Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distortion-Aware Correlation Tracking

Recently, correlation filter (CF)-based tracking methods have attracted considerable attention because of their high-speed performance. However, distortion, which refers to the phenomenon that the correlation outputs of CF-based trackers are distorted, remains a major obstacle for these methods. In this paper, we propose a distortion-aware correlation filter framework, which can detect distortions and recover from tracking failures. Our framework employs a simple yet effective feature termed normed correlation response to detect distortions. Meanwhile, we introduce a competition mechanism to handle distortions, in which we build a specialized graph to formulate and handle tracking under distortion as a maximum multi clique problem. Furthermore, a global-local context model is exploited to alleviate underlying distortions during the tracking process. Extensive experiments on the Online Tracking Benchmark show that our tracker can find the optimal target trajectory during the distortion period and retrieve the possibly missing target, consequently outperforms the state-of-the-art methods and improves the performance of CF-based trackers favorably.
Mobile Interactions in Context: A Designerly Way Toward Digital Ecology

This book presents a contextual approach to designing contemporary interactive mobile computer systems as integral parts of ubiquitous computing environments. Interactive mobile systems, services, and devices have become functional design objects that we care deeply about. Although their look, feel, and features impact our everyday lives as we orchestrate them in concert with a plethora of other computing technologies, these artifacts are not well understood or created through traditional methods of user-centered design and usability engineering. Contrary to more traditional IT artifacts, they constitute holistic user experiences of value and pleasure that require careful attention to the variety, complexity, and dynamics of their usage. Hence, the design of mobile interactions proposed in this book transcends existing approaches by using the ensemble of form and context as its central unit of analysis. As such, it promotes a designerly way of achieving convergence between form and co text through a contextually grounded, wholeness sensitive, and continually unfolding process of design.
Selecting the “Best Applicant(s)” With Limited Options and Policy Constraints

This case study examines issues related to teacher hiring and accountability policies, including the adequate yearly progress and highly qualified teacher provisions of the No Child Left Behind act. The focus of the case study is the nexus among findings from the teacher-quality research, realities of teacher labor markets, and accountability policies. Opportunities for discussion of leadership decisions at the school and district levels are provided. The details described in this case study are developed for use in personnel/instructional supervision courses.
Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Quantification of Canine DNA *

ABSTRACT: The accurate quantification of target DNA is an important step in the short tandem repeat analysis of forensic biological samples. By utilizing quantification data to control the amount of template DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), forensic scientists can optimize testing and minimize the consumption of limited samples. The ability to identify and quantify target DNA in mixed‐species samples is crucial when it may be overwhelmed by nontarget DNA, as in cases of dog attack. We evaluated two quantitative real‐time PCR assays for dynamic range, species specificity, and inhibition by humic acid. While both assays proved to be highly sensitive and discriminating, the Melanocortin‐1 Receptor (MC1R) gene Taqman® assay had the advantages of a shorter run time, greater efficiency, and safer reagents. In its application to forensic casework, the MC1R assay has been advantageous for quantifying dog DNA in a variety of mixed‐species samples and facilitating the successful profiling of individual dogs.
Effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on lower extremity hemiplegia due to a higher-motor area lesion

Background: Modified CIT (mCIT) was performed in a stroke patient with a lesion in the left medial frontal region including the supplementary motor area (SMA), which is part of the higher-motor area, and whose primary symptom was motor ignition difficulty observed at the start of voluntary movement of the right leg. Case study: mCIT was performed from awakening to bedtime (not including bath time) with his non-affected limb fixed with a knee splint while he was in the hospital ward. Two days (the total time he wore the appliance was 19.5 hours) after the intervention was introduced, voluntary movement of the right leg occurred, and functional improvement was observed. Conclusions: These findings are speculated to be related to the facts that the unilateral SMA strongly contributes to movement of the ipsilateral limb and that the plasticity of the SMA, which is a higher-motor area, is greater than that of primary areas. It is probable that different regions of the brain have different plasticity, resulting in differences in the process of functional recovery and the level of recovery.
Sensitivity and specificity of neuropsychological tests for mild cognitive impairment, vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Background. Early diagnosis of dementia is important for those who might benefit from treatment. We designed a brief comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to help differentiate control subjects from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Method. The battery included tests of memory, attention, executive function, speed, perception and visuospatial skills. It was administered to subjects from the OPTIMA cohort: 51 controls, 29 with MCI, 60 with ‘possible’ or ‘probable’ Alzheimer's disease (AD) (NINCDS/ADRDA) and 12 with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare performance of controls with other diagnostic groups. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analyses. The effects of age, gender and years of education on test performance were determined with Spearman's rank correlations. Results. The AD group performed worse than controls on all tests except an attention task. The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test and The Placing Test for episodic memory showed significant discriminative capacity between controls and other groups. Attention and processing speed tests discriminated CVD from controls. Category fluency, episodic memory tests and the CLOX test for executive function distinguished MCI from AD. Spearman's correlations showed negative associations between age and processing speed. Years of education affected performance on all tests, except The Placing Test. Conclusions. Certain neuropsychological tests have been shown to be sensitive and specific in the differential diagnosis of various types of dementia and may prove to be useful for detection of MCI.
Absorptive Capacity and Openness of Small Biopharmaceutical Firms – A European Union–United States Comparison

The complementarities between internal capabilities and external linkages have been widely acknowledged in the open innovation literature, yet little is known about the extent to which internal capabilities affect firms' openness within different institutional contexts. This paper therefore empirically explores the relationship between absorptive capacity (ACAP) and openness in the United States and European biopharmaceutical sectors. Based on analysis of data from a large‐scale international survey of 349 biopharmaceutical firms in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, the results suggest that exploratory openness depends more strongly on the research and development (R&D) aspect of firms' potential absorptive capacity, whereas exploitative openness is more conditional on firms' realized absorptive capacity (RACAP). The results also highlight the major differences between firms' openness and ACAP in the United States and Europe – in the United States, firms' skill levels prove more significant in contributing to firms' engagement with exploratory relationships, whereas in Europe, continuity of R&D proves more important. Engagement with exploitative relationships, however, is more conditional on firms' RACAP in Europe only.
Temporal functional connectomics in schizophrenia and healthy controls

Functional connectomes (FCs) are powerful in characterizing brain conditions. Temporal FC metrics can index changes in macroscopic neural activity patterns underlying critical aspects of cognition and behavior. However, time-varying properties of temporal brain networks in general mental disorders have been less investigated. In this paper, FCs derived from resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI) data are temporally divided into quasi-stable segments by a sliding time window approach. Then we develop a new framework for accessing dynamic graph properties of temporal functional brain connectivity, and apply it to the healthy controls (HCs) and patients with chronic schizophrenia (SZs).
Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR for Detection of Rotavirus and Adenovirus as Causative Agents of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis in Children

ABSTRACT Viral pathogens are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in developed countries. Human rotavirus and adenovirus infections are major causes of acute outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis, occurring primarily among children less than 2 years of age. Patient hospitalization is often required, with enormous infection control implications. This work describes the development of real-time PCR assays for the detection of group F adenovirus, rotavirus A, and rotavirus C from stool specimens. Two hundred twenty stool samples from pediatric patients exhibiting symptoms of diarrhea and/or vomiting were examined. PCR results were compared with those of virus detection by electron microscopy and latex agglutination antigen detection. The incorporation of an internal-control RNA that was spiked into individual stool extracts functioned as an internal validation for the reporting of PCR-negative results. Rotavirus C was not detected by real-time PCR in the patient stool samples examined. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR resulted in 175% and 111% increases in the rates of detection of adenovirus F and rotavirus A, respectively, compared with latex agglutination testing. Molecular detection increased the number of stool specimens in which causative agents of gastroenteritis were identified by 155% compared to electron microscopy. Genotyping of a proportion of the rotavirus and adenovirus strains identified only genotype G1 rotavirus and both adenovirus genotypes 40 and 41 in circulation within the patient cohort examined. The results highlight the significance of rapid molecular methods for the routine screening of stool samples in hospital laboratories to provide rapid definitive diagnoses.
Modulo deflation in (2/sup n/+1, 2/sup n/, 2/sup n/-1) converters

In this paper, a new modulo reduction theorem is introduced to decompose the base of the modulo operation. As one of possible applications, this new theorem can be used to further reduce the modulo size of the modified Chinese remainder theorem (CRT). Based on this new theorem, an improved modulo size reduced CRT algorithm for M={2/sup n/+1, 2/sup n/, 2/sup n/-1} is presented. For the most popular three-moduli set M, the design and FPGA implementation show that the proposed modulo part of the residue-to-binary(R/B) converter is almost twice faster and needs 50% less hardware and power than the modulo operation of the two converters previously published in the literature.
A Microfluidic Paper‐Based Origami Nanobiosensor for Label‐Free, Ultrasensitive Immunoassays

Microfluidic paper‐based analytical devices (μPADs) represent a promising platform technology for point‐of‐care diagnosis. Highly sensitive, rapid, and easy‐to‐perform immunoassays implemented on μPADs are desirable to fulfill the promise of the μPAD technology. This article reports the first microfluidic paper‐based origami nanobiosensor (origami μPAD), which integrates zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) biosensing mechanism, for label‐free, ultrasensitive immunoassays. The EIS mechanism features simple and label‐free assay operations which take less than 25 min to be finished, while the ZnO NWs allow covalent bonding for immobilizing probe proteins and improve the biosensing performance with such features as high surface‐area‐to‐volume ratios and high sensitivity to surface binding. The calibration of the device reveals an ultralow limit of detection (LOD) of 60 fg mL−1 (>100 times lower than those of existing μPADs) for rabbit immunoglobulin G in phosphate‐buffered saline. The detection of human immunodeficiency virus p24 antigen in human serum with a low LOD of 300 fg mL−1 (>33 times lower than that of a commercial p24 antigen test kit) is also demonstrated. This novel μPAD design offers ultrahigh sensitivity, short assay time, and ease of operation, and thus possesses significant potential for low‐cost, rapid molecular diagnosis of early‐stage diseases.
Senile changes in human lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND The degenerative process of lymph nodes is poorly documented. METHODS 161 lymph nodes of seven fresh and one embalmed human cadavers in the head and neck were studied. We used 6% hydrogen peroxide, lead oxide injectant, and radiographs to demonstrate lymphatic vessels, and found both solidified and transparent lymph nodes. They were removed, fixed in 10% formalin and sent for histopathology cross section. RESULTS Thirty-eight solidified and 123 transparent lymph nodes were found. A series of histopathological sections show the degenerative process is variable and continuous. Senile involution affects all elements of the lymph node including the cortex, the medulla, and the architecture. CONCLUSION This study provides actual anatomical and histopathological images of lymph nodes in different degenerative stages in the head and neck region. It may help explain some clinical conditions in the elderly, especially their diminished immunological response to infection and cancer metastasis.
Mixed Gastric- and Intestinal-type Metaplasia Is Formed by Cells with Dual Intestinal and Gastric Differentiation

We have proposed to divide intestinal metaplasia (IM) into two categories, i.e., a mixed gastric and intestinal (GI) type, and a solely intestinal (I) type, based on the residual gastric phenotype cells. The GI-mixed-type IM can be identified by the presence of both cells with either gastric or intestinal phenotypes in a single gland. This study is conducted to elucidate whether cells in the GI-mixed-type IM glands can simultaneously present both gastric and intestinal phenotypes. MUC5AC, MUC2, CD10 and villin expressions were investigated in 20 samples from five gastric cancer cases, directly using either AlexaFluor 488- or 568-labeled specific monoclonal antibodies and observed by fluorescent microscopy and confocal laser-scanning microscopy. GI-mixed IM glands comprise a population expressing MUC5AC and MUC2, MUC5AC and villin, and MUC5AC and CD10. MUC2 and villin expressions were reciprocally increased with decreasing MUC5AC expression, while CD10 expression was limited to cells with only a residual MUC5AC expression or no expression. These results suggest that a heterogeneous cell population with both gastric and intestinal phenotypes would develop into a single intestinal phenotype, as reflected in the progression of intestinal metaplasia from GI-mixed-type- to I-type IM-type glands.
Corporate Governance Changes in UK Companies Between 1988 and 1993

In the UK, recently, there has been an intense debate about what constitutes good corporate governance. This paper presents the results of a retrospective postal survey into the nature of corporate governance structures in UK companies. The objective of this paper is to isolate the extent to which key corporate governance innovations are being adopted in the boardrooms of UK companies. The main findings can be summarised as follows: (i) 77 per cent of the sample of quoted companies separated the role of chief executive officer and chairman in 1993 compared to 57 per cent in 1988; (ii) 94 per cent of quoted companies operated remuneration committees in 1993 as compared to 54 per cent in 1988; (iii) the incidence of audit committees among companies has doubled between 1988 and 1993 whilst the incidence of nomination committees has trebled; (iv) in apparent contradiction of the Institutional Shareholders’ Committee recommendation, of those companies that operated remuneration committees in 1993, 40 per cent had the top executive director as a committee member. Overall the picture that emerges is of radical change in governance innovation since the late 1980s.
Public Investment, Revenue Shocks, and Borrowing Restrictions

This paper lays out a theory of taxation and public investment in an intertemporal setting under conditions of revenue shocks. Without borrowing restrictions, the optimal policy is characterized by smooth time paths of taxes and public investment. While the introduction of formal borrowing restrictions leads to some precautionary savings, it gives rise to uctuations in public investment in response to adverse but also favorable revenue shocks. This theoretical result is tested empirically using data on public investment of more than 1,000 US municipalities in the period from 1972 to 1997 in various states that impose or do not impose borrowing restrictions on municipalities. The empirical results are supportive, indicating that in presence of borrowing restrictions public investment is becoming responsive to the decit and is stronger aected by revenue shocks.
A General Neutral Profits Tax

It is widely agreed that, in the absence of specific corrective aims, the corporate tax system should aim for neutrality. A fully neutral tax would not affect the scale of a company's activities, nor the allocation of investment spending between different assets, nor the method by which this investment is financed. Moreover these properties should also hold under changing economic circumstances, particularly rising prices; in a world where inflation is endemic, for example, it is unrealistic to design a system which only functions well when inflation is zero.
Complement plays a minimal role in Sm-p80-mediated protection against Schistosoma mansoni

Sm-p80, the large subunit of Schistosoma masoni calpain, is a leading antigen candidate for a schistosome vaccine. Prophylactic and antifecundity efficacy of Sm-p80 has been tested using a variety of vaccine approaches. However, the mechanism of Sm-p80-mediated killing is still unknown. In this study, potential role of complement in Sm-p80-mediated protection was studied using both in vitro (cobra venom factor inhibition) and in vivo using mice deficient in C3 (C3 −/−; B6.129S4-C3tm1Crr/J). In the absence of C3, Sm-p80-based vaccine was able to provide significant reduction in adult worm burden following challenge with schistosome cercariae in mice suggesting the effector functions of complement may be limited in this vaccine-induced protection.
Validation of surface radiation data provided by the CERES over the Tibetan Plateau

As one of the major satellite-estimated surface radiation budget (SRB) dataset, the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System-Monthly Gridded Radiative Fluxes and Clouds (CERES-FSW) data have been widely used in various applications. Although CERES/ARM Validation Experiment (CAVE) has performed the validation work of the input data of CERES-FSW, accuracy of the CERES-FSW data itself is still unknown. So there is a need for a validation of this radiation dataset, especially at some regions with special climate or terrain conditions. The Tibetan Plateau, due to its protruding nature, has an impact on energy and water cycles on both regional and global scales, and it is a perfect research area for comprehensive awareness of data quality and applicability of estimation algorithms. Accordingly, the Plateau has been the subject of climate research for several decades. In this paper, we validates the four major components SRB of the CERES-FSW dataset with ground measurement at the Tibetan Plateau. The four components include: downward shortwave radiation (SWDN), upward shortwave radiation (SWUP), downward longwave radiation (LWDN) and upward longwave radiation (LWUP). It is found that CERES-FSW data have comparatively high accuracy in LWDN and LWUP, while there is slight underestimation at most sites in these two components. The mean bias is −27.3W/m2 in LWDN and −7.0W/m2 in LWUP, the mean root mean square errors (RMSE) is 40.0W/m2 in LWDN and 40.4W/m2 in LWUP. Mean coefficient of determination (R2) of the two components are both over 0.80. But the accuracy of SW is not as good as that of LW. SWDN of CERES-FSW data are overestimated at most sites with lower R2, large bias and RMSE. SWDN has a mean bias of 41.7 W/m2, mean RMSE of 174.0 W/m2 and mean R2 of 0.39. And for SWUP, CERES-FSW data have low accuracy with very small R2 and large RMSE. SWUP has a mean bias of 9.7W/m2 and mean RMSE of 95.2 W/m2, but the mean R2 is only 0.08. Therefore, special attention should be given when using CERES-FSW data at Tibetan Plateau.
The role of printing parameters and scaffold biopolymer properties in the efficacy of a new hybrid nano-bioprinting system

We created a hybrid nano-bioprinting system, which combines the initial patterning capabilities of direct cell writing with the active patterning capabilities of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Biofabrication conditions, including printing parameters and scaffold biopolymer properties, may affect cell viability, nanoparticle manipulation and patterning capabilities. Nanoparticles were printed under varied conditions either in the biopolymer or loaded inside cells. Cell viability, alginate viscosity, nanoparticle movement and printing resolution were measured. We now show that while nanoparticles decreased cell viability, nozzle size had no significant effect. High printing pressure decreased cell viability, but viability loss was not accentuated by nanoparticles. High nanoparticle concentrations increased alginate viscosity at higher alginate concentrations. Nanoparticle velocity in response to a magnetic field was a function of nanoparticle diameter and scaffold viscosity, which agreed with a mathematical model of nanoparticle movement. Finally, the nano-bioprinting system resolution and patterning precision were not affected by nanoparticles in the prepolymer solution. These data suggest that nanoparticle incorporation in solid freeform fabrication does not change biofabrication parameters unless high nanoparticle concentrations are used. Future work includes developing vascularized tissue engineering constructs using the nano-bioprinting system.
Valuation of Arithmetic Average Reset Options

Options whose payoffs are based on an arithmetic average of the price of the underlying can have some useful advantages over standard options. The payoff is less susceptible to manipulation of the price at expiration, and in many cases a hedger is more interested in locking in the average value of some cost or price over a period of time than in fixing it as of a specific date. For reset options, whose strike prices may be reset at fixed dates depending on the value of the underlying, arithmetic averaging substantially reduces the problem that the option's delta can jump on the reset date. However, arithmetic averaging of lognormally distributed random variables produces a substantial problem for valuation, because the underlying average is not lognormal. In this article, Kim, Chang, and Byun provide an effective valuation methodology for arithmetic average reset options.