Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Video realistic avatar for virtual face-to-face conferencing

Facial animation standardized by MPEG-4 provides a common form of description and transmission for talking head related applications. With animated talking heads, a virtual conferencing system can be created by providing a 3-D virtual environment for face-to-face communication and casual navigation. Not only bit-rate consumption is reduced, 3-D visualization is also provided which greatly improves the sense of presence when compared to conventional video conferencing system. An integrated architecture is presented by taking advantage of 2-D video coding and 3-D model-based coding to create video realistic avatars for virtual face-to-face conferencing system. Preliminary experimental results indicate more than 4 dB improvement in PSNR can be achieved at the same bit rate when compared to conventional video coding. The incorporation of 3-D facial models also enables rendering from arbitrary viewpoints for use in a virtual conferencing system.
A primary study on the thermophilic fungi from pile-fermentation of Pu-er tea

This study isolated 8 thermophilic fungi from pile-fermentation of Pu-er tea, and identified as Rhizomucor pusillus (4 strains), Aspergillus fumigates (2 strains), Rhodotorula glutinis (1 strains), Thermomyces lanuginosus (1 strain) by 18S rDNA homology analyses. The strains were added into pile-fermentation of Pu-er tea to observe the effects on the fermentation. The results showed that the strains presented a promise effect on Pu-er tea fermentation.
Reducing Sedentary Behavior: Role in Modifying Physical Activity

EPSTEIN, L.H. , and J.N. ROEMMICH. Reducing sedentary behavior: role in modifying physical activity. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 29, No. 3, pp 103–108, 2001. Decreased physical activity is associated with the increased incidence of obesity. Behavioral economic research demonstrates that reducing sedentary behaviors in children increases physical activity. Understanding how people choose physical or sedentary activities can aid in developing public health initiatives that increase access to physical activity, while reducing access to sedentary behaviors.
Coordinated Control for an Offshore Wind Power Plant to Provide Fault Ride Through Capability

The operation of ac connected wind power plants equipped with full power converter wind turbines under deep voltage sags on the main ac grid is analyzed. It is identified that standard control schemes, based on the strict application of grid codes, can lead to instability problems when this kind of severe disturbances occurs. A coordinated control scheme is proposed to operate the system, ensuring fault ride through capability. An index alerts of instability proximity and allows to activate active power and reactive power regulation to guarantee safe operation during faults. This paper describes the proposed control approach and demonstrates its performance by means of dynamic simulations with DIgSILENT Power Factory.
Iron acquisition systems for ferric hydroxamates, haemin and haemoglobin in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram‐positive bacterium that causes severe opportunistic infections in humans and animals. We biochemically characterized, for the first time, the iron uptake processes of this facultative intracellular pathogen, and identified the genetic loci encoding two of its membrane iron transporters. Strain EGD‐e used iron complexes of hydroxamates (ferrichrome and ferrichrome A, ferrioxamine B), catecholates (ferric enterobactin, ferric corynebactin) and eukaryotic binding proteins (transferrin, lactoferrin, ferritin, haemoglobin). Quantitative determinations showed 10–100‐fold lower affinity for ferric siderophores (Km ≈ 1–10 nM) than Gram‐negative bacteria, and generally lower uptake rates. Vmax for [59Fe]‐enterobactin (0.15 pMol per 109 cells per minute) was 400‐fold lower than that of Escherichia coli. For [59Fe]‐corynebactin, Vmax was also low (1.2 pMol per 109 cells per minute), but EGD‐e transported [59Fe]‐apoferrichrome similarly to E. coli (Vmax = 24 pMol per 109 cells per minute). L. monocytogenes encodes potential Fur‐regulated iron transporters at 2.031 Mb (the fur‐fhu region), 2.184 Mb (the feo region), 2.27 Mb (the srtB region) and 2.499 Mb (designated hupDGC region). Chromosomal deletions in the fur‐fhu and hupDGC regions diminished iron uptake from ferric hydroxamates and haemin/haemoglobin respectively. In the former locus, deletion of fhuD (lmo1959) or fhuC (lmo1960) strongly reduced [59Fe]‐apoferrichrome uptake. Deletion of hupC (lmo2429) eliminated the uptake of haemin and haemoglobin, and decreased the virulence of L. monocytogenes 50‐fold in mice. Elimination of srtB region genes (Δlmo2185, Δlmo2186, Δlmo2183), both sortase structural genes (ΔsrtB, ΔsrtA, ΔsrtAB), fur and feoB did not impair iron transport. However, deletion of bacterioferritin (Δfri, lmo943; 0.97 Mb) decreased growth and altered iron uptake: Vmax of [59Fe]‐corynebactin transport tripled in this strain, whereas that of [59Fe]‐apoferrichrome decreased 20‐fold.
The Kenya Case of Multivariate Causality of Carbon Dioxide Emissions

In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the Kenya case of multivariate causality of carbon dioxide emissions by employing a time series data spanning from 1961-2011 using the ARDL method of cointegration analysis. The long-run elasticities show that, a 1% increase in financial development increases carbon dioxide emissions by 0.28%, a 1% increase in GDP per capita increases carbon dioxide emissions by 1.32% and a 1% increase in urbanization decreases carbon dioxide emissions by 1.14%. There was a unidirectional causality running from financial development, food production index, GDP per capita, industrialization and urbanization to carbon dioxide emissions. The innovation accounting shows that 20% of future shocks in carbon dioxide emissions are due to fluctuations in financial development, 9% of future shocks in financial development are due to fluctuations urbanization and 22% of future shocks in food production index are due to fluctuations in carbon dioxide emissions.
Global copy number profiling of cancer genomes

UNLABELLED In this article, we introduce a robust and efficient strategy for deriving global and allele-specific copy number alternations (CNA) from cancer whole exome sequencing data based on Log R ratios and B-allele frequencies. Applying the approach to the analysis of over 200 skin cancer samples, we demonstrate its utility for discovering distinct CNA events and for deriving ancillary information such as tumor purity. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION https://github.com/xfwang/CLOSE CONTACT: xuefeng.wang@stonybrook.edu or michael.krauthammer@yale.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hypogonadism: Easy to define, hard to diagnose, and controversial to treat.

It has been estimated that hypogonadism currently affects up to 4 million American men, and as the population ages, this number will only rise. Nevertheless, only 5% of these men are being treated actively for hypogonadism.1 According to the most recent United States census, 13% of the population is above the age of 65 and this is expected to increase by 16% by 2020.2 The Endocrine Society’s 2010 clinical practice guidelines3 outline a protocol for evaluating an adult male patient suspected of having androgen deficiency. In contrast to menopause, in which females experience all of the symptoms associated with the loss of estrogen within a well-defined period, men undergo a slow and gradual decline in their testosterone levels with a seemingly insidious onset of symptoms.3 For patients with a history and physical examination consistent with hypogonadism, the diagnosis can be “easily” confirmed by measuring serum testosterone levels, but how to interpret the results and decide who should be treated remains less clear. Hypogonadism itself is broadly referred to as testicular failure associated with androgen deficiency,4 although such a broad definition encompasses many men and has required sub-classification based on cause and age.5 Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) has been defined as a complex cluster of symptoms seen in aging men accompanied by a decrease in serum testosterone levels.6 Despite these definitions, the identification of these men is complicated and difficult. Currently, one of the most popular methods for hypogonadism screening is the use of questionnaires, such as The Saint Louis University Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire,7 The Aging Male’s Symptoms (AMS) rating scale,8 the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) questionnaire,9 and the New England Research Institutes (NERI) hypogonadism questionnaire.10 Like the many other screening tools, they have mixed success in their ability to predict the presence of hypogonadism, with sensitivity that can range from 59% to 97% and specificity that can range from 19% to 59%. 9,11-16 Despite these wide ranges, they provide a quick and non-invasive way to screen for hypogonadism, but a low testosterone level remains the gold standard in diagnosis.
Male breast cancer : genomic profiling 1 The Genomic Landscape of Male Breast Cancers

1 The Genomic Landscape of Male Breast Cancers Salvatore Piscuoglio*, Charlotte K. Y. Ng*, Melissa Murray, Elena Guerini-Rocco, Luciano G. Martelotto, Felipe C. Geyer Francois-Clement Bidard, Samuel Berman, Nicola Fusco, Rita A. Sakr, Carey A. Eberle, Leticia De Mattos-Arruda, Gabriel S. Macedo, Muzaffar Akram, Timour Baslan, James B. Hicks, Tari A. King, Edi Brogi, Larry Norton, Britta Weigelt, Clifford A. Hudis, Jorge S. Reis-Filho
Social Comparisons and Well-Being Following Widowhood and Divorce

A sample of 196 participants (mean age 45.94 years, 54% women) completed inventories assessing upward and downward positive and negative social comparisons and general well-being. Widows and widowers were higher on upward negative comparisons than divorced or married persons while being lower on well-being measures of life satisfaction and psychosocial adjustment. The divorced were higher than the widowed or married people on upward or downward positive social comparisons. Upward negative social comparisons were associated with lower levels of well-being measures whereas upward positive social comparisons showed an opposite tendency. Upward negative comparisons were found to mediate the effects of widowhood on well-being. It is concluded that cognitive adaptation contributes to the well-being of widowed and divorced persons.
The effect of zona thinning size on implantation and pregnancy rates ofICSI-ET patients with advanced woman age

Objective: To find if the zona thinning size (in length) of the embryos transferred had any effects on the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Design: A prospective randomized study Setting: Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Techniques Centres. Material methods: Sixty infertile women (≥38 years old) who underwent ICSI-ET procedures and accepted to join this study were enrolled. Women were assigned as one in 25 µm and the following in 50 µm zona thinning size groups consecutively, according to the order of the transfers. Thirty patients were assigned in each of the groups. Zona thinning procedure without perforating the zona was performed on the embryos before transfers, using a novel zona laser treatment system. Main outcome measures: Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Results: Implantation rates were 0.087±SD 0.160 and 0.099±SD 0.156 (p>0.05), and clinical pregnancy rates were 7/30 (23.3%) and 8/30 (26.7%) (p>0.05), in 25 and 50 μm zona thinning size groups, respectively. Conclusion: Increasing the zona thinning length up to twice the commonly used size did not have any significant effects on the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates in women with advanced age who underwent ICSI-ET treatment.
LMI approach for sliding mode control and analysis of DC-DC converters

Circuits' and in particular DC/DC converters' switching behavior is analyzed in this paper using the equivalent control modeling of the dynamic systems' sliding mode regime. As a representative example and also being one of the0 most complex circuits among DC/DC converters, the Cuk converter is chosen. It is shown how the converter's behavior in the steady state regime can be studied and analyzed by the linear matrix inequalities based stability conditions for linear dynamic systems with nonlinear sector bounded perturbations. The maximization of the nonlinear sector bound provides a limit for applying the linear ripple approximation in the converter operation analysis. Furthermore, our approach is validated by providing simulation results for two different switching surfaces of practical interest.
Methionine Adenosyltransferase II-dependent Histone H3K9 Methylation at the COX-2 Gene Locus*

Background: MATII biosynthesizes AdoMet, which supplies methyl group for methylation of molecules, including histone. Results: MATII interacts with histone methyltransferase SETDB1 and inhibits COX-2 gene expression. Conclusion: AdoMet synthesis and histone methylation are coupled on chromatin by a physical interaction of MATII and SETDB1 at the MafK target genes. Significance: MATII may be important for both gene-specific and epigenome-wide regulation of histone methylation. Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) synthesizes S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), which is utilized as a methyl donor in transmethylation reactions involving histones. MATIIα, a MAT isozyme, serves as a transcriptional corepressor in the oxidative stress response and forms the AdoMet-integrating transcription regulation module, affecting histone methyltransferase activities. However, the identities of genes regulated by MATIIα or its associated methyltransferases are unclear. We show that MATIIα represses the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), encoded by Ptgs2, by specifically interacting with histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1, thereby promoting the trimethylation of H3K9 at the COX-2 locus. We discuss both gene-specific and epigenome-wide functions of MATIIα.
Review: Application of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hard Tissue Defects

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) derived from autologous whole blood is a platelet concentrate. After its first clinical application in 1987 by Ferrari et al. [1] in an open heart surgery, used to avoid excessive transfusion of homologous blood products, the application of autologous PRP has been safely used and documented for 20 years in many fields including: maxillofacial surgery [2,3] aesthetic plastic surgery [5-7] treatment of soft-tissue ulcers [16,17] up to regenerative surgery. This article introduces the reader to PRP therapy and reviews the current literature on this emerging treatment modality, showing at the current state, the clinical use of PRP in hard tissue defects with innovative methods and future prospects. However there is a great debate in the scientific community on appropriate protocols of PRP application. In summary, PRP provides a promising alternative to surgery by ensuring safe and natural healing. Journal of Tissue Science & Engineering J o u r n a l o f T iss ue S cience &ngine e r i n g
Structural basis and sequence co-evolution analysis of the hemagglutinin protein of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus

Severe pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009) infection, especially in the lower respiratory tract, is often associated with the virus carrying a D222G substitution in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the virus. The mechanism for this association has not been fully explored. In the in vitro binding assay, it was found that clinical isolates carrying D222G substitution exhibit higher binding avidity to 2,3-linked sialic acids than the wild-type virus. The receptor binding pocket of the pandemic influenza (H1N1) HA was found to be smaller than those of other influenza A strains, allowing tighter binding of the virus with the receptor, yet also inducing steric stress for the binding. Our homology modeling and molecular docking calculations implicated that residue 222 may affect the positioning of the conserved Q223 residue, hence modulating flexibility of the binding pocket and steric hindrance during receptor binding. The molecular property of residue 222 can also directly influence the ‘lysine fence’ via the polarity of the amino acid residue where D222G substitution will enhance the electrostatic interactions between the receptor and the protein. The potential importance of residue 222 was illustrated by evolutionary analysis, which showed that this site is under intense selection pressure during adaptation of the virus to human host. Our findings provide a useful reference for follow-up studies in monitoring the ongoing evolution of the pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009) virus.
Improvement in Robustness and Recognizability of RCS Response of U-Shaped Strip-Based Chipless RFID Tags

This letter presents significant improvement in robustness and recognizability of radar cross section (RCS) response of the two topologically rearranged 20-bit U-shaped strip-based tags for spectral signature-based chipless RFID systems. The space rearrangement of individual tag scatterers in the array reduces the interelement mutual coupling and, thus, significantly enhances the frequency and amplitude robustness of their RCS. In comparison to the original arrangement of scatterers, the measurement of tags designed for 2-4-GHz frequency band showed a significantly improved homogeneity of the RCS curve, which results in a more reliable recognition of coded information.
An ex vivo imaging pipeline for producing high‐quality and high‐resolution diffusion‐weighted imaging datasets

Diffusion tensor (DT) imaging and related multifiber reconstruction algorithms allow the study of in vivo microstructure and, by means of tractography, structural connectivity. Although reconstruction algorithms are promising imaging tools, high‐quality diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) datasets for verification and validation of postprocessing and analysis methods are lacking. Clinical in vivo DWI is limited by, for example, physiological noise and low signal‐to‐noise ratio. Here, we performed a series of DWI measurements on postmortem pig brains, which resemble the human brain in neuroanatomical complexity, to establish an ex vivo imaging pipeline for generating high‐quality DWI datasets. Perfusion fixation ensured that tissue characteristics were comparable to in vivo conditions. There were three main results: (i) heat conduction and unstable tissue mechanics accounted for time‐varying artefacts in the DWI dataset, which were present for up to 15 h after positioning brain tissue in the scanner; (ii) using fitted DT, q‐ball, and persistent angular structure magnetic resonance imaging algorithms, any b‐value between ∼2,000 and ∼8,000 s/mm2, with an optimal value around 4,000 s/mm2, allowed for consistent reconstruction of fiber directions; (iii) diffusivity measures in the postmortem brain tissue were stable over a 3‐year period. On the basis of these results, we established an optimized ex vivo pipeline for high‐quality and high‐resolution DWI. The pipeline produces DWI data sets with a high level of tissue structure detail showing for example two parallel horizontal rims in the cerebral cortex and multiple rims in the hippocampus. We conclude that high‐quality ex vivo DWI can be used to validate fiber reconstruction algorithms and to complement histological studies. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Motivación y Rendimiento en la Educación Física: Una Prueba Experimental

espanolEl proposito de este estudio fue analizar, de manera experimental, las relaciones entre la motivacion y el rendimiento en un test de movimiento lateral utilizado en educacion fisica. El grupo de estudio consistio de 363 estudiantes (227 ninos y 136 ninas), de entre 12 y 16 anos de edad, a quienes se los dividio en tres grupos. Un grupo experimental en el que se indujo a una creencia de habilidades incrementadas, otro grupo experimental en el que se indujo a una creencia de entidad de habilidad y un grupo de control en el que no hubo ninguna intervencion. Se realizaron mediciones de la motivacion situacional intrinseca, de la competencia percibida para la ejecucion de la tarea y del rendimiento. Los resultados revelaron que el grupo incremental exhibio valoraciones mas elevadas en la escala de motivacion situacional intrinseca. El grupo de entidad mostro un mejor rendimiento que el grupo incremental en el primer intento del test pero, en el segundo intento, el rendimiento fue similar en los diferentes grupos. Tal vez las diferencias iniciales en el rendimiento desaparecieron debido a que el grupo incremental conto con mejoras en el segundo intento. Estos resultados se discuten en relacion a la intensidad con la que el profesor transmite la informacion relacionada con la creencia de habilidad incremental del alumno para mejorar la motivacion intrinseca y el rendimiento. EnglishThe purpose of this study was to analyse, experimentally, the relationships between motivation and performance in a lateral movement test in physical education. The study group consisted of 363 students (227 boys and 136 girls), aged between 12 and 16, who were randomly divided into three groups: an experimental group in which an incremental ability belief was induced, another experimental group in which an entity ability belief was induced, and a control group where there was no intervention. Measurements were made of situational intrinsic motivation, perceived competence in executing the task and performance. The results revealed that the incremental group reported higher scores on the situational intrinsic motivation scale. The entity group demonstrated better performance in the first test attempt than the incremental group but, in the second attempt, the performance was similar in the different groups. Perhaps the initial differences in performance disappeared because the incremental group counted on improving in the second attempt. These results are discussed in relation to the intensity with which the teacher conveys information relating to incremental ability belief of the pupil to increase intrinsic motivation and performance.
Approximations pour la vérification automatique de protocoles de sécurité

Cette these s’inscrit dans le cadre de la verification de systemes critiques. Le probleme de securite consiste a determiner si un systeme est sur ou non et egalement pourquoi il ne l’est pas. Ce probleme est indecidable en general pour les protocoles de securite. En pratique et pour des classes particulieres de protocoles, des procedures de semi-decision existent mais necessitent souvent une certaine expertise. L’apport majeur de cette these consiste en l’automatisation d’une technique fondee sur des approximations en reecriture et a sa mise a disposition a partir de langages de haut niveau (HLPSL et PROUVE). En representant la connaissance initiale de l’intrus et la configuration initiale du reseau par un langage d’automate d’arbres et en utilisant d’un cote un systeme de reecriture, specifiant le protocole ainsi que le pouvoir d’action d’un intrus, et d’un autre cote une fonction d’approximation symbolique, une surestimation ou une sous-estimation de la connaissance reelle de l’intrus peut etre calculee afin de respectivement demontrer qu’un protocole est sur, ou qu’un protocole est non sur, et ce pour un nombre non borne d’executions du protocole etudie et pour des proprietes de secret. Le tout est implante dans l’outil automatique TA4SP. Pour preciser pourquoi un protocole est non sur, une technique de reconstruction de traces dans un contexte d’approximations en reecriture a ete elaboree. A l’aide d’une reconstruction ”en arriere” utilisant une nouvelle notion d’unification, un semi-algorithme construisant une trace de reecriture jusqu’a un terme de l’automate initial a ete etabli, ce qui permet d’exhiber des contre-exemples dans le domaine de la verification.