Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stepwise Metric Adaptation Based on Semi-Supervised Learning for Boosting Image Retrieval Performance

For a specific set of features chosen for representing images, the performance of a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system depends critically on the similarity measure used. Based on a recently proposed semisupervised metric learning method called locally linear metric adaptation (LLMA), we propose in this paper a stepwise LLMA algorithm for boosting the retrieval performance of CBIR systems by incorporating relevance feedback from users collected over multiple query sessions. Unlike most existing metric learning methods which learn a global Mahalanobis metric, the transformation performed by LLMA is more general in that it is linear locally but nonlinear globally. Moreover, the efficiency problem is well addressed by the stepwise LLMA algorithm. We also report experimental results performed on a real-world color image database to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
In Silico Analysis of Occurrence of Tricorn Protease and Its Homologs

Tricorn protease is an archaeal protease acting downstream of the proteasome and together with its interacting aminopeptidases, degrades oligopeptides to free amino acids thus playing an important role in protein turnover. This study reports a wide distribution of tricorn protease and its homologs in archaea and bacteria. The homologs were identified through a combination of PSI-BLAST, orthology clustering and domain predictions. Functionally important sites were identified through multiple sequence alignment conducted by MAFFT v. 7. The aligned sequences were used to predict the phylogenetic relationship of tricorn protease and its homologs using MEGA v. 7. The functional associations of tricorn protease were predicted through STRING network v.10. 0. This study identified several tricorn protease homologs in archaea and in all the bacterial phyla complete with β-propeller, PDZ and catalytic domains. However, in eukaryotes, tricorn protease-like homologs seemed limited to viridiplantae, stramenopile and in a basal metazoa and were classified as non-peptidase homologs with unknown functions. Conserved domain architecture retrieval revealed detectable homology of tricorn protease C-terminal half with the carboxyl-terminal proteases with similar PDZ domains. Therefore, this study predicts functional conservation of tricorn core catalytic domain in prokaryotes and given its role in cellular functions, targeting this protein or its functional homologs in prokaryotic pathogens could lead to development of alternative therapeutic agents.
High Field HTS Solenoid for a Muon Collider—Demonstrations, Challenges, and Strategies

The proposed muon collider requires very high field solenoids in the range of 30-50 T. The use of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) operating at low temperature (~ 4 K) is essential for achieving such high fields in a superconducting magnet. As a part of this program, we have built and successfully tested a 25 mm aperture HTS insert generating 16 T peak field (the highest field ever achieved in an all-HTS magnet), a 100 mm aperture HTS midsert generating 9 T peak field, and designed an outsert with a conventional Low Temperature Superconductor (LTS) to provide additional field. In addition to presenting the test results and progress made in support technologies, we will also discuss a number of challenges associated with the high field HTS magnets. Finally, we present a set of strategies to overcome some of those challenges.
Investigation of the mechanical behavior and vibration characteristics of thin walled glass/carbon hybrid composite beams under a fixed-free boundary condition

ABSTRACT In the present work, woven fabric glass laminate is modified by interplying high modulus carbon fabric layers for improving the stiffness to weight ratio to enable good performance in dynamic conditions. The glass, carbon, and hybrid of glass/carbon laminates were fabricated with two different stacking sequences by hand layup method and tested for evaluating the mechanical properties with considerable trials. The vibration characteristics of composite beams were experimentally studied by impulse excitation techniques under fixed-free boundary conditions. The stacking sequence of beams influences the mechanical properties and vibration characteristics. The modal response of tested samples are compared and discussed.
Investigation of the Sensitivity of the Boundary Layer to DRE on Rotor Blade

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the problem of roughness-induced boundary layer transition and thesensitivity of boundary layer to the dimensions of DRE (distributed roughness elements). Experiments were conducted in the rotor blade whirl tower at AVIC ARI. The chord length of rotor blade is C=60mm, and the rotor radius is R=800mm. The tests were at seven rotational speeds between 300 rpm and 600 rpm, leading to the tip speeds be between Vtip= 25 m/s and Vtip= 40 m/s. Both a single roughness element and a row of DRE were applied on the lower blade surface at X/C=0.2. The shape factor of DRE changed from d/k = 4.8 to d/k= 9.6, where d and k is diameter and height of the roughness element, respectively. We considered the distance between the DRE and the transition locations in different Reynolds numbers. Infrared thermography was employed to detect boundary layer transition on the rotor blade. A method based on the ratio of turbulent and laminar areas was used to estimate the downstream transition locations. The results showed an inverse relation between the transition length and the Reynolds number. The critical Reynolds number corresponding to DRE of different dimensions were determined by this relation.The boundary layer transition position is mainly affected by the height of DRE, for ReX =16000~40000, the optimal height of DRE is k = 0.15 ~ 0.2 mm, the optimal shape factor is d/k = 6 ~ 8.
Unfixed Resources: Perceived Costs, Consumption, and the Accessible Account Effect

Consumption depletes one's available resources, but consumers may be unaware of the total resources available for consumption and, therefore, be influenced by the temporary accessibility of resource accounts. Consistent with this possibility, consumers in four experiments perceived a unit of consumption to be smaller and consequently consumed more, when large resource accounts of money, calories, or time (e.g., the money in their savings account) were made temporarily accessible compared with when small resource accounts were made temporarily accessible (e.g., the money in their wallet). Manipulating the cognitive accessibility of resources available for consumption influences both subjective judgment and behavior. (c) 2007 by JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH, Inc.
EphrinA 1-targeted nanoshells for photothermal ablation of prostate cancer cells

Correspondence: Jennifer L West Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, PO Box 1892, MS 142, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA Tel +1 713 348 5955 Fax +1 713 348 5877 Email jwest@rice.edu Abstract: Gold-coated silica nanoshells are a class of nanoparticles that can be designed to possess strong absorption of light in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength region. When injected intravenously, these nanoshells have been shown to accumulate in tumors and subsequently mediate photothermal treatment, leading to tumor regression. In this work, we sought to improve their specifi city by targeting them to prostate tumor cells. We report selective targeting of PC-3 cells with nanoshells conjugated to ephrinA1, a ligand for EphA2 receptor that is overexpressed on PC-3 cells. We demonstrate selective photo-thermal destruction of these cells upon application of the NIR laser.
ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Checklists, Norms, and Clinical Interpretation

The ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Checklist, norms, and clinical interpretation (ADHD Rating Scale-IV; DuPaul, Power, Anastopoulos, & Reid, 1998) is a norm-referenced checklist that measures the symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The diagnostic criteria changed from the DSM-III to the DSM-IV. These changes reflect the factor analyses of teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms. This includes two separate factors of Inattention and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV was designed to incorporate these changes. The purpose of this scale is to provide clinicians with a means of gathering information regarding the frequency of certain behaviors from parents and teachers. This information may be used by clinicians to screen, diagnose, or evaluate treatment of ADHD. There is a home and school version of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV. The home version of the scale is also provided in Spanish. Each version is completed independently by the parent or teacher, who reports the frequency of the symptoms over the past 6 months (or the beginning of the school year if the teacher has not known the student for 6 months) on a 4-point Likert scale. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV is an 18-item questionnaire that takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Normative data are provided for ages 5 to 18. The clinical trials on the normative data were conducted with 6to 14-year-old participants. Two subscales are distinguished on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Inattention and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity. The odd-numbered items represent the symptoms on the Inattention subscale, and the even-numbered items represent the symptoms on the HyperactiveImpulsive subscale. Results are described in terms of the Inattention and HyperactivityImpulsivity subscales, the total score, and percentile ranks for each score. Materials consist of the examiner’s manual, rating scales, and scoring sheets.
The physical and chemical composition of the lower mantle

This article reviews some of the recent advances made within the field of mineral physics. In order to link the observed seismic and density structures of the lower mantle with a particular mineral composition, knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of the candidate materials is required. Determining which compositional model best matches the observed data is difficult because of the wide variety of possible mineral structures and compositions. State-of-the-art experimental and analytical techniques have pushed forward our knowledge of mineral physics, yet certain properties, such as the elastic properties of lower mantle minerals at high pressures and temperatures, are difficult to determine experimentally and remain elusive. Fortunately, computational techniques are now sufficiently advanced to enable the prediction of these properties in a self-consistent manner, but more results are required. A fundamental question is whether or not the upper and lower mantles are mixing. Traditional models that involve chemically separate upper and lower mantles cannot yet be ruled out despite recent conflicting seismological evidence showing that subducting slabs penetrate deep into the lower mantle and that chemically distinct layers are, therefore, unlikely. Recent seismic tomography studies giving three-dimensional models of the seismic wave velocities in the Earth also base their interpretations on the thermodynamic properties of minerals. These studies reveal heterogeneous velocity and density anomalies in the lower mantle, which are difficult to reconcile with mineral physics data.
Effect of temperature regime and compression in OCT imaging of skin in vivo

Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a modern technique for imaging of internal structures of biotissue of up to several millimeters in depth with a resolution of several micrometers. However, various external conditions can distort the diagnostic capabilities of an OCT image. Mechanical compression and temperature regime are the two conditions which mostly affect the diagnostic OCT images obtained with a contact probe. It is shown here that the application of compression to human skin induces a decrease in contrast of the stratum corneum-epidermis junction and an increase in contrast of the epidermis-dermis junction. With regard to these junctions, a preliminary change of biotissue temperature induces additional changes in the contrast, with opposing effects in case of heating and cooling.
Role of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Dentistry

The science of dentistry has been continuously seeking to improve the performance of diagnostic aids available in this specialty. Intra oral periapical radiographs and panoramic radiographs have been the mainstay of radiographic diagnosis in all specialties of dentistry [1]. Although both are indispensable to dentistry, but the amount of useful information yielded by these is limited by accompanying superimposition of various anatomic structures. Three dimensional CT scan imaging and MRI imaging has been considered only in limited number of patients till date, because of the larger size of machines which can’t be accommodated in a dental office and thus necessitates referral. Their use has been limited because of unacceptably high radiation dose for routine dental care. CBCT has, therefore emerged as an alternative aid and is widely gaining popularity at a rapid rate all over the world.
Affect grid : A single-item scale of pleasure and arousal

This article introduces a single-item scale, the Affect Grid, designed as a quick means of assessing affect along the dimensions of pleasure-displeasure and arousal-sleepiness. The Affect Grid is potentially suitable for any study that requires judgments about affect of either a descriptive or a subjective kind. The scale was shown to have adequate reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity in 4 studies in which college students used the Affect Grid to describe (a) their current mood, (b) the meaning of emotion-related words, and (c) the feelings conveyed by facial expressions. Other studies are cited to illustrate the potential uses of the Affect Grid as a measure of mood. In this article, we introduce the Affect Grid, a scale designed as a quick means of assessing affect along the dimensions of pleasure-displeasure and arousal-sleepiness. The Affect Grid is potentially suitable for any study that requires judgments about affect of either a descriptive or a subjective kind. The Affect Grid is a single-item scale. Our aim was for an instrument that would be short and easy to fill out and that could, therefore, be used rapidly and repeatedly. Currently available scales of affect are multiple-item checklists or questionnaires that are too time-consuming or too distracting for some purposes. In particular, they do not lend themselves to continuous or quickly repeated observation. They are awkward in dealing with the rapid fluctuations of affect that occur, for example, in response to music, or for all we know, to many everyday emotion-laden events. In repeated-meas ures designs, subjects tiring of the same checklist may eventually become less conscientious or, in longitudinal studies, drop out of the study. Researchers who have wanted something quick and simple have sometimes resorted to homespun measures—with resulting uncertainty as to precisely what is being measured and how well. The Affect Grid is shown in Figure 1. The subject is asked to take several minutes beforehand to learn precisely how to use it. General instructions for this purpose are given in the Appendix.1 Once the subject understands these general instructions, he or she can then be given the Affect Grid together with whatever specific instructions are appropriate, such as "Please rate
Protective Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (α -LA) Against Lead Neuro-Toxicity in albino Rats

Aim of the work: The present study was conducted to elucidate the possible protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (α-LA) against the deleterious effect perturbation induced in rat brain exposed to lead acetate. Methods: 32 Wistar male rats (weighing 130 ± 10 g) were divided into four groups (n=8): (1) normal control group (C); (2) Initiation group (Pb as lead acetate 20 mg/kg.b.wt, i.p. for 2 wks); (3) treatment group (α-LA 20 mg/kg.b.wt, i.p. for 3 wks); (4) post-initiation treatment group (Pb for 2 wks then followed by α-LA for 3 wks). Levels of monoamines (norepinephrine NE and dopamine DA), the level of Ache activity and finally adenosine triphosphate (ATP), were estimated in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, in addition, a Morris water maze and the histological study were performed after completion of the experiments. Results: The results of the present work demonstrated that Pb inhibited neurotransmitters releases and decrease the level of Ache activity, as well as it inhibited energy production ATP. Pb impaired performance on Morris Water Maze of rats and histological degeneration. However, treatment with α-LA significantly attenuated the behavioral impairment and biochemical parameters in rat treated with Pb. And amelioration of histological changes. Conclusion: As a conclusion, treatment with α-LA can improve the Pb-induced toxicity via antioxidant activity.
Remnants of an Ancient Deltaretrovirus in the Genomes of Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophidae)

Endogenous retrovirus (ERV) sequences provide a rich source of information about the long-term interactions between retroviruses and their hosts. However, most ERVs are derived from a subset of retrovirus groups, while ERVs derived from certain other groups remain extremely rare. In particular, only a single ERV sequence has been identified that shows evidence of being related to an ancient Deltaretrovirus, despite the large number of vertebrate genome sequences now available. In this report, we identify a second example of an ERV sequence putatively derived from a past deltaretroviral infection, in the genomes of several species of horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae). This sequence represents a fragment of viral genome derived from a single integration. The time of the integration was estimated to be 11–19 million years ago. This finding, together with the previously identified endogenous Deltaretrovirus in long-fingered bats (Miniopteridae), suggest a close association of bats with ancient deltaretroviruses.
X-Ray and Neutron Scattering Studies of the 9Ni Cryogenic Steel and its Weld Joint

To guarantee the reliability and safe operation of large-scale metallic structures exposed to cryogenic temperatures for extended periods, it is important to evaluate structural properties of the base metal as well as the welded zone in order to prevent damages that could occur. Spatially-resolved high-energy synchrotron diffraction, pulsed neutron diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering have been used to study short, intermediate and mesoscopic range order in cryogenic 9Ni steel as well as the structural changes induced by the welding. Pristine 9Ni steel appears to be a metastable Fe-Ni alloy with main bcc martensitic phase and a minority fcc austenitic phase. Welding of 9Ni steel using SMAW technique has revealed a fast intergranular nickel diffusion at high temperatures during welding originated from high nickel content in the SMAW welding alloy.
Accessibility and Stability of Nonprofit Service Providers: Faith-based and Community-based Organizations in Urban and Rural America

Over the past four decades, social services promoting work activity and greater personal wellbeing—such as job training, adult education, child care, substance abuse or mental health services, emergency assistance—have become a central component of the safety net that assists low-income families in America. Until the late 1960s and early 1970s, welfare cash assistance was a primary method for helping poor persons, particularly poor single mothers. Today, however, federal and state spending on welfare cash assistance totals about $11 billion annually, whereas the Congressional Research Service (2003) estimates that means-tested federal, state, and local social service programs receive at least $110 billion in funding each year. Contrary to popular perceptions that view welfare cash assistance as the dominant approach to antipoverty assistance, the safety net is composed largely of social service programs that help poor populations overcome barriers to employment and achieve better work outcomes.
Emergent Leadership in Self-Managed Virtual Teams A Longitudinal Study of Concentrated and Shared Leadership Behaviors

The issue of leadership in virtual teams is an increasingly important one for many modern organizations, because these teams – typically project-based with a finite lifespan and specific deliverables – are frequently self-managed, having no designated leader within the team (Yukl 1998). While such teams may have increased flexibility in setting goals and achieving them, the virtual context may hinder team members’ abilities to coordinate activities and influence others (Manz and Sims 1993). Longitudinal data were collected over the course of a semester from virtual teams, comprised of students from three North American universities. Our results suggest that high performing self-managed virtual teams displayed significantly more leadership behaviors over time compared to their low performing counterparts. Specifically, these teams displayed significantly more concentrated leadership behavior focused on performance (i.e. “Producer” behavior) and shared leadership behavior focused on keeping track of group work (i.e. “Monitor” behavior) than the lower performing teams. Interestingly, these behaviors emerged strongly during the first half of the groups’ lifespan, and stayed throughout the life of the groups, but steadily dissipated in strength over time.
The effect of silicone tube and silicone tube + hyaluronic acid application on adhesion formation in experimental peri- and epi-neurorrhaphy in a rat model.

Following neurorrhaphy in Wistar albino rats with experimental sciatic nerve cut, the effectiveness of solely silicone tube (ST) and ST plus hyaluronic acid application on preventing fibrosis was clinically and histopathologically examined. After a total nerve cut is created in sciatic nerve, interfascicular and epineural anastomosis was used. While only anastomosis was applied for the first group (Control Group), for the second group (ST Group) anastomosis + silicone tube and for the third group (ST + HA Group) anastomosis + silicone tube + hyaluronic acid (HA) were applied. Animals in each group were divided into 2 sub-groups and macroscopic and histopathological examinations were conducted on the 30th and 60th postoperative day. On day 30 of the study all the animals had problematic walks. On the 60th day while animals in groups ST and ST + HA were walking normally, the problem was still going on for the control group. In the postmortem macroscopic examinations performed in the control group on the 30th and 60th days an irregular morphology and adhesion to surrounding in nerve tissue were seen. Whereas in group ST, in the anastomosis line within the tube, scar tissue which was clearer on the 60th day was observed, in group ST + HA it was seen that nerve anastomosis line was smooth on the 30th and 60th days. As a consequence, the reduction in myelin thickness and the increase in degenerated myelin for groups ST and ST + HA in 30 day show that HA does not create a positive effect on axon regeneration in the short run, on the other hand, the reduction in myelin degenerated along with the increase of axon myelin thickness and axon cross section areas in groups ST and ST + HA in day 60 has shown that silicone tube and HA application creates a positive impact on myelination in the long run.
Multi-species protein function prediction: towards web-based visual analytics

The visualization and analysis of big bio-molecular networks is a key feature for the investigation and prediction of protein functions in a multi-species context. In this paper we present the design of a system that integrates data management, machine learning and visualization facilities to make effective the visual analysis of big networks by means of web-based interfaces.