Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Methodology to Estimate Single-Tree Biophysical Parameters from 3D Digital Imagery Compared to Aerial Laser Scanner Data

Airborne laser scanner (ALS) data provide an enhanced capability to remotely map two key variables in forestry: leaf area index (LAI) and tree height (H). Nevertheless, the cost, complexity and accessibility of this technology are not yet suited for meeting the broad demands required for estimating and frequently updating forest data. Here we demonstrate the capability of alternative solutions based on the use of low-cost color infrared (CIR) cameras to estimate tree-level parameters, providing a cost-effective solution for forest inventories. ALS data were acquired with a Leica ALS60 laser scanner and digital aerial imagery (DAI) was acquired with a consumer-grade camera modified for color infrared detection and synchronized with a GPS unit. In this paper we evaluate the generation of a DAI-based canopy height model (CHM) from imagery obtained with low-cost CIR cameras using structure from motion (SfM) and spatial interpolation methods in the context of a complex canopy, as in forestry. Metrics were calculated from the DAI-based CHM and the DAI-based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the estimation of tree height and LAI, respectively. Results were compared with the models estimated from ALS point cloud metrics. Field measurements of tree height and effective leaf area index (LAIe) were acquired from a total of 200 and 26 trees, respectively. Comparable accuracies were obtained in the tree height and LAI estimations using ALS and DAI data independently. Tree height estimated from DAI-based metrics (Percentile 90 (P90) and minimum height (MinH)) yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.71 and a root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.71 m while models derived from ALS-based metrics (P90) yielded an R2 = 0.80 and an RMSE = 0.55 m. The estimation of LAI from DAI-based NDVI using Percentile 99 (P99) yielded an R2 = 0.62 and an RMSE = 0.17 m2/m−2. A comparative analysis of LAI estimation using ALS-based metrics (laser penetration index (LPI), interquartile distance (IQ), and Percentile 30 (P30)) yielded an R2 = 0.75 and an RMSE = 0.14 m2/m−2. The results provide insight on the appropriateness of using cost-effective 3D photo-reconstruction methods for targeting single trees with irregular and heterogeneous tree crowns in complex open-canopy forests. It quantitatively demonstrates that low-cost CIR cameras can be used to estimate both single-tree height and LAI in forest inventories.
Large-scale analysis of gene clustering in bacteria.

An important strategy to study operons and their evolution is to investigate clustering of related genes across multiple bacterial genomes. Although existing algorithms are available that can identify gene clusters across two or more genomes, very few algorithms are efficient enough to study gene clusters across hundreds of genomes. We observe that a querying strategy can be used to analyze gene clusters across a large number of genomes and develop an efficient algorithm to identify all related clusters on a genome from a given query cluster. We use this algorithm to study gene clustering in 400 bacterial genomes by starting from a well-characterized list of operons in Escherichia coli K12 and perform comparative analysis of operon occurrences, gene orientations, and rearrangements both within and across clusters. We show that important biological insights can be obtained by comparing results across these categories. A software program implementing the algorithm (GCQuery) and supplementary data containing detailed results are available at http://faculty.cs. tamu.edu/shsze/gcquery.
Energy and Latency Aware Application Mapping Algorithm & Optimization for Homogeneous 3D Network on Chip

Energy efficiency is one of the most critical issue in design of System on Chip. In Network On Chip (NoC) based system, energy consumption is influenced dramatically by mapping of Intellectual Property (IP) which affect the performance of the system. In this paper we test the antecedently extant proposed algorithms and introduced a new energy proficient algorithm stand for 3D NoC architecture. In addition a hybrid method has also been implemented using bioinspired optimization (particle swarm optimization) technique. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and evaluated on randomly generated benchmark and real life application such as MMS, Telecom and VOPD. The algorithm has also been tested with the E3S benchmark and has been compared with the existing algorithm (spiral and crinkle) and has shown better reduction in the communication energy consumption and shows improvement in the performance of the system. Comparing our work with spiral and crinkle, experimental result shows that the average reduction in communication energy consumption is 19% with spiral and 17% with crinkle mapping algorithms, while reduction in communication cost is 24% and 21% whereas reduction in latency is of 24% and 22% with spiral and crinkle. Optimizing our work and the existing methods using bio-inspired technique and having the comparison among them an average energy reduction is found to be of 18% and 24%.
Chemical Processes in Printing Technology

One of the most commonly used printing technique today is lithography. The printing plate, which is composed of printing (accept printing ink) and nonprinting (must not accept printing ink) areas is highly important factor for all printing processes. Selective ink adsorption on printing plates is usually achieved by geometrical difference between printing and nonprinting areas, but in lithography it is achieved by their different physical-chemical properties. Printing areas are oleophilic (hydrophobic) while nonprinting areas are hydrophilic (oleophobic). In the first step of the printing process, on the printing plate comes fountain solution (water and additives) which is adsorbed only by the nonprinting areas. Printing ink is applied in the second step and it is adsorbed only by the nonprinting areas (not covered with fountain solution). The printing plates are mainly built of aluminium strips that are mechanically, chemically and electrochemically processed in order to make thin and porous film of aluminium oxide (nonprinting areas) and then coated with photoactive layer (printing areas). The plate making process is by aluminium printing plates composed of exposure and developing which remove photoactive layer from nonprinting areas. The aim of this paper is to present the plate making processes and plate parameters’ measuring methods, for example contact angle measurement, determination of the roughness parameters and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In addition, as printing plate-fountain solution interaction is influential for the printing quality, one should define fountain solution’s optimal chemical composition, for what measurements of pH value, electrical conductivity and surface tension are needed.
Impact of teamwork on missed care in four Australian hospitals

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Investigate effects of teamwork on missed nursing care across a healthcare network in Australia. BACKGROUND Missed care is universally used as an indicator of quality nursing care, however, little is known about mitigating effects of teamwork on these events. DESIGN A descriptive exploratory study. METHODS Missed Care and Team Work surveys were completed by 334 nurses. Using Stata software, nursing staff demographic information and components of missed care and teamwork were compared across the healthcare network. Statistical tests were performed to identify predicting factors for missed care. RESULTS The most commonly reported components of missed care were as follows: ambulation three times per day (43·3%), turning patient every two hours (29%) and mouth care (27·7%). The commonest reasons mentioned for missed care were as follows: inadequate labour resources (range 69·8-52·7%), followed by material resources (range 59·3-33·3%) and communication (range 39·3-27·2%). There were significant differences in missed care scores across units. Using the mean scores in regression correlation matrix, the negative relationship of missed care and teamwork was supported (r = -0·34, p < 0·001). Controlling for occupation of the staff member and staff characteristics in multiple regression models, teamwork alone accounted for about 9% of missed nursing care. CONCLUSION Similar to previous international research findings, our results showed nursing teamwork significantly impacted on missed nursing care. Teamwork may be a mitigating factor to address missed care and future research is needed. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE These results may provide administrators, educators and clinicians with information to develop practices and policies to improve patient care internationally.
Discrimination of Mammalian GPI-Anchored Proteins by Hydropathy and Amino Acid Propensities

Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, School of Science and Technology, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5258, Japan
Assessing NoSQL Databases for Telecom Applications

The constant evolution of access technologies are turning Internet access more ubiquitous, faster, better and cheaper. In connection with the proliferation of Internet access, Cloud Computing is changing the way users look at data, moving from local applications and installations to remote services, accessible from any device. This new paradigm presents numerous opportunities that even traditional businesses like telecoms cannot ignore, in particular, enabling new and more cost effective solutions to old problems. The work presented in this paper provides a detailed description of how a telecom application can be migrated to a NoSQL database. Particularly, by pointing out the necessary change of how we reason about data as well as the data structures that support it, in order to take full advantage of Cloud Computing. In addition, we also present a preliminary evaluation of different data persistency paradigms based on a fully tunable simulation platform that mimics the operation of a telecom business.
Oral clonidine and gabapentin suppress pressor response: A prospective, randomized, double blind study

Background: Pressor response is a part of stress response caused by reflex sympathetic discharge due to direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation resulting in tachycardia, hypertension and arrhythmias. Both clonidine, and gabapentin administered orally can effectively blunt this detrimental hemodynamic response. Aim: To study the effect of oral clonidine to blunt the pressor response to direct laryngoscopy and to compare it with oral gabapentin. To observe for postoperative sedation and side effects if any. Settings and Design: Sixty patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologist Grade I and II scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia were considered in this prospective randomized double-blind study. They were randomly allocated into two groups of 30 each using computerized randomization. Materials and Methods: Group A was given oral clonidine 5 μg/kg and Group B was given oral gabapentin 800 mg. Both the drugs were given 90 min prior to surgery. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure were monitored at baseline, 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30th min of laryngoscopy. Sedation was monitored by Ramsay Sedation Scale score and side effects were noted. Results: HR decreased in both groups at 0 and 1 min, increased at 3rd min and gradually decreased by 30th min. Statistically, significant difference was found between two groups at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15th min (P < 0.05). Though there was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure between the two groups, there was no rise in these parameters. Gabapentin produced more sedation than clonidine postoperatively, and few side effects were noted. Conclusion: Both oral clonidine and gabapentin are effective in obtunding pressor response to direct laryngoscopy, clonidine being better in terms of controlling HR. Gabapentin produces more postoperative sedation than clonidine.
Detecting and Understanding the Impact of Cognitive and Interpersonal Conflict in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Environments

This paper presents a model which can automatically detect a variety o f student speech acts as students collaborate within a computer supported collaborative learning environment. In addition, an analysis is presented which gives substantial insight as to how students' learning is associated with students' speech acts, knowledge that will significantly influence how this model is utilized by running learning software. Within Piagetian theory, the cognitive conflict of ideas between students is seen as beneficial for learning. Which sorts of interpersonal behaviors lead to most effective learning, however, is open to debate, with some researchers arguing that cooperation is most effective and others arguing that interpersonal conflict is a natural part of collaborative learning. We find that, in fact, interpersonal conflict is associated with positive learning, a finding that must be taken into account, in designing interventions that rely upon detectors of students' speech acts in CSCL environments.
Wireless capsule endoscopy of the small intestine: a review with future directions

Purpose of review Here, we review the clinical applications of small bowel capsule endoscopy. Moreover, we provide an outlook on the exceptional future developments of small bowel capsule endoscopy. We discuss clinical algorithms for diagnosis of small bowel diseases. Multiple studies have shown the potential of capsule endoscopy for identification of the bleeding source located in the small bowel and the increased diagnostic yield over radiographic studies. Capsule endoscopy could detect villous atrophy and severe complications in patients with nonresponsive celiac disease. In addition, small bowel capsule endoscopy was proven as a valid tool to diagnose polyps and tumors and Crohn's disease. Summary Major current clinical indications of capsule endoscopy in the small bowel include evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, diagnosis and surveillance of small bowel polyps and tumors, celiac disease and Crohn's disease. Recent developments have also passed the way for small bowel capsule endoscopy to become a therapeutic instrument.
Connecting liver and gut: Murine liver sinusoidal endothelium induces gut tropism of CD4+ T cells via retinoic acid

Gut‐activated T cells migrating into the liver can cause extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. T cells acquire a gut‐homing phenotype dependent on retinoic acid (RA) provided by intestinal dendritic cells (DC). We investigated whether liver antigen‐presenting cells can induce gut tropism supporting an enterohepatic lymphocyte circulation. Priming of CD4+ T cells by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) supported migration into gut and gut‐associated lymphoid tissue. As observed for T cells primed by intestinal DCs, this gut tropism depended on α4β7 integrin and CC chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) expression by LSEC‐primed CD4+ T cells. The induction of gut‐homing molecules was mediated by RA, a derivate of vitamin A that is stored in large amounts within the liver. LSECs expressed functional retinal dehydrogenases and could convert vitamin A to RA. Conversely, the lack of signaling via the RA receptor prevented the expression of α4β7 integrin and CCR9 on LSEC‐primed CD4+ T cells, consequently reducing their in vivo migration to the intestine. Other liver antigen‐presenting cells failed to support high expression of α4β7 integrin on CD4+ T cells, thus, the potential to induce gut homing is restricted to LSECs. Conclusion: The capacity to promote gut tropism via vitamin A use is not unique for intestinal DCs but is also a feature of LSECs. Our data support the assumption that CD4+ T cells can migrate from the liver to the gut as one branch of a postulated enterohepatic lymphocyte circulation. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;55:1976–1984)
Tetralogy of Fallot: Current surgical perspective

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is an important lesion for all pediatric and congenital heart surgeons. In designing the most appropriate operation for children with TOF, the postoperative physiology should be taken into account, both in the short and long term. The balance between pulmonary stenosis (PS) and pulmonary insufficiency (PI) may be critical for preservation of ventricular function. A unified repair strategy that limits both residual PS and PI is presented, along with supporting experimental evidence, a strategy for dealing with coronary anomalies, and comments regarding best timing of operation.
Interface Modulation and Optimization of Electrical Properties of HfGdO/GaAs Gate Stacks by ALD‐Derived Al2O3 Passivation Layer and Forming Gas Annealing

Metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with sputtering‐deposited Gd‐doped HfO2(HGO) high k gate dielectric thin films and ALD‐derived Al2O3 interfacial passivation layer were fabricated on GaAs substrates. The effects of the passivation layer and the forming gas annealing (FGA) temperature were explored by studying the interfacial chemical bonding states and electrical properties of HGO/GaAs and HGO/Al2O3/GaAs gate stacks via x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), capacitance‐voltage (C–V), and leakage current density‐voltage ( J–V) measurements. Results indicated that the MOS capacitors performances were enhanced by performing FGA. The electrical analysis revealed that the 300 °C‐annealed Al/HGO/GaAs/Al MOS capacitor with 20 cycles Al2O3 passivation layer experienced improved electrical properties, with a dielectric constant of 44, a flat band voltage of 0.64 V, a hysteresis of 0.02 V corresponding to the oxide charge density of −6.2 × 1012 cm2, border trapped oxide charge density of −3.02 × 1011 cm2, a leakage current density 5.87 × 10‐6 A/cm2 at a bias voltage of 2 V. The low temperature (77–300 K) dependent detailed current conduction mechanisms (CCMs) of the 300 °C‐annealed MOS capacitor at low temperatures were also systematically investigated. The optimized interface chemistry and the excellent electrical properties suggested that HGO/Al2O3/GaAs potential gate stacks could be applied in future III‐V‐based MOSFET devices.
Activation of Lyn Tyrosine Kinase through Decreased Membrane Cholesterol Levels during a Change in Its Membrane Distribution upon Cell Detachment*

Background: Lyn tyrosine kinase is anchored to the plasma membrane. Results: Cell detachment changes Lyn distribution from the low density to the high density membrane fractions and activates Lyn through decreased membrane cholesterol levels. Conclusion: Cell detachment-induced Lyn activation plays a role in survival of suspension cells. Significance: Our results provide novel insight into signal transduction upon cell detachment. Cellular membranes, which can serve as scaffolds for signal transduction, dynamically change their characteristics upon cell detachment. Src family kinases undergo post-translational lipid modification and are involved in a wide range of signaling events at the plasma membrane, such as cell proliferation, cell adhesion, and survival. Previously, we showed the differential membrane distributions among the members of Src family kinases by sucrose density gradient fractionation. However, little is known about the regulation of the membrane distribution of Src family kinases upon cell detachment. Here, we show that cell detachment shifts the main peak of the membrane distribution of Lyn, a member of Src family kinase, from the low density to the high density membrane fractions and enhances the kinase activity of Lyn. The change in Lyn distribution upon cell detachment involves both dynamin activity and a decrease in membrane cholesterol. Cell detachment activates Lyn through decreased membrane cholesterol levels during a change in its membrane distribution. Furthermore, cholesterol incorporation decreases Lyn activity and reduces the viability of suspension cells. These results suggest that cell detachment-induced Lyn activation through the change in the membrane distribution of Lyn plays an important role in survival of suspension cells.
Analytic versus systemic group therapy for women with a history of child sexual abuse: 1-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE This randomized prospective study examines durability of improvement in general symptomatology, psychosocial functioning and interpersonal problems, and compares the long-term efficacy of analytic and systemic group psychotherapy in women 1 year after completion of treatment for childhood sexual abuse. DESIGN AND METHODS Women (n = 106) randomly assigned to analytic or systemic psychotherapy completed the Symptom Checklist-90-R, Global Assessment of Functioning, Global Life Quality, Registration Chart Questionnaire, and Flashback Registration at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at a 1-year follow-up. RESULTS Post-treatment gains were significant for both treatment modalities on all measures, but significantly larger after systemic therapy. Significant treatment response was maintained 1-year post-treatment, but different trajectories were observed: 1 year after treatment completion, improvements for analytic therapy were maintained, whereas they decreased after systemic therapy, resulting in no statistically significant difference in gains between the groups at the 1-year follow-up. Despite maintaining significant gains, more than half of the patients remained above cut-off for caseness concerning general symptomatology at post-treatment and at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION The findings stress the importance of long-term follow-up data in effect studies. Different trajectories were associated with the two treatments, but improvement in the two treatment groups did not differ significantly at the 1-year follow-up. Implications of the difference in trajectories for treatment planning are discussed. PRACTITIONER POINTS Both analytic and systemic group therapy proved efficient in improving general symptomatology, psychosocial functioning, and interpersonal problems in women with a history of CSA and gains were maintained at a 1-year follow-up. Despite maintaining statistically significant gains at the 1-year follow-up, 54% of the patients remained above the cut-off for caseness with respect to general symptomatology, which may indicate a need for further treatment. Different pre-post follow-up treatment trajectories were observed between the two treatment modalities. Thus, while systemic group therapy showed a significantly better outcome immediately after termination, gains in the systemic treatment group decreased during follow-up, while gains were maintained during follow-up in analytic group therapy.
A Unified Model of Structural Organization in Language and Music

Is there a general model that can predict the perceived phrase structure in language and music? While it is usually assumed that humans have separate faculties for language and music, this work focuses on the commonalities rather than on the differences between these modalities, aiming at finding a deeper "faculty". Our key idea is that the perceptual system strives for the simplest structure (the "simplicity principle"), but in doing so it is biased by the likelihood of previous structures (the "likelihood principle"). We present a series of data-oriented parsing (DOP) models that combine these two principles and that are tested on the Penn Treebank and the Essen Folksong Collection. Our experiments show that (1) a combination of the two principles outperforms the use of either of them, and (2) exactly the same model with the same parameter setting achieves maximum accuracy for both language and music. We argue that our results suggest an interesting parallel between linguistic and musical structuring.