Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Tiered Move-making Algorithm for General Non-submodular Pairwise Energies

A large number of problems in computer vision can be modelled as energy minimization problems in a Markov Random Field (MRF) or Conditional Random Field (CRF) framework. Graph-cuts based $\alpha$-expansion is a standard move-making method to minimize the energy functions with sub-modular pairwise terms. However, certain problems require more complex pairwise terms where the $\alpha$-expansion method is generally not applicable. In this paper, we propose an iterative {\em tiered move making algorithm} which is able to handle general pairwise terms. Each move to the next configuration is based on the current labeling and an optimal tiered move, where each tiered move requires one application of the dynamic programming based tiered labeling method introduced in Felzenszwalb et. al. \cite{tiered_cvpr_felzenszwalbV10}. The algorithm converges to a local minimum for any general pairwise potential, and we give a theoretical analysis of the properties of the algorithm, characterizing the situations in which we can expect good performance. We first evaluate our method on an object-class segmentation problem using the Pascal VOC-11 segmentation dataset where we learn general pairwise terms. Further we evaluate the algorithm on many other benchmark labeling problems such as stereo, image segmentation, image stitching and image denoising. Our method consistently gets better accuracy and energy values than alpha-expansion, loopy belief propagation (LBP), quadratic pseudo-boolean optimization (QPBO), and is competitive with TRWS.
Relationship between Neural Activity and Executive Function: An NIRS Study

Objective. This study examined the relationship between neural activity and executive function (EF) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In addition, an oral reading span test (RST) was used to explore this association. Methods. Fifteen adults participated in the study. We used the RST and simple reading as the two tasks. Results. The RST score and cortical hemodynamic response in the left inferior frontal gyrus were significantly correlated. Conclusion. Based on the oral RST performance assessment and NIRS examination, the present findings suggest a relationship between EF and cortical activation.
Confidentiality and integrity in distributed data exchange

The distributed exchange of structured data has emerged on the World Wide Web because it promises efficiency, easy collaboration, and—through the integration of diverse data sources—the discovery of new trends and insights. Along with these benefits, however, there is also the danger that exchanged data will be disclosed inappropriately or modified by unauthorized parties. This dissertation provides conceptual and practical tools for ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of data that is exchanged across heterogeneous systems. Securing data in such settings is challenging because participants may behave maliciously, and because their remote systems are outside the control of the data owner. This dissertation addresses these challenges, first by developing a precise analysis of the information disclosure that may result from publishing relational data. This is a critical prerequisite to forming a policy for permitting or denying access to data. The novel notion of information disclosure presented here can capture leaks that may result from collusion by multiple parties, or from prior knowledge they may possess. This dissertation then addresses the practical problems of safely and efficiently guaranteeing security properties for distributed data. To provide confidentiality, a flexible fine-grained encryption framework is proposed which allows data owners to construct, from a set of access policies, a single encrypted database that can be stored and exchanged by all parties. Access is granted by separately disseminating keys. To provide integrity, an efficient authentication mechanism is described which can be used to detect tampering when data is stored by an untrusted database. Together these techniques can significantly advance the security of distributed data exchange.
Race, Genetic West African Ancestry, and Prostate Cancer Prediction by Prostate-Specific Antigen in Prospectively Screened High-Risk Men

“Race-specific” prostate-specific antigen (PSA) needs evaluation in men at high risk for prostate cancer for optimizing early detection. Baseline PSA and longitudinal prediction for prostate cancer were examined by self-reported race and genetic West African (WA) ancestry in the Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Program, a prospective high-risk cohort. Eligibility criteria were age 35 to 69 years, family history of prostate cancer, African American race, or BRCA1/2 mutations. Biopsies were done at low PSA values (<4.0 ng/mL). WA ancestry was discerned by genotyping 100 ancestry informative markers. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated baseline PSA, self-reported race, and genetic WA ancestry. Cox models were used for 3-year predictions for prostate cancer. Six hundred forty-six men (63% African American) were analyzed. Individual WA ancestry estimates varied widely among self-reported African American men. Race-specific differences in baseline PSA were not found by self-reported race or genetic WA ancestry. Among men with ≥1 follow-up visit (405 total, 54% African American), 3-year prediction for prostate cancer with a PSA of 1.5 to 4.0 ng/mL was higher in African American men with age in the model (P = 0.025) compared with European American men. Hazard ratios of PSA for prostate cancer were also higher by self-reported race (1.59 for African American versus 1.32 for European American, P = 0.04). There was a trend for increasing prediction for prostate cancer with increasing genetic WA ancestry. “Race-specific” PSA may need to be redefined as higher prediction for prostate cancer at any given PSA in African American men. Large-scale studies are needed to confirm if genetic WA ancestry explains these findings to make progress in personalizing prostate cancer early detection.
Correlation of the experience of peer relational aggression victimization and depression among African American adolescent females.

PROBLEM This study aimed to examine if the experience of peer relational aggression victimization (PRAV) can be linked to feelings of depression in the African American adolescent female population. METHODS The sample included 241 college-age African American adolescent females assessed for PRAV and depression. Statistical analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between the variables. FINDINGS PRAV in this study population does exist as a detrimental phenomenon, whereby PRAV significantly correlates with depression, r (214) = 0.29, p < . 01. CONCLUSION Nurses can assist the adolescent clients experiencing relational aggression by becoming knowledgeable on the presentation and manifestations of this experience.
All-Silicon Technology for High- $Q$  Evanescent Mode Cavity Tunable Resonators and Filters

This paper presents a new fabrication technology and the associated design parameters for realizing compact and widely-tunable cavity filters with a high unloaded quality factor (Qu) maintained throughout the analog tuning range. This all-silicon technology has been successfully employed to demonstrate tunable resonators in mobile form factors in the C, X, Ku, and K bands with simultaneous high unloaded quality factors (≥500) and tuning ratios (≥1:2). It is shown that by employing high-precision micro-fabrication techniques and careful modeling, the measured RF and tuning performance of the fabricated device closely match the simulated results. The capability of monolithic (system-on-chip) integration, low-cost batch processing, and compatibility with CMOS processing is some of the key advantages of this 3-D tunable filter fabrication technology over conventional approaches. This technology also has the potential to be extended to produce tunable resonators and filters in the millimeter wave region.
The endocannabinoid system as a possible target to treat both the cognitive and emotional features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder of significant prevalence and morbidity, whose pathogenesis relies on paradoxical changes of emotional memory processing. An ideal treatment would be a drug able to block the pathological over-consolidation and continuous retrieval of the traumatic event, while enhancing its extinction and reducing the anxiety symptoms. While the latter benefit from antidepressant medications, no drug is available to control the cognitive symptomatology. Endocannabinoids regulate affective states and participate in memory consolidation, retrieval, and extinction. Clinical findings showing a relationship between Cannabis use and PTSD, as well as changes in endocannabinoid activity in PTSD patients, further suggest the existence of a link between endocannabinoids and maladaptive brain changes after trauma exposure. Along these lines, we suggest that endocannabinoid degradation inhibitors may be an ideal therapeutic approach to simultaneously treat the emotional and cognitive features of PTSD, avoiding the unwanted psychotropic effects of compounds directly binding cannabinoid receptors.
The Protein Phosphatase 7 Regulates Phytochrome Signaling in Arabidopsis

The psi2 mutant of Arabidopsis displays amplification of the responses controlled by the red/far red light photoreceptors phytochrome A (phyA) and phytochrome B (phyB) but no apparent defect in blue light perception. We found that loss-of-function alleles of the protein phosphatase 7 (AtPP7) are responsible for the light hypersensitivity in psi2 demonstrating that AtPP7 controls the levels of phytochrome signaling. Plants expressing reduced levels of AtPP7 mRNA display reduced blue-light induced cryptochrome signaling but no noticeable deficiency in phytochrome signaling. Our genetic analysis suggests that phytochrome signaling is enhanced in the AtPP7 loss of function alleles, including in blue light, which masks the reduced cryptochrome signaling. AtPP7 has been found to interact both in yeast and in planta assays with nucleotide-diphosphate kinase 2 (NDPK2), a positive regulator of phytochrome signals. Analysis of ndpk2-psi2 double mutants suggests that NDPK2 plays a critical role in the AtPP7 regulation of the phytochrome pathway and identifies NDPK2 as an upstream element involved in the modulation of the salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defense pathway by light. Thus, cryptochrome- and phytochrome-specific light signals synchronously control their relative contribution to the regulation of plant development. Interestingly, PP7 and NDPK are also components of animal light signaling systems.
Risk Associated with Preoperative Anemia in Noncardiac Surgery: A Single-center Cohort Study

Background:Preoperative anemia is an important risk factor for perioperative red blood cell transfusions and has been shown to be independently associated with adverse outcomes after noncardiac surgery. The objective of this observational study was to measure the prevalence of preoperative anemia and assess the relationship between preoperative anemia and postoperative mortality. Methods:Data were retrospectively collected on 7,759 consecutive noncardiac surgical patients at the University Health Network between 2003 and 2006. Preoperative anemia was defined as a hemoglobin concentration less than 12.0 g/dl for women and less than 13.0 g/dl for men. The unadjusted and adjusted relationship between preoperative anemia and mortality was assessed using logistic regression and propensity analyses. Results:Preoperative anemia was common and equal between genders (39.5% for men and 39.9% for women) and was associated with a nearly five-fold increase in the odds of postoperative mortality. After adjustment for major confounders using logistic regression, anemia was still associated with increased mortality (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.57–3.41). This relationship was unchanged after elimination of patients with severe anemia and patients who received transfusions. In a propensity-matched cohort of patients, anemia was associated with increased mortality (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.45–3.63). Conclusions:Anemia is a common condition in surgical patients and is independently associated with increased mortality. Although anemia increases mortality independent of transfusion, it is associated with increased requirement for transfusion, which is also associated with increased mortality. Treatment of preoperative anemia should be the focus of investigations for the reduction of perioperative risk.
One dimensional representation of two dimensional information for HMM based handwritten recognition

We introduce a new set of one-dimensional discrete, constant length features to represent two dimensional shape information for HMM (hidden Markov model), based handwritten optical character recognition problem. The proposed feature set embeds the two dimensional information into a sequence of one-dimensional codes, selected from a code book. It provides a consistent normalization among distinct classes of shapes, which is very convenient for HMM based shape recognition schemes. The new feature set is used in a handwritten optical character recognition scheme, where a sequence of segmentation and recognition stages is employed. The normalization parameters, which maximize the recognition rate, are dynamically estimated in the training stage of the HMM. The proposed character recognition system is tested on both a locally generated cursively handwritten data and isolated number digits of NIST database. The experimental results indicate high recognition rates.
Scale robust IMU-assisted KLT for stereo visual odometry solution

SUMMARY We propose a novel stereo visual IMU-assisted (Inertial Measurement Unit) technique that extends to large inter-frame motion the use of KLT tracker (Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi). The constrained and coherent inter-frame motion acquired from the IMU is applied to detected features through homogenous transform using 3D geometry and stereoscopy properties. This predicts efficiently the projection of the optical flow in subsequent images. Accurate adaptive tracking windows limit tracking areas resulting in a minimum of lost features and also prevent tracking of dynamic objects. This new feature tracking approach is adopted as part of a fast and robust visual odometry algorithm based on double dogleg trust region method. Comparisons with gyro-aided KLT and variants approaches show that our technique is able to maintain minimum loss of features and low computational cost even on image sequences presenting important scale change. Visual odometry solution based on this IMU-assisted KLT gives more accurate result than INS/GPS solution for trajectory generation in certain context.
Embree

We describe Embree, an open source ray tracing framework for x86 CPUs. Embree is explicitly designed to achieve high performance in professional rendering environments in which complex geometry and incoherent ray distributions are common. Embree consists of a set of low-level kernels that maximize utilization of modern CPU architectures, and an API which enables these kernels to be used in existing renderers with minimal programmer effort. In this paper, we describe the design goals and software architecture of Embree, and show that for secondary rays in particular, the performance of Embree is competitive with (and often higher than) existing state-of-the-art methods on CPUs and GPUs.
Analysis on Local Railroad Freight Transportation's Unit Root Process of Structural Changes

In order to help concerned department and local railroad bureau to distinguish, grasp opportunity, and impel local railroad freight transportation's development, the article introduces the newest econometrics measurement tool - structural change model. Applying unit root test and trend stationary test of structural change model, and using HeNan Province's history data for the period 1981-2005, the paper analyzes local railroad freight transportation's data-generating process. These conclusions, which come from above analysis, indicate that local railroad freight transportation's date generation process don't have trend stability's characteristic and are unit root process of structural changes. At the same time, by way of endogenous and exogenous structural changes' unit root test, we seek to local railroad freight transportation's endogenous and exogenous structural change points. Structural change, in 2000 year, which coincides with larger changes in the management, is found to be significant.
Use of pulse pressure variation to estimate changes in preload during experimental acute normovolemic hemodilution.

BACKGROUND Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is an alternative to blood transfusion in surgeries involving blood loss. This experimental study was designed to evaluate whether pulse pressure variation (PPV) would be an adequate tool for monitoring changes in preload during ANH, as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography. METHODS Twenty-one anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs were randomized into three groups: CTL (control), HES (hemodilution with 6% hydroxyethyl starch at a 1:1 ratio) or NS (hemodilution with saline 0.9% at a 3:1 ratio). Hemodilution was performed in animals of groups NS and HES in two stages, with target hematocrits 22% and 15%, achieved at 30-minute intervals. After two hours, 50% of the blood volume withdrawn was transfused and animals were monitored for another hour. Statistical analysis was based on ANOVA for repeated measures followed by multiple comparison test (P<0.05). Pearson's correlations were performed between changes in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and PPV, central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP). RESULTS Group NS received a significantly greater amount of fluids during ANH (NS, 900 ± 168 mL vs. HES, 200 ± 50 mL, P<0.05) and presented greater urine output (NS, 2643 ± 1097 mL vs. HES, 641 ± 338 mL, P<0.001). Significant decreases in LVEDV were observed in group NS from completion of ANH until transfusion. In group HES, only increases in LVEDV were observed, at the end of ANH and at transfusion. Such changes in LVEDV (∆LVEDV) were better reflected by changes in PPV (∆PPV, R=-0.62) than changes in CVP (∆CVP, R=0.32) or in PAOP (∆PAOP, R=0.42, respectively). CONCLUSION Changes in preload during ANH were detected by changes in PPV. ∆PPV was superior to ∆PAOP and ∆CVP to this end.
Cell type-specific gene expression profiling in brain tissue: comparison between TRAP, LCM and RNA-seq

The brain is an organ that consists of various cell types. As our knowledge of the structure and function of the brain progresses, cell type-specific research is gaining importance. Together with advances in sequencing technology and bioinformatics, cell type-specific transcriptome studies are providing important insights into brain cell function. In this review, we discuss 3 different cell type-specific transcriptome analyses i.e., Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM), Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP)/RiboTag, and single cell RNA-Seq, that are widely used in the field of neuroscience. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 388-394]
Association between ESR1 rs1884051 polymorphism and dietary total energy and plant protein intake on obesity in Korean men

ESR1 has been listed in the Human Obesity Gene Map as candidate gene associated with obesity. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of the ESR1 rs1884051 polymorphism on obesity-related variables, together with their modulations by dietary intake in Korean men. The obesity-related variables and dietary intake of 3,039 Korean men aged 40-59 years from KoGES database were analyzed. Body weight (P = 0.007), BMI (P = 0.003), waist-hip ratio (= 0.011), fat body mass (P = 0.010), and body fat percentage (P = 0.040) were significantly lower in subjects with the minor T allele of ESR1 rs1884051 than in subjects carrying the C allele. Moreover, the rs1884051 T allele was associated with a decreased risk of obesity prevalence (P = 0.040). Among the subjects whose total energy intake was below the median, carrier of the minor T allele of ESR1 rs1884051 had a lower BMI (P = 0.003) when compared with subjects carrying the C allele. In addition, among subjects whose plant protein intake was above the median, carrier of the minor T allele of ESR1 rs1884051 had a lower BMI (P = 0.044) compared with subjects carrying the C allele. Our findings demonstrate that there is a significant association between the ESR1 rs1884051 variant and obesity-related variables and this association can be potentially modified by dietary energy and plant protein intake.
Design of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT)

Summary of Background Data. The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) was designed to assess the relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical approaches to the treatment of common conditions associated with low back and leg pain. Objectives. To describe the rationale and design of the SPORT project and to discuss its strengths and limitations. Study Design. Descriptive. Methods. First, the authors explain the rationale for embarking on SPORT, i.e., deficiencies in the existing scientific knowledge base for treatment of these conditions. Second, the authors describe the design of SPORT, including topics such as specific aims, participating sites, study population, recruitment and enrollment, study interventions, follow-up, outcomes, statistical analysis, and study governance and organization. Finally, issues that complicate the performance of randomized trials in surgery as they relate to the design and conduct of SPORT are discussed. Results. The SPORT project is being conducted at 11 clinical centers around the United States. It involves the simultaneous conduct of three multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trials. The study includes patients with the three most common diagnoses for which spine surgery is performed: intervertebral disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and degenerative spondylolisthesis, and it compares the most commonly used standard surgical and nonsurgical treatments for patients with these diagnoses. By the end of enrollment the authors anticipate a total of 500 patients with intervertebral disc herniation, 370 patients with spinal stenosis, and 300 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis in the randomized trials. Patients who meet the eligibility criteria but decline to be randomized are invited to participate in an observational cohort study. Patients are being followed for a minimum of 24 months with visits scheduled at 6 weeks and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Conclusions. The results of this study will provide high-quality scientific evidence to aid clinical decision-making and improve treatment outcomes for these common, costly, and, in some instances, debilitating conditions.
Model Checking CTL is Almost Always Inherently Sequential

The model checking problem for CTL is known to be P-complete (Clarke, Emerson, and Sistla (1986), see Schnoebelen (2002)). We consider fragments of CTL obtained by restricting the use of temporal modalities or the use of negations---restrictions already studied for LTL by Sistla and Clarke (1985) and Markey (2004). For all these fragments, except for the trivial case without any temporal operator, we systematically prove model checking to be either inherently sequential (P-complete) or very efficiently parallelizable (LOGCFL-complete). For most fragments, however, model checking for CTL is already P-complete. Hence our results indicate that in most applications, approaching CTL model checking by parallelism will not result in the desired speed up. We also completely determine the complexity of the model checking problem for all fragments of the extensions ECTL, CTL+, and ECTL+.