Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural groups of transformations underlying apparent motion and perceived object shape and color

Shepard's analysis of how shape, motion, and color are perceptually represented can be generalized. Apparent motion and shape may be associated with a group of spatial transformations, accounting for rigid and plastic motion, and perceived object color may be associated with a group of illuminant transformations, accounting for the discriminability of surface-reflectance changes and illuminant changes beyond daylight. The phenomenological and mathematical parallels between these perceptual domains may indicate common organizational rules, rather than specific ecological adaptations. [BARLOW; HECHT; KUBOVY & EPSTEIN; SCHWARTZ; SHEPARD; TODOROVIC]
A Method for Selecting Optimal Number of Sensors to Improve the Credibility

With the development of sensors, it is possible to embed many sensors within a certain space, which makes the monitor and alarm system with multisensor possible. There are two important parameters in a monitor and alarm system, namely, the false alarm rate and the missed alarm rate. In this work, a method for selecting optimal number of sensors in the sensor array is presented to improve the credibility. The influence factors of the weights and the false alarm rate and the missed alarm rate of one sensor and total number of sensors are discussed. An experimental setup was developed. The monitoring methods of common strategies and the proposed optimal number of sensors strategy are compared graphically by the receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve values. The receiver operating characteristic curves graphically prove that the optimal number of sensors’ method presents the best performance, and it is shown that the optimal number of sensors’ method has the highest area under receiver operating characteristic value (0.9631). This method may aid future users of the monitor and alarm system by providing an optimal number of sensors strategy for high credibility.
Characterization of Energy-Conserving Hydrogenase B in Methanococcus maripaludis

ABSTRACT The Methanococcus maripaludis energy-conserving hydrogenase B (Ehb) generates low potential electrons required for autotrophic CO2 assimilation. To analyze the importance of individual subunits in Ehb structure and function, markerless in-frame deletions were constructed in a number of M. maripaludis ehb genes. These genes encode the large and small hydrogenase subunits (ehbN and ehbM, respectively), a polyferredoxin and ferredoxin (ehbK and ehbL, respectively), and an ion translocator (ehbF). In addition, a gene replacement mutation was constructed for a gene encoding a putative membrane-spanning subunit (ehbO). When grown in minimal medium plus acetate (McA), all ehb mutants had severe growth deficiencies except the ΔehbO::pac strain. The membrane-spanning ion translocator (ΔehbF) and the large hydrogenase subunit (ΔehbN) deletion strains displayed the severest growth defects. Deletion of the ehbN gene was of particular interest because this gene was not contiguous to the ehb operon. In-gel activity assays and Western blots confirmed that EhbN was part of the membrane-bound Ehb hydrogenase complex. The ΔehbN strain was also sensitive to growth inhibition by aryl acids, indicating that Ehb was coupled to the indolepyruvate oxidoreductase (Ior), further supporting the hypothesis that Ehb provides low potential reductants for the anabolic oxidoreductases in M. maripaludis.
Reverse Engineering of Motorcycle Chain

Reverse engineering often involves taking something apart and analyzing its workings in detail to be used in maintenance or to try to make a new product or component that does the same thing without copying anything from the original. In order to understand the existing design, materials and manufacturing process of a motorcycle chain and also for the future direction in new materials with new design, a comprehensive study on the reverse engineering is essential. Therefore, in this paper, a systematic study on a motorcycle chain reverse engineering is performed. The two types of motorcycle chains (Chain A and Chain B) were destructed and investigated using the metallurgical microscope and hardness tester for microstructural and microhardness examination purposes respectively. It was found that the Chain A showed tempered martensite structure (in the case) with higher hardness value compared to Chain B. The cost analysis of the new proposed motorcycle chain is also given in this paper.
Corporate Governance in a Competitive Environment

We examine a firm's corporate governance choices within a competitive environment. A firm can choose a passive board that delegates decision rights to the executive manager, or an active board that retains these rights. We characterize the equilibrium governance choices and find that there generally is no systematic relation between governance systems and firm performance. We discuss how the governance choice is affected by the rate of technological innovation, board expertise, the discount rate, the benefit of using new technology, and the cost of operating an internal control system. Finally, we analyze consequences of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
On-the-fly multi-scale infinite texturing from example

In computer graphics, rendering visually detailed scenes is often achieved through texturing. We propose a method for on-the-fly non-periodic infinite texturing of surfaces based on a single image. Pattern repetition is avoided by defining patches within each texture whose content can be changed at runtime. In addition, we consistently manage multi-scale using one input image per represented scale. Undersampling artifacts are avoided by accounting for fine-scale features while colors are transferred between scales. Eventually, we allow for relief-enhanced rendering and provide a tool for intuitive creation of height maps. This is done using an ad-hoc local descriptor that measures feature self-similarity in order to propagate height values provided by the user for a few selected texels only. Thanks to the patch-based system, manipulated data are compact and our texturing approach is easy to implement on GPU. The multi-scale extension is capable of rendering finely detailed textures in real-time.
Optimal estimation of 3D structures using visual servoing

This paper deals with the recovery of 3D information using a single mobile camera in the context of active vision. We propose a general revisited formulation of the structure-from-motion issue, and we determine adequate camera configurations and motions which lead to a robust and accurate estimation of the 3D structure parameters. We apply the visual servoing approach to perform these camera motions. Real-time experiments dealing with the 3D structure estimation of points and cylinders are reported, and demonstrate that this active vision strategy can very significantly improve the estimation accuracy. <<ETX>>
Not all overlaps are equal: Social affiliation and rare overlaps of preferences

Shared preferences are a critical component of social attraction. Knowing that someone likes the same things as you do is indicative of broader underlying similarities that support successful social partnerships. However, not all overlaps in preferences are equally informative. Here we propose that the rarity of overlaps in preferences may be a particularly salient cue for social affiliation. We find evidence that people are sensitive to the rarity of overlaps in preferences and affiliate themselves (Experiment 1) or predict others’ affiliations (Experiment 2) with potential social partners who share a relatively rare preference. Because preferences provide information about both what people know and what they like, we also tested the effect of overlaps in knowledge (without taste) and overlaps in taste (without knowledge) to understand why we are drawn to people who share our preferences.
A wideband body-enabled millimeter-wave transceiver for wireless Network-on-Chip

A highly energy-efficient on-chip communication network is crucial for the development of future multi-core chips. In this paper, a wideband millimeter-wave (mm-wave) transceiver was designed for the wireless Network-on-Chip (WiNoC) architecture. In order to reduce the power consumption of the transceiver, body-enabled circuit design techniques were implemented: Forward body-bias was used in the low-noise amplifier (LNA) and power amplifier (PA) circuits to lower the threshold voltages, reducing the supply voltage to 0.8 V. For up-and down-conversion mixers, power-hungry transconductance stages were eliminated by feeding the signals directly into the body terminals of the transistors. In addition, a novel feed-forward structure was designed to extend the bandwidth of the LNA at no cost in power consumption. Simulation results showed that the receiver has a double-sideband noise figure of less than 6 dB, and a peak gain of 20.5 dB, while the transmitter has an output P1dB of 0 dBm. The transceiver achieved an overall 3-dB bandwidth of 18 GHz. Compared with our previous design without body-enabled design techniques, the receiver power consumption was reduced by 20.3%.
Flash Caching on the Storage Client

Flash memory has recently become popular as a caching medium. Most uses to date are on the storage server side. We investigate a different structure: flash as a cache on the client side of a networked storage environment. We use trace-driven simulation to explore the design space. We consider a wide range of configurations and policies to determine the potential client-side caches might offer and how best to arrange them. Our results show that the flash cache writeback policy does not significantly affect performance. Write-through is sufficient; this greatly simplifies cache consistency handling. We also find that the chief benefit of the flash cache is its size, not its persistence. Cache persistence offers additional performance benefits at system restart at essentially no runtime cost. Finally, for some workloads a large flash cache allows using miniscule amounts of RAM for file caching (e.g., 256 KB) leaving more memory available for application use.
Effect of Spectrum Sensing Errors on the Performance of OFDM-Based Cognitive Radio Transmission

The effect of spectrum sensing errors on the performance of cognitive radio transmission based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is evaluated by deriving analytical expressions for the average capacity and the average bit error rate as functions of different spectrum sensing parameters and data transmission parameters in the Rayleigh fading channels. Both the case with carrier frequency offset and the case without carrier frequency offset are considered. Numerical results are presented to show that spectrum sensing errors cause significant performance degradation and that the amount of performance degradation depends on the specific values of sensing and transmission parameters. In particular, the performance degradation caused by the primary user interference is more sensitive to the interfering amplitude and the number of subcarriers than to the probability of detection in spectrum sensing, the interfering frequency and the availability of the licensed band. Numerical results also show that the primary user interference caused by the sensing errors is dominant for small to medium values of the operating signal-to-noise ratio, while the inter-carrier interference caused by carrier frequency offset is dominant for large values of the operating signal-to-noise ratio.
GroupBar: The TaskBar Evolved

Our studies have shown that as displays become larger, users leave more windows open for easy multitasking. A larger number of windows, however, may increase the time that users spend arranging and switching between tasks. We introduce GroupBar, a task management system for dealing with the profusion of windows on the PC desktop. Designed to offer the same basic form and function as the existing Microsoft WindowsTM TaskBar, GroupBar additionally allows users to group windows into higher-level tasks and enables task switching with a single mouse click. In order to gain experience with GroupBar usage and to develop reasonable task definitions we conducted a longitudinal field study. Based on the results of that field study, we conducted a comparative user study wherein we found that participants were able to multitask faster when using GroupBar than when using the existing Windows TaskBar.
Instanton effects and linear-chiral duality

We discuss duality between the linear and chiral dilaton formulations, in the presence of super-Yang-Mills instanton corrections to the efiective action. In contrast to previous work on the subject, our approach appeals directly to explicit instanton cal- culations and does not rely on the introduction of an auxiliary Veneziano-Yankielowicz superfleld. We discuss duality in the case of an axion that has a periodic scalar potential, and flnd that the bosonic flelds of the dual linear multiplet have a modifled interpretation. We note that symmetries of the axion potential manifest themselves as symmetries of the equations of motion for the linear multiplet. We also make some brief remarks regarding dilaton stabilization. We point out that corrections recently studied by Dijkgraaf and Vafa can be used to stabilize the axion in the case of a single super-Yang-Mills condensate.
A miR-335/COX-2/PTEN axis regulates the secretory phenotype of senescent cancer-associated fibroblasts

Senescent cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that is believed to contribute to cancer progression. The mechanisms underlying SASP development are, however, poorly understood. Here we examined the functional role of microRNA in the development of the SASP in normal fibroblasts and CAF. We identified a microRNA, miR-335, up-regulated in the senescent normal fibroblasts and CAF and able to modulate the secretion of SASP factors and induce cancer cell motility in co-cultures, at least in part by suppressing the expression of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). Additionally, elevated levels of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (PTGS2; COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion were observed in senescent fibroblasts, and inhibition of COX-2 by celecoxib reduced the expression of miR-335, restored PTEN expression and decreased the pro-tumourigenic effects of the SASP. Collectively these data demonstrate the existence of a novel miRNA/PTEN-regulated pathway modulating the inflammasome in senescent fibroblasts.
Development and Stem Cells Research Article 1

INTRODUCTION Many non-mammalian vertebrates have the ability to regenerate new neurons after retinal injury. In fish, initially quiescent MG respond to chemical-or light-induced damage by re-entering the cell cycle and de-differentiating to form multipotent progenitors; these progenitors give rise to all retinal neuron subtypes and repair the lost neurons (Raymond et al. However, mammals have a restricted ability to regenerate the retina. In rodents, MG can form new neurons in response to damage and growth factor stimulation, but only in very limited Instead, mammalian MG normally respond to damage by becoming reactive and undergoing gliosis (Bringmann et al., 2009; Dyer and Cepko, 2000). We are interested in finding mechanisms to enhance the regenerative response of mammals, and recent advances in somatic cell reprogramming towards neural fates have potential application in the mammalian retina. Recent reports have demonstrated highly efficient conversion between distant cell lineages using a minimal number of transcription factors (Vierbuchen and Wernig, 2011). Glial cells are ideal candidates for reprogramming, as they share many properties with progenitor cells (Berninger, 2010; Nelson et al., 2011). In astrocytes, forced expression of a number of transcription factors promotes neuronal conversion (Heins et al.
Supply Chain Specialization and Audit Fees *

This study examines the association between auditor supply chain specialization and audit fees. Analyzing data from Audit Analytics for the seven year period from 2003-2009, we find that audit fees are negatively associated with the joint supplier-buyerrelated supply chain specialization and buyer-related supply chain specialization. This indicates that the auditor offers reduced audit fees to its clients within a supply chain when the auditor also audits its client’s suppliers and major buyers or its client’s major buyers, but not its client’s suppliers alone. In addition, we find that these audit fee discounts are greater when the auditor has supply chain expertise at the office level than when the auditor has supply chain expertise at the national firm level. Our findings are robust to the use of alternate measures of supply chain expertise as well as the analysis of the restricted sample comprising only supply chain companies.
A systematic approach to selecting flux references for torque maximization in induction motors

This paper addresses the problem of optimal selection of the flux reference in induction machines. The results are based on a standard differential equation model of the induction machine and give the value of the flux reference which maximizes the torque at constant speed subject to voltage and current limits. Both the motor and generator modes are considered. The formulas are useful for the real-time programming of digital controllers designed to achieve maximum performance of AC drives at high speeds. Experimental results are given to validate the analysis and demonstrate the usefulness of the optimal flux reference in high-performance servo applications.
Vascular malformations: localized defects in vascular morphogenesis

Vascular anomalies are localized defects of the vasculature, and usually affect a limited number of vessels in a restricted area of the body. They are subdivided into vascular malformations and vascular tumours. Most are sporadic, but Mendelian inheritance is observed in some families. By genetic analysis, several causative genes have been identified during the last 10 years. This has shed light into the pathophysiological pathways involved. Interestingly, in most cases, the primary defect seems to affect the characteristics of endothelial cells. Only mutations in the glomulin gene, responsible for hereditary glomuvenous malformations, are thought to directly affect vascular smooth‐muscle cells.
Deregulated E2f Transcriptional Activity in Autonomously Growing Melanoma Cells

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) has been implicated in melanoma cells, but the molecular basis for this phenotype has not yet been elucidated, and the status of additional family members (p107 and p130, together termed pocket proteins) or the consequences on downstream targets such as E2F transcription factors are not known. Because cell cycle progression is dependent on the transcriptional activity of E2F family members (E2F1–E2F6), most of them regulated by suppressive association with pocket proteins, we characterized E2F–pocket protein DNA binding activity in normal versus malignant human melanocytes. By gel shift analysis, we show that in mitogen-dependent normal melanocytes, external growth factors tightly controlled the levels of growth-promoting free E2F DNA binding activity, composed largely of E2F2 and E2F4, and the growth-suppressive E2F4–p130 complexes. In contrast, in melanoma cells, free E2F DNA binding activity (E2F2 and E2F4, to a lesser extent E2F1, E2F3, and occasionally E2F5), was constitutively maintained at high levels independently of external melanocyte mitogens. E2F1 was the only family member more abundant in the melanoma cells compared with normal melanocytes, and the approximately fivefold increase in DNA binding activity could be accounted for mostly by a similar increase in the levels of the dimerization partner DP1. The continuous high expression of cyclin D1, A2, and E, the persistent cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK2 activities, and the presence of hyperphosphorylated forms of pRb, p107, and p130, suggest that melanoma cells acquired the capacity for autonomous growth through inactivation of all three pocket proteins and release of E2F activity, otherwise tightly regulated in normal melanocytes by external growth factors.
Towards a Systematic, Pragmatic and Architecture-Aware Program Optimization Process for Complex Processors

Because processor architectures are increasingly complex, it is increasingly difficult to embed accurate machine models within compilers. As a result, compiler efficiency tends to decrease. Currently, the trend is on top-down approaches: static compilers are progressively augmented with information from the architecture as in profile-based, iterative or dynamic compilation techniques. However, for the moment, fairly elementary architectural information is used. In this article, we adopt a bottom-up approach to the architecture complexity issue: we assume we know everything about the behavior of the program on the architecture. We present a manual but systematic process for optimizing a program on a complex processor architecture using extensive dynamic analysis, and we find that a small set of run-time information is sufficient to drive an efficient process. We have experimentally observed on an Alpha 21264 that this approach can yield significant performance improvement on Spec benchmarks, beyond peak Spec. We are currently using this approach for optimizing customer applications.
Super‐Hydrophobic Surfaces: From Natural to Artificial

Super‐hydrophobic surfaces, with a water contact angle (CA) greater than 150°, have attracted much interest for both fundamental research and practical applications. Recent studies on lotus and rice leaves reveal that a super‐hydrophobic surface with both a large CA and small sliding angle (α) needs the cooperation of micro‐ and nanostructures, and the arrangement of the microstructures on this surface can influence the way a water droplet tends to move. These results from the natural world provide a guide for constructing artificial super‐hydrophobic surfaces and designing surfaces with controllable wettability. Accordingly, super‐hydrophobic surfaces of polymer nanofibers and differently patterned aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) films have been fabricated.