Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses Lacking the C-Terminal Third of the Attachment (G) Protein Are Immunogenic and Attenuated In Vivo and In Vitro

ABSTRACT The design of attenuated vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) historically focused on viruses made sensitive to physiologic temperature through point mutations in the genome. These prototype vaccines were not suitable for human infants primarily because of insufficient attenuation, genetic instability, and reversion to a less-attenuated phenotype. We therefore sought to construct novel attenuated viruses with less potential for reversion through genetic alteration of the attachment G protein. Complete deletion of G protein was previously shown to result in RSV strains overly attenuated for replication in mice. Using reverse genetics, recombinant RSV (rRSV) strains were engineered with truncations at amino acid 118, 174, 193, or 213 and respectively designated rA2cpΔG118, rA2cpΔG174, rA2cpΔG193, and rA2cpΔG213. All rA2cpΔG strains were attenuated for growth in vitro and in the respiratory tracts of BALB/c mice but not restricted for growth at 37°C. The mutations did not significantly affect nascent genome synthesis in human lung epithelial (A549) cells, but infectious rA2cpΔG virus shed into the culture medium was dramatically diminished. Hence, the data suggested that a site within the C-terminal 85 amino acids of G protein is important for efficient genome packaging or budding of RSV from the infected cell. Vaccination with the rA2cpΔG strains also generated efficacious immune responses in mice that were similar to those elicited by the temperature-sensitive cpts248/404 strain previously tested in human infants. Collectively, the data indicate that the rA2cpΔG strains are immunogenic, not likely to revert to the less-attenuated phenotype, and thus candidates for further development as vaccines against RSV.
Face analysis for the synthesis of photo-realistic talking heads

This paper describes techniques for extracting bitmaps of facial parts from videos of a talking person. The goal is to synthesize photo-realistic talking heads of high quality that show picture-perfect appearance and realistic head movements with good lip-sound synchronization. For the synthesis of a talking head, bitmaps of facial parts are combined to form whole heads and then sequences of such images are integrated with audio from a text-to-speech synthesizer. For a seamless integration of facial parts into an animation, their shape and visual appearance must be known with high accuracy. The recognition system has to find not only the locations of facial features, but must also be able to determine the head's orientation and recognize the facial expressions. Our face recognition proceeds in multiple steps, each with an increased precision. Using motion, color and shape information, the head's position and the location of the main facial features are determined first. Then smaller areas are searched with matched filters, in order to identify specific facial features with high precision. From this information a head's 3D orientation is calculated. Facial parts are cut from the image and, using the head's orientation, are warped into bitmaps with 'normalized' orientation and scale.
Sensory learning : from neural mechanisms to rehabilitation

The last decade has seen a spectacular resurgence of scientific interest and advances in our understanding in both the basic neural mechanisms and applications of sensory learning. Given the diverse nature of this problem and the proliferation of data relating to it, we have now reached a critical point where drawing together the various strands of investigation would be extremely beneficial. Different levels of investigation have the potential to inform each other and create situations where step changes in understanding can be made. Detailed knowledge of how sensory learning changes the neurochemistry of the brain is likely to suggest novel pharmacological and behavioural interventions for a range of neurological deficits. Conversely, the success of therapeutic interventions, or lack of it, will provide crucial information on the nature and characteristics of the neural mechanisms underlying the learning process. This issue draws together researchers working independently across the scientific spectrum—from basic molecular mechanisms through to therapeutic interventions—to communicate their work on sensory learning and neural plasticity within a common forum. The collection of papers, therefore, represents a major interdisciplinary and cross-sensory dissemination of the latest science in this area. The papers have been grouped around four overarching questions. How do we optimize learning? What happens to cortical circuitry during learning? What genes and signalling pathways are involved in learning? How can learning be harnessed to improve the lives of people? It is our hope that this collection of papers, each of which deals with a rapidly evolving aspect of the field, will be of considerable interest to basic scientists and clinicians alike and act as a springboard for future studies.
Research on Word Sentimental Classification Based on Transductive Learning

At present, word sentimental orientation identification researches mainly fall into two categories: Machine learning and semantic comprehension, machine learning seems to work in specific-field words, but cannot handle general-field words effectively, and semantic comprehension also cannot get ideal scores at precision and recall, therefore, we put forward a fusion of transductive learning and semantic comprehension for determining words' sentimental orientation. In this paper, we firstly modify Hownet knowledge, on the basis of exist primitives, the fifth primitive -- "sentimental primitive" was proposed, and integrate it into Hownet manually, secondly, we propose a new word sentimental similarity calculation method to compute words' sentimental value, at last, combine this way with transductive learning for judgment words' sentimental orientation. The performance of experiments show that, compared with SVM and traditional semantic comprehension, it can get better results.
Outcome evaluation in aphasia therapy - a participants' perspective

Background: Measuring or evaluating outcomes is a common activity for many speech–language therapists (SLTs). A major focus has been on external forces claiming outcome evaluation to optimize quality and the use of resources without integrating the viewpoints of SLTs. Aims: To identify the purpose of outcome evaluation by letting SLTs identify not only the actual demands for outcome evaluation, but also the role of outcome evaluation in aphasia therapy in the clinic. Methods & Procedures: Twelve SLTs participated in semi-structured interviews to identify the demands they met for outcome evaluation as well as the role the outcome evaluation had in their work with people with aphasia. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by means of qualitative thematic analysis. Outcomes & Results: Six themes corresponding with the aims of this study were identified. These show that the SLTs initially evaluated outcomes because of external demands and interests. However, they also describe the process as a necessary activity inherent to therapy and state that they would not want to be without it. The outcome evaluation is seen as an interactive process between SLTs, clients and possibly significant others. Not only it is seen as a product in which outcome and/or client satisfaction is documented, but also it is described as a dynamic process that benefits the clients, significant others, the therapy and the SLTs themselves in various ways. This role of outcome evaluation ranges from enhancement of insight and promotion of acceptance for the clients and significant others to planning the next step in therapy or in life with aphasia after therapy. In all of which the clients play a significant role, since their active participation is sought throughout the sessions. Conclusion & Implications: The results suggest an interesting relationship between treatment policy and treatment practice, where an initial administrative initiative to conduct outcome evaluation is adopted by the SLTs and made into a meaningful part of therapy in which the clients play a significant role.
Developing an Instrument for E-Public Services' Acceptance Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Middle East Context

Governments worldwide spend billions from their allocated IT budgets to deliver convenient electronic services to their citizens. As a result, it is important to encourage citizens to use these services to avoid potential failures. Yet, few empirical studies exist that cover the relevant issues of adoption from the perspective of citizens in developing countries. Moreover, the need for a well-validated instrument to capture citizen adoption of such services is vital, given the vast investment in technology and the potential cost-saving implications. This study integrates elements from the most popular theories, including adoption technology acceptance model TAM, innovation diffusion theory IDT, and theory of planned behavior TPB, in conjunction with web trust models. It develops an instrument to measure citizens' acceptance of electronic public services by utilizing confirmatory factor analysis CFA within the structural equation modeling technique. Findings of a large scale data sampling of citizens in Saudi Arabia indicate that the proposed measurement model is an acceptable fit with the data. Overall, the findings supply a rigorous instrument for measuring citizens' acceptance of e-public services, providing further insights for researchers and offering policy makers a suitable tool with which to study proposed strategies.
LittleProjectedPlanet: An Augmented Reality Game for Camera Projector Phones

With the miniaturization of projection technology the integration of tiny projection units, normally referred to as pico projectors, into mobile devices is not longer fiction. Such integrated projectors in mobile devices could make mobile projection ubiquitous within the next few years. These phones soon will have the ability to project large-scale information onto any surfaces in the real world. By doing so the interaction space of the mobile device can be expanded to physical objects in the environment and this can support interaction concepts that are not even possible on modern desktop computers today. In this paper, we explore the possibilities of camera projector phones with a mobile adaption of the Playstation 3(PS3) game LittleBigPlanet. The camera projector unit is used to augment the hand drawings of a user with an overlay displaying physical interaction of virtual objects with the real world. Players can sketch a 2D world on a sheet of paper or use an existing physical configuration of objects and let the physics engine simulate physical procedures in this world to achieve game goals.
A General Inter-AP Handoff Model for the Express Mobile Gateway

This paper is to study how to realize the seamless inter-AP handoff for the express mobile gateway on the train, which not only must execute the handoff rapidly, but also have to make the handoff decision quickly. Hence, the special and general inter-AP handoff concepts presented firstly and then a general inter-AP handoff model is built up. Based on this model, a radio-signal-measurement based handoff decision model and a multiinterface based rapid handoff algorithm are designed, which can decrease the network disrupt time to several milliseconds and maintain the link quality all the time while the EMG is fast moving along the serial APs.
Layer Specific Development of Neocortical Pyramidal to Fast Spiking Cell Synapses

All cortical neurons are engaged in inhibitory feedback loops which ensure excitation-inhibition balance and are key elements for the development of coherent network activity. The resulting network patterns are strongly dependent on the strength and dynamic properties of these excitatory-inhibitory loops which show pronounced regional and developmental diversity. Therefore we compared the properties and postnatal maturation of two different synapses between rat neocortical pyramidal cells (layer 2/3 and layer 5, respectively) and fast spiking (FS) interneurons in the corresponding layer. At P14, both synapses showed synaptic depression upon repetitive activation. Synaptic release properties between layer 2/3 pyramidal cells and FS cells were stable from P14 to P28. In contrast, layer 5 pyramidal to FS cell connections showed a significant increase in paired pulse ratio by P28. Presynaptic calcium dynamics also changed at these synapses, including sensitivity to exogenously loaded calcium buffers and expression of presynaptic calcium channel subtypes. These results underline the large variety of properties at different, yet similar, synapses in the neocortex. They also suggest that postnatal maturation of the brain goes along with increasing differences between synaptically driven network activity in layer 5 and layer 2/3.
Improving generalization of Parzen density estimation by fuzzy c-means clustering

Using fuzzy c-means clustering procedure to find a condensed set for Parzen windows estimation (ParzenFCMC) is proposed in this paper. The full Parzen windows estimator usually requires more computation and storage. However, the experimental simulations show that the significant increase of reference data may not improve the estimation performance of Parzen windows method obviously. In addition, the theoretical analysis validates the traditional Parzen windows estimator is sensitive to noise data. Thus, in order to improve the generalization capability (i.e., the adaptability to nosie data) of Parzen windows estimation, we try to find a condensed dataset to conduct the probability density estimation by adopting the following measures: 1) clustering the original dataset by using fuzzy c-means; 2) estimating the underlying density function based on the condensed reference set. Finally, the experimental results on the synthetic datasets obeying Uniform, Normal, Exponential, and Rayleigh distributions show the usefulness and effectiveness of proposed ParzenFCMC. The significant savings on computation and storage can be achieved with only minimal mean integrated squared error (MISE) degradation.
REAL-TIME TIME-FREQUENCY BASED BLIND SOURCE SEPARATION

We present a real-time version of the DUET algorithm for the blind separation of any number of sources using only two mixtures. The method applies when sources are Wdisjoint orthogonal, that is, when the supports of the windowed Fourier transform of any two signals in the mixture are disjoint sets, an assumption which is justified in the Appendix. The online algorithm is a Maximum Likelihood (ML) based gradient search method that is used to track the mixing parameters. The estimates of the mixing parameters are then used to partition the time-frequency representation of the mixtures to recover the original sources. The technique is valid even in the case when the number of sources is larger than the number of mixtures. The method was tested on mixtures generated from different voices and noises recorded from varying angles in both anechoic and echoic rooms. In total, over 1500 mixtures were tested. The average SNR gain of the demixing was 15 dB for anechoic room mixtures and 5 dB for echoic office mixtures. The algorithm runs 5 times faster than real time on a 750MHz laptop computer. Sample sound files can be found here:
The application of hierarchical multi-phase C-V method combined with narrow band on MRI image segmentation

A hierarchical multi-phase C-V method combined with narrow band is proposed. Because the proposed method is composed of several steps, and each step needs just one level set. Besides, in every segmentation step only the points of narrow band need to be treated. So the computation has been greatly reduced compared with the multi-phase C-V method. Various experimental results of MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) image show that the proposed method is efficient and stable. The segmentation effect and speed is improved greatly when the image has complex structure.
Pipeline landmark detection for autonomous robot navigation using time-of-flight imagery

3D imaging systems provide valuable information for autonomous robot navigation based on landmark detection in pipelines. This paper presents a method for using a time-of-flight (TOF) camera for detection and tracking of pipeline features such as junctions, bends and obstacles. Feature extraction is done by fitting a cylinder to images of the pipeline. Data in captured images appear to take a conic rather than cylindrical shape, and we adjust the geometric primitive accordingly. Pixels deviating from the estimated cylinder/cone fit are grouped into blobs. Blobs fulfilling constraints on shape and stability over time are then tracked. The usefulness of TOF imagery as a source for landmark detection and tracking in pipelines is evaluated by comparison to auxiliary measurements. Experiments using a model pipeline and a prototype robot show encouraging results.
Random Channel Generator for Indoor Power Line Communication

The paper deals with creating an indoor power line model based on random parameters. This model approximates the real parameters of the power line communication with sufficient precision. A detailed analysis of earlier and current research in power line communication modelling, especially for power line models, is described. Measurement of transmission line parameters and power line model verification follows. Based on model analysis and load impedance measurement, a mathematical description of the model is designed. A reference model for different scenarios is realized too. The last part gives the analysis of this model and simulation results.
Modelling childhood antecedents of anomalous experiences and beliefs: fantasy proneness, hypnagogic/hypnopompic and sleep experiences

1 Overview and rationale 3 Chapter 1 An introduction to the terminology used in this thesis 13 Chapter 2 Correlates ofanomalous or paranormal beliefs 25 Chapter 3 Models of the development of anomalous/paranormal beliefs 49 Chapter 4 Normal and anomalous experiences reported during the 81 hypnagogic/hypnopompic and sleep states Chapter 5 Investigation of sleep-related anomalous experiences under 125 controlled conditions Chapter 6 World-wide web versus traditional pencil-and-paper survey 165 administration Chapter 7 WWW surveys of the relationship between childhood 177 fantasy proneness, childhood hypnagogic/hypnopompic experiences, sleep experiences and anomalous experiences and beliefs Chapter 8 Factor analyses of items used in WWW surveys 1 and 2 211 Chapter 9 Test of proposed models using structural equation 235 modelling (SEM) and WWW survey data Chapter 10 Factor analysis of survey items and test ofproposed models using 273 structural equation modelling (SEM) and traditional pencil-and-paper survey data Chapter 11 Discussion of tests ofproposed models using structural equation 317 modelling (SEM)
Mate availability contributes to maintain the mixed‐mating system in a scolytid beetle

We investigated the mating system and population genetic structure of the beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda, with life history characteristics that suggest the presence of a stable mixed‐mating system. We examined the genetic structure of seven populations in Israel and found significant departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and an excess of homozygosity. Inbreeding coefficients were highly variable across populations, suggesting that low levels of outbreeding occur in nature. Experiments were conducted to determine whether the observed high inbreeding in these populations is the result of a reproductive assurance strategy. Females reared in the laboratory took longer to mate with males from the same population (inbreeding) than with males from a different population (outbreeding). These results suggest that females delayed inbreeding, and were more inclined to outbreed when possible. Thus inbreeding, which predominates in most populations, may be due to a shortage of mates for outbreeding rather than a preference for inbreeding. We conclude that C. dactyliperda has a mixed‐mating system that may be maintained by a reproductive assurance strategy.
‘You sure that’s a film, man?’: Audience anticipation, expectation and engagement in Lost in London LIVE

Lost in London LIVE (Dir. Woody Harrelson, 2017) claimed to be ‘a first-of-its-kind film event. ’ Shot in one take, in real time, with one camera, entirely on location in London in the early hours of Friday 20 January 2017, it was simultaneously broadcast live to 604 cinemas in America (and to one cinema in the UK). As a stand-alone experience, with a short lead-in, temporally and spatially bound, this event presented a unique opportunity in audience studies research. This article presents and consolidates the findings of three branches of methodological enquiry into Lost in London. These include the authors’ own observations at the screening in London, retrospective audience questionnaires, and analysis of the social media activity before, during and after the screening. A number of themes emerged which I have identified as: Liveness, Novelty, Proximity, Definitional and Audience Expectations. As well as revealing the new ways in which live cinema formats impact upon audience motivations, expectations and pleasures, this project also reveals the challenges and opportunities of mobilising research into live cinema phenomena.
Arbitrariness of peer review: A Bayesian analysis of the NIPS experiment

The principle of peer review is central to the evaluation of research, by ensuring that only high-quality items are funded or published. But peer review has also received criticism, as the selection of reviewers may introduce biases in the system. In 2014, the organizers of the ``Neural Information Processing Systems\rq\rq{} conference conducted an experiment in which $10\%$ of submitted manuscripts (166 items) went through the review process twice. Arbitrariness was measured as the conditional probability for an accepted submission to get rejected if examined by the second committee. This number was equal to $60\%$, for a total acceptance rate equal to $22.5\%$. Here we present a Bayesian analysis of those two numbers, by introducing a hidden parameter which measures the probability that a submission meets basic quality criteria. The standard quality criteria usually include novelty, clarity, reproducibility, correctness and no form of misconduct, and are met by a large proportions of submitted items. The Bayesian estimate for the hidden parameter was equal to $56\%$ ($95\%$CI: $ I = (0.34, 0.83)$), and had a clear interpretation. The result suggested the total acceptance rate should be increased in order to decrease arbitrariness estimates in future review processes.
Helping Mobile Software Code Reviewers: A Study of Bug Repair and Refactoring Patterns

Mobile Developers commonly spend a significant amount of time and effort on conducting code reviews on newly introduced and domain-specific practices, such as platform-specific feature addition, quality of service anti-pattern refactorings, and battery-related bug fixes. To address these problems, we conducted a large empirical study over the software change history of 318 open source projects and investigated platform-dependent code changes from open source projects. Our analysis focuses on what types of changes mobile application developers typically make and how they perceive, recall, and communicate changed and affected code. Our study required the development of an automated strategy to examine open source repositories and categorize platform-related refactoring edits, bug repairs, and API updates, mining 1,961,990 commit changes. Our findings call for the need to develop a new recommendation system aimed at efficiently identifying required changes such as bug fixes and refactorings during mobile application code reviews.