Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A framework for evaluation of deformable image registration spatial accuracy using large landmark point sets

Expert landmark correspondences are widely reported for evaluating deformable image registration (DIR) spatial accuracy. In this report, we present a framework for objective evaluation of DIR spatial accuracy using large sets of expert-determined landmark point pairs. Large samples (>1100) of pulmonary landmark point pairs were manually generated for five cases. Estimates of inter- and intra-observer variation were determined from repeated registration. Comparative evaluation of DIR spatial accuracy was performed for two algorithms, a gradient-based optical flow algorithm and a landmark-based moving least-squares algorithm. The uncertainty of spatial error estimates was found to be inversely proportional to the square root of the number of landmark point pairs and directly proportional to the standard deviation of the spatial errors. Using the statistical properties of this data, we performed sample size calculations to estimate the average spatial accuracy of each algorithm with 95% confidence intervals within a 0.5 mm range. For the optical flow and moving least-squares algorithms, the required sample sizes were 1050 and 36, respectively. Comparative evaluation based on fewer than the required validation landmarks results in misrepresentation of the relative spatial accuracy. This study demonstrates that landmark pairs can be used to assess DIR spatial accuracy within a narrow uncertainty range.
Energy-Efficient Adaptive Transmission of Scalable Video Streaming in Cognitive Radio Communications

Cognitive radio (CR) is a promising technology to alleviate spectrum shortage and satisfy the huge demand of bandwidth for multimedia streaming in future mobile computing systems. The inherent features of CR pose tough challenges in provisioning quality of service (QoS) for acceptable user experience and minimizing energy consumption for multimedia transmissions. In this paper, scalable video coding and transmission rate adaptation are jointly considered in an energy-efficient scheme for transmissions of streaming media over CR with QoS guarantee. An event-driven discrete-time Markov control process model is introduced to formulate the QoS-guaranteed energy-efficient transmission problem as a constrained stochastic optimization problem. Based on estimations of potentials and the difference between performance measurement and QoS requirement, an online policy iteration algorithm is proposed to optimize energy consumption under QoS constraints directly. By exploiting the system dynamics, this algorithm does not depend on any prior knowledge of channel availability or fading statistics, and it can converge to a near optimum with a low computational burden. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Approach based on geometric shape of pedestrian's head to shoulder region for human tracking in high density crowd using a 3D laser range finder

This paper discusses the possibility of using the geometric shape of a pedestrian's head to shoulder region as a feature to identify individuals. The main aim is to track humans in a high density crowd using a 3D laser range finder (3D-LRF). One of the most critical problems of human tracking in a high density crowd is the occurrence of occlusion. Occlusion might occur because of the lack of features on tracking objects and the fragmentation of trajectories. When the trajectories are fragmented, they should be associated correctly in order to realize robust and accurate tracking. To improve the robustness of human tracking in a crowded environment, we consider features of a tracking object that can recognize individuals to be useful when combining trajectories fragmented by occlusion. In this paper, the geometric shape of a pedestrian's head to shoulder region was applied as a feature of a tracking object. The applicability of the feature to the tracking in dynamic environments was done through experiments using a 3D-LRF.
Fast text categorization with min-max modular support vector machines

The min-max modular support vector machines (M/sup 3/-SVMs) have been proposed for solving large-scale and complex multiclass classification problems. In this paper, we apply the M/sup 3/-SVMs to multilabel text categorization and introduce a new task decomposition strategy into M/sup 3/-SVMs. A multilabel classification task can be split up into a set of two-class classification tasks. These two-class tasks are to discriminate the C class from non-C class. If these two class tasks are still hard to be learned, we can further divide them into a set of two-class tasks as small as needed and fast training of SVMs on massive multilabel texts can be easily implemented in a massively parallel way. Furthermore, we proposed a new task decomposition strategy called hyperplane task decomposition to improve generalization performance. The experimental results on the RC 1-v2 indicate that the new method has better generalization performance than traditional SVMs and previous M/sup 3/-SVMs using random task decomposition, and is faster than traditional SVMs.
Histamine releasability of basophils and skin mast cells in chronic urticaria

In order to clarify the pathogenetic role of basophils and mast cells in chronic urticaria, histamine and leukotriene (LT)C4 release was examined in washed mixed leukocytes (n= 8) and skin mast cells (n= 5) from patients with chronic urticaria and compared with the same cells from normal controls (n= 9). Anti‐IgE‐stimulated basophil histamine release was significantly reduced in urticaria patients (median 2.9%vs 15.1% in normal controls), whereas histamine release to A23187. FMLP, and PAF, as well as anti‐IgE‐induced LTC4 release, showed no differences in both groups. In contrast, anti‐IgE‐stimulated skin mast cells from urticaria patients reacted similarly to those of controls (median histamine release 11.4%vs 14.2% in normal controls). Pretreatment of the cells with interleukin (IL)‐3 upregulated responsiveness of basophil histamine release to anti‐IgE in urticaria patients (median histamine release 14.3%), but pretreatment with the H2‐antagonist cimetidine showed no effect. These data show that reduced basophil histamine releasability in chronic urticaria is not H2 mediated. It is a stimulus, mediator‐, and cell type‐restricted phenomenon that can, at least partially, be reversed in the presence of the cytokine IL‐3.
Bone density and structure in long‐term survivors of pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Children requiring allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) have multiple risk factors for impaired bone accrual. The impact of alloHSCT on volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and cortical structure has not been addressed. Tibia peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scans were obtained in 55 alloHSCT recipients, ages 5 to 26 years, a median of 7 (range, 3–16) years after alloHSCT. pQCT outcomes were converted to sex‐ and race‐ specific Z‐scores relative to age based on reference data in >700 concurrent healthy participants. Cortical section modulus (Zp; a summary measure of cortical bone structure and strength), and muscle and fat area Z‐scores were further adjusted for tibia length for age Z‐scores. AlloHSCT survivors had lower height Z‐scores (−1.21 ± 1.25 versus 0.23 ± 0.92; p < 0.001), versus reference participants; BMI Z‐scores did not differ. AlloHSCT survivors had lower trabecular vBMD (−1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.33 to −0.78; p < 0.001), cortical Zp (−0.63; 95% CI, −0.91 to −0.35; p < 0.001), and muscle (−1.01; 95% CI, −1.30 to −0.72; p < 0.001) Z‐scores and greater fat (0.82; 95% CI, 0.54–1.11; p < 0.001) Z‐scores, versus reference participants. Adjustment for muscle deficits eliminated Zp deficits in alloHSCT. Total body irradiation (TBI) was associated with lower trabecular vBMD (−1.30 ± 1.40 versus −0.49 ± 0.88; p = 0.01) and muscle (−1.34 ± 1.42 versus −0.34 ± 0.87; p < 0.01) Z‐scores. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was associated with lower Zp Z‐scores (−1.64 ± 2.47 versus −0.28 ± 1.24; p = 0.05); however, muscle differences were not significant (−1.69 ± 1.84 versus −0.78 ± 1.01; p = 0.09). History of graft versus host disease was not associated with pQCT outcomes. In summary, alloHSCT was associated with significant deficits in trabecular vBMD, cortical geometry, and muscle area years after transplantation. TBI and GHD were significant risk factors for musculoskeletal deficits. Future studies are needed to determine the metabolic and fracture implications of these deficits, and to identify therapies to improve bone accrual following alloHSCT during childhood. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Two Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of ST395 Epidemic Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Obtained 12 Years Apart

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause large and prolonged outbreaks in hospitals. We have sequenced and annotated the genomes of two multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates from the same strain obtained 12 years apart from different patients. Genomic analysis provided insight on the genes acquired and lost by P. aeruginosa during its spread.
Maintainability Metrics for Aspect-Oriented Software

Maintainability is an important factor that developers should be concerned because two-thirds of software costs involve maintenance. Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) paradigm is aimed to increase the software maintainability. It solves code tangling and code scattering problems by introducing a new modular unit, called "aspect". Various research works are provided to support measuring the object-oriented software, but only few studies are set up to support measuring the aspect-oriented software. This paper proposes aspect-oriented software maintainability metrics and a set of aspect-oriented design guidelines to support the metrics. By combining the proposed guidelines, object-oriented design principles, and aspect-oriented design principles, the metrics are constructed according to the Factor-Strategy (FS) quality model and the Factor-Criteria-Metric (FCM) quality model. Principle violation check definitions in the form of Boolean expressions are also defined to conduct software measurement and to fulfill the metrics. Finally, the aspect-oriented software maintainability metrics are applied to detect design principle violations in fifty AspectJ systems. The results show that for all systems their hidden flaws are exposed. Moreover, the proposed metrics are used to compare the maintainability between two versions of systems written in Java and AspectJ.
Large area electronic skin

Technological advances have enabled various approaches for developing artificial organs such as bionic eyes, artificial ears, and lungs etc. Recently electronics (e-skin) or tactile skin has attracted increasing attention for its potential to detect subtle pressure changes, which may open up applications including real-time health monitoring, minimally invasive surgery, and prosthetics. The development of e-skin is challenging as, unlike other artificial organs, tactile skin has large number of different types of sensors, which are distributed over large areas and generate large amount of data. On top of this, the attributes such as softness, stretchability, and bendability etc., are difficult to be achieved as today's electronics technology is meant for electronics on planar and stiff substrates such as silicon wafers. This said, many advances, pursued through “More than Moore” technology, have recently raised hope as some of these relate to flexible electronics and have been targeted towards developing e-skin. Depending on the technology and application, the scale of e-skin could vary from small patch (e.g. for health monitoring) to large area skin (e.g. for robotics). This invited paper presents some of the advances in large area e-skin and flexible electronics, particularly related to robotics.
Three novel electrochemical electrodes for the fabrication of conducting polymer/SWCNTs layered nanostructures and their thermoelectric performance

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), PEDOT:PSS/SWCNTs, and SWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS nanofilms were used as working electrodes to electrodeposit polyaniline (PANI) in a mixed alcohol solution of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), boron trifluoride ethyl ether (BFEE), and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The thermoelectric (TE) performances of the resulting nanofilms were systematically investigated. SWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS/PANI nanofilms showed a relatively high electrical conductivity value of 232.0 S cm−1. The Seebeck coefficient was enhanced and exhibited the values of 33.8, 25.6, and 23.0 μV K−1 for the SWCNTs/PANI, PEDOT:PSS/SWCNTs/PANI, and SWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS/PANI films, respectively. The maximum power factor achieved was 12.3 μW m−1 K−2. This technique offers a facile and versatile approach to a class of layered nanostructures, and it may provide a general strategy for fabricating a new generation of conducting polymer/SWCNTs materials for further practical applications.
Functional Properties of Internalization-Deficient P2X4 Receptors Reveal a Novel Mechanism of Ligand-Gated Channel Facilitation by Ivermectin

Although P2X receptors within the central nervous system mediate excitatory ATP synaptic transmission, the identity of central ATP-gated channels has not yet been elucidated. P2X4, the most widely expressed subunit in the brain, was previously shown to undergo clathrin-dependent constitutive internalization by direct interaction between activator protein (AP)2 adaptors and a tyrosine-based sorting signal specifically present in the cytosolic C-terminal tail of mammalian P2X4 sequences. In this study, we first used internalization-deficient P2X4 receptor mutants to show that suppression of the endocytosis motif significantly increased the apparent sensitivity to ATP and the ionic permeability of P2X4 channels. These unique properties, observed at low channel density, suggest that interactions with AP2 complexes may modulate the function of P2X4 receptors. In addition, ivermectin, an allosteric modulator of several receptor channels, including mammalian P2X4, did not potentiate the maximal current of internalization-deficient rat or human P2X4 receptors. We demonstrated that binding of ivermectin onto wild-type P2X4 channels increased the fraction of plasma membrane P2X4 receptors, whereas surface expression of internalization-deficient P2X4 receptors remained unchanged. Disruption of the clathrin-mediated endocytosis with the dominant-negative mutants Eps15 or AP-50 abolished the ivermectin potentiation of wild-type P2X4 channel currents. Likewise, ivermectin increased the membrane fraction of nicotinic α7 acetylcholine (nα7ACh) receptors and the potentiation of acetylcholine current by ivermectin was suppressed when the same dominant-negative mutants were expressed. These data showed that potentiation by ivermectin of both P2X4 and nα7ACh receptors was primarily caused by an increase in the number of cell surface receptors resulting from a mechanism dependent on clathrin/AP2-mediated endocytosis.
Dynamic modeling and tracking control of fuel filled space robotic system with flexible manipulators

In recent years, dynamics model and control of space robot system are the hot topics in the research field. In this paper, a new dynamics model and control strategy of space robotic system with a flexible manipulator and a liquid fuel tank are investigated. Based on Lagrange equation method, the dynamics model of the space robotic system coupling with liquid sloshing, flexibility vibration and base movement is derived. The elastic deflection of the flexible manipulator is described by the assumed mode method and equivalent mechanical model is adopted instead of liquid sloshing under the environment of low-gravity. The inverse dynamics control algorithm combined with PD control method is performed to solve the trajectory tracking problem. Some simulation results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Late Endosomal Recycling of Open MHC‐I Conformers

With an increasing number of endosomal cargo molecules studied, it is becoming clear that endocytic routes are diverse, and the cell uses more pathways to adjust expression of cell surface proteins. Intracellular itinerary of integral membrane proteins that avoid the early endosomal recycling route is not enough studied. Therefore, we studied endocytic trafficking of empty Ld (eLd) molecules, an open form of murine MHC‐I allele, in fibroblast‐like cells. Pulse labeling of cell surface eLd with mAbs and internalization kinetics suggest two steps of endosomal recycling: rapid and late. The same kinetics was also observed for human open MHC‐I conformers. Kinetic modeling, using in‐house developed software for multicompartment analysis, colocalization studies and established protocols for enriched labeling of the late endosomal (LE) pool of eLd demonstrated that the late step of recycling occurs from an LE compartment. Although the majority of eLd distributed into pre‐degradative multivesicular bodies (MVBs), these LE subsets were not a source for eLd recycling. The LE recycling of eLd did not require Rab7 membrane domains, as demonstrated by Rab7‐silencing, but required vectorial LE motility, suggesting that LE recycling occurs from dynamic tubulovesicular LE domains prior segregation of eLd in MVBs. Thus, our study indicates that LE system should not be simply considered as a feeder for loading of the degradative tract of the cell but also as a feeder for loading of the plasma membrane and thereby contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis of plasma membrane proteins. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 872–887, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Joint Pilot and Data Transmission Power Control and Computing Resource Allocation Algorithm for Massive MIMO-MEC Networks

This paper designs a single-cell multi-user massive MIMO-MEC network. In order to ensure the fairness of users, a joint pilot transmission, data transmission and resource allocation model during the computation execution process with the goal of minimizing the maximum offload computing delay for all users is constructed. The resulted problem is non-convex and non-linear optimization, thus difficult to be solved optimally. To tackle this challenge, an improved fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) based on the external penalty function steepest descent algorithm (IFOA-PFSA) is proposed. The point obtained by the steepest descent algorithm based on the external penalty function has been employed as the initial point of the fruit fly optimization algorithm, which can greatly reduce the population size and the maximum number of iterations in the random search process of the traditional fruit fly optimization algorithm, reducing the algorithm complexity. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm IFOA-PFSA has a smaller delay than the traditional FOA (TFOA) algorithm. The complexity of the proposed algorithm is also lower than the TFOA algorithm.
Passivity based control for a quadrotor UAV transporting a cable-suspended payload with minimum swing

In the present work a mathematical model and a control methodology for a special class of underactuated mechanical system, composed by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) kind quadrotor transporting a cable-suspended payload, is proposed. The Euler-Lagrange formulation is used to derive the dynamic model of the system, where the integrated dynamics of the quadrotor, cable and payload are considered. An Interconnection and Damping Assignment-Passivity Based Control (IDA-PBC) for a quadrotor UAV transporting a cable-suspended payload is developed. The control law designed does not depend on the swing angle of the cable. The control objective is to transport the payload from point to point, with swing suppression along trajectory. Experimental results are shown to evaluate the proposed control law.
A Two-Dimensional Clustering Method for High-Speed Railway Trains in China Based on Train Characteristics and Operational Performance

At present, China has the world’s longest high-speed railway (HSR) network, but most trains do not have clear market positioning and hierarchical standard. The current train hierarchies and adjustment is empirically set by HSR organisers. This paper applies a clustering method and cross-over analysis to study the classification of China’s HSR trains and provides scientific operation suggestions. By adopting the timetable data and ticket booking data of Shanghai-Nanjing intercity railway, we establish a clustering index system consists of train characteristics indexes and operational performance indexes, then use t-distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding (t-SNE) to do dimensionality reduction for original data. We obtain the optimal clustering number by validity indexes and use $k$ -means to cluster the HSR trains. After clustering, we use a cross-over analysis to illustrate the relationship between train characteristics, passenger demand and operational performance. We find there are two main types of train on Shanghai-Nanjing intercity HSR: trains departing on the hour that have good operational performance, trains with staggered stops and low-capacity based on the strategies of “low capacity, high density” that have better operational performance at peak time. After 19:00, due to the passenger demand decrease, train capacity can be reduced to avoid unnecessary waste. Short-distance trains could easily be replaced by long-distance trains with similar stop schedules and need to maintain a certain operation frequency. The proposed clustering method has universal applicability for Chinese HSR lines.
Supply chain process collaboration and Internet utilization: an international perspective of business to business relationships

This paper compiles the findings of an international study which primary objective was to investigate the relationships between Internet utilization in business-to-business relationships, collaborative efforts and their impact over supplier and customer-oriented processes performance. It highlights the Internet as an important enhancer of collaboration in supply chains and addresses the effects of such efforts on companies’ overall performance. As a conclusive-descriptive and quantitative study, data from a survey of 788 companies from the USA, China, Canada, United Kingdom, and Brazil were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, reliability evaluation of the research model’s internal scales, path analysis and structural equation modeling to evaluate supply chain processes collaboration, both up- and down-stream. Internet utilization in supplier and customer-oriented processes was found positively related to collaborative practices in business-to-business relationships. Collaborative practices in supplier and customer-oriented processes, in turn, showed potential effects on performance. Also, supplier-oriented processes performance was found positively associated with customer-oriented process performance. Both internet use and collaborative practices are even more important in a high-context country like Brazil. The paper helps clarify the impact of internet use on business-to-business collaborative relationships. In this sense, practitioners can take this impact to redraw the organizational landscape and business processes amongst supply chain participants.
A Modified Broyden Update with Interpolation

A new class of Hessian updates is introduced for quasi-Newton methods obtained by modifying the Broyden class of updates so that it interpolates function values. In general, the members of this new class do not satisfy the quasi-Newton equation. Through the use of a weak inverse updating strategy, a specific choice of update within this class is then introduced. Numerical results are given to illustrate the behaviour of this new update and to compare it with other updating sequences.