Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Mean Shift Algorithm based Color Images Categorization and Searching

Interest in image retrieval has increased in large part due to the rapid growth of the World Wide Web. The explosive growth of digital image collections on the Web sites is calling for an efficient and intelligent method of browsing, searching, and retrieving images. Content-based image retrieval, a technique which uses visual contents to search images from large scale image databases according to user’s interests. In our approach, the color features are extracted using the mean shift algorithm, a robust clustering technique, which does not require prior knowledge of the number of clusters, and does not constrain the shape of the clusters. Dominant objects are obtained by performing region grouping of segmented thumbnails. The category for an image is generated automatically by analyzing the image for the presence of a dominant object. Categories described here are of statistical and syntactical descriptions rather than semantically. The images in the database are clustered based on region feature similarity using Euclidian distance. Placing an image into a category can help the user to navigate retrieval results more effectively. Extensive experimental results illustrate excellent performance.
Mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase protects human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells against oxidative stress

The neuroprotective effect of mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDPm), an enzyme involved in the reduction of NADP+ to NADPH and the supply of glutathione (GSH) in mitochondria, was examined using SH‐SY5Y cells overexpressing IDPm (S1). S1 cells showed higher NADPH and GSH levels than vector transfectant (V) cells and were more resistant to staurosporine‐induced cell death than controls. Staurosporine‐induced cytochrome c release, caspase‐3 activation, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly attenuated in S1 cells as compared to V cells and reduced by antioxidants, trolox and GSH‐ethyl ester (GSH‐EE). Staurosporine‐induced the release of Mcl‐1 from mitochondria that formed a complex with Bim. Mcl‐1 was then cleaved to a shortened form in a caspase‐3 dependent manner; its release was attenuated far more in S1 than in V cells after staurosporine treatment. Finally, the staurosporine‐induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was correlated with the time of mitochondrial Mcl‐1 release; the loss of Δψm was attenuated significantly in S1 cells as compared to that in V cells. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of IDPm may result from increases in NADPH and GSH levels in the mitochondria. This, in turn, inhibits mitochondrial ROS production after cytochrome c release, which seems to be mediated through Mcl‐1 release. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multi-layer and Multi-domain Network Orchestration and Provision of Virtual Views to Users

Recently, there are expectations for transport networks among wide area to provide paths dynamically applying Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for faster provisioning paths with low latency and high availability. However, transport networks are actually heterogeneous networks consisting of multiple layers and domains unlike data center networks where SDN have been applied. In addition, virtualization of network resources is also expected by applying SDN. We propose a network orchestrator based on ODENOS for orchestrating multi-layer and multi-domain networks and for providing virtual views to users. Proposed network orchestrator has four features. Firstly, a common data model is introduced for solving a problem of differences among layers and domains. Secondly, relations between layers/domains are managed for solving a problem about lack of managing relations between layers/domains. Thirdly, data model and interfaces are converted between the network orchestrator and layer/domain for solving a problem of differences of methods of path setup among layers/domains. Lastly, a virtual view is created for each user with separated topology based on an ID of each user for solving a problem about lack of a method to create separated views for each user. Results of performance evaluations show that the proposed network orchestrator can dynamically provide virtual views to users on demand.
A new mobility-based clustering algorithm for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs)

Clustering in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is a challenging issue due to the highly dynamic vehicle mobility and frequent communication disconnections problems. Recent years' research have proven that mobility-based clustering mechanisms considering speed, moving direction, position, destination and density, were more effective in improving cluster stability. In this paper, we propose a new mobility-based and stability-based clustering algorithm (MSCA) for urban city scenario, which makes use of vehicle's moving direction, relative position and link lifetime estimation. We evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm in terms of changing maximum lane speed and traffic flow rate. Our proposed algorithm performs well in terms of average cluster head lifetime and average number of clusters.
A variable P v broad absorption line and quasar outflow energetics

Broad absorption lines (BALs) in quasar spectra identify high-velocity outflows that might exist in all quasars and could play a major role in feedback to galaxy evolution. The viability of BAL outflows as a feedback mechanism depends on their kinetic energies, as derived from the outflow velocities, column densities, and distances from the central quasar. We estimate these quantities for the quasar, Q1413+1143 (redshift z_e = 2.56), aided by the first detection of P v λλ1118, 1128 BAL variability in a quasar. In particular, P v absorption at velocities where the C iv trough does not reach zero intensity implies that the C iv BAL is saturated and the absorber only partially covers the background continuum source (with characteristic size 750 km s^(−1) and a radial distance from the central black hole of ≲ 3.5 pc, if the crossing speeds are Keplerian. The total outflow mass is ∼4100 M_⊙, the kinetic energy ∼4 × 10^(54) erg, and the ratio of the outflow kinetic energy luminosity to the quasar bolometric luminosity is ∼0.02 (at the minimum column density and maximum distance), which might be sufficient for important feedback to the quasar's host galaxy.
Grazing Affects Exosomal Circulating MicroRNAs in Cattle

Circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) are associated with physiological adaptation to acute and chronic aerobic exercise in humans. To investigate the potential effect of grazing movement on miRNA circulation in cattle, here we profiled miRNA expression in centrifugally prepared exosomes from the plasma of both grazing and housed Japanese Shorthorn cattle. Microarray analysis of the c-miRNAs resulted in detection of a total of 231 bovine exosomal miRNAs in the plasma, with a constant expression level of let-7g across the duration and cattle groups. Expression of muscle-specific miRNAs such as miR-1, miR-133a, miR-206, miR-208a/b, and miR-499 were undetectable, suggesting the mildness of grazing movement as exercise. According to validation by quantitative RT-PCR, the circulating miR-150 level in the grazing cattle normalized by the endogenous let-7g level was down-regulated after 2 and 4 months of grazing (P < 0.05), and then its levels in housed and grazing cattle equalized when the grazing cattle were returned to a housed situation. Likewise, the levels of miR-19b, miR-148a, miR-221, miR-223, miR-320a, miR-361, and miR-486 were temporarily lowered in the cattle at 1 and/or 2 month of grazing compared to those of the housed cattle (P < 0.05). In contrast, the miR-451 level was up-regulated in the grazing cattle at 2 months of grazing (P = 0.044). The elevation of miR-451 level in the plasma was coincident with that in the biceps femoris muscle of the grazing cattle (P = 0.008), which suggests the secretion or intake of miR-451 between skeletal muscle cells and circulation during grazing. These results revealed that exosomal c-miRNAs in cattle were affected by grazing, suggesting their usefulness as molecular grazing markers and functions in physiological adaptation of grazing cattle associated with endocytosis, focal adhesion, axon guidance, and a variety of intracellular signaling, as predicted by bioinformatic analysis.
Machine Translation status in India: an experimental analysis of question paper translation

In a country like India where 22 languages are constitutionally accepted presents a language barrier among people. For better communication, a number of Machine Translation systems between a variety of language pairs have been developed, many of these systems are domain specific. These researches have though helped in reducing the language barrier to some extent, a lot more research needs to be done to develop MT systems in a number of unexplored and emerging domains. This paper first takes an overview of the status of MT systems in India across domains and language pairs and then discusses the requirement of an MT system for an unexplored domain i.e. question paper translation. We performed an experimental analysis of translation of a set of 100 questions (taken from various sources) from English to Hindi using three popular MT systems (Google translator, Bing and SDL translator). Our test results using BLEU metric show that translation accuracy of these systems is poor. The results clearly emphasize the need of suitable MT system for domain specific translations such as question paper translation.
Efficient processing of wireless read-only transactions in data broadcast

We address the issue of ensuring consistency of multiple data items requested in a certain order by read-only transactions in wireless data broadcast. To handle the inherent property in a data broadcast environment that data can only be accessed strictly sequential by users, we explore a predeclaration-based query optimization and devise two practical transaction processing methods in the context of local caching. We also evaluate the performance of the proposed methods by an analytical study. Evaluation results show that the predeclaration technique we introduce reduces response time significantly and adapts to dynamic changes in workload.
Speckle reduction in ultrasound images using an improved conductance function based on Anisotropic Diffusion

Pre-processing of breast ultrasound images is a necessary pre-requisite for development of computer-aided detection (CADe) techniques for breast cancer. This requires effective suppression of speckle content prior to the application of any enhancement algorithm. This paper presents an approach to modify the diffusion coefficient of existing Anisotropic Diffusion (AD) filter. The proposed approach requires incorporation of hyperbolic tangent as a conductance function in the diffusion coefficient. This aids in effective filtering of speckle along with preservation of textural content. Promising values of performance parameters advocate the efficiency of the proposed speckle reduction approach.
NOD/SCID-GAMMA Mice Are an Ideal Strain to Assess the Efficacy of Therapeutic Agents Used in the Treatment of Myeloma Bone Disease

Animal models of multiple myeloma vary in terms of consistency of onset, degree of tumour burden and degree of myeloma bone disease. Here we describe five pre-clinical models of myeloma in NOD/SCID-GAMMA mice to specifically study the effects of therapeutic agents on myeloma bone disease. Groups of 7–8 week old female irradiated NOD/SCID-GAMMA mice were injected intravenously via the tail vein with either 1x106 JJN3, U266, XG-1 or OPM-2 human myeloma cell lines or patient-derived myeloma cells. At the first signs of morbidity in each tumour group all animals were sacrificed. Tumour load was measured by histological analysis, and bone disease was assessed by micro-CT and standard histomorphometric methods. Mice injected with JJN3, U266 or OPM-2 cells showed high tumour bone marrow infiltration of the long bones with low variability, resulting in osteolytic lesions. In contrast, mice injected with XG-1 or patient-derived myeloma cells showed lower tumour bone marrow infiltration and less bone disease with high variability. Injection of JJN3 cells into NOD/SCID-GAMMA mice resulted in an aggressive, short-term model of myeloma with mice exhibiting signs of morbidity 3 weeks later. Treating these mice with zoledronic acid at the time of tumour cell injection or once tumour was established prevented JJN3-induced bone disease but did not reduce tumour burden, whereas, carfilzomib treatment given once tumour was established significantly reduced tumour burden. Injection of U266, XG-1, OPM-2 and patient-derived myeloma cells resulted in less aggressive longer-term models of myeloma with mice exhibiting signs of morbidity 8 weeks later. Treating U266-induced disease with zoledronic acid prevented the formation of osteolytic lesions and trabecular bone loss as well as reducing tumour burden whereas, carfilzomib treatment only reduced tumour burden. In summary, JJN3, U266 or OPM-2 cells injected into NOD/SCID-GAMMA mice provide robust models to study anti-myeloma therapies, particularly those targeting myeloma bone disease.
Implementing large projects in software engineering courses

In software engineering education, large projects are widely recognized as a useful way of exposing students to the real-world difficulties of team software development. But large projects are difficult to put into practice. First, educators rarely have additional time to manage software projects. Second, classrooms have inherent limitations that threaten the realism of large projects. Third, quantitative evaluation of individuals who work in groups is notoriously difficult. As a result, many software engineering courses compromise the project experience by reducing the team sizes, project scope, and risk. In this paper, we present an approach to teaching a one-semester software engineering course in which 20 to 30 students work together to construct a moderately sized (15 KLOC) software system. The approach combines carefully coordinated lectures and homeworks, a hierarchical project management structure, modern communication technologies, and a web-based project tracking and individual assessment system. Our approach provides a more realistic project experience for the students, without incurring significant additional overhead for the instructor. We present our experiences using the approach the last 2 years for the software engineering course at The College of William and Mary. Although the approach has some weaknesses, we believe that they are strongly outweighed by the pedagogical benefits.
Novel Harmful Recessive Haplotypes Identified for Fertility Traits in Nordic Holstein Cattle

Using genomic data, lethal recessives may be discovered from haplotypes that are common in the population but never occur in the homozygote state in live animals. This approach only requires genotype data from phenotypically normal (i.e. live) individuals and not from the affected embryos that die. A total of 7,937 Nordic Holstein animals were genotyped with BovineSNP50 BeadChip and haplotypes including 25 consecutive markers were constructed and tested for absence of homozygotes states. We have identified 17 homozygote deficient haplotypes which could be loosely clustered into eight genomic regions harboring possible recessive lethal alleles. Effects of the identified haplotypes were estimated on two fertility traits: non-return rates and calving interval. Out of the eight identified genomic regions, six regions were confirmed as having an effect on fertility. The information can be used to avoid carrier-by-carrier mattings in practical animal breeding. Further, identification of causative genes/polymorphisms responsible for lethal effects will lead to accurate testing of the individuals carrying a lethal allele.
Avalanche Multiplication and Breakdown in Ga In P Diodes

The electron and hole photomultiplication character- istics and have been measured in a series of Ga In P devices with high field regions ranging from 2.0 m down to the depletion width of a heavily doped p-n junction. The hole ionization coefficient is found to be slightly higher than the electron ionization coefficient at low fields but at high fields they approach one another. and are found to be significantly lower than in GaAs across the entire range of electric fields studied, and the breakdown voltage of Ga In P is approximately 1.9 times higher than for similar GaAs structures. Contrary to the behavior observed in GaAs, the multiplication characteristics in all except the thinnest structures appear to be relatively unaffected by the dead space, the minimum distance required to gain sufficient energy to initiate impact ionization. In these very thin structures, a local description of multiplication cannot account for the ionization behavior accurately, and therefore, a Monte Carlo (MC) model has been used to reproduce the measured multiplication characteristics and extract the ionization coefficients. In this paper, we report detailed measurements of photo- multiplication characteristics performed on Ga In P p-i-n diodes with nominal -region thicknesses from 2 m down to 0.1 m and on a heavily doped p-n junction. From these, we deduce the ionization coefficients over a wide electric field range and also demonstrate the influence of the dead space. Conventional analytical models are unsuitable for modeling the multiplication characteristics in the thinner structures as they are incapable of accounting accurately for the dead space. However, a simple Monte Carlo (MC) model is shown to give good agreement with the measured multiplication characteristics, thereby allowing us to determine and at higher fields.
Vaccine-Induced Protection of Rhesus Macaques against Plasma Viremia after Intradermal Infection with a European Lineage 1 Strain of West Nile Virus

The mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) causes human and animal disease with outbreaks in several parts of the world including North America, the Mediterranean countries, Central and East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Particularly in elderly people and individuals with an impaired immune system, infection with WNV can progress into a serious neuroinvasive disease. Currently, no treatment or vaccine is available to protect humans against infection or disease. The goal of this study was to develop a WNV-vaccine that is safe to use in these high-risk human target populations. We performed a vaccine efficacy study in non-human primates using the contemporary, pathogenic European WNV genotype 1a challenge strain, WNV-Ita09. Two vaccine strategies were evaluated in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using recombinant soluble WNV envelope (E) ectodomain adjuvanted with Matrix-M, either with or without DNA priming. The DNA priming immunization was performed with WNV-DermaVir nanoparticles. Both vaccination strategies successfully induced humoral and cellular immune responses that completely protected the macaques against the development of viremia. In addition, the vaccine was well tolerated by all animals. Overall, The WNV E protein adjuvanted with Matrix-M is a promising vaccine candidate for a non-infectious WNV vaccine for use in humans, including at-risk populations.
Constructing Gyro-free Inertial Measurement Unit from Dual Accelerometers for Gesture Detection

Inertial measurement unit for gesture-based interface is characterized by short sampling time and lower cumulative errors, which indicates that MEMS sensors are suitable for gesture motion detection. This paper presents a configuration scheme of gyro-free micro inertial measurement unit based on dual MEMS accelerometers, and corresponding methods for calculating angular rates and linear accelerations. The unit is constructed from two triaxial MEMS accelerometers with the near-symmetrical layout; two-value solution space of angular rates can be obtained by differential method, by introducing an energy function, the optimum estimation of angular rates can be achieved by solving a convex optimization problem related to function regression; for raising accuracy, Kalman filtering method is used for denoising arguments by defining proper state & observation equations. The unit is small and comparatively easy to hold for its near-symmetrical structure along major axis; corresponding algorithm is free from cumulative errors and easy for implementation. The simulation results show that the scheme and related algorithms are feasible and effective. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
An Assessment of Training in and Practice of Culturally Competent Suicide Assessment

Recent scholars have criticized the extant training and practice of suicide-risk assessment (SRA) as insufficient in terms of cultural competence (CC), arguing that advancements are needed in assessment tools and guidelines for training and practice in detecting suicide risk with diverse clients. These criticisms, however, have been based largely on conjecture. Data regarding barriers to or the extent of culturally competent suicide-risk-assessment (CCSRA) training and practice have been nonexistent. Aims of the current study were to assess the degree of training and practice in CCSRA among a random nationwide sample of 161 licensed doctoral-level psychologists. Results indicated that participants reported a bare minimum amount of training, lower diversity in, and fewer types of CCSRA training compared with general CC or SRA training. Even though psychologists in the current sample believed a patient’s cultural background moderately to very much impacts level of suicide risk, they reported that cultural factors are only slightly to moderately incorporated in SRA practices. In addition, participants reported low comfort in employing CCSRA into practice. A mixed-methods approach identified 4 predominant barriers to practice, listed in order of importance: insufficient training, lack of knowledge and awareness, lack of experience with cultural minority clients, and a lack of practice guidelines. Participants who graduated after 2002 reported receiving more training and being more comfortable with general CC, but not CCSRA practice. Results suggest that standardized guidelines and training are necessary to advance doctoral training and practice in CCSRA.
Extracting knowledge and computable models from data - needs, expectations, and experience

In modern industrial manufacturing, a great amount of data is gathered to monitor and analyze a given production process. Intelligent analysis of such data helps to reveal as much information about the production process as possible. This information is most useful if it is available in the form of interpretable and predictive models. Such models can be generated from data by means of (fuzzy logic based) machine learning methods. In this contribution we will describe industrial applications in the areas of process optimization and quality control where we have successfully established machine-learning methods as intelligent data analysis tools. Based on these applications, we will report the characteristics of machine-learning tools which according to our experience support successful applications in an industrial environment. Furthermore we describe some methodical aspects resulting from this applications.