Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating Differential Evolution and Condensation Algorithms for License Plate Tracking

In this paper, we propose a novel method for position estimation and tracking of license plates in 3D from monocular camera view. Given an initial estimate, we try to track the position of the license plate in the successive video frames. In our previous works, we utilized condensation algorithm for estimating the state of the object and filtering the measurements. In this work, we present DE-condensation algorithm, which is an integration of condensation and differential evolution (DE) algorithms. The new algorithm is composed of the probability density propagation of condensation algorithm and a fine scale optimization step according to DE algorithm. Each sample of the DE-condensation algorithm is an estimate for the license plate's position in 3D and projected to the image plane by perspective camera model for evaluation. While tracking the license plate's texture by probability density propagation, DE optimization gives a fine tuning according to the license plate boundaries. DE-condensation algorithm outperforms the standard condensation algorithm and reduces the number of samples significantly
Alterations in Lipoprotein Metabolism in Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α-deficient Mice*

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) controls gene expression in response to a diverse class of compounds collectively referred to as peroxisome proliferators. Whereas most known peroxisome proliferators are of exogenous origin and include hypolipidemic drugs and other industrial chemicals, several endogenous PPARα activators have been identified such as fatty acids and steroids. The latter finding and the fact that PPARα modulates target genes encoding enzymes involved in lipid metabolism suggest a role for PPARα in lipid metabolism. This was investigated in the PPARα-deficient mouse model. Basal levels of total serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, hepatic apolipoprotein A-I mRNA, and serum apolipoprotein A-I in PPARα-deficient mice are significantly higher compared with wild-type controls. Treatment with the fibrate Wy 14,643 decreased apoA-I serum levels and hepatic mRNA levels in wild-type mice, whereas no effect was detected in the PPARα-deficient mice. Administration of the fibrate Wy 14,643 to wild-type mice results in marked depression of hepatic apolipoprotein C-III mRNA and serum triglycerides compared with untreated controls. In contrast, PPARα-deficient mice were unaffected by Wy 14,643 treatment. These studies demonstrate that PPARα modulates basal levels of serum cholesterol, in particular high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and establish that fibrate-induced modulation in hepatic apolipoprotein A-I, C-III mRNA, and serum triglycerides observed in wild-type mice is mediated by PPARα.
PTPRV is a Key Mediator of p53-Induced Cell Cycle Exit

The p53 tumor suppressor functions as a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor that promotes antiproliferative responses, including cell cycle checkpoints, cellular senescence and apoptosis. The precise nature of the p53 transcriptional programs and the complex mechanisms that govern whether or not a cell dies in response to p53 activation remain elusive. We have recently reported the identification of a new direct p53 target, Ptprv, encoding a transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase. Ptprv expression is dramatically and preferentially increased in cells undergoing p53-dependent cell cycle exit, but not in cells undergoing p53-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, while p53-induced apoptosis is intact in mice lacking Ptprv, Ptprv-null cells are defective in G1 checkpoint control. In addition, we report herein that Ptprv is induced at high cell density and mediates contact inhibition of cell growth. Together, the data suggest that Ptprv is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation and a critical mediator of p53-induced cell cycle exit.
In Support of the Turner Hypothesis for the 19th Century American West: A Biological Response to Recent Criticisms

In 1893, Frederick Jackson Turner proposed that America’s Western frontier was an economic ‘safety-valve,’ a place where settlers could migrate when conditions in eastern states and Europe crystalized against their upward economic mobility. However, recent studies suggest the Western frontier’s material conditions may not have been as advantageous as Jackson proposed because settlers lacked the knowledge and human capital to succeed on the Plains and Far Western frontier. This study illustrates that current and cumulative net nutrition on the Central Plains improved during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, indicating that recent challenges to the Turner hypothesis are not well supported by net nutrition studies. Net nutrition improve with agricultural innovations and biotechnologies on the western frontier, and rural agricultural workers net nutrition was better than from elsewhere within the US.
Durable goods consumption : from micro foundation to macro dynamics /

Rational households adopt (S,s)-type rule for durable goods consumption due to the presence of non-convex adjustment costs. In this thesis, I numerically investigate the micro theoretical model, empirically test (using two methods) the model with micro data, and then analyze the impHcation of micro inertial behavior on the macro dynamics. First, A set of decision rules is numerically solved using the continuous time opti­ mal portfoUo choice model developed in Grossman and Laxoque (1990) Econometrica paper. The key implication of model is that households facing higher adjustment costs adopt wider (S,s) rules. Second, a micro panel data set on the value of households’ automobile stocks is used to estimate the (S,s) decision rules for durable goods purchases and sales. The data is first analyzed with a threshold auto-regression model. Preliminary evidence is found in support of the theoretical model. Then a m uch more elaborate model, i.e., mixture distribution maximum likelihood model is introduced. In this new model, households monitor the weaith-durables ratios, (the logarithm of) which are assumed to follow controlled diffusion processes. Exploiting the resulting ergodic distribution, I estimate the relation between the boundary conditions and house­ holds’ demographic characteristics with a mixture distribution model. I find strong evidence of heterogeneity in households’ (S,s) rules. The observed heterogeneity is consistent with the theory. Moreover, the ergodic distribution imphed by the esti­ mated model fits the sample distribution well and much better than those imphed by models that ignore heterogeneity. Finally, based on the parameters estimated in the mixture distribution model, I simulate the aggregate durable goods expenditure dynamics after random shocks. This exercise shows th a t the aggregate of individual (S,s) rules is capable of pro­ ducing macro dynamics similar to those observed in the data. This thesis is the first in the hterature to use the mixture distribution method to recover the household’s (S,s) rules. In addition, findings in this thesis show the importance of taking care of aggregation problems while testing a micro model with macro data.
Determinants of FDI in the Southern African Development Community

In the early 1990s all the fourteen countries that make up the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region had moved away from authoritarian politics and state-controlled economies. These changes were in some countries a complete turn-around. Most of them were for the first time liberalising their policies, opening up to trade with their neighbours and, broadly, rejoining the global economy. With the exception of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, rejoining the global economy required attracting foreign capital by means of attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). For most of the countries, attracting FDI was not and has not been a fast-track. Freeing up the economy for private sector participation did not yield anticipated capital inflows as earlier envisaged. This book explores some of the bottlenecks that stifled the flow of FDI. It also investigates determinants for the movement of global capital and how the SADC region would position itself for this opportunity. The book concludes by suggesting policy changes that SADC countries should adopt so as to attract FDI as a bloc or as individual countries.
Application of whole‐exome sequencing to direct the specific functional testing and diagnosis of rare inherited bleeding disorders in patients from the Öresund Region, Scandinavia

Rare inherited bleeding disorders (IBD) are a common cause of bleeding tendency. To ensure a correct diagnosis, specialized laboratory analyses are necessary. This study reports the results of an upfront diagnostic strategy using targeted whole exome sequencing. In total, 156 patients with a significant bleeding assessment tool score participated in the study, of which a third had thrombocytopenia. Eighty‐seven genes specifically associated with genetic predisposition to bleeding were analysed by whole exome sequencing. Variants were classified according to the five‐tier scheme. We identified 353 germline variants. Eight patients (5%) harboured a known pathogenic variant. Of the 345 previously unknown variants, computational analyses predicted 99 to be significant. Further filtration according to the Mendelian inheritance pattern, resulted in 59 variants being predicted to be clinically significant. Moreover, 34% (20/59) were assigned as novel class 4 or 5 variants upon targeted functional testing. A class 4 or 5 variant was identified in 30% of patients with thrombocytopenia (14/47) versus 11% of patients with a normal platelet count (12/109) (P < 0·01). An IBD diagnosis has a major clinical impact. The genetic investigations detailed here extricated our patients from a diagnostic conundrum, thus demonstrating that continuous optimization of the diagnostic work‐up of IBD is of great benefit.
Prioritizing the factors affecting cloud ERP adoption – an analytic hierarchy process approach

Purpose In today’s competitive world, the adoption of cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become one of the critical criteria for running a successful business. In this regard, knowing the factors that influence cloud ERP adoption plays a significant role. The purpose of this paper is to rank the factors influencing the cloud ERP adoption in multi-national companies (MNCs) in India. This research would enable the cloud ERP vendors to identify the expectations of MNC customers and develop suitable strategies. Design/methodology/approach The research is being conducted among the cloud ERP consultants of designation middle managers and above from 29 different ERP consulting firms located in India. Analytical hierarchical processing approach was used to rank the factors influencing the cloud ERP adoption in MNCs located in India. The primary factors considered for this study are usability, assurance, agility, security and privacy, and vendor-related factors. Findings The three most preferred criteria were usability, assurance and agility. The five most preferred sub-criteria were data accessibility, availability, user friendliness, scalability, and data backup and recovery. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to the perspective of cloud ERP consultants in India. Practical implications The outcome of this research provides cloud ERP vendors with a better understanding of factors that influence the adoption of cloud ERP in MNCs so that they can develop a focused strategy. From the MNCs point of view, the study provides a guideline on what factors they should consider while going for a cloud ERP implementation. Originality/value The research model is developed based on the cloud ERP literature, and the research results and findings would add value to the body of knowledge.
Dead-time free measurement of dipole-dipole interactions between electron spins.

A four-pulse version of the pulse double electron-electron resonance (DEER) experiment is presented, which is designed for the determination of interradical distances on a nanoscopic length-scale. With the new pulse sequence electron-electron couplings can be studied without dead-time artifacts, so that even broad distributions of electron-electron distances can be characterized. A version of the experiment that uses a pulse train in the detection period exhibits improved signal-to-noise ratio. Tests on two nitroxide biradicals with known length indicate that the accessible range of distances extends from about 1.5 to 8 nm. The four-pulse DEER spectra of an ionic spin probe in an ionomer exhibit features due to probe molecules situated both on the same and on different ion clusters. The former feature provides information on the cluster size and is inaccessible with previous methods.
What If Wages Fell During a Recession

Many economies exhibit downward wage rigidity. Surveys of managers by Bewley [1999] and Campbell and Kamlani [1997] indicate that employers hold wages rigid because they believe morale will suffer after a wage cut. Otherwise, there is little evidence for how employersâ€™ beliefs about workers contribute to wage rigidity and whether those beliefs are accurate. We demonstrate that effort falls after workers experience a wage cut and also that workers form reference points from wage contracts. Despite this partial confirmation of the â€ morale theoryâ€ as an explanation for wage rigidity, half of the employers in our experiment cut wages and lose money as a result. Because our design allows us to compare beliefs and effort precisely, we find that when employers donâ€™t believe the morale theory they will not hold wages rigid. In a treatment where a recession is offset by nominal inflation, real wage cuts do not have a significant effect. Loss averse employers are less likely to cut wages and more likely to correctly predict the negative effect of wage cuts.
[Management of osteoporotic pertrochanteric fractures with external fixation in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the results of osteosynthesis with external fixation for intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk. METHODS Fourteen ASA 4 patients (5 men, 9 women; mean age 75 years; range 65 to 81 years) with intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated with a unilateral external fixator under epidural anesthesia combined with mild sedation. According to the AO/OTA classification, six fractures were A1.2, seven fractures were A2.2, and one fracture was A3.1. All were closed fractures. The mean preoperative Singh index of the contralateral hip was 3.1 (range 3 to 5). Eleven patients received an AO tubular external fixator, and three patients received a unilateral external fixator. Final evaluations were made using the Parker-Palmer mobility score and Harris hip score. The mean follow up was 12 months (range 9 to 17 months). RESULTS The mean operation time was 37 min (range 25 to 44 min), the mean fluoroscopy time was 1.5 min (1 to 2 min), and the mean hospital stay was seven days (5 to 15 days). None of the patients required blood transfusion. Bone union was obtained in all the patients in a mean of 4.1 months (3 to 5 months). The mean femoral shaft-neck angles in the early postoperative period and at the latest follow-up were 133 degrees (127 degrees to 139 degrees ) and 132 degrees (126 degrees to 138 degrees ), respectively. Five patients (35.7%) developed grade I pin-tract infection. Medial displacement of the distal fragment, limb shortening, or fixator failure were not seen. Three patients (21.4%) died within the first postoperative year due to associated diseases. The mean final Harris hip score was 61 (range 45 to 80) and the mean Parker-Palmer mobility score was 6.6 (range 5 to 8). CONCLUSION Osteosynthesis with an external fixator in elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk is a fast, minimally invasive procedure in the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures, resulting in fewer pre- and postoperative complications.
Maternal language and adverse birth outcomes in a statewide analysis

ABSTRACT Limited English proficiency is associated with disparities across diverse health outcomes. However, evidence regarding adverse birth outcomes across languages is limited, particularly among U.S. Asian and Pacific Islander populations. The study goal was to consider the relationship of maternal language to birth outcomes using statewide hospitalization data. Detailed discharge data from Hawaii childbirth hospitalizations from 2012 (n = 11,419) were compared by maternal language (English language or not) for adverse outcomes using descriptive and multivariable log-binomial regression models, controlling for race/ethnicity, age group, and payer. Ten percent of mothers spoke a language other than English; 93% of these spoke an Asian or Pacific Islander language. In multivariable models, compared to English speakers, non-English speakers had significantly higher risk (adjusted relative risk [ARR]: 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34–3.04) of obstetric trauma in vaginal deliveries without instrumentation. Some significant variation was seen by language for other birth outcomes, including an increased rate of primary Caesarean sections and vaginal births after Caesarean, among non-English speakers. Non-English speakers had approximately two times higher risk of having an obstetric trauma during a vaginal birth when other factors, including race/ethnicity, were controlled. Non-English speakers also had higher rates of potentially high-risk deliveries.
High Order Representations for Singular Currents at Corners

In connection with a high order method of moments solution of integral equations for electromagnetic scattering, several approaches are investigated for representing current and charge densities in the vicinity of corners. One approach uses the first N terms from the asymptotic solution for an infinite wedge to represent the current density. An alternative approach uses a traditional polynomial type of expansion, but augments it in the vicinity of corners with additional terms from the wedge result. The residual error obtained via the solution of an over-determined system of equations is used to judge the relative accuracy and efficiency of various approaches.
Primary Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Study Design. The authors report the ninth case in the literature of a primary intradural extramedullary ependymoma of the spinal cord. Objective. To discuss surgical treatment and the physiopathologic hypothesis of this localization on the basis of the results of the present study and a review of the literature. Summary of Background Data. Ependymoma is a glial tumor known to arise in the central nervous system. Intradural extramedullary location of this neoplasm has been exceptionally described previously. Methods. A 43-year-old woman was admitted to the authors’ institution with an history of progressive paraplegia. Neurologic examination showed sensory loss below T1 and bladder disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhanced thoracic intradural extramedullary tumor, extending from T1–T8. No other lesion in the central nervous system was found. Emergency surgical resection was performed. Results. Surgery gave confirmation of an encapsulated extramedullary tumor without attachment to the spinal cord or to the dura mater. Total removal was achieved under microscope. The postoperative course was uneventful, with complete neurologic recovery 3 months later. The patient has been well for 24 months of follow-up evaluation, without evidence of recurrence on magnetic resonance images. Histologic examination revealed the tumor as a benign ependymoma. Conclusion. The encapsulated feature, the lack of attachment to the central nervous system, and the absence of other neoplastic processes within the brain or the spinal cord suggested that this lesion is a primary tumor developed from ectopic ependymal cells.
EZ‐Viz, a tool for simplifying molecular viewing in PyMOL

PyMOL is a molecular modeling program that can be used in a wide range of studies within the scientific community. Its ability to produce informative, detailed, stereoscopic images makes it a very powerful tool both in the laboratory and in the classroom. However, the PyMOL user interface is difficult to use, and the PyMOL User's Manual readily admits that “development has been focused on capabilities, not on ease‐of‐use for new users. ” To resolve this, we set out to develop a new interface for PyMOL that helps eliminate the need for command line interactions, making it a much more user‐friendly interface. We have created a tabbed interface called EZ‐Viz, which contains a series of buttons and entry fields that allow users to select given attributes of a molecule and make changes to it by clicking a button as opposed to issuing highly syntactical commands. Other features of the interface include a Chime/PyMOL command converter, nine preset molecular views, four molecular movies, and molecular sequence and hetero atom information, all at the click of a button. The ongoing and continued development of EZ‐Viz could help to further the use of PyMOL, which we believe to be one of the most powerful molecular viewing programs currently available.
Impaired macrophage leishmanicidal activity at cutaneous temperature

Summary Temperature is one of the primary influences upon the pathogenesis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In this study, we measured the temperature of murine leishmanial lesions and determined the ability of lymphokine (LK) activated macrophages to kill Leishmania major at these temperatures. The temperature of leishmanial lesions in BALB/c and C3H/HeN mice ranged from 27°C to 32°C. We found that LK activated resident or inflammatory macrophages exhibited significantly less leishmanicidal activity in vitro at temperatures closer to those measured in vivo. The decrease in microbicidal activity was not due to the enhanced growth of the parasites at lower temperatures, since impaired killing was also observed against non‐replicating radiation attenuated amastigotes. Finally, the tumoricidal activity of macrophages was found to be significantly depressed at temperatures below 37°C, indicating a generalized impairment of macrophage function at these temperatures. These findings suggest that impaired macrophage microbicidal activity at cutaneous temperatures may contribute to parasite survival, and imply that healing of leishmanial lesions, as well as other cutaneous infections, may require an exceptionally potent local LK response.
Geographic Knowledge Discovery from Geo-referenced Web 2.0

In this article, we propose a framework that combines geographic knowledge discovery and geo-referenced Web 2.0 in order to mine ever-increasing user supplied datasets. We examine the capabilities of Web 2.0 technologies and the process of geographic knowledge discovery. The combination of these two emerging fields overcomes the fundamental problems of geographic knowledge discovery. The proposed framework serves as a pattern detector and hypothesis generator that extracts interesting patterns from massive online datasets. Various case studies demonstrate the usefulness and robustness of our proposed framework.