Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct Estimation of Non-Rigid Registration

Registering images of a deforming surface is a well-studied problem. Solutions include computing optic flow or estimating a parameterized motion model. In the case of optic flow it is necessary to include some regularization. We propose an approach based on representing the induced transformation between images using Radial Basis Functions (RBF). The approach can be viewed as a direct, i.e. intensity-based, method, or equivalently, as a way of using RBFs as non-linear regularizers on the optic flow field. The approach is demonstrated on several image sequences of deforming surfaces. It is shown that the computed registrations are sufficiently accurate to allow convincing augmentations of the images.
A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF SEVERE IRRITABILITY IN YOUTHS: 2‐ AND 4‐YEAR FOLLOW‐UP

Severe, chronic irritability is receiving increased research attention, and is the cardinal symptom of a new diagnostic category, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). Although data from epidemiological community samples suggest that childhood chronic irritability predicts unipolar depression and anxiety in adulthood, whether these symptoms are stable and cause ongoing clinical impairment is unknown. The present study presents 4‐year prospective and longitudinal diagnostic and impairment data on a clinical sample of children selected for symptoms of severe irritability (operationalized as severe mood dysregulation [SMD]).
3D Facial Expression Reconstruction using Cascaded Regression

This paper proposes a novel model fitting algorithm for 3D facial expression reconstruction from a single image. Face expression reconstruction from a single image is a challenging task in computer vision. Most state-of-the-art methods fit the input image to a 3D Morphable Model (3DMM). These methods need to solve a stochastic problem and cannot deal with expression and pose variations. To solve this problem, we adopt a 3D face expression model and use a combined feature which is robust to scale, rotation and different lighting conditions. The proposed method applies a cascaded regression framework to estimate parameters for the 3DMM. 2D landmarks are detected and used to initialize the 3D shape and mapping matrices. In each iteration, residues between the current 3DMM parameters and the ground truth are estimated and then used to update the 3D shapes. The mapping matrices are also calculated based on the updated shapes and 2D landmarks. HOG features of the local patches and displacements between 3D landmark projections and 2D landmarks are exploited. Compared with existing methods, the proposed method is robust to expression and pose changes and can reconstruct higher fidelity 3D face shape.
Utilization of low quality roughages: effects of urea and protein supplements of differing solubility on digesta flows, intake and growth rate of cattle eating oaten chaff

1. Expt 1. Five 150 kg steers with ruminal, abomasal and ileal cannulas were given 3000 g oaten chaff daily plus prelleted supplement with no added nitrogen (diet A) or 50 g N/d as urea (diet B), casein (diet C), casein and formaldehyde-treated casein (HCHO-casein) (50:50 w/w; diet D) and HCHO-casein (diet E), in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The basal diet and supplement were fed in eight equal increments at intervals of 3 h. Proportions of dry matter and organic matter digested in the stomach and whole tract were greater for diets B, C, D and E than for diet A. Total volatile fatty acid levels in the rumen and the proportion of acetic acid were lower, and the proportion of propionic acid higher on diet A than on the other diets. Rumen ammonia levels were lower on diets A, D and E than on diets B and C. N flows at the abomasum, ileum and rectum were lower on diet A than on the other diets; abomasal flows and apparent intestinal absorptions of amino acids were higher on diets D and E than on diets A, B and C. Efficiencies of bacterial protein synthesis were 15, 15, 14, 13 and 12 g bacterial N/kg OM truly digested in the stomach on diets A, B, C, D and E respectively. 2. Expt. 2. Forty 300 kg steers were fed oaten chaff ad lib. plus twice the amount of the same pelleted supplements as in Expt 1. Intake of oaten chaff was 23% higher with N supplements (diets B, C, D and E) than without (diet A). Live-weight gains were 356, 798, 843, 842 and 805 g/d on diets A, B, C, D and E respectively. 3. It was concluded that efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis was not limited by the supply of peptides and amino acids in the rumen and that increases in amino acid availability in the intestines from feeding HCHO-casein did not increase food intake or live-weight gain.
Revisiting the Paxos Foundations: A Look at Summer Internship Work at VMware Research

The summer of 2016 was buzzing with intern activity at the VMware Research Group (VRG), working with all the research team and with David Tennenhouse, Chief Research Officer of VMware. In this paper, we give a brief introduction to Flexible Paxos [4], one of the internship results. There were several other exciting outcomes; internships are a great way to participate in driving innovation at VMware! Flexible Paxos introduces a surprising observation concerning the foundations distributed computing. The observation revisits the basic requisites of Paxos [7, 8], Lamport’s widely adopted algorithmic foundation for fault tolerance and replication, and a pinnacle of his Turing award [1]. Since its publication, Paxos has been widely built upon in teaching, research and production systems. Paxos implements a fault tolerant state-machine among a group of nodes. At its core, Paxos uses two phases, each requires agreement from a subset of nodes (known as a quorum) to proceed. Throughout this manuscript, we will refer to the first phase as the leader election phase, and the second as the replication phase. The safety and liveness of Paxos is based on the guarantee that any two quorums will intersect. To satisfy this requirement, quorums are typically composed of any majority from a fixed set of nodes, although other quorum schemes have been proposed. In practice, we usually wish to reach agreement over a sequence of commands, not one. This is often referred to as the Multi-Paxos problem [3]. In Multi-Paxos, we use the leader election phase of Paxos to establish one node as a leader for all future commands, until it is replaced by another leader. We use the replication phase of Paxos to agree on a series of commands, one at a time. To commit a command, the leader must always communicate with at least a quorum of nodes and wait for them to accept the value. In the Flexible Paxos work, we observe that Paxos is conservative:
Localization and regulation of low affinity nerve growth factor receptor expression in the rat olfactory system during development and regeneration

Nerve growth factor (NGF), a classic neurotropic factor, promotes neuronal survival, maintenance, regeneration and differentiation in the peripheral nervous system and parts of the central nervous system. NGF activity is mediated by cell surface bound receptors including the low affinity NGF receptor (LNGFr) which is expressed by some peripheral and central neurons and is present on peripheral nerve Schwann cells during development and regeneration.
Cluster consensus of high-order multi-agent systems in weighted coopetitive networks

This paper studies the consensus problem of high-order multi-agent systems in weighted coopetitive networks. In the entire communication process, each agent can cooperate or compete with its neighbors, and the intrinsic interaction properties of the agents determine the cooperative-competitive weights between agents. We propose two types of protocols, i.e. the state feedback protocol and the output feedback protocol, to solve the consensus problem in weighted coopetitive networks. It is proved that the system applying the proposed protocols asymptotically reaches cluster consensus under the given conditions. Finally, we propose several simulation examples to verify theoretical results.
Role of hepatitis C virus proteins (C, NS3, NS5A) in hepatic oncogenesis

In recent years, the effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins on hepatocarcinogenesis have undergone intense investigations. The potentially oncogenic proteins include at least three HCV proteins: core (C) protein, NS3, and NS5A. Several authors indicated relationships between subcellular localization, concentration, a specific molecular form of the proteins (full length, truncated, phosphorylated), the presence of specific domains (the nuclear localization signal homologous to e.g. Bcl‐2) and their effects on the mechanisms linked to oncogenesis. The involvement of all the proteins has been described as being in control of the cell cycle, through interactions with key proteins of the process (p53, p21, cyclins, proliferating cell nuclear antigen), transcription factors, proto‐oncogenes, growth factors/cytokines and their receptors, and proteins linked to the apoptotic process. Untilnow, the involvement of the core protein of HCV in liver carcinogenesis is the most recognized. One of the most common proteins affected by HCV proteins is the p53 tumor‐suppressor protein. The p21/WAF1 gene is a major target of p53, and the effect of HCV proteins on the gene is frequently considered in parallel. The results of studies on the effects of HCV proteins on the apoptotic process are controversial. This work summarizes the information collected thus far in the field of HCV molecular virology and principal intracellular signaling pathways in which HCV oncogenic proteins are involved.
On Information Design in Games

Information provision in games influences behavior by affecting agents’ beliefs about the state as well as their higher-order beliefs. We first characterize the extent to which a designer can manipulate agents’ beliefs by disclosing information. We then describe the structure of optimal belief distributions, including a concave-envelope representation that subsumes the single-agent result of Kamenica and Gentzkow. This result holds under various solution concepts and outcome selection rules. Finally, we use our approach to compute an optimal information structure in an investment game under adversarial equilibrium selection.
Phonological neighborhood and word frequency effects on the stuttered disfluencies of children who stutter: comments on Anderson (2007).

PURPOSE This letter comments on a study by Anderson (2007) that compared the effects of word frequency, neighborhood density, and phonological neighborhood frequency on part-word repetitions, prolongations, and single-syllable word repetitions produced by children who stutter. Anderson discussed her results with respect to 2 theories about stuttering: the covert repair hypothesis and execution planning (EXPLAN) theory. Her remarks about EXPLAN theory are examined. RESULTS Anderson considered that EXPLAN does not predict the relationship between word and neighborhood frequency and stuttering for part-word repetitions and prolongations (she considered that EXPLAN predicts that stuttering occurs on simple words for children). The actual predictions that EXPLAN makes are upheld by her results. She also considered that EXPLAN cannot account for why stuttering is affected by the same variables that lead to speech errors, and it is shown that this is incorrect. CONCLUSION The effects of word frequency, neighborhood density, and phonological neighborhood frequency on part-word repetitions, prolongations, and single-syllable word repetitions reported by Anderson (2007) are consistent with the predictions of the EXPLAN model.
Silicon photomultipliers and SiPM matrices as photodetectors in nuclear medicine

A high performance detector head with matrices of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) is under development at the University of Pisa. The detector head will be employed in the construction of a high spatial resolution, MR compatible small animal PET scanner. Silicon photomultipliers from FBK- irst (Trento, Italy) are being evaluated for this purpose. SiPM elements of 1 mm x 1 mm size and SiPM matrices composed of four (2 x 2) pixel elements have been tested. An intrinsic timing resolution of 60 ps sigma has been measured. The results with LSO crystals show an energy resolution of 20% FWHM at 511 keV, and a coincidence timing resolution of 600 ps rms. New devices with improved characteristics and active area, as well as SiPM matrices with 16 (4 x 4) SiPM elements have been produced, and will be evaluated.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. BRG100, a Strain with Bioherbicidal Properties against Setaria viridis (Green Foxtail) and Other Pests of Agricultural Significance

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas sp. BRG100 inhibits the growth of certain agricultural pests and is a potentially useful biopesticide for weeds and plant diseases. We have sequenced the 6.25-Mbp genome of this strain and assembled it into 4 scaffolds. Genome sequence comparisons revealed that this strain may represent a novel species of Pseudomonas.
Resource allocation for cognitive radio network using particle swarm optimization

Cognitive radio network is one of the emerging areas in the field of next generation wireless network. This network is an alternative and more suitable solution to the high demands of resources for facilitating integrated & multimedia services. Instead of fixed spectrum allocation as it is done in conventional wireless networks, the cognitive radio network is based on dynamic spectrum allocation procedure. The success of this radio network depends on how efficiently these spectrums or the resources are allocated. The CR users (Secondary users) will be allocated with the unused licensed spectrums available in the white space without causing interference to the licensed primary users. Further, the resource allocation decision depends on the SINR, BER etc. requirements of the CR users and the power requirement in each channel. In this work, particle swarm optimization technique is used to optimize the resource allocation problem. It is seen that with greater number of particles in a swarm along with more number of iterations increases the fitness of the variables.
Impact of workplace health services on adherence to chronic medications.

OBJECTIVE To test the association between integrated workplace health and pharmacy care and medication adherence. STUDY DESIGN Adherence rates for commonly used chronic disease medications were compared in a retrospective, non-case-controlled study of 4476 workplace-treated patients versus 13,134 community-treated patients. METHODS Pharmacy claims data were used to compute the medication possession ratio for patients who received care in different settings for 20 therapeutic classes. Statistical tests for assessing between-group differences were performed, controlling for differences due to age, sex, number of chronic conditions, number of medication therapeutic classes, and patient out-of-pocket cost per therapy day. Results were reported for overall adherence as well as adherence for patients on new medications. RESULTS Significant differences were found between workplace-treated patients and community-treated patients. Workplace-treated patients had overall adherence rates that were 9.72% higher than those of community-treated patients. This pattern was repeated with an overall adherence rate that was 9.52% higher for workplace-treated patients when prescriptions were limited to medication new starts. CONCLUSIONS Integrated workplace primary care and pharmacy services are one way to increase medication adherence. These services have the potential not only to save healthcare dollars, but also improve the lives of chronically ill patients.
Missense Mutation in the PAS2 Domain of Phytochrome A Impairs Subnuclear Localization and a Subset of Responses Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.000521.

Phytochrome A signaling shows two photobiologically discrete outputs: so-called very-low-fluence responses (VLFR) and high-irradiance responses (HIR). By modifying previous screening protocols, we isolated two Arabidopsis mutants retaining VLFR and lacking HIR. Phytochrome A negatively or positively regulates phytochrome B signaling, depending on light conditions. These mutants retained the negative but lacked the positive regulation. Both mutants carry the novel phyA-302 allele, in which Glu-777 (a residue conserved in angiosperm phytochromes) changed to Lys in the PAS2 motif of the C-terminal domain. The phyA-302 mutants showed a 50% reduction in phytochrome A levels in darkness, but this difference was compensated for by greater stability under continuous far-red light. phyA-302:green fluorescent protein fusion proteins showed normal translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus under continuous far-red light but failed to produce nuclear spots, suggesting that nuclear speckles could be involved in HIR signaling and phytochrome A degradation. We propose that the PAS2 domain of phytochrome A is necessary to initiate signaling in HIR but not in VLFR, likely via interaction with a specific partner.
NLOS Measurement Identification for Mobile Positioning in Wireless Cellular Systems

Mobile positioning is the very first step toward location-dependent services in wireless cellular systems. When mobile positioning is carried out by trilateration or triangulation, its accuracy is dominantly limited by NLOS (non-line-of-sight) propagation errors. Therefore, the identification of NLOS measurements is important. In this paper, we address this issue by first assuming a statistic model for the NLOS error. Then, by estimating the relevant parameters in this model and comparing them to certain thresholds, we are able to distinguish the NLOS measurements from the LOS (line-of-sight) ones. By simulation, the proposed algorithm is tested and compared to an existing method found in the literature. In addition to the conventional performance index for evaluating the accuracy of identification in terms of detection probabilities and false alarm probabilities, a new performance index, which takes into account the entire ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve, is proposed in this paper. The evaluation based on the newly proposed index shows the same trends in performance regarding the various identification methods as the conventional index.
Genetic diversity in Carthamus tinctorius (Asteraceae; safflower), an underutilized oilseed crop.

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Underutilized crops are potentially valuable resources for meeting increasing food demands. Safflower, an oilseed crop, is an example of one such underutilized crop that thrives in moisture-limited areas. Characterization of the genetic diversity maintained within the gene pools of underutilized crops such as safflower is an important step in their further development. • METHODS A total of 190 safflower individuals, including 134 USDA accessions, 48 breeding lines from two private North American safflower breeding companies, and eight wild safflower individuals, were genotyped using 133 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We then used the resulting data to assess the amount and distribution of genetic diversity within and among these collections of safflower. • KEY RESULTS Although just a modest reduction in gene diversity was observed in the commercial breeding lines (relative to the other safflower groupings), safflower domestication was accompanied by a significant decrease in allelic richness. Further, our results suggest that most safflower breeding lines originated from a single pool of diversity within the Old World safflower germplasm. • CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest that both the safflower germplasm collection and related, wild species harbor previously undocumented genetic diversity that could help fuel future improvement efforts. Paired with analyses of functional diversity, the molecular resources described herein will be thus be useful in the continued development of safflower as an oilseed crop.
Part III Essay : Varieties of Locality for Quantum Fields and Strings ( Essay Number 57 )

In recent years, a new paradigm in theoretical physics has emerged known as the holographic principle. This principle states that the number of degrees of freedom in a d-dimensional region of a (d + 1)-dimensional spacetime is proportional to the area of a suitably defined surface associated with the region of spacetime. This principle was motivated by the fact that the entropy of a black hole is in fact proportional to the area, rather than the volume, of the event horizon. Over the years, this entropy bound on black holes has been extended to more general settings, culminating in the formulation of the covariant entropy bound. Nonetheless, there is still much controversy surrounding the holographic principle, as it violates locality and also contradicts the principles of traditional quantum field theories. This paper will both motivate the development of the holographic principle, beginning with the entropy of black holes and ending with the covariant entropy bound for arbitrary spacetime geometries, as well as explore the tensions between locality and the holographic principle.
Why We Need New Spectacles: Mapping the Experiential Dimension in Prehistoric Cretan Landscapes

The Bronze to Iron Age transition in Crete, a period of state collapse and insecurity, saw the island's rugged, high-contrast topography used in striking new ways. The visual drama of many of the new site locations has stimulated significant research over the last hundred years, with explanation of the change as the main focus. The new sites are not monumental in character: the vast majority are settlements, and much of the information about them comes from survey. Perhaps as a result, the new site map has not been much studied from phenomenological perspectives. A focus on the visual and experiential aspects of the new landscape can offer valuable insights into social structures at this period, and illuminate social developments prefiguring the emergence of polis states in Crete by c. 700 bc. To develop, share and evaluate this type of integrated study, digital reconstructive techniques are still under-used in this region. I highlight their potential value in addressing a regularly-identified shortcoming of phenomenological approaches — their necessarily subjective emphasis.
How to promote e-customer engagement relationship outcomes: The role of perceived support from customer orientation

The study aims to investigate the influencing mechanism of customer orientation on e-customer engagement relationship outcomes through perceived support for customer. A total of 525 responses to a survey were collected from e-shoppers in china. The results showed that customer focus and customer feedback have a positive effect on perceived rapport and perceived support for customers, which in turn positively influence e-customer engagement relationship outcomes (i.e., online review, word-of-mouth and customer commitment). The findings of this study imply that the e-retailers need to develop appropriate systems and measures to encourage online service workers' customer orientation behaviors which are the competitive attributes when it comes to e-customer commitment and e-customer engagement behaviors.