Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monocular 3D structure estimation for urban scenes

We propose a 3D structure estimation framework that adopts the slanted-planes representation in order to provide a dense estimation. The proposed approach fuses sparse 3D reconstructed point cloud obtained using several feature matching methods and noisy dense optical flow in order to perform accurate structure fitting and visually appealing results. We formulate the problem as a weighted total least square model that takes into account the occlusion boundaries between neighboring planes. We also propose an extended flow-based superpixel segmentation which is adaptive to the sparse feature points density for more balanced reconstruction. To validate our approach, we present 3D models obtained using the KITTI dataset [1] compared with other methods.
Agricultural Academy ENHANCEMENT OF XYLANASE PRODUCTION BY SOL-GEL IMMOBILIZATION OF ASPERGILLUS AWAMORI K-1

YORDANOVA, M. , Y. EVSTATIEVA, G. CHERNEV, S. ILIEVA, R. DENKOVA and D. NIKOLOVA, 2013. Enhancement of xylanase production by sol-gel immobilization of Aspergillus awamori K-1. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., Supplement 2, 19: 117–119 Technological potential of Aspergillus awamori species is of particular interest in the investigation of new methods for increasing the cell viability and xylanase activity. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the immobilization of Aspergillus awamori K-1 cells for higher xylanase production using sol-gel encapsulation in hybrid matrices composed of tetraethylorthosilicate as an inorganic precursor, 5% xylan and 5, 10 or 15% calcium alginate as organic compounds. The enzyme synthesis of immobilized cells under batch fermentation conditions were compared with xylanase activity of free cell culture used as control. According to the results, culture immobilized in hybrid matrix composed of tetraethylorthosilicate and 5% calcium alginate was found to display xylanase activity of 28,88 IU.ml-1 higher than the control enzyme activity of 22,04 IU.ml-1. In contrast to the free cell culture, immobilized cells retain their viability and biosynthetic capabilities during continuous fermentation processes.
Dynamic Analysis and Optimization of Parallel Manipulator

Electromechanical coupling dynamic model of parallel manipulator is a kind of a complicated electrome- chanical system which is multi-input, multi-output, nonlinear and strong coupling, There is not a perfect method to calculate dynamic modeling and simulation of parallel manipulator at present. 6UPS-parallel manipulator dynamic model was set up by Lagrange method; PID position controller was designed; the controller parameters were optimized by inertia weight adaptive particle swarm optimization in the article. It was proved that the modeling of electromechanical coupling dynamic model was right and the manipulator was controlled well by the controller through the simulation result of computer
Estimating the Impact of Immigrants on the Host Country Social Security System When Return Migration is an Endogenous Choice

In this paper, I estimate the fiscal impact of immigrants on the German pension insurance (PI) and unemployment insurance (UI) systems when return migration is an endogenous choice. For this purpose, I develop a dynamic stochastic model of joint return migration and saving decisions that accounts for uncertainty in future employment and income and estimate this model using a longitudinal data set on immigrants from five different source countries. I find that allowing for the endogeneity of the return decision makes a substantial difference in the net gain of the PI and UI systems from immigrants. Exogenous return migration – which has been the practice of the literature so far – underestimates the net gain for almost all demographic groups and the amount of underestimation is remarkable for several demographic groups. In addition, age-at-arrival profiles of net contributions of immigrants – which form the basis of suggestions on selective immigration policies in the literature – are rotated significantly. Finally, a counterfactual policy experiment in which cash bonuses are provided conditional on return to unemployed immigrants turns out be ineffective in terms of reducing the burden on the state coffers for most demographic groups.
Efficacy of 3,5‐dibromo‐L‐phenylalanine in rat models of stroke, seizures and sensorimotor gating deficit

Background and purpose: Abnormal glutamatergic activity is implicated in neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Selective glutamate receptor antagonists were highly effective in animal models of stroke and seizures but failed in further clinical development because of serious side effects, including an almost complete set of symptoms of schizophrenia. Therefore, the novel polyvalent glutamatergic agent 3,5‐dibromo‐L‐phenylalanine (3,5‐DBr‐L‐Phe) was studied in rat models of stroke, seizures and sensorimotor gating deficit.
An efficient implicit‐explicit adaptive time stepping scheme for multiple‐time scale problems in shear zone development

Problems associated with shear zone development in the lithosphere involve features of widely different time scales, since the gradual buildup of stress leads to rapid and localized shear instability. These phenomena have a large stiffness in time domain and cannot be solved efficiently by a single time‐integration scheme. This conundrum has forced us to use an adaptive time‐stepping scheme, in particular, the adaptive time‐stepping scheme (ATS) where the former is adopted for stages of quasi‐static deformation and the latter for stages involving short time scale nonlinear feedback. To test the efficiency of this adaptive scheme, we compared it with implicit and explicit schemes for two different cases involving: (1) shear localization around the predefined notched zone and (2) asymmetric shear instability from a sharp elastic heterogeneity. The ATS resulted in a stronger localization of shear zone than the other two schemes. We report that usual implicit time step strategy cannot properly simulate the shear heating due to a large discrepancy between rates of overall deformation and instability propagation around the shear zone. Our comparative study shows that, while the overall patterns of the ATS are similar to those of a single time‐stepping method, a finer temperature profile with greater magnitude can be obtained with the ATS. The ability to model an accurate temperature distribution around the shear zone may have important implications for more precise timing of shear rupturing.
Gadd34 Requirement for Normal Hemoglobin Synthesis

ABSTRACT The protein encoded by growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible transcript 34 (Gadd34) is associated with translation initiation regulation following certain stress responses. Through interaction with the protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit (PP1c), Gadd34 recruits PP1c for the removal of an inhibitory phosphate group on the α subunit of elongation initiation factor 2, thereby reversing the shutoff of protein synthesis initiated by stress-inducible kinases. In the absence of stress, the physiologic consequences of Gadd34 function are not known. Initial analysis of Gadd34-null mice revealed several significant findings, including hypersplenism, decreased erythrocyte volume, increased numbers of circulating erythrocytes, and decreased hemoglobin content, resembling some thalassemia syndromes. Biochemical analysis of the hemoglobin-producing reticulocyte (an erythrocyte precursor) revealed that the decreased hemoglobin content in the Gadd34-null erythrocyte is due to the reduced initiation of the globin translation machinery. We propose that an equilibrium state exists between Gadd34/PP1c and the opposing heme-regulated inhibitor kinase during hemoglobin synthesis in the reticulocyte.
A characterization of ARMA and Fractional ARIMA models with infinitely divisible innovations.

The object of this paper is to study the asymptotic dependence structure of the linear time series models with infinitely divisible innovations by the use of their characteristic functions. Autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) models and fractional autoregressive integrated moving-average (FARIMA) models are analyzed. As examples of infinitely divisible innovations, the class of radially absolute continuous distributions and general non-symmetric stable distributions are considered. The finite dimensional distributionsn of these models are also obtained.
Identifying Indicators of Fake Reviews Based on Spammer's Behavior Features

In the enterprise marketing process, on-line data plays more and more important role. As a type of data, spam (or fake) reviews of the products, however, have been seriously affecting the reliability of both decision making and data analysis of the enterprise. To detect spam reviews, the paper presents a set of opinion spam detection's identification indicators based on behavior features of the spammer. Two algorithms are then proposed to recognize similar reviews and relevant reviews from all reviews. Compared to the traditional algorithm, our review identification algorithm achieves shorter execution time. More importantly, the proposed algorithm for recognizing relevant reviews can be used to analyze the relevancy between the review content and the given review topic by using the automatic word segmentation technique. The Experimental results show that the number of fake reviews by our algorithms is higher than that of the traditional algorithm. Moreover, we found that about 46% of the mobile phone reviews on the Amazon website were irrelevant to the product's topic, and 54.7% of the reviews were similar to other reviews.
Teacher Perceptions of Student Needs and Implications for Positive Behavior Supports

ABSTRACT: The practices of school-wide positive behavior supports (SWPBS) are dependent on teachers to implement them in their classrooms; thus, gaining the “buy-in” and support of teachers is a critical step in reaching full, building-wide implementation. One step toward achieving this support may be to gain a better understanding of the perceptions and practices of teachers. To this end, 69 preservice and practicing teachers were provided four fictitious student scenarios and asked to describe potential social, behavioral, emotional, and academic needs and the method in which they would address the needs of these students. Written responses were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, and major themes related to social, emotional, and behavioral supports were identified. Across all responses, we noted both common themes and tensions in teacher perceptions that may have important implications for SWPBS. Differences in responses were noted by level of teaching experience. Different trends were also noted in the responses of teachers in schools implementing SWPBS and those in schools without SWPBS. Detailed results, study limitations, and implications for future research are discussed.
Software Toolchain for Large-Scale RE-NFA Construction on FPGA

We present a software toolchain for constructing large-scale regular expression matching (REM) on FPGA. The software automates the conversion of regular expressions into compact and high-performance nondeterministic finite automata (RE-NFA). Each RENFA is described as an RTL regular expression matching engine (REME) in VHDL for FPGA implementation. Assuming a fixed number of fan-out transitions per state, an n-state m-bytes-per-cycle RE-NFA can be constructed in O(n × m) time and O(n × m) memory by our software. A large number of RE-NFAs are placed onto a two-dimensional staged pipeline, allowing scalability to thousands of RE-NFAs with linear area increase and little clock rate penalty due to scaling. On a PC with a 2 GHz Athlon64 processor and 2 GB memory, our prototype software constructs hundreds of RE-NFAs used by Snort in less than 10 seconds. We also designed a benchmark generator which can produce RE-NFAs with configurable pattern complexity parameters, including state count, state fan-in, loop-back and feed-forward distances. Several regular expressions with various complexities are used to test the performance of our RE-NFA construction software.
Methods for Obtaining Corresponding Phrase Structure and Dependency Grammars

Two methods are given for converting grammars belonging to different systems. One converts a simple (context-free) phrase structure grammar (SPG) into a corresponding dependency grammar (DG); the other converts a DG into a corresponding SPG. The structures assigned to a string by a source grammar will correspond systematically, though a symmetrically, to those assigned by the target grammar resulting from its conversion. Since both systems are weakly equivalent, generating exactly the CF languages, the methods facilitate experimentation with either notation in devising rules for any CF language or any CF set of strings designed to undergo subsequent transformation.
Ellipsoidal invariant sets for saturated hybrid systems

The paper addresses the problem of characterizing and computing an estimation of the basin of attraction for saturated hybrid systems. Hybrid systems presenting saturation on signals involved in both the continuous-time and the discrete-time dynamics are considered. A geometrical characterization of local convergence is provided and employed to extend results proper of continuous-time and discrete-time saturated systems to the hybrid ones. A computation oriented condition of local convergence is given in form of convex constraints.
Deciphering the Antibodyome - Peptide Arrays for Serum Antibody Biomarker Diagnostics

The analysis of antibodies in human serum is an established technique in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious as well as autoimmune diseases. The multitude of antibody reactions towards pathogens and likewise the antibody profile in autoimmune diseases does contain a wealth of proteomic (antibody) data that may constitute valuable diagnostic infor- mation with relevance for the patient's prognosis and response to therapy. Hence the use of antibodies as diagnostic bio- markers may be one of the most promising strategies to identify patient subgroups. The presence or absence of antibodies directed against specific epitopes could represent a serologic biomarker that is able to predict the severity of a disease and assist in medical decision making. In addition, parallel detection of many different antibodies in a serum sample would be of great value in many areas of basic immunological research. Peptide arrays displaying biologically active small syn- thetic peptides in either low, medium or high-density formats represent an attractive technology to probe complex serum samples for the presence of such antibody analytes. Holding the unique capacity to break down the heterogeneous immu- nologic response into monoclonal antibody specificities and to differentiate subtle changes in antibody abundance and specificity, the peptide array technology by far extends the diagnostic potential of any conventional serologic assay. To- gether with an unrivalled parallelity, peptide (micro)array analysis opens new perspectives for the novel use of antibodies as diagnostic biomarkers and provides unique access to a more differentiated serological diagnosis. This review recapitu- lates the development of the peptide array technology with a focus on recent advances and current state of the art plat- forms for antibody diagnostics. Latest applications of peptide arrays for the serologic diagnosis of infectious diseases, autoimmunity and allergy are discussed, and conclusions for future developments and implications are drawn.
Interpersonal Communication: Competence and Contexts

Part I. The Basics Chapter 1: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication Chapter 2: Perception Part II. Communication and the Self: Chapter 3: Self Concept and Communication Chapter 4: Emotions and Communication Chapter 5: Verbal Communication Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication Part III. Communication with Others Chapter 7: Communication Style and Conversation Chapter 8: Listening and Confirming Communication Chapter 9: Communication Climate, Disconfirming Messages, and Setting Boundaries Part IV. Communication and Relationships Chapter 10: Interpersonal Relationships Chapter 11: Interpersonal Conflict
Best Practices for English Language Learners in Massachusetts: Five Years After The Question 2 Mandate

Educating English language learners (ELLs) presents a challenge for teachers and policy makers; the population of ELLs increases, yet their achievement trails that of their native English-speaking peers. In November 2002, Massachusetts voters supported a law that mandated Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) as the primary means of instruction for ELLs, effectively ending transitional bilingual education. This report examines key considerations in educating ELLs, and in implementing SEI in Massachusetts schools. It also presents case studies of three schools making significant strides with ELLs through innovative programming built around SEI methods yet maintaining important bilingual education practices that promote educational equity. Cross-case analysis identified themes about strategic data use, staff recruitment, and supports for students and families.
Complexity and Demographic Explanations of Cumulative Culture

Formal models have linked prehistoric and historical instances of technological change (e.g., the Upper Paleolithic transition, cultural loss in Holocene Tasmania, scientific progress since the late nineteenth century) to demographic change. According to these models, cumulation of technological complexity is inhibited by decreasing— while favoured by increasing—population levels. Here we show that these findings are contingent on how complexity is defined: demography plays a much more limited role in sustaining cumulative culture in case formal models deploy Herbert Simon's definition of complexity rather than the particular definitions of complexity hitherto assumed. Given that currently available empirical evidence doesn't afford discriminating proper from improper definitions of complexity, our robustness analyses put into question the force of recent demographic explanations of particular episodes of cultural change.
Impact of neglect on functional outcome after stroke: a review of methodological issues and recent research findings.

PURPOSE This study provides an update on recent research findings concerning neglect and its impact on functional outcome. The review covers studies published during the past ten years. METHODS A systematic review was carried out on reports drawn from electronic databases (MEDLINE and PSYCHLIT, January 1996 - August 2005) and identified from the lists of references in these reports. Unpublished reports, articles in other than the English language, and studies with non-human and non-adult subjects were excluded. The selection criteria were met by 26 articles. RESULTS 15 of the 26 studies recruited heterogeneous patient groups (patients with right and left and/or unspecified lesions). The results from homogeneous groups (right hemisphere patients) were more consistent, emphasizing neglect as an independent predictor of functional outcome. Studies with homogeneous patient groups used consecutive series of patients, standardized measures of neglect, and a broader concept of functional outcome (both motor and cognitive items) than those with heterogeneous patient groups. Follow-ups longer than one year were very rare. CONCLUSIONS Neglect has a significant negative impact on functional outcome, either as an independent predictive factor or in connection with other variables. The results, however, are inevitably affected by differences in patient samples and in the methods used in assessing neglect and functional outcome. Research focusing on homogeneous patient groups and especially on left hemisphere patients is needed. Neglect should be assessed with a standardized test battery rather than a single test, and functional outcome should be measured with scales consisting of cognitive, social and motor items. Also longer follow-ups are needed to verify the long-term functional outcome of neglect patients.
Salmonella typhimurium initiates murine infection by penetrating and destroying the specialized epithelial M cells of the Peyer's patches

Salmonella species are known to initiate infection of mammalian hosts by penetrating the intestinal epithelium of the small bowel. These bacteria preferentially interact with Peyer's patches which are collections of lymphoid follicles making up the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. We infected murine ligated intestinal loops with invasive and noninvasive Salmonella typhimurium strains for 30, 60, 120, and 180 min and examined the infected tissue by transmission electron microscopy. Within 30 min, we found that invasive S. typhimurium exclusively entered M cells found within the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of the Peyer's patches. Initially, interactions between invasive bacteria and enterocytes adjacent to the M cells were not found. Invasion of M cells was associated with the ability of the bacteria to invade tissue culture cells. S. typhimurium mutants, which were noninvasive for tissue culture cells, could not be found in ligated loops associated with M cells or enterocytes after incubations of 30, 60, 120, or 180 min. At 60 min, internalized invasive S. typhimurium were cytotoxic for the M cells. Destruction of an M cell formed a gap in the FAE which allowed organisms to invade enterocytes adjacent to the dead cell. Later in the infection process (120 and 180 min), the presence of bacteria beneath the FAE correlated with changes in the cytoarchitecture of the lymphoid follicle. In addition, replicating Salmonella began to enter both the apical and basolateral surfaces of enterocytes adjacent to infected M cells.
The Association of Gender and Socioeconomic Position with Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents

The Association of Gender and Socioeconomic Position with Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents by Quentin M. Oliphant MS, United States Sports Academy, 1997 BS, Upper Iowa University, 1993 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health
Online secondary path modelling in wave-domain active noise control

The performance of an ANC system largely depends on the availability of an accurate secondary path model. This is however a major challenge in multichannel ANC where the computational complexity increases significantly with the number of secondary sources and error sensors. This paper proposes wave-domain adaptive processing algorithm for multichannel ANC with online secondary modelling to cancel a tonal noise over a region of space within a reverberant room. The design is based on exploiting a special property of the secondary path model in the wave domain. A feedback control system is implemented, where a single microphone array is placed at the boundary of the control region to measure the residual signals, and a loudspeaker array reproduces secondary sources to generate the anti-noise signals and auxiliary noise for secondary path modelling. Through experimental verification in comparison with existing methods the proposed algorithm demonstrates more efficient adaptation with low-level auxiliary noise.