hypothesis that the apparent success (after transaction costs) of the Brock et al. (1992) moving average rules is a spurious result of data snooping. If it were reliable, investors would like to use technical analysis to improve their portfolio returns, and firms would like to use it to improve the timing of their security offerings. My results serve as a reminder that patterns in historical data, even though they appear very consistent, need not persist in the future.
How Concessional is Aid Lending?

Abstract The method used by Development Assistance Committee countries for measuring the concessionality of aid loans has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years. It was designed to measure the net cost of aid to donors not the net benefit to recipients. The discount rate used takes no account of changes in the value of the currency of the loan or of changes in prices for goods traded by recipient countries. Furthermore, it does not consider the implications of tying of aid or of policy conditionality. This paper suggests an alternative measure that shows the real net benefit of aid finance to recipients. It argues that the discount rate used by the Development Assistance Committee is too high and that changes in the value of the currency in which a loan is taken out can be important. Nevertheless, real rates of interest for developing countries remain surprisingly high despite low nominal rates due to falling prices of traded goods. This finding has implications for the future real cost of debt service to recipients.
The World Bank Policy for Projects on International Waterways: An Historical and Legal Analysis

This study deals with the evolution and context of the Bank policy for projects on international waterways. It starts with a brief description of how the Bank has faced the challenges stemming from such projects, and the different approaches deliberated by the Bank that led to the issuance of the first policy in 1956. The study then reviews the implementation experience of the policy and analyzes the principles and procedures, as well as the main features of each of the policies issued in 1956, 1965, and 1985 respectively. The principles of international water law prevailing at each stage of the policy issuance are examined and compared with those of the Bank policy. The study also discusses in detail the notification process: its basis, by whom, to whom, its content, different riparian's responses, and the exceptions to the notification requirement. It then analyzes how the Bank handles an objection from one or more of the riparian's to projects proposed for Bank financing. It also examines how the Bank has dealt with transboundary groundwater, as well as the linkages between the policy for projects on international waterways and the policies on disputed areas and environmental impact assessment. The conclusion provides an overview of the main findings of the study, and highlights some of the lessons drawn from the implementation experience of the policy.
Pease Drum and Tank Recycling and Reconditioning: The Impact of Legislation and Limitations on Being Green

Purpose - The purpose of this paper, which has been to a large extent based on a recently completed PhD thesis, is to examine the case of Pease Drum and Tank Recycling and Reconditioning Company based in Leeds. Findings - Legislation and the nature of industry have been the prime drivers of the company's green efforts. However, despite the MD's genuine commitment to green issues and the impact of legislation, limitations are imposed directly or otherwise on the degree and extent of caring for the environment. Design/methodology/approach - The company MD participated in an interview carried out in 1999 as part of primary research for a PhD in green marketing, however, attempts at the second interview with the new owners of the organisation in 2003 were not successful. Originality/value - This paper illustrates how organisations that are required by legislation to be green comply and in this case go beyond mere compliance.
Sustainable Environmental Practices in the New Zealand Wine Industry: An Analysis of Perceived Institutional Pressures and the Role of Exports

The focus of this article is to use institutional theory to provide a better understanding of environmental issues facing New Zealand wineries. Findings from a survey of New Zealand wineries indicate that institutional pressures do not fully explain the adoption of sustainable environmental practices in the New Zealand wine industry. The authors found that firms with a higher commitment to exports will adopt one of the environmental practices identified to a greater degree. The authors present explanations for these results in terms of the nature of the industry, size of the winery operations, and the higher overall export orientation of this industry.
A inverse scattering technique for objects buried in planar layered media based on an Estimation of Distribution Algorithm

The problem of reconstructing three-dimensional objects buried in layered media is addressed in this paper. A numerical approach which is based on an Estimation of Distribution Algorithm(EDA) is proposed. The reconstruction is obtained from the iterative inversion method that minimizes the cost function by using EDA, where the cost function is defined as the squared magnitude of the difference between the measured fields and the calculated fields from the assumed profile of the object. Numerical result shows these methods are capable of reconstructing an arbitrary 3D inhomogeneous object buried in a multilayered medium.
Effects of water and nitrogen supply on growth, water-use efficiency and mucilage yield of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk)

A two-way factorial experiment based on a randomized complete design (RCD) with four replications was used to compare four levels of N supply including control (N 0 ), 60(N 60 ), 120(N 120 ) and 180(N 180 ) mg N per Kg soil and four different water supply including 100(I 100 ), 80(I 80 ), 60(I 60 ) and 40(I 40 ) % FC on growth, water-use efficiency and mucilage yield of isabgol. Under I 40 , higher N addition led to a significant decrease in root and shoot DM. N addition increased root and shoot biomass especially in I 80 treatment followed by I 60 . The highest (1.71 g plant -1 ) and the lowest (0.42 g plant -1 ) seed yield of isabgol observed in I 100 at N 120 and I 40 at N 120, respectively. The concentration of soluble sugar increased with N supply at I 100 and I 40 . Water stress led to an increase in proline levels, particularly in the N supply treatments. The addition of N tended to reduce the positive effect of water stress on proline content. Seed water use efficiency (WUEg) of isabgol decreased with the increase in drought stress. N supply significantly increased WUEg from N 0 to N 120 with no significant differences between N 60 and N 120 and then significantly decreased by supplying N 180 . Mucillage water use efficiency (WUEm) is also increased linear in all watering regime at all N supply.
Sodium Intake Requirements for Preterm Neonates: Review and Recommendations

ABSTRACT It is widely accepted that sodium is an essential nutritional electrolyte and its deficiency is associated with neurological sequelae and poor growth. The provision of an adequate sodium intake to preterm neonates is hampered by the technical difficulty in clinically assessing total body sodium content. As addressed in this review, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of hyponatremia early in life, but there is no evidence that it should deviate from the widely accepted normative data for adult subjects. A low urinary sodium content is accepted by many as reflecting total body sodium deficiency, yet spot urinary sodium measurements are of questionable clinical value. The hormonal regulation of sodium homeostasis is here reviewed and the mechanism accounting for sodium deficiency–induced growth impairment in preterm infants addressed. Lastly, we provide evidence-based gestational and postnatal age-dependent recommendations for the provision of adequate sodium intake to preterm neonates.