Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-Oriented Text Detection in Scene Images

We present a new run-length based method for multi-oriented text detection in scene images. We consider one ideal Sobel edge image of the horizontal text image to compute run-lengths for multi-oriented text images. Then the method proposes a Max–Min clustering to find ideal run-lengths that represents text pixel from an array of run-lengths of ideal image. The run-lengths computed for the input multi-oriented and horizontal text images are matched with the ideal run-lengths given by the Max–Min clustering to find potential run-lengths. The boundary growing method is introduced to traverse multi-oriented text lines given by the potential run-lengths and then the method eliminates false positives to clear the background using angle-proximity features of the text blocks. The non-horizontal text image is rotated to horizontal direction based on angle of the text lines to ease the implementation. The method explore new idea based on zero-crossing to separate text lines from the touching text lines given by the boundary growing method. The proposed method is tested on our own multi-oriented scene data captured by high resolution camera and mobile camera, and the benchmark database (ICDAR 2003 competition scene images) to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results are compared with the existing methods to show that the proposed method outperforms the existing methods in terms of measures.
Risk Taking and Fiscal Smoothing with Sovereign Wealth Funds in Advanced Economies

In an economy with a sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the government may draw on the fund to supplement other government revenues. If the fund is invested in risky assets, this introduces a new stochastic element into the government’s budget. We analyze the interaction between the draw from and risk taking in the SWF. Using non-expected utility preferences, we distinguish between intended changes and stochastic changes in the SWF draws over time. We show that the desire for smoothness in taxes and public services translates into smoothing of SWF draws and lower risk taking. It can even lead to procyclical rebalancing of the SWF portfolio. Future interest rates are associated with interest-rate risk. We show that this risk may lead to a higher optimal equity share in the SWF portfolio. Policy makers can use the draws from the SWF to smooth over time variation in risk-free rates.
Urban political economy beyond convergence. Robust but differentiated unequal European cities

This chapter discusses the transformations of contemporary European cities and is intellectually influenced by the Italian political economy tradition, which is particularly attentive to territories and cities. This tradition paved the way for sophisticated intellectual arguments about social networks, religion, crime, the role of the middle classes articulated to different processes of non-economic factors of economic development, the welfare state, relations of the labour market and poverty. The chapter reviews the ongoing dynamics of the bulk of European metropolises together with the differentiation processes taking place. The European city model has been rather reinforced in most European metropolises. The chapter argues that both contemporary urbanisation processes and the transformation of cities in Europe might be fruitfully explained in relation to social and political transformations as articulated in the Italian tradition of political economy than in terms of neoliberalisation.
An upstream enhancer regulating brown-fat-specific expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein gene

Previous studies on the regulation of a Ucp minigene in transgenic mice demonstrated that the sequences necessary for brown-fat-specific expression and inducibility by norepinephrine were located in the 5' flanking region between 1 and 2.8 kb from the transcriptional start site. We have investigated this region in more detail in cultured mouse brown adipocyte tumor cells. Deletion analysis of two types of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene constructs under control of either the Ucp promoter or a heterologous herpes simplex virus-tk promoter defined an enhancer in a 220-bp HindIII-XbaI fragment which was essential for both brown fat specificity and norepinephrine inducibility. Site-directed mutagenesis of the reporter gene constructs established that independent mutations to a cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE-2) or one of two TTCC motifs (BRE [brown fat regulatory element]), all within 17 bp, eliminated transient expression. Competitive DNA mobility shift assays with probes of the CRE and BRE motifs indicate that nuclear proteins interact with these motifs in a cooperative, synergistic manner. While these CRE-BRE probes do not show changes in binding which is dependent on norepinephrine treatment, a probe containing a third TTCC motif located 130 bp downstream of BRE-1 does show this dependency. The results indicate that a complex interaction of the CRE and BRE motifs, which cannot be functionally separated, control Ucp expression.
Characterization of the putative surface protein TLP in Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria, a complex illness caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, is an endemic disease that is responsible for approximately a half billion human infections and over two million deaths per year. Development of a potent malaria vaccine will be supported by a broader fundamental understanding of Plasmodium on both a molecular and cellular level. We intend to characterize the TRAP-Like Protein (TLP), a recently discovered putative surface protein conserved across multiple Plasmodium species. Due to TLP’s domain homology with Thrombospondin Related Adhesive Protein (TRAP), Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP) and Circumsporozoite-TRAPRelated Protein (CTRP), TLP is suspected to be involved in host cell recognition and invasion.
Prolonged ex vivo culture of cord blood CD34+ cells facilitates myeloid and megakaryocytic engraftment in the non‐obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mouse model

A clinical goal for ex vivo expansion of cord blood (CB) CD34+ cells is to shorten the period of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia following myeloablative therapy and transplantation. Prolongation of cytokine expansion leads to the production of greater numbers of cells, and should have an impact on neutrophil and platelet recovery. Furthermore, expansion of CD34+ cells should support the continued production of neutrophils and platelets in the 6‐week period following transplantation. We tested these hypotheses by characterization of the kinetics (human CD45+ cells in the blood) and phenotype (CD45, CD34, CD61, CD33, CD19 and CD3) of human engraftment in the non‐obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mouse (NOD–SCID) following 7 or 14 d of ex vivo expansion of CB CD34+ cells. Mice transplanted with 14 d cells showed greater percentages of human CD45+ cells in the blood, bone marrow and spleen than mice transplanted with unexpanded cells or 7 d cells. Prolonging cytokine exposure of CD34+ cells and transplantation with increasing numbers of input cells facilitated the production of absolute numbers of CD34+, CD33+, CD61+ and CD19+ cells in vivo. Furthermore, analysis of SCID engrafting potential showed that prolongation of culture duration facilitates in vivo expansion of CD45+, CD34+ and CD19+ cells after transplantation. It is anticipated that prolonged (2 weeks) ex vivo culture of CB will have a beneficial clinical effect.
Prioritizing Spatially Aggregated Cost-Effective Sites in Natural Reserves to Mitigate Human-Induced Threats: A Case Study of the Qinghai Plateau, China

Anthropogenic activities often lead to the degradation of valuable natural habitats. Many efforts have been taken to counteract this degradation process, including the mitigation of human-induced stressors. However, knowing-doing gaps exist in stakeholder’s decision-making of prioritizing sites to allocate limited resources in these mitigation activities in both spatially aggregated and cost-effective manner. In this study, we present a spatially explicit prioritization framework that integrates basic cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) and spatial clustering statistics. The advantages of the proposed framework lie in its straightforward logic and ease of implementation to assist stakeholders in the identification of threat mitigation actions that are both spatially clumped and cost-effective using innovative prioritization indicators. We compared the utility of three local autocorrelation-based clustering statistics, including local Moran’s I, Getis-Ord Gi*, and AMOEBA, in quantifying the spatial aggregation of identified sites under given budgets. It is our finding that the CEA method produced threat mitigation sites that are more cost-effective but are dispersed in space. Spatial clustering statistics could help identify spatially aggregated management sites with only minor loss in cost effectiveness. We concluded that integrating basic CEA with spatial clustering statistics provides stakeholders with straightforward and reliable information in prioritizing spatially clustered cost-effective actions for habitat threat mitigation.
In and Out of Balance: Industry Relatedness, Learning Capabilities and Post‐Acquisition Innovative Performance

The existence of an inverted U‐shaped effect of the relatedness between acquirer and acquired firm on the innovative performance subsequent to an acquisition is normally regarded as indicative of the existence of a trade‐off between exploration and exploitation in external innovation search. We argue that acquirers endowed with heterogeneous learning capabilities can alter the shape of the trade‐off to their favour. In particular, we focus on a notion of industry relatedness that captures the coherence between the domains of operation of the acquirer and the acquired firm. Using a longitudinal dataset of 1,736 domestic acquisitions in the Netherlands, we show that the heterogeneous learning capabilities of the acquirers alter the shape of the inverted‐U relationship, according to first‐ and second‐order moderating effects. Our results confirm that learning capabilities by internal R&D and by acquisition experience both improve what acquirers can achieve in innovative performance when industry relatedness is at the point of balance between exploration and exploitation. In contrast, they have opposite implications on the potential losses in innovative performance when industry relatedness is outside the point of balance: internal R&D increases the tolerance of the trade‐off, smoothing out potential innovation losses, whereas acquisition experience reduces it.
Vascular remodeling and media calcification increases arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease

Abstract Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Arterial stiffness and calcification are non-traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease in CKD. In CKD rats, we investigated the involvement of smooth muscle cells differentiation to osteoblast-like cells and blood vessel wall remodeling, associated with media calcification, in arterial stiffness. Method: CKD with vascular calcification was induced by subtotal nephrectomy followed by treatment with a high calcium and phosphate diet, and vitamin D supplementation (Ca/P/VitD). At week 3–6, hemodynamic parameters and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed. Vascular media calcification and remodeling were determined by histological von Kossa staining and confocal immunofluorescence analysis of osteocalcin, elastin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen-1. Results: Treatment of CKD rats with Ca/P/VitD, but not normal animals, induced a significant increase in pulse pressure and PWV (p < 0.05) and marked calcification in the media. In calcification areas, de novo expression of osteocalcin was observed, whereas α-SMA immunofluorescence levels were reduced (p < 0.01). The immunofluorescence levels of elastin were also reduced, which was related to disruption of elastic lamella. In contrast, collagen-1 immunofluorescence levels in areas of calcification were increased (p < 0.01). Changes in both α-SMA and elastin inversely correlated with the PWV. Conclusion: This study indicate that smooth muscle cells differentiation to osteoblast-like cells and the associated media remodeling, which includes disruption of elastic lamellas and deposition of collagen are, at least in part, associated with the increased arterial stiffness observed in CKD rats with vascular calcification.
Ermin, A Myelinating Oligodendrocyte-Specific Protein That Regulates Cell Morphology

Oligodendrocytes form an insulating multilamellar structure of compact myelin around axons, thereby allowing rapid propagation of action potentials. Despite the considerable clinical importance of myelination, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that enable oligodendrocytes to generate their specialized membrane wrapping. Here, we used microarray expression profiling of oligodendrocyte-ablated mutant mice to identify new glial molecules that are involved in CNS myelination. This effort resulted in the identification of Ermin, a novel cytoskeletal molecule that is exclusively expressed by oligodendrocytes. Ermin appears at a late stage during myelination, and in the mature nerves, it is localized to the outer cytoplasmic lip of the myelin sheath and the paranodal loops. In cultured oligodendrocytes, Ermin becomes visible in well differentiated MBP-positive cells, where it is concentrated at the tip of F-actinrich processes (termed “Ermin spikes”). Ectopic expression of Ermin, but not of a mutant protein lacking its actin-binding domain, induced the formation of numerous cell protrusions and a pronounced change in cell morphology. Our results demonstrate that Ermin is a novel marker of myelinating oligodendroglia and suggest that it plays a role in cytoskeletal rearrangements during the late wrapping and/or compaction phases of myelinogenesis.
The influence of post-exercise macronutrient intake on energy balance and protein metabolism in active females participating in endurance training.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of post-exercise macronutrient intake on weight loss, protein metabolism, and endurance exercise performance during a period of increased training volume. Ten healthy young female endurance athletes performed 4 60-min bouts of cycle ergometry at approximately 65% of VO2peak on 4 days (day 1, 3, 4, and 6) during 2 separate 1-week periods. On day 7, participants performed a ride to exhaustion at approximately 75% of VO2peak. One of the 7-day periods served as a control condition, where a placebo beverage was consumed following the exercise bouts on days 1, 3, 4, and 6 (CON). During the other 7-day protocol (POST), participants consumed a predefined formula beverage with added carbohydrate following the exercise bouts on days 1, 3, 4, and 6. Energy intake and macronutrient proportions were the same between the 2 trials; the only difference was the timing at which the macronutrients were consumed. Calculated fat oxidation was greater during exercise on day 6 during POST as compared to CON (p < .05). Glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly higher (p < .05) following exercise during POST as compared to CON. There was a trend (p = .06) for nitrogen balance to be greater on days 5 and 6 with POST as compared to CON. Time to exhaustion during exercise on day 7 was longer during POST as compared to CON (p < .05). POST resulted in a maintenance of body weight during the 7-day protocol, while there was a significant (p < .05) reduction with CON. It was concluded that post-exercise macronutrient intake following endurance exercise can attenuate reductions in body weight and improve nitrogen balance during 7 days of increased energy expenditure. Importantly, post-exercise supplementation improved time to exhaustion during a subsequent bout of endurance exercise.
Evaluation of assays for antibody to hepatitis E virus by a serum panel

Few data are available to evaluate the performance of existing assays for antibody to the hepatitis E virus (anti‐HEV). A panel of 164 randomized and coded sera was tested for anti‐HEV by 12 different assays. The panel included a dilution series of an early convalescent human serum, known‐positive sera (undiluted human sera obtained 2 months to 13 years after acute hepatitis E, and postinoculation chimpanzee sera), known‐negative sera (preinoculation chimpanzee sera; sera from chimpanzees with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus infection; and normal human sera), and sera obtained from previously tested U.S. blood donors without a history of hepatitis. Six tests detected anti‐HEV in ≥90% of undiluted known‐positive sera. The sensitivity of all of the assays with known‐positive sera ranged from 17% to 100%, and the limit of detection by endpoint dilution ranged from 1:5 to 1:160. Ten tests were nonreactive for all of the 22 known‐negative sera, one test was reactive for one serum, and one test was reactive for 5 sera. In pairwise comparisons of different tests in blood donor sera, the overall concordance ranged from 49% to 94% (median, 69%) and the concordance among reactive sera ranged from 0% to 89% (median, 32%). Several of these tests performed well in detecting anti‐HEV in known positive sera. However, highly discrepant results among U.S. blood donor sera indicate that anti‐HEV seroprevalence data in non–HEV‐endemic countries may be unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.
A magnetic resonance perspective of the pulse wave transit time by the Arteriograph device and potential for improving aortic length estimation for central pulse wave velocity

BackgroundSimple reproducible methods of measuring arterial stiffness, a powerful index of prognosis, are becoming available. AimTo compare the pulse wave transit time (TT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) between MRI and an arm cuff-based oscillometric method, the Arteriograph. Materials and methodsMRI phase-contrast data were acquired at the aortic arch and just above the aortic bifurcation in 49 men (age 53±6 years). Supine left-arm Arteriograph measurements were made after MRI using the surface sternal notch to symphysis pubis pathway length. ResultsMRI TT and PWV covered 86% of aortic root-bifurcation length omitting a mean 4.7 cm of proximal ascending aorta. Arteriograph TT (71±9 ms) was 6.6 ms [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9–9.4] or 10% higher than MRI (64±10 ms). Arteriograph PWV (7.9±1.3 m/s) was 1.33 m/s (95% CI 0.95–1.70) higher than MRI (6.6±1.2 m/s), primarily because the surface aortic length was 70 mm (95% CI 59–81) longer than MRI. Arteriograph–MRI PWV difference decreased to 0.31 m/s (95% CI 0.01–0.61) when Arteriograph PWV was calculated using the MRI aortic path length and to 0.25 m/s (95% CI −0.05 to 0.55) after correcting for the aortic segments omitted in the MRI method. After similar TT corrections for MRI, the Arteriograph–MRI difference in TT reduced to 3.2 ms (95% CI 0.2–6). ConclusionTT estimations by Arteriograph and MRI are close. More accurate length estimation from MRI-derived models improves Arteriograph PWV measurement.
Mutational analysis of the adeno-associated virus rep gene

The replication (rep) gene of the human parvovirus adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a pleiotropic effector of numerous viral functions and experts profound effects on cellular transformation. Of the four Rep proteins, the primarily nuclear Rep78 and Rep68 direct AAV DNA replication, trans activation of the capsid (cap) gene promoter, and inhibition of cellular proliferation mediated by various oncogenes. In an initial attempt to define functional domains in Rep78, we have constructed a comprehensive set of XhoI linker insertion and deletion mutations in the rep gene. Each of the mutant genes has been expressed in cell culture and assayed for the following functions: (i) nuclear localization, (ii) AAV DNA replication, (iii) trans activation of the AAV capsid gene transcription promoter, and (iv) suppression of cellular transformation mediated by the adenovirus E1a and an activated ras oncogene pair. Modest disruptions in the normal conformation of Rep78 inactivated its AAV DNA replication function and trans activation of the cap gene promoter. Linker insertion mutations in the amino-terminal one-third of the protein inactivated Rep78's ability to suppress oncogene-mediated cellular transformation. The transformation suppression domains are not limited to the amino-terminal regions, however, since deletions throughout the protein altered its suppression capabilities. A putative nuclear localization signal that is essential for each of the above functions was found in the Rep proteins. These results provide a preliminary screening of the functional domains in the AAV Rep proteins and pave the way for more subtle mutational analysis.
A new class of iterative equalizers for space-time BICM over MIMO block fading multipath AWGN channel

This paper addresses the issue of advanced equalization methods for space-time communications over multiple-input multiple-output block fading channel with intersymbol interference. Instead of resorting to conventional multiuser detection techniques (based on the straightforward analogy between antennas and users), we adopt a different point of view, and separate time equalization from space equalization, thus introducing a higher degree of freedom in the overall space-time equalizer design. Time-domain equalization relies on minimum mean-square error criterion and operates on multidimensional modulation symbols, whose individual components can be detected in accordance with another criterion. In particular, when the optimum maximum a posteriori criterion is chosen, substantial performance gains over conventional space-time turbo equalization have been observed for different transmission scenarios, at the price of an increased, albeit manageable, computational complexity.
Lmo4 and Other LIM domain only factors are necessary and sufficient for multiple retinal cell type development

Understanding the molecular basis by which distinct cell types are specified is a central issue in retinogenesis and retinal disease development. Here we examined the role of LIM domain only 4 (Lmo4) in retinal development using both gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function approaches. By immunostaining, Lmo4 was found to be expressed in mouse retina from E10.5 to mature stages. Retroviral delivery of Lmo4 into retinal progenitor cells could promote the amacrine, bipolar and Müller cell fates at the expense of photoreceptors. It also inhibited the fate of early‐born retinal ganglion cells. Using a dominant‐negative form of Lmo4 which suppresses transcriptional activities of all LIM domain only factors, we demonstrated that LIM domain only factors are both necessary and sufficient for promoting amacrine and bipolar cell development, but not for the differentiation of ganglion, horizontal, Müller, or photoreceptor cells. Taken together, our study uncovers multiple roles of Lmo4 during retinal development and demonstrates the importance of LIM domain only factors in ensuring proper retinal cell specification and differentiation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 900–915, 2016