Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple Widths Yield Reliable Finite Differences (Computer Vision)

A finite difference edge finder in which the finite difference is computed at a range of widths, i.e. a range of distances between data points, is introduced. Wide operators report low-amplitude responses more reliably than narrow operators, so if wide operators are used to fill gaps in narrow operator responses, each operator can be restricted to report only statistically reliable responses without losing many real features. This sharply reduces the noise in the final output. Theoretical bounds on spurious responses in the finite difference outputs, given only weak assumptions about the signal and noise, are presented. The expected response of the edge finder to an ideal straight step edge is also analyzed. These performance measures are compared with those of a standard algorithm based on Gaussian smoothing and those of a second algorithm that also considers the spatial structure of noise. The algorithms prove equally good at suppressing noise, but are better able to detect faint or blurred features. These predictions are confirmed by empirical tests on real images. >
Surface structure of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Summary Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of foot-and-mouth disease virus disrupted with 8m-urea revealed the presence of five major protein bands and one minor one. Evidence was obtained suggesting the likelihood of these bands being due to the presence of distinct polypeptides in the virus protein. Virus which had lost 3 to 4 log. of infectivity by treatment with trypsin also yielded six bands in polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Five of these bands had the same mobility and intensity as those found in untreated virus but the slowest-moving band in the untreated virus had an enhanced mobility after enzyme treatment, suggesting that only one of the constituent polypeptides of the virus protein was affected by the enzyme. This polypeptide is necessary for the attachment of the virus to susceptible cells and for the immunizing activity of the inactivated virus particle.
Static cache simulation and its applications

This work takes a fresh look at the simulation of cache memories. It introduces the technique of static cache simulation that statically predicts a large portion of cache references. To efficiently utilize this technique, a method to perform efficient on-the-fly analysis of programs in general is developed and proved correct. This method is combined with static cache simulation for a number of applications. The application of fast instruction cache analysis provides a new framework to evaluate instruction cache memories that outperforms even the fastest techniques published. Static cache simulation is shown to address the issue of predicting cache behavior, contrary to the belief that cache memories introduce unpredictability to real-time systems that cannot be efficiently analyzed. Static cache simulation for instruction caches provides a large degree of predictability for real-time systems. In addition, an architectural modification through bit-encoding is introduced that provides fully predictable caching behavior. Even for regular instruction caches without architectural modifications, tight bounds for the execution time of real-time programs can be derived from the information provided by the static cache simulator. Finally, the debugging of real-time applications can be enhanced by displaying the timing information of the debugged program at breakpoints. The timing information is determined by simulating the instruction cache behavior during program execution and can be used, for example, to detect missed deadlines and locate time-consuming code portions. Overall, the technique of static cache simulation provides a novel approach to analyze cache memories and has been shown to be very efficient for numerous applications.
Electroencephalography in Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

The EEG in the acute stage of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) can show a variety of abnormalities, including uni- or bilateral periodic sharp waves or attenuation of amplitude, focal or generalized slow waves or epileptiform discharges, or electrical seizures. No specific EEG patterns are pathognomonic for HSE, but a focal or lateralized EEG abnormality in the presence of encephalitis is highly suspicious of HSE. In the acute stage, EEG appears to be more sensitive than computerized tomography or radioisotope brain scanning. The EEG findings tend to differ in the course of illness, and the periodic discharges occur only during the acute stage. The EEG findings in either the acute stage or long-term follow-up do not predict the chance of survival or severity of disability, and EEG changes appear to lag behind the clinical changes. EEG results can become normal in both adults and neonates when the acute stage is over.
A Guided Spatial Transformer Network for Histology Cell Differentiation

Identification and counting of cells and mitotic figures is a standard task in diagnostic histopathology. Due to the large overall cell count on histological slides and the potential sparse prevalence of some relevant cell types or mitotic figures, retrieving annotation data for sufficient statistics is a tedious task and prone to a significant error in assessment. Automatic classification and segmentation is a classic task in digital pathology, yet it is not solved to a sufficient degree. We present a novel approach for cell and mitotic figure classification, based on a deep convolutional network with an incorporated Spatial Transformer Network. The network was trained on a novel data set with ten thousand mitotic figures, about ten times more than previous data sets. The algorithm is able to derive the cell class (mitotic tumor cells, non-mitotic tumor cells and granulocytes) and their position within an image. The mean accuracy of the algorithm in a five-fold cross-validation is 91.45%. In our view, the approach is a promising step into the direction of a more objective and accurate, semi-automatized mitosis counting supporting the pathologist.
The Circadian Clock Protein BMAL1 Is Necessary for Fertility and Proper Testosterone Production in Mice

Although it is well established that the circadian clock regulates mammalian reproductive physiology, the molecular mechanisms by which this regulation occurs are not clear. The authors investigated the reproductive capacity of mice lacking Bmal1 (Arntl, Mop3), one of the central circadian clock genes. They found that both male and female Bmal1 knockout (KO) mice are infertile. Gross and microscopic inspection of the reproductive anatomy of both sexes suggested deficiencies in steroidogenesis. Male Bmal1 KO mice had low testosterone and high luteinizing hormone serum concentrations, suggesting a defect in testicular Leydig cells. Importantly, Leydig cells rhythmically express BMAL1 protein, suggesting peripheral control of testosterone production by this clock protein. Expression of steroidogenic genes was reduced in testes and other steroidogenic tissues of Bmal1 KO mice. In particular, expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene and protein, which regulates the rate-limiting step of steroidogenesis, was decreased in testes from Bmal1 KO mice. A direct effect of BMAL1 on StAR expression in Leydig cells was indicated by in vitro experiments showing enhancement of StAR transcription by BMAL1. Other hormonal defects in male Bmal1 KO mice suggest that BMAL1 also has functions in reproductive physiology outside of the testis. These results enhance understanding of how the circadian clock regulates reproduction.
Regulation of Expression of Sodium‐Calcium Exchanger and Plasma Membrane Calcium ATPase by Protein Kinases, Glucocorticoids, and Growth Factors a

The plasma membrane of mammalian cells has two distinctly different mechanisms for ejecting Ca2+ : the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) and the plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA). NCX is a carrier mechanism, which is readily reversible, with a turnover number of several thousand Ca2+ per s. ' PMCA is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven pump, which is not readily reversible, with a turnover number of 50 Ca2+ per s . * ~ The stoichiometry of NCX is 3 Na+ per Ca2+ and that of PMCA is one Ca2+ per ATP.3,4 Humans have at least two Na+-Ca2+ exchanger genes, NCXl and NCXZ, and four PMCA (1-4) gene^. ^^^ Different NCX and PMCA genes and isoforms, which are produced by alternative splicing, are expressed in a tissue-specific ~ n a n n e r . ~ ~ PMCA appears to be expressed in most, if not all mammalian cells, whereas NCX is expressed in some cell types, but not other^. ^. '^ While much is known about the structure and posttranslational regulation of PMCA and NCXl ,11-14 little is known about the regulation of PMCA and NCX expression. During cardiac development, NCX expression becomes maximal at birth and declines p~s tna ta l ly . '~ Pressure overload of feline heart increased NCX expression and accelerated general and contractile protein synthesis.I6 Recently we observed that glucocorticoids, growth factors, and activation of protein kinase A markedly influence NCX expression in vascular smooth muscle cell^. '^,^^ Activation of protein kinase C in kidney epithelial cells produces a substantial depletion of mRNA and protein.19 In contrast to the depletion of NCX in kidney cells, activation of protein kinase C in endothelial cells strikingly induced PMCA. *O In aortic myocytes, thrombin rapidly increased PMCA transcripts.z' The data presented here indicate that NCX and PMCA expression by mammalian cells is remarkably sensitive to external stimuli.
Novel resorbable glass-ceramic scaffolds for hard tissue engineering: From the parent phosphate glass to its bone-like macroporous derivatives

One of the major challenges of hard tissue engineering research focuses on the development of scaffolds that can match the mechanical properties of the host bone and resorb at the same rate as the bone is repaired. The aim of this work was the synthesis and characterization of a resorbable phosphate glass, as well as its application for the fabrication of three dimensional (3-D) scaffolds for bone regeneration. The glass microstructure and behaviour upon heating were analysed by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and hot stage microscopy. The glass solubility was investigated according to relevant ISO standards using distilled water, simulated body fluid (SBF) and Tris-HCl as testing media. The glass underwent progressive dissolution over time in all three media but the formation of a hydroxyapatite-like layer was also observed on the samples soaked in SBF and Tris-HCl, which demonstrated the bioactivity of the material. The glass powder was used to fabricate 3-D macroporous bone-like glass-ceramic scaffolds by adopting polyethylene particles as pore formers: during thermal treatment, the polymer additive was removed and the sintering of glass particles was allowed. The obtained scaffolds exhibited high porosity (87 vol.%) and compressive strength around 1.5 MPa. After soaking for 4 months in SBF, the scaffolds mass loss was 76 wt. % and the pH of the solution did not exceed the 7.55 value, thereby remaining in a physiological range. The produced scaffolds, being resorbable, bioactive, architecturally similar to trabecular bone and exhibiting interesting mechanical properties, can be proposed as promising candidates for bone repair applications.
The power of genetic monitoring for studying demography, ecology and genetics of a reintroduced brown bear population

Genetic monitoring has rarely been used for wildlife translocations despite the potential benefits this approach offers, compared to traditional field‐based methods. We applied genetic monitoring to the reintroduced brown bear population in northern Italy. From 2002 to 2008, 2781 hair and faecal samples collected noninvasively plus 12 samples obtained from captured or dead bears were used to follow the demographic and geographical expansion and changes in genetic composition. Individual genotypes were used to reconstruct the wild pedigree and revealed that the population increased rapidly, from nine founders to >27 individuals in 2008 (λ = 1.17–1.19). Spatial mapping of bear samples indicated that most bears were distributed in the region surrounding the translocation site; however, individual bears were found up to 163 km away. Genetic diversity in the population was high, with expected heterozygosity of 0.74–0.79 and allelic richness of 4.55–5.41. However, multi‐year genetic monitoring data showed that mortality rates were elevated, immigration did not occur, one dominant male sired all cubs born from 2002 to 2005, genetic diversity declined, relatedness increased, inbreeding occurred, and the effective population size was extremely small (Ne = 3.03, ecological method). The comprehensive information collected through genetic monitoring is critical for implementing future conservation plans for the brown bear population in the Italian Alps. This study provides a model for other reintroduction programmes by demonstrating how genetic monitoring can be implemented to uncover aspects of the demography, ecology and genetics of small and reintroduced populations that will advance our understanding of the processes influencing their viability, evolution, and successful restoration.
Variability of Objective and Subjective Intensities During Ball Drills in Youth Soccer Players

Abstract Arcos, AL, Martínez-Santos, R, Yanci, J, Martín, J, and Castagna, C. Variability of objective and subjective intensities during ball drills in youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 28(3): 752–757, 2014—The aim of this study was to examine the intrasubject (intraclass coefficient correlation [ICC]) and intersubject variability (coefficient of variation [CV]) of soccer ball drills (BD) involving or not opposition in male youth soccer. For this purpose, a collective ball dribbling (DB) exercise and a 7-a-side ball game without coach encouragements were considered. Exercise intensity was assessed as heart rate (HR), training load (TL), and perceived exertion scales. Fourteen U-14 male soccer players (age, 14.79 ± 0.43 years and experience, 6.5 years) of a Spanish First Division club academy participated in the study. Ball drills were examined for variability over 5 successive training sessions in similar field conditions. Results showed that 7-a-side was significantly (p = 0.000) more demanding than DB. Indeed the TL, HRmax, HRmean, overall perceived exertion, and leg muscular perceived exertion (MPE) resulted 141, 8.7, 11, 56, and 72%, higher in 7-a-side than in DB, respectively. In the 7-a-side condition, good intersubject (CV < 10%) and low intrasubject (ICC < 0.7) variability were observed. In the DB condition, CVs were below 10% CV only for HR variables and the ICC values were higher than 0.7 only for MPE. Despite the moderate reproducibility of BD not considering opponents, this condition did not reveal to induce homogeneous physiological responses in young soccer players. Therefore, the use of this kind of drills may be questionable when considered as alternative of moderate intensity generic aerobic training. Despite the higher interaction between players variability in the opposition drills resulted lower, this suggests their use as a specific conditioning exercise.
Epicardial fat: properties, function and relationship to obesity

Epicardial fat is a relatively neglected component of the heart. The purpose of this review was to examine the anatomic and biochemical data on epicardial fat; to examine the relationship of epicardial fat to obesity and to explore the potential role of epicardial fat in the relationship of obesity to coronary atherothrombotic disease. Epicardial fat covers 80% of the heart’s surface and constitutes 20% of total heart weight. It is present along the distribution of the coronary arteries, over the right ventricle especially along the right border, anterior surface and at the apex. There is three‐ to fourfold more epicardial fat associated with the right than the left ventricle. Putative physiologic functions of epicardial fat are based on observational data and include: buffering coronary arteries against the torsion induced by the arterial pulse wave and cardiac contraction, facilitating coronary artery remodelling, regulating fatty acid homeostasis in the coronary microcirculation and providing fatty acids to cardiac muscle as a local energy source in times of high demand. A considerable amount of the data on epicardial fat originates from autopsy series that have the inherent problem that conditions leading to death may have altered body composition and adiposity. With this caveat, data indicate that epicardial fat mass increases age until age 20–40 years but thereafter the amount of epicardial fat is not dependent on age. The amount of epicardial fat correlates with heart weight but the presence of myocardial ischemia and hypertrophy does not alter the ratio of epicardial fat to cardiac muscle mass. A number of properties differentiate epicardial fat from other fat depots specifically its smaller adipocytes size; different fatty acid composition, high protein content; high rates of fatty acid incorporation, fatty acid synthesis, insulin‐induced lipogenesis or fatty acid breakdown; low rates of glucose utilization, low expression (mRNA) of lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl‐CoA desaturase and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase‐α, and slow regression during weight loss. There is a significant direct relationship between the amount of epicardial fat and general body adiposity. Clinical imaging studies have demonstrated a strong direct correlation between epicardial fat and abdominal visceral adiposity. Several lines of evidence support a role for epicardial fat in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, namely the close anatomic relationship between epicardial fat and coronary arteries; the positive correlation between the amount of epicardial fat and the presence of coronary atherosclerosis and the ability of adipose tissue to secrete hormones and cytokines that modulate coronary artery atherothrombosis. Thus, epicardial fat maybe an important factor responsible for cardiovascular disease in obesity.
Neurologic Complications of Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiac Procedures

Abstract Neurologic complications of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiac procedures may affect the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system. The most common central nervous system complications are strokes and seizures. This article provides a succinct neuroanatomic and pathophysiologic approach to a wide array of neurologic complications associated with cardiac procedures.
Responses of neurons in macaque MT to stochastic motion signals

Abstract Dynamic random-dot stimuli have been widely used to explore central mechanisms of motion processing. We have measured the responses of neurons in area MT of the alert monkey while we varied the strength and direction of the motion signal in such displays. The strength of motion is controlled by the proportion of spatiotemporally correlated dots, which we term the correlation of the stimulus. For many MT cells, responses varied approximately linearly with stimulus correlation. When they occurred, nonlinearities were equally likely to be either positively or negatively accelerated. We also explored the relationship between response magnitude and response variance for these cells and found, in general agreement with other investigators, that this relationship conforms to a power law with an exponent slightly greater than 1. The variance of the cells' discharge is little influenced by the trial-to-trial fluctuations inherent in our stochastic display, and is therefore likely to be of neural origin. Linear responses to these stochastic motion stimuli are predicted by simple, low-level motion models incorporating sensors having relatively broad spatial and temporal frequency tuning.
KnowWhat: Mid Field Sensemaking for the Visually Impaired

KnowWhat is our solution to help speed up mid-field sensemaking by visually impaired persons (VIPs). Our prototype combines a spectacle mounted camera, passive fiducial marker based tagging of the environment and 3D spatial audio to build a novel interaction technique. We present qualitative results of experiments to evaluate our solution.
Segmentation-based Multi-scale Edge Extraction to Measure the Persistence of Features in Unorganized Point Clouds

Edge extraction has attracted a lot of attention in computer vision. The accuracy of extracting edges in point clouds can be a significant asset for a variety of engineering scenarios. To address these issues, we propose a segmentation-based multi-scale edge extraction technique. In this approach, different regions of a point cloud are segmented by a global analysis according to the geodesic distance. Afterwards, a multi-scale operator is defined according to local neighborhoods. Thereupon, by applying this operator at multiple scales of the point cloud, the persistence of features is determined. We illustrate the proposed method by computing a feature weight that measures the likelihood of a point to be an edge, then detects the edge points based on that value at both global and local scales. Moreover, we evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively our method. Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves a superior accuracy. Furthermore, we demonstrate the robustness of our approach in noisier real-world datasets.
Method comparison for determination of the tumor markers AFP, CEA, PSA and free PSA between Immulite 2000 XPI and Dimension Vista 1500.

BACKGROUND For the Luminescent Oxygen Channeling Immunoassay (LOCI) technology as established for Dimension Vista 1500, assays have been developed for the serum tumor markers AFP, CEA, PSA and free PSA. We performed a method analysis for these parameters using the Immulite 2000 XPI. METHODS Determination of within-day and total imprecision of the methods was carried out according to CLSI guidelines with three serum pools. In addition, parallel measurements were performed with both systems in 1,871 routine serum samples and correlations were calculated. RESULTS Calculated total imprecision of the three serum pools for AFP was 3.8 - 4.3%, for CEA 3.3 - 4.3%, for tPSA 3.6 - 4.0% and for fPSA it was 3.5 - 8.2%. Correlations of these markers across the entire value range were very good with the following correlation coefficients: 0.997 for AFP, 0.996 for CEA, 0.971 for tPSA and 0.988 for fPSA. While values for AFP and tPSA from both methods were comparable (slopes 1.02 and 1.01), lower values were measured for CEA and fPSA with the Dimension Vista (slopes 0.83 and 0.91). For AFP, a sample cluster with considerably higher values than with Dimension Vista was observed in the lower measurement range (< 20 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS The assays for AFP, CEA, tPSA and fPSA, as developed with the LOCI technology for the Dimension Vista, show good comparability with results obtained from the Immulite 2000 XPI. However, lower measurement ranges for CEA and fPSA as well as individual divergences, especially with AFP, must be taken into consideration in the event of method changeover.