Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Clipping of Splats to Models with Sharp Features

Splat-based models are a good representation because of its absense of topology, making complex modeling operations easier, but keeping the same approximation ratio from triangular meshes. However corners cannot be properly represented by splats without clipping them. We present a new method for clipping splats in models with sharp features. Each splat is an ellipse equipped with a few parameters that allow to deﬁne how the ellipse can be clipped against a bidimensional rational Bézier curve and thus it can be used for all those surfaces that show a large number of edge features and different sampling rate around them. The simple and uniform data used to deﬁne the clipping curve makes easy the implementation in GPU. We designed and implemented an automatic computation of the clipping curves and a pipeline for sampling a generic surface with splats and render it. In this paper we show how this technique outperforms the previous clipping techniques in precision for objects such as mechanical parts and CAD-like models keeping the rendering speed.
Rac2 Is an Essential Regulator of Neutrophil Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase Activation in Response to Specific Signaling Pathways1

Rac2 is a hematopoietic-specific Rho family GTPase implicated as an important constituent of the NADPH oxidase complex and shares 92% amino acid identity with the ubiquitously expressed Rac1. In bone marrow (BM) neutrophils isolated from rac2−/− mice generated by gene targeting, we previously reported that PMA-induced superoxide production was reduced by about 4-fold, which was partially corrected in TNF-α-primed BM neutrophils and in peritoneal exudate neutrophils. We investigated receptor-mediated activation of the NADPH oxidase in the current study, finding that superoxide production in rac2−/− BM and peritoneal exudate neutrophils was normal in response to opsonized zymosan, reduced to 22% of wild type in response to IgG-coated SRBC, and almost absent in response to fMLP. In wild-type murine BM neutrophils, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and Akt was induced by PMA or fMLP, which was decreased in rac2−/− neutrophils for ERK1/2 and p38. Activation of p38 by either opsonized zymosan or IgG-coated SRBC was similar in wild-type and rac2−/− cells. Inhibition of ERK1/2 or p38 activation using either PD98059 or SB203580, respectively, had only a modest effect on fMLP-elicited superoxide production and no effect on the PMA-induced response. These data provide genetic evidence supporting an important role for Rac2 in regulating neutrophil NADPH oxidase activation downstream of chemoattractant and Fcγ receptors. The effect of Rac2 deficiency on superoxide production is probably exerted through multiple pathways, including those independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.
Validation and extension of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering prognostic factors model for survival in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE To validate the Motzer et al prognostic factors model for survival in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to identify additional independent prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were collected on 353 previously untreated metastatic RCC patients enrolled onto clinical trials between 1987 and 2002. RESULTS Four of the five prognostic factors identified by Motzer were independent predictors of survival. In addition, prior radiotherapy and presence of hepatic, lung, and retroperitoneal nodal metastases were found to be independent prognostic factors. Using the number of metastatic sites as surrogate for individual sites (none or one v two or three sites), Motzer's definitions of risk groups were expanded to accommodate these two additional prognostic factors. Using this expanded criteria, favorable risk is defined as zero or one poor prognostic factor, intermediate risk is two poor prognostic factors, and poor risk is more than two poor prognostic factors. According to Motzer's definitions, 19% of patients were favorable risk, 70% were intermediate risk, and 11% were poor risk; median overall survival times for these groups were 28.6, 14.6, and 4.5 months, respectively (P < .0001). Using the expanded criteria, 37% of patients were favorable risk, 35% were intermediate risk, and 28% were poor risk; median overall survival times of these groups were 26.0, 14.4, and 7.3 months, respectively (P < .0001). CONCLUSION These data validate the model described by Motzer et al. Additional independent prognostic factors identified were prior radiotherapy and sites of metastasis. Incorporation of these additional prognostic factors into the Motzer et al model can help better define favorable risk, intermediate risk, and poor risk patients.
Scalable Log Determinants for Gaussian Process Kernel Learning

For applications as varied as Bayesian neural networks, determinantal point processes, elliptical graphical models, and kernel learning for Gaussian processes (GPs), one must compute a log determinant of an $n \times n$ positive definite matrix, and its derivatives - leading to prohibitive $\mathcal{O}(n^3)$ computations. We propose novel $\mathcal{O}(n)$ approaches to estimating these quantities from only fast matrix vector multiplications (MVMs). These stochastic approximations are based on Chebyshev, Lanczos, and surrogate models, and converge quickly even for kernel matrices that have challenging spectra. We leverage these approximations to develop a scalable Gaussian process approach to kernel learning. We find that Lanczos is generally superior to Chebyshev for kernel learning, and that a surrogate approach can be highly efficient and accurate with popular kernels.
Evidence for the Existence of an Acetone Soluble Renin Inhibiting Factor in Normal Human Plasma

After addition of exogenous human renin, the in vitro rate of angiotensin I generation is faster in plasma of patients with chronic renal insufficiency and, to a lesser extent, in plasma of patients with essential hypertension than in plasma from normotensive control subjects. The increased reactivity of renin in hypertensive and uremic plasma is not related to differences of endogenous renin activity, angiotensinase activity, renin substrate concentration, or substrate reactivity. Addition of normal, hypertensive, and uremic plasma to a human renin-sheep renin substrate system inhibited the rate of angiotensin generation, although significantly less inhibition was observed with uremic plasma. The reactivity of renin increased in normal plasma but not in uremic plasma after treatment with 95% acetone. After acetone extraction renin reactivity in normal and uremic plasma did not differ. Addition of the actual acetone extract from a pool of normal plasma inhibited the rate of angiotensin generation in a renin-renin substrate system. Less inhibition occurred with the acetone extract from a pool of uremic plasma. These results provide evidence for the existence of a naturally occurring acetone soluble renin inhibiting factor in normal and uremic plasma. The increased reactivity of renin in uremic plasma may be related to a deficiency of this factor.
Sector Fund Performance : Analysis of Cash Flow Volatility and Returns

Sector funds are an important and growing segment of the mutual fund industry. This paper analyzes the performance of 609 actively managed stock sector funds listed on the CRSP Survivor-Bias Free US Mutual Fund Database during 1972-1999. We use a five-factor model to document the following results. First, sector funds as a group neither outperform nor underperform their benchmarks. Second, sector funds experience significantly higher cash flow volatility than non-sector funds. However, conditioning returns on lagged cash flows does not alter their neutral performance. This finding differs from previous literature that documents a significant decrease in diversified stock fund performance due to cash flow volatility. Third, sector fund investors as a group do not possess the ability to pick winning sector funds or winning sectors of the stock market. This finding differs from previous literature that documents the smart money effect. For comparison, we present the performance statistics of 3,227 diversified (non-sector) stock funds during the same period. Current version: June 2005 * Department of Finance, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1000. Email address: Ashish-Tiwari@uiowa.edu. ** Department of Finance, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1000. Email address: Anand-Vijh@uiowa.edu. Corresponding author. We have benefited from the comments of seminar participants at the Iowa State University, the University of Colorado, the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, the University of Kansas, and the University of Missouri. We wish to thank Matt Billett and Jon Garfinkel for useful comments.
Evolving Compositionality in Evolutionary Language Games

Evolutionary language games have proved a useful tool to study the evolution of communication codes in communities of agents that interact among themselves by transmitting and interpreting a fixed repertoire of signals. Most studies have focused on the emergence of Saussurean codes (i.e., codes characterized by an arbitrary one-to-one correspondence between meanings and signals). In this contribution, we argue that the standard evolutionary language game framework cannot explain the emergence of compositional codes-communication codes that preserve neighborhood relationships by mapping similar signals into similar meanings-even though use of those codes would result in a much higher payoff in the case that signals are noisy. We introduce an alternative evolutionary setting in which the meanings are assimilated sequentially and show that the gradual building of the meaning-signal mapping leads to the emergence of mappings with the desired compositional property.
A Pilot Study of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Neurochemistry in Adolescents with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Background/Aims: This study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to evaluate the neurochemistry of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: Adolescents with GAD (n = 10) and healthy subjects (n = 10) underwent a 1H MRS scan at 4 T. Glutamate (Glu), N-acetyl aspartate, creatine (Cr) and myo-inositol concentrations were measured in the ACC and were compared between untreated adolescents with GAD and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Results: Glu/Cr ratios in the ACC correlated with the severity of both generalized anxiety symptoms on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale and with total anxiety symptom severity as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, but did not differ between adolescents with GAD and healthy subjects. In addition, no differences in N-acetyl aspartate, Cr, or myo-inositol were detected between groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Glu/Cr in untreated adolescents with GAD may relate to the severity of anxiety symptoms and raise the possibility that dysregulation of Glu within the ACC may be linked to the pathophysiology of pediatric GAD.
Anorectal Melanoma

Anorectal melanoma is a disease that can be difficult to diagnose because of its unclear presentation. After diagnosis, the main treatment available is surgical resection. Sentinel lymph node mapping has an unclear role in its management. Adjuvant therapy has long been recommended; however, there are no strong data to support its use. Prognostic factors to help gauge survival are also not clear; nevertheless, there is a strong association between stage of disease and histologic perineal invasion. Anorectal melanoma is a very rare disease with a dismal prognosis.
A high efficiency coding framework for multiple image compression of circular camera array

Many existing multi-view video coding techniques remove inter-viewpoint redundancy by applying disparity compensation in conventional video coding frameworks, e.g., H264/MPEG4. However, conventional methodology works ineffectively as they ignore the special features of the inter-view-point disparity. This paper proposes a framework using virtual plane (VP) [1] for multi-view image compression, such that we can largely reduce the disparity compensation cost. Based on this VP predictor, we design a poxel[2] (probabilistic voxelized volume) framework, which integrates the information of the cameras in different view-points in the polar axis to obtain a more effective compression performance. In addition, considering the replay convenience of the multi-view video at the receiving side, we reform overhead information in polar axis at the sending side in advance.
Worldwide experience with the 29-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT™ transcatheter heart valve in patients with large aortic annulus.

OBJECTIVES The feasibility of transcatheter aortic valve implantation is limited by the diameter of the aortic annulus. Patients with an annulus of >25 mm were previously unsuitable for transcatheter valve implantation using the Edwards SAPIEN™ bioprosthesis. The 29-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT™ bioprosthesis is a new device suitable for transapical aortic valve implantation in patients with a large aortic annulus. We report the worldwide experience in using this device. METHODS A total of 120 patients (age 80.3 ± 5.7 years, 2.5% female) underwent transapical aortic valve implantation using a 29-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT™ bioprosthesis between the period of December 2009 and February 2011. The mean values of the logistic EuroSCORE and the STS score were 23.4 ± 7.7 and 6.8 ± 4.0, respectively. A total of 20 centres participated in this study and all patients gave written informed consent. RESULTS There were two conversions to open heart surgery (1.7%) and four patients (3.3%) required a temporary cardiopulmonary bypass support. A mean of 131 ± 68.0-ml contrast dye was used. The procedural success, defined as one valve implanted, no aortic regurgitation (AR) >2+ and a transcatheter valve in the appropriate position, was achieved in 95.8% of patients. Early postoperative complications at ≤ 30 days included renal failure requiring temporary dialysis (n = 7, 5.8%), reopening for bleeding (n = 5, 4.2%), stroke (n = 2, 1.7%), respiratory complications requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (n = 11, 9.2%) and postoperative pacemaker implantation (n = 15/12.5%). The Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 95.8% at 30-day, 88.9% at 6-month and 79.8% at the 1-year follow-up. The controlled echocardiography data at 30 days (n = 95) revealed no/trivial AR in 79 (84.1%), mild AR in 12 (12.8%) and moderate in two (2.2%) patients. The univariable analysis of baseline characteristics revealed no predictor for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS The 29-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT™ bioprosthesis provides an excellent outcome in patients with a large aortic annulus undergoing transapical aortic valve implantation. Using this larger transcatheter heart valve, a broader population of high-risk elderly patients with aortic stenosis can be treated by minimally invasive transapical implantation techniques.
DNA topoisomerase I in the mouse central nervous system: Age and sex dependence

Topoisomerase I (topo I) is a nuclear enzyme responsible for the topological state of DNA and therefore participates in most DNA transactions, particularly in transcription. Topo I, a ubiquitous enzyme, was identified and characterized in various cell types and tissues; however, the characterization of topo I in the intact central nervous system was not performed. Here we investigated, for the first time, the activity, level, and distribution pattern of topo I in the various selected brain regions in the mouse. In the visual cortex, cerebellum, and striatum the activity of topo I was 3–4‐fold higher compared to that found in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses revealed specific distribution patterns of topo I protein in neurons of each of the areas examined. The highest topo I levels were observed in inhibitory neurons. In addition to the expected nuclear localization of this protein, some neurons exhibited significant cytoplasmic content as well. The activity and level of topo I is age‐ and gender‐dependent. It increases from birth to maturity and decreases, more significantly in males, with senescence. These results point to a possible importance and involvement of topo I activity and regulation in various brain functions. J. Comp. Neurol. 493:357–369, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modern error correcting codes for 4G and beyond: Turbo codes and LDPC codes

Modern error correcting codes are used in 4G and are proposed for future wireless cellular networks for achieving improved channel error correcting capability. Turbo codes, and their improved variants with better error correcting capabilities, and LDPC codes are near Shannon limit channel codes and are used in such systems. This paper focuses on error correcting codes used in present and future generations of mobile communication systems for improving system performance. These systems have higher data rates and low energy per bit. The comparative performance evaluation of Turbo codes and LDPC codes and their suitability for future cellular network is explored in the paper. This comparison will be useful in the selection of error correcting codes for future mobile communication systems.
Understanding Personal Web Usage in Organizations

Personal web usage, that is, non-work-related use of the Internet for personal purposes during work hours, is a pervasive behavior observed in the daily work environment. U.S. companies have implemented several countermeasures to cope with personal Web usage, but those measures have not successfully mitigated this behavior. Considering the significance of personal Web usage, we need to understand why personal Web usage is not alleviated in current organizations. The goal of this study is to present an empirical investigation of why employees continue personal Web usage based on an extended theory of planned behavior. We are particularly interested in how people's perceptions of moral dimensions contribute to personal Web usage, recognizing that our work environment becomes more Web-embedded. We conducted a field survey of 426 U.S. business professionals and analyzed the data by using partial least squares. As a result, we demonstrate that an individual's attitude, subjective norm, denial of responsibility, self-efficacy, personal computer availability, seclusion of office, and workload are significant factors affecting personal Web usage. Interestingly, current organizational preventive efforts (e.g., Web-based activity monitoring and filtering systems and policies) and moral obligation are not as significant as we originally expected. Key implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Do personal experiences have an impact on teaching and didactic choices in geography

Factors influencing teachers' selection of content in geography teaching is a fundamental didactic matter.1 The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether Swedish geography teachers' informal and formal experiences have influenced their interest in geography and if so, in what way. The results disclosed that informal experiences like outings, holidays, and childhood memories have a significant impact. The results also revealed that childhood experiences might increase the comprehension of how nature and mankind are connected, and how various places differ. Selective traditions showed to be strong, i.e. geographic names and map reading were prioritized while at excursions, physical geography was particularly dominating. We argue that in the geography teacher education, didactics should include methods for field studies, giving emphasis also to the part dealing with human geography. Forthcoming teachers need to reflect on how to make didactic choices in order to renounce the selective traditions in the subject.
300-V High-Side Thin-Layer-SOI Field pLDMOS With Multiple Field Plates Based on Field Implant Technology

A novel 300-V high-side thin-layer-SOI field pLDMOS adopting field implant (FI) technology and multiple field plates (MFPs) has been developed. Breakdown mechanisms of back gate (BG) punchthrough and avalanche breakdown for highside thin-layer-SOI field pLDMOS are investigated by setting up an analytic model, simulating, and verifying experimentally. Shallow junction depth of p-field achieved by the proposed FI technology attenuates BG punchthrough effect; premature surface avalanche breakdown can be avoided by using MFPs. High-side field pLDMOS with a breakdown voltage (BV) of 340 V is experimentally realized on a 1.5-μm -thick SOI layer and successfully applied in a 200-V high-voltage switching IC.
Mortality Trajectories at Exceptionally High Ages: A Study of Supercentenarians.

The growing number of persons surviving to age 100 years and beyond raises questions about the shape of mortality trajectories at exceptionally high ages, and this problem may become significant for actuaries in the near future. However, such studies are scarce because of the difficulties in obtaining reliable age estimates at exceptionally high ages. The current view about mortality beyond age 110 years suggests that death rates do not grow with age and are virtually flat. The same assumption is made in the new actuarial VBT tables. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that the mortality of supercentenarians (persons living 110+ years) is constant and does not grow with age, and we analyze mortality trajectories at these exceptionally high ages. Death records of supercentenarians were taken from the International Database on Longevity (IDL). All ages of supercentenarians in the database were subjected to careful validation. We used IDL records for persons belonging to extinct birth cohorts (born before 1895) since the last deaths in IDL were observed in 2007. We also compared our results based on IDL data with a more contemporary database maintained by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). First we attempted to replicate findings by Gampe (2010), who analyzed IDL data and came to the conclusion that "human mortality after age 110 is flat. " We split IDL data into two groups: cohorts born before 1885 and cohorts born in 1885 and later. Hazard rate estimates were conducted using the standard procedure available in Stata software. We found that mortality in both groups grows with age, although in older cohorts, growth was slower compared with more recent cohorts and not statistically significant. Mortality analysis of more numerous 1884-1894 birth cohort with the Akaike goodness-of-fit criterion showed better fit for the Gompertz model than for the exponential model (flat mortality). Mortality analyses with GRG data produced similar results. The remaining life expectancy for the 1884-1894 birth cohort demonstrates rapid decline with age. This decline is similar to the computer-simulated trajectory expected for the Gompertz model, rather than the extremely slow decline in the case of the exponential model. These results demonstrate that hazard rates after age 110 years do not stay constant and suggest that mortality deceleration at older ages is not a universal phenomenon. These findings may represent a challenge to the existing theories of aging and longevity, which predict constant mortality in the late stages of life. One possibility for reconciliation of the observed phenomenon and the existing theoretical consideration is a possibility of mortality deceleration and mortality plateau at very high yet unobservable ages.