Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunochemical quantification of free light chains in urine.

Quantitative measurements of plasma and urinary paraprotein concentrations play a major role in the monitoring of patients with multiple myeloma. The concentrations are routinely estimated from the size of the M-spike on protein electrophoresis (PEL) or by automated immunologic assays for IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, or IgD. In the case of light chain myeloma and intact immunoglobulin myeloma with predominant light chain production, light chain concentrations could, until recently, be measured only by the size of the urinary light chain M-spike on PEL or by the measurement of the total (free and bound) light chain concentrations. A latex-enhanced assay (Freelite; The Binding Site, Ltd.) measuring free light chains (FLCs) in serum and urine has recently become available for the BNII (Dade Behring) analyzer. The Myeloma Management Guidelines (1) recommend the Freelite test for serial monitoring of the FLCs in serum, but periodic 24-h urine collection is still required for Bence Jones proteinuria (BJP) and total urinary protein (TUP) quantification. Depending on the glomerular and tubular function, serum and urine FLC concentrations may not change to the same degree (2), so that monitoring of serum FLC alone is questionable for revealing the actual degree of disease in patients with BJP and tubular dysfunction. We evaluated the analytical performance of the immunochemical test for serum and urine with the BNII analyzer. The test uses antibodies that specifically recognize an epitope …
Exploring relationship among brand innovativeness, brand knowledge and brand Loyalty: a case study of Huawei smartphone

This study explores an impact of brand knowledge and brand innovativeness on brand loyalty. It is a case study of Chinese who has currently used Huawei smartphone in any series. The study applied explanatory and exploratory mixed method sequential designed by Creswell (2009). Both pilot study with two rounds of interview and literature reviews has produced the proposed conceptual model paralleled with questionnaire designated. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) technique to measure two relationships amongst brand knowledge, brand innovativeness, and brand loyalty. Statistical Analysis System (SAS) has been applied. One hundred percent from 136 sets of questionnaires were distributed via Wenjuanxing in China (online survey) during mid-September to mid-October, 2018. As a result of quantitative analysis, MLR shows that brand innovativeness has the greatest significant relationships with brand loyalty while there is no significant relationships between brand knowledge and brand loyalty. This study will greatly updated researchers and practitioners understand the complex relationships between brand innovativeness, brand knowledge, and brand loyalty towards Huawei smartphone in China.
A Concept Drifting Based Clustering Framework for Data Streams

It has attracted extensive interests to discover knowledge from data streams generated in real-time. At present, there are some data streams mining frameworks, providing mining solutions for data streams. This paper proposes an on-demand framework (SRAStream) based on the concept drifting detection. SRAStream allows quick clustering with certain accuracy using only limited resource, enabling the real-time mining of very large data stream with acceptable cost. A concept drifting detecting algorithm is proposed, which employs a quick clustering solution to achieve an accurate detection and then perform the related detecting calculation. Experiments have been conducted based on the UCI datasets. The result suggests that the proposed framework does work well and improve the processing speed greatly in data streams clustering.
Electrical modeling of split ring resonators operating in the UHF band

The article in hand deals present a new approach focuses on the electric modelling of split ring resonators based on an equivalent circuit. The elements of circuit are determined from geometric parameters forming the three dimensional model of this type of resonators. Firstly an analytic study is proposed about the determination of the components of the circuit in function the physical parameters with a review about comparison between obtained results when the simulation of two different models is presented. Secondly, a demonstrative study on the effect of varying the value of the relative permittivity and determination the error rate at level the resonant frequency in the two models. The objective is to put the conditions and constraints necessary to make our equivalent circuit most responded and most efficient with zero error. The results of simulations are confirmed with using the two commercials software HFSS and ADS.
Evidence for Covalent Modification of the Nuclear Dot–associated Proteins PML and Sp100 by PIC1/SUMO-1

PML and Sp100 proteins are associated with nuclear domains, known as nuclear dots (NDs). They were discovered in the context of leukemic transformation and as an autoantigen in primary biliary cirrhosis, respectively. Both proteins are expressed in the form of many COOH-terminally spliced variants, and their expression is enhanced by interferons (IFN). The recent finding that PIC1/SUMO-1, a small ubiquitin-like protein, is covalently linked to the RanGAP1 protein of the nuclear pore complex and also binds PML in yeast cells led us to determine whether PML is covalently modified by PIC1/SUMO-1 and whether the same is true for Sp100. We found an immune reaction of PML and Sp100 proteins with a PIC1/SUMO-1–specific monoclonal antibody by immunoblotting when using cell extracts prepared from stably transfected cells inducibly expressing one isoform of each protein as well as from nontransfected cells. In contrast, both proteins did not react when synthesized in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining showed that PIC1/SUMO-1 colocalized with Sp100 and PML in NDs except in mitotic cells, in which PML and Sp100 are dissociated. Cell fractionation and immunoblotting demonstrated that PIC1/SUMO-1 immunoreactive Sp100 in IFN-treated and untreated cells was exclusively nuclear, whereas nonmodified Sp100 was also found in the cytoplasm. Taken together, these data strongly suggest covalent modification of specific nuclear isoforms of Sp100 and PML by PIC1/SUMO-1. This modification may play a regulatory role in ND structure, composition, and function.
Maximum Likelihood Smoothes and Predictions for Fast Speaker Adaptation

To realize fast speaker adaptation in the case of limited adaptation data, we propose a fast speaker adaptation approach, called maximum likelihood smoothes and predictions. It smoothes and predicts target mean vectors based on their source mean vector by maximizing the likelihood of the smoothed model generating the adaptation data. So it can make best use of the first few adaptation data to quicken adaptation process. It increases the model’s prediction accuracy by off-line estimating regression matrices and on-line robustly estimating shift matrices. Moreover, it increases the model’s predictive power at mean vector level to obtain the estimators of more bad-adapted and no-adapted model parameters even with a few of adaptation data.
Real-Time Affine Tracking Using Re-located Lucas-Kanade Algorithm

Visual tracking is a challenging problem in computer vision. Most state-of-the-art visual trackers are lack of an ability to adapt affine transforms of objects. The Lucas-Kanade(L-K) algorithm is a classic gradient decent search method which has been widely applied in template matching, image alignment and visual tracking. Despite the L-K algorithm has a good property on adapting targets affine transforms, it always falls into a local optimal since the background information is accumulatively introduced to the template. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, called the Re-located L-K algorithm(RL-K), to handle affine transforms of objects. In particular, we utilize the Multiple Channel Correlation Filters(MMCFs) to deal with the translations of the object before the L-K's gradient decent search step. In addition, we integrate the gradient orientation features into the L-K algorithm to improve its robustness to visual tracking. The experimental results show that, comparing with the state-of-the-art affine tracking approaches, our approach is running at real-time without accuracy losing.
Towards a fuzzy logic based measures for software projects similarity

The attribute of similarity of software projects has not been the subject of in-depth studies even tough it is often used when estimating software development effort by analogy. Most of the proposed measures of projects attribute are described by numerical variables (interval, ratio or absolute scale). However, in practice many factors which describe software projects, such as the experience of programmers and the complexity of modules, are measured on the basis of an ordinal scale composed of qualifications such as ‘very low’ and ‘low’. Many of these qualifications (linguistic values in fuzzy logic) of these attributes can also be represented by fuzzy sets. This will enable us to measure the similarity between software projects which are described by linguistic values (ordinal scale). Furthermore, the proposed measures can, of course, be also used when projects are described by numerical values.
Impact of STROBE Statement Publication on Quality of Observational Study Reporting: Interrupted Time Series versus Before-After Analysis

Background In uncontrolled before-after studies, CONSORT was shown to improve the reporting of randomised trials. Before-after studies ignore underlying secular trends and may overestimate the impact of interventions. Our aim was to assess the impact of the 2007 STROBE statement publication on the quality of observational study reporting, using both uncontrolled before-after analyses and interrupted time series. Methods For this quasi-experimental study, original articles reporting cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies published between 2004 and 2010 in the four dermatological journals having the highest 5-year impact factors (≥4) were selected. We compared the proportions of STROBE items (STROBE score) adequately reported in each article during three periods, two pre STROBE period (2004–2005 and 2006–2007) and one post STROBE period (2008–2010). Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was also performed. Results Of the 456 included articles, 187 (41%) reported cohort studies, 166 (36.4%) cross-sectional studies, and 103 (22.6%) case-control studies. The median STROBE score was 57% (range, 18%–98%). Before-after analysis evidenced significant STROBE score increases between the two pre-STROBE periods and between the earliest pre-STROBE period and the post-STROBE period (median score2004–05 48% versus median score2008–10 58%, p<0.001) but not between the immediate pre-STROBE period and the post-STROBE period (median score2006–07 58% versus median score2008–10 58%, p = 0.42). In the pre STROBE period, the six-monthly mean STROBE score increased significantly, by 1.19% per six-month period (absolute increase 95%CI, 0.26% to 2.11%, p = 0.016). By segmented analysis, no significant changes in STROBE score trends occurred (−0.40%; 95%CI, −2.20 to 1.41; p = 0.64) in the post STROBE statement publication. Interpretation The quality of reports increased over time but was not affected by STROBE. Our findings raise concerns about the relevance of uncontrolled before-after analysis for estimating the impact of guidelines.
Macroglia-Microglia Interactions via TSPO Signaling Regulates Microglial Activation in the Mouse Retina

Chronic retinal inflammation in the form of activated microglia and macrophages are implicated in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. However, molecular biomarkers and targeted therapies for immune cell activation in these disorders are currently lacking. To address this, we investigated the involvement and role of translocator protein (TSPO), a biomarker of microglial and astrocyte gliosis in brain degeneration, in the context of retinal inflammation. Here, we find that TSPO is acutely and specifically upregulated in retinal microglia in separate mouse models of retinal inflammation and injury. Concomitantly, its endogenous ligand, diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), is upregulated in the macroglia of the mouse retina such as astrocytes and Müller cells. In addition, we discover that TSPO-mediated signaling in microglia via DBI-derived ligands negatively regulates features of microglial activation, including reactive oxygen species production, TNF-α expression and secretion, and microglial proliferation. The inducibility and effects of DBI-TSPO signaling in the retina reveal a mechanism of coordinated macroglia-microglia interactions, the function of which is to limit the magnitude of inflammatory responses after their initiation, facilitating a return to baseline quiescence. Our results indicate that TSPO is a promising molecular marker for imaging inflammatory cell activation in the retina and highlight DBI-TSPO signaling as a potential target for immodulatory therapies.
Radiometric Normalization of Temporal Images Combining Automatic Detection of Pseudo-Invariant Features from the Distance and Similarity Spectral Measures, Density Scatterplot Analysis, and Robust Regression

Radiometric precision is difficult to maintain in orbital images due to several factors (atmospheric conditions, Earth-sun distance, detector calibration, illumination, and viewing angles). These unwanted effects must be removed for radiometric consistency among temporal images, leaving only land-leaving radiances, for optimum change detection. A variety of relative radiometric correction techniques were developed for the correction or rectification of images, of the same area, through use of reference targets whose reflectance do not change significantly with time, i.e., pseudo-invariant features (PIFs). This paper proposes a new technique for radiometric normalization, which uses three sequential methods for an accurate PIFs selection: spectral measures of temporal data (spectral distance and similarity), density scatter plot analysis (ridge method), and robust regression. The spectral measures used are the spectral angle (Spectral Angle Mapper, SAM), spectral correlation (Spectral Correlation Mapper, SCM), and Euclidean distance. The spectral measures between the spectra at times t1 and t2 and are calculated for each pixel. After classification using threshold values, it is possible to define points with the same spectral behavior, including PIFs. The distance and similarity measures are complementary and can be calculated together. The ridge method uses a density plot generated from images acquired on different dates for the selection of PIFs. In a density plot, the invariant pixels, together, form a high-density ridge, while variant pixels (clouds and land cover changes) are spread, having low density, facilitating its exclusion. Finally, the selected PIFs are subjected to a robust regression (M-estimate) between pairs of temporal bands for the detection and elimination of outliers, and to obtain the optimal linear equation for a given set of target points. The robust regression is insensitive to outliers, i.e., observation that appears to deviate strongly from the rest of the data in which it occurs, and as in our case, change areas. New sequential methods enable one to select by different attributes, a number of invariant targets over the brightness range of the images.
Psychological Parameters of Students' Social and Academic Goals: A Qualitative Investigation.

Students' goals (motives) for their schooling have been the focus of much recent research and have been shown to significantly influence important aspects of their cognitive engagement and academic achievement. This paper presents the results of a qualitative investigation into the nature and characteristics of students' social and academic goals, reporting the results of a series of structured, semistructured, and conversational interviews with students and teachers in primary and secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were designed to determine what goals students have and how the goals relate to each other, as well as various aspects of their cognitive engagement and academic achievement. Participants were 86 students, aged 12 to 15 years (635k Anglo-Australian), and 12 teachers from 8 schools in the Sydney metropolitan region. Results confirm that students in this sample have academic and social goals congruent with those identified in other contexts and other studies. These goals, as the literature has indicated, are salient correlates of students' motivation, cognitive engagement, and academic performance. The study further confirms that students can and do hold multiple social and academic goals in academic context, supporting the validity of a multiple goal, or interactionist, approach to goal studies. The study also supports academic and social goals as two distinct classes of goals, and it confirms the distinction between maladaptive and adaptive goals. An appendix charts students' goal descriptions and associated behaviors, affective reactions, and interview statements. (Contains 87 references.) (SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Psychological parameters of students' social and academic goals: A qualitative investigation U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUC TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. ° Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Martin Dowson Dennis M. McInerney University of Western Sydney, Macarthur PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
PhD Thesis: The Archaeology of Reform at a German Prisoner of War Camp in a Canadian National Park during the Second World War (1943–1945)

This Ph.D. thesis falls into two basic parts. Part I explores a class of liquids commonly referred to as Strongly Correlating Liquids. The central aim of the first part of the study is to establish a better understanding of these liquids through an investigation of their pair interaction potential. Part II examines the socalled rolypoly-particle, an aspherical surface of constant width. This part of the study focuses on the self assembly and densest packing of this particle. The overall objective of this part of the study is to connect the shape of the particle directly to its glass forming ability. Both parts rely on theoretical observations combined with Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. The main conlusions are as follows: Part I For liquids with strong virial and potential energy fluctuations in the canonical ensemble, the two dimensional (density and temperature (ρ, T )) phase diagram can be reduced to one variable (h(ρ)/T ). The scaling function h(ρ) is derived analytically for atoms interacting via a pair potential constituting a sum of Inverse Power Laws: φ(r) = ∑ n εn(σn/r) n. It is shown how the scaling function h(ρ) directly links to the pair interaction potential. Part II The glass forming ability of the rolypoly’s is to a first approximation determined by the non-sphericity of the particle and for high pressures, crystallization is controlled by diffusion, consistent with classical nucleation theory. Densest packing is found for the Rolypoly with a packing fraction ' 0.7698, having two particles in the unit cell.
The University of Amsterdam at the TREC 2006 Terabyte Track

As part of the TREC 2006 Terabyte track, we conducted a range of experiments in- vestigating the effects of larger test collections for both adhoc and known-item topics. In this pa- per, we document our official submissions to the TREC 2006 Terabyte track and conduct a num- ber of more extensive experiments. First, we look at the amount of smoothing required for large- scale collections. Second, we investigate the rela- tive effectiveness of various web-centric document representations based on document-text, incoming anchor-texts, and page titles. Third, we study the relative effectiveness of various query represen- tations, both short and verbose statements of the topic of request, plus an intermediate query based on the most characteristic terms in the whole topic statement. 1 Introduction As part of the TREC 2005 Terabyte track, we conducted a range of experiments investigating the effects of larger collections. We submitted runs for two of the Terabyte track's tasks: the adhoc task, and the named page finding task. In addition to the submitted runs, we also discuss post- submission results for the efficiency task. Furthermore, we discuss a range of more extensive experiments that investi- gate i) the amount of smoothing required for terabyte-scale collections; ii) the relative effectiveness of various web- centric document representations based on document-text, incoming anchor-texts, and page titles; and iii) the relative effectiveness of various query representations, both short and verbose statements of the topic of request, plus an in- termediate query based on the most characteristic terms in
PHYSICAL PROCESSES BEHIND THE MORPHOLOGICAL HUBBLE SEQUENCE

The study of formation and evolution of galaxies is reviewed, with emphasis on the physical factors which are important to understand the origin of the Hubble sequence. We concentrate on predictions of the hierarchical Cold Dark Matter (CDM) scenario and their confrontation with observations. The mass assembling of the CDM halos, the baryonic processes within them, and the evolution of disks and spheroids are described. The successes and shortcomings are discussed. Disk evolution seems to be a quiescent and extended process driven by the cosmological initial conditions, while spheroids are formed probably in violent events, where several astrophysical processes are competing.