Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Easy-to-hard Learning Paradigm for Multiple Classes and Multiple Labels

Many applications, such as human action recognition and object detection, can be formulated as a multiclass classification problem. One-vs-rest (OVR) is one of the most widely used approaches for multiclass classification due to its simplicity and excellent performance. However, many confusing classes in such applications will degrade its results. For example, hand clap and boxing are two confusing actions. Hand clap is easily misclassified as boxing, and vice versa. Therefore, precisely classifying confusing classes remains a challenging task. To obtain better performance for multiclass classifications that have confusing classes, we first develop a classifier chain model for multiclass classification (CCMC) to transfer class information between classifiers. Then, based on an analysis of our proposed model, we propose an easy-to-hard learning paradigm for multiclass classification to automatically identify easy and hard classes and then use the predictions from simpler classes to help solve harder classes. Similar to CCMC, the classifier chain (CC) model is also proposed by Read et al. (2009) to capture the label dependency for multi-label classification. However, CC does not consider the order of di_culty of the labels and achieves degenerated performance when there are many confusing labels. Therefore, it is non-trivial to learn the appropriate label order for CC. Motivated by our analysis for CCMC, we also propose the easy-to-hard learning paradigm for multi-label classification to automatically identify easy and hard labels, and then use the predictions from simpler labels to help solve harder labels. We also demonstrate that our proposed strategy can be successfully applied to a wide range of applications, such as ordinal classification and relationship prediction. Extensive empirical studies validate our analysis and the efiectiveness of our proposed easy-to-hard learning strategies.
Visualization of subcellular changes induced by CO2-laser surgery in vitro.

Tissue damage by CO2-laser surgery had been investigated extensively at a histological level in vivo and ex vivo. Here, the subcellular changes induced by CO2-laser surgery have been documented in a tissue-like environment in vitro. From the center of collagen gels populated with human fibroblasts a cylinder of 1 mm diameter was removed by CO2laser and compared to similar wounds inflicted by a stencil. Polymerized actin (F-actin) constituting the microfilaments of the cytoskeleton was labeled by fluorescent TRITC-phalloidin and visualized three-dimensionally by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The integrity of the actin cytoskeleton served as an indicator for cell damage. Upon mechanical wounding, cells at the wound edge had contracted and rounded up. They lacked distinct actin fibers. Mechanical injury, known to initiate actin desintegration concomitant with a rounding up of the cells and shedding of growth factors, was used for comparison. In contrast, cells at the edge of CO2laser wounds, having protruded into the wound space had their actin cytoskeleton disintegrated or distorted, but without changing cellular shape. Cells farther off displayed an intact, though locally distorted, actin cytoskeleton. The zone containing visibly damaged cells extended about 100 μm from the wound edge perpendicularly into the intact tissue. The lack of changes in cellular shape and the persistence of only locally distorted actin fibers indicate rapid denaturation of cellular structures, most probably also of intracellular growth factors and cytokines. Deactivation or lack of such internal factors by CO2-laser may contribute to the reported delay of early tissue repair and also prevent hyperactive repair processes potentially leading to fibrosis and scarring.
Smooth Surface Reconstruction from Noisy Clouds

We describe a new method for surface reconstruction and smoothing based on unorganized noisy point clouds without normals. The output of the method is a refined triangular mesh that approximates the original point cloud while preserving the salient features of the underlying surface. The method has five steps: noise removal, clustering, data reduction, initial reconstruction, and mesh refinement. We also present theoretical justifications for the heuristics used in the reconstruction step.
Identification of shared risk loci and pathways for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disease characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. BD shows substantial clinical and genetic overlap with other psychiatric disorders, in particular schizophrenia (SCZ). The genes underlying this etiological overlap remain largely unknown. A recent SCZ genome wide association study (GWAS) by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium identified 128 independent genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The present study investigated whether these SCZ-associated SNPs also contribute to BD development through the performance of association testing in a large BD GWAS dataset (9747 patients, 14278 controls). After re-imputation and correction for sample overlap, 22 of 107 investigated SCZ SNPs showed nominal association with BD. The number of shared SCZ-BD SNPs was significantly higher than expected (p = 1.46x10-8). This provides further evidence that SCZ-associated loci contribute to the development of BD. Two SNPs remained significant after Bonferroni correction. The most strongly associated SNP was located near TRANK1, which is a reported genome-wide significant risk gene for BD. Pathway analyses for all shared SCZ-BD SNPs revealed 25 nominally enriched gene-sets, which showed partial overlap in terms of the underlying genes. The enriched gene-sets included calcium- and glutamate signaling, neuropathic pain signaling in dorsal horn neurons, and calmodulin binding. The present data provide further insights into shared risk loci and disease-associated pathways for BD and SCZ. This may suggest new research directions for the treatment and prevention of these two major psychiatric disorders.
Waveform design with stopband and correlation constraints for cognitive radar

One of the main objectives of cognitive radar is to adapt the spectrum of transmit waveforms to certain needs, such as avoiding reserved frequency bands or narrowband interferences. Besides spectral requirements, good correlation properties of the transmit waveforms are also desired in specific applications, such as range compression. Moreover, practical hardware constraints usually require the transmit waveforms be unimodular (i.e. only phase-modulated). In this paper, we propose a new algorithm named SCAN (stopband cyclic algorithm new) to design unimodular sequences with spectral power suppressed in arbitrary bands and with low correlation sidelobes as well. The SCAN algorithm, which starts from random initializations, can generate many sequences possessing similarly good properties. Furthermore, the SCAN algorithm is based on FFT (fast Fourier transform) operations and thus is computationally efficient, which facilitates long-sequence design and real-time waveform update.
Cirrhosis Classification Based on Texture Classification of Random Features

Accurate staging of hepatic cirrhosis is important in investigating the cause and slowing down the effects of cirrhosis. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) can provide doctors with an alternative second opinion and assist them to make a specific treatment with accurate cirrhosis stage. MRI has many advantages, including high resolution for soft tissue, no radiation, and multiparameters imaging modalities. So in this paper, multisequences MRIs, including T1-weighted, T2-weighted, arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase, are applied. However, CAD does not meet the clinical needs of cirrhosis and few researchers are concerned with it at present. Cirrhosis is characterized by the presence of widespread fibrosis and regenerative nodules in the hepatic, leading to different texture patterns of different stages. So, extracting texture feature is the primary task. Compared with typical gray level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) features, texture classification from random features provides an effective way, and we adopt it and propose CCTCRF for triple classification (normal, early, and middle and advanced stage). CCTCRF does not need strong assumptions except the sparse character of image, contains sufficient texture information, includes concise and effective process, and makes case decision with high accuracy. Experimental results also illustrate the satisfying performance and they are also compared with typical NN with GLCM.
A model for program complexity analysis

A frequently stated objective of structured programming is to control program complexity. However, since the notion of complexity is not well under-stood and the existing techniques for measuring complexity are crude, it is difficult to determine if indeed structured programming can achieve this objective. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to discuss the probable sources of complexity in a well-structured program to present a methodology for measuring and controlling complexity in a well-structured program.
Acetylation of 53BP1 dictates the DNA double strand break repair pathway

Abstract P53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) plays critical roles in DNA double strand break (DSB) repair by promoting non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and loss of 53BP1 abolishes PARPi sensitivity in BRCA1-deficient cells by restoring homologous recombination (HR). 53BP1 is one of the proteins initially recruited to sites of DSBs via recognition of H4K20me2 through the Tudor-UDR domain and H2AK15ub through the UDR motif. Although extensive studies have been conducted, it remains unclear how the post-translational modification of 53BP1 affects DSB repair pathway choice. Here, we identified 53BP1 as an acetylated protein and determined that acetylation of 53BP1 inhibit NHEJ and promote HR by negatively regulating 53BP1 recruitment to DSBs. Mechanistically, CBP-mediated acetylation of K1626/1628 in the UDR motif disrupted the interaction between 53BP1 and nucleosomes, subsequently blocking the recruitment of 53BP1 and its downstream factors PTIP and RIF1 to DSBs. Hyperacetylation of 53BP1, similar to depletion of 53BP1, restored PARPi resistance in BRCA1-deficient cells. Interestingly, 53BP1 acetylation was tightly regulated by HDAC2 to maintain balance between the HR and NHEJ pathways. Together, our results demonstrate that the acetylation status of 53BP1 plays a key role in its recruitment to DSBs and reveal how specific 53BP1 modification modulates the choice of DNA repair pathway.
Multimedia Content Protection in the 21 st Century Rich Goyette

In this paper, we review techniques and processes for securing multimedia content. Specifically, we examine encryption and watermarking techniques as these are currently seen as the most effective (yet complementary) approaches to content security. We consider three approaches for providing confidentiality services (through encryption) in conditional access system applications and examine the difficulties and issues arising out of combining encryption with varying bandwidth and end-user device capabilities. Since key management is generally not covered in literature dealing with encryption, we examine some interesting key management and distribution architectures. A basic key management approach is examined, followed by a system based on key graphs. We finish with an examination of a system using shared secrets instead of symmetric or asymmetric keys. Watermarking definitions and properties are reviewed and the field of watermarking is examined in a general way. We research some attacks on watermarks since these tend to drive research efforts. We conclude this paper with a high level examination of Digital Rights Management (DRM). This examination includes elements that comprise a DRM system, some of the grassroots (OMA MDRM) and top down (MPEG-21) approaches towards implementing open and interoperable DRM, and some legal approaches that have been enacted to address digital rights.
D-LiTE-ful: an evaluation platform for DASH QoE for SDN-enabled ISP offloading in LTE: demo

In this demonstration we extend our recent work - "D-LiTE: A platform for evaluating DASH performance over a simulated LTE network". With D-LiTE we stream actual DASH content between real physical clients and an Apache2 server, over a simulated NS3-LTE air interface in real-time. We enhance our platform to encompass both an Software Defined Network (SDN)-enabled backhaul and an SDN-enabled WIFI router attached to the backhaul. Similar to data offloading in most ISP networks, with D-LiTE-ful we demonstrate how distributing video flows to local WIFI networks improves achievable Quality of Experience (QoE) not only for the clients moving to the WIFI hotspot but also for the remaining clients on the LTE network. Based on feedback from both a "Panoramic UI" which provides a mechanism for LTE and Client parametrisation, and a means of viewing the output of their interactions, and an "SDN UI" which offers packet level information and illustrates routing behaviours in the backhaul, we observe real-time variation in both network conditions and improvement in client QoE. The demonstration showcases how an SDN-enabled multi-faceted ISP network can provide dynamic offloading between LTE and WIFI networks by offering a means of local caching, temporary re-routing of TCP flows and centralised control.
The Association between Soft Drink Consumption and Body Fat in Females Age 16 to 24

American soft drink consumption (SDC) has increased since the 1960’s surpassing all other kinds of beverage consumption. In recent years, the scientific literature has suggested that SDC has been linked to the rising epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents. However, there is lack of information in scientific literature on the effects of SDC on body fat (BF%) in young females. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between SDC and BF% in young women, ages 16–24 years. Sixty-six females were asked to complete a 3-day food record, food frequency questionnaire, and an assessment BF% by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Overall, participants consumed 29.44 ± 44.68 fl oz/day of soft drinks. There were significant positive associations between SDC and BF% (r = 0.24, p < 0.05). Due to the large standard deviation in SDC, secondary analysis compared moderate SDC (MSDC: < 32 fl oz/day) to high SDC (HSDC: ≥ 32 fl oz/day). Results suggested HSCD had significantly greater BF% than MSDC. Therefore, limiting the consumption of soft drinks is suggested in order to maintain a healthy BF%.
Evidence of Flicker-Induced Functional Hyperaemia in the Smallest Vessels of the Human Retinal Blood Supply

Regional changes in blood flow are initiated within neural tissue to help fuel local differences in neural activity. Classically, this response was thought to arise only in larger arterioles and venules. However, recently, it has been proposed that a) the smallest vessels of the circulation make a comparable contribution, and b) the response should be localised intermittently along such vessels, due to the known distribution of contractile mural cells. To assess these hypotheses in human neural tissue in vivo, we imaged the retinal microvasculature (diameters 3–28 μm) non-invasively, using adaptive optics, before and after delivery of focal (360 μm) patches of flickering visible light. Our results demonstrated a definite average response in 35% of all vessel segments analysed. In these responding vessels, the magnitude of proportional dilation (mean ± SEM for pre-capillary arterioles 13 ± 5%, capillaries 31 ± 8%, and post-capillary venules 10 ± 3%) is generally far greater than the magnitudes we and others have measured in the larger retinal vessels, supporting proposition a) above. The dilations observed in venules were unexpected based on previous animal work, and may be attributed either to differences in stimulus or species. Response heterogeneity across the network was high; responses were also heterogeneous along individual vessels (45% of vessel segments showed demonstrable locality in their response). These observations support proposition b) above. We also observed a definite average constriction across 7% of vessel segments (mean ± SEM constriction for capillaries -16 ± 3.2%, and post-capillary venules -18 ± 12%), which paints a picture of dynamic redistribution of flow throughout the smallest vessel networks in the retina in response to local, stimulus-driven metabolic demand.
BER Analysis of the IEEE 802.15.4a Channel Model with RAKE Receiver

This paper provides the bit error rate (BER) analysis of the antipodal and orthogonal binary signals under the ultra-wideband (UWB) channel. We offer an analytical expression and its evaluation formula for the BER. The channel model we consider is the IEEE 802.15. 4a UWB channel. We take into account of the impact of all the key parameters, including inter-cluster arrival rate, cluster decay constant, the inter-ray arrival rate, ray decay constant, parameters of the power delay profile (PDP), and the distribution of a Nakagami fading signal. For the IEEE 802.15. 4a UWB channel, the effects of clustering are characterized by a Poisson process, and the inter-ray arrival time is modeled as the hyperexponential random variable. We propose a systematic analytical method to evaluate the BER performance of the UWB signal associated with such joint continuous Nakagami and discrete Poisson random variable. Thus, the developed analytical model is useful in evaluating the performance of an UWB signal in the IEEE 802.15. 4a channel without time consuming simulations.
Clinical and pathological manifestations of cardiovascular disease in rat models: the influence of acute ozone exposure

Abstract Rodent models of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic disorders are used for examining susceptibility variations to environmental exposures. However, cross-model organ pathologies and clinical manifestations are often not compared. We hypothesized that genetic CVD rat models will exhibit baseline pathologies and will thus express varied lung response to acute ozone exposure. Male 12–14-week-old healthy Wistar Kyoto (WKY), Wistar (WIS), and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and CVD-compromised spontaneously hypertensive (SH), fawn-hooded hypertensive (FHH), stroke-prone SH (SHSP), obese SH heart-failure (SHHF), obese diabetic JCR (JCR) rats were exposed to 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 ppm ozone for 4 h and clinical biomarkers, and lung, heart and kidney pathologies were compared immediately following (0–h) or 20-h later. Strain differences were observed between air-exposed CVD-prone and WKY rats in clinical biomarkers and in kidney and heart pathology. Serum cholesterol was higher in air-exposed obese SHHF and JCR compared to other air-exposed strains. Ozone did not produce lesions in the heart or kidney. CVD-prone and SD rats demonstrated glomerulopathy and kidney inflammation (WKY = WIS = SH < SD = SHSP < SHHF < JCR = FHH) regardless of ozone. Cardiac myofiber degeneration was evident in SH, SHHF, and JCR, while only JCR tends to have inflammation in coronaries. Lung pathology in air-exposed rats was minimal in all strains except JCR. Ozone induced variable alveolar histiocytosis and bronchiolar inflammation; JCR and SHHF were less affected. This study provides a comparative account of the clinical manifestations of disease and early-life organ pathologies in several rat models of CVD and their differential susceptibility to lung injury from air pollutant exposure.
Successful replication of parvovirus B19 in the human megakaryocytic leukemia cell line MB-02

The pathogenic human parvovirus B19 has been shown to undergo productive replication in the erythroid lineage in primary normal human hematopoietic progenitor cells. However, none of the established erythroleukemia cell lines has allowed B19 virus replication in vitro. The remarkable erythroid tissue tropism of B19 virus was evaluated with a human megakaryocytic leukemia cell line, MB-02, which is dependent on the growth factor granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but can be induced to undergo erythroid differentiation following treatment with erythropoietin (Epo). Whereas these cells did not support B19 virus DNA replication in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor alone, active viral DNA replication was observed if the cells were exposed to Epo for 5 to 10 days prior to B19 virus infection, as detected by the presence of the characteristic B19 virus DNA replicative intermediates on Southern blots. No replication occurred if the cells were treated with Epo for 3 days or less. In addition, complete expression of the B19 virus genome also occurred in Epo-treated MB-02 cells, as detected by Northern blot analysis. B19 progeny virions were released into culture supernatants that were biologically active in secondary infection of normal human bone marrow cells. The availability of the only homogeneous permanent cell line in which induction of erythroid differentiation leads to a permissive state for B19 virus replication in vitro promises to yield new and useful information on the molecular basis of the erythroid tissue tropism as well as parvovirus B19-induced pathogenesis.
A time-motion analysis of professional basketball to determine the relationship between three activity profiles: high, medium and low intensity and the length of the time spent on court.

The aim of this study was to determine an exercise to rest profile for basketball, identifying if a relationship existed between total time spent on court and the intensity levels of the players. Five BBL matches (n =6) were filmed using footage which was captured and observed using the Noldus Observer Pro system. The total time and duration of high, medium and low intensity activity was configured with average time bouts of 1.5 s (± 1) for high intensity, 3.4 s (± 0.3) for medium intensity and 4.4 s (± 0.4) for low intensity exercise. Results indicated an exercise to rest ratio of 1:4:5 between high, medium and low exercise. No significant relationship was evident between the activity profiles high, medium and low intensity exercise and the total time spent on court with correlation values < 0.17 (p<0.05). The results provide evidence which refutes previous findings highlighting the link between medium and low intensity activities and their role in energy provision through oxidative metabolism as opposed to anaerobic energy pathways. These findings have a number of implications for conditioning and tactical considerations of basketball.