Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining High-Resolution Optical and InSAR Features for Height Estimation of Buildings With Flat Roofs

In this paper, we contribute to answer the question: How accurately can we estimate heights of buildings with flat roofs given one high-resolution single-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) image pair and one aerial orthophoto? What makes this problem challenging are the different sensor geometries and the sound stochastic combination of all available elevation cues. We revisit already existing methods and develop novel approaches to determine building heights. A rigorous stochastic approach based on least squares adjustment with functionally dependent parameters is introduced to combine all height measurements per building to one robust height estimate. Observation accuracies of the stochastic model are either taken from the literature or estimated empirically. A major benefit of adjustment is that it delivers a posterior standard deviation per height, which can be interpreted as a precision indicator and is of high relevance for practical applications. Estimated heights of an urban scene are compared to ground truth acquired with airborne laser scanning, allowing us to assess height accuracies that can be achieved under nearly optimal conditions. We conduct statistical tests that validate our model and show that a weighted combination of optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data with least squares adjustment delivers reliable height estimates with meter accuracy for flat-roofed buildings. Additionally, we empirically estimate a confidence interval of the estimated heights that directly tells the user the security margin to be included, for example, in case of building evacuations for an anticipated flooding event, under the condition that the data and model have the same specifications as in this paper.
Evaluating 2D Flow Visualization Using Eye Tracking

Flow visualization is recognized as an essential tool for many scientific research fields and different visualization approaches are proposed. Several studies are also conducted to evaluate their effectiveness but these studies rarely examine the performance from the perspective of visual perception. In this paper, we aim at exploring how users’ visual perception is influenced by different 2D flow visualization methods. An eye tracker is used to analyze users’ visual behaviors when they perform the free viewing, advection prediction, flow feature detection, and flow feature identification tasks on the flow field images generated by different visualizations methods. We evaluate the illustration capability of five representative visualization algorithms. Our results show that the eye‐tracking‐based evaluation provides more insights to quantitatively analyze the effectiveness of these visualization methods.
In vitro assay for neutralizing antibody to hepatitis C virus: Evidence for broadly conserved neutralization epitopes

Our understanding of the humoral immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) is limited because the virus can be studied only in humans and chimpanzees and because previously described neutralization assays have not been robust or simple to perform. Nevertheless, epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggested that neutralizing Ab to HCV might be important in preventing infection. We have recently described a neutralization assay based on the neutralization of pseudotyped murine retrovirus constructs bearing HCV envelope glycoproteins on their surface. We have applied the assay to well characterized clinical samples from HCV-infected patients and chimpanzees, confirmed the existence of neutralizing Ab to HCV, and validated most previously reported neutralizations of the virus. We did not find neutralizing anti-HCV in resolving infections but did find relatively high titers (>1:320) of such Ab in chronic infections. Neutralizing Ab was directed not only to epitope(s) in the hypervariable region of the E2 envelope protein but also to one or more epitopes elsewhere in the envelope of the virus. Neutralizing Ab was broadly reactive and could neutralize pseudotype particles bearing the envelope glycoproteins of two different subgenotypes (1a and 1b). The ability to assay neutralizing anti-HCV should permit an assessment of the prospects for successful Ab-mediated passive and active immunoprophylaxis against hepatitis C.
The nuclear-factor kappaB pathway is activated in pterygium.

PURPOSE Pterygium is a prevalent ocular surface disease with unknown pathogenesis. The authors investigated the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factors in pterygium. METHODS Surgically excised primary pterygia were studied compared with uninvolved conjunctiva tissues. NF-κB activation was evaluated using Western blot analysis, ELISA, and DNA-binding assays. Primary pterygium fibroblasts were treated with TNF-α (20 ng/mL), and NF-κB activation was evaluated using immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis, phospho-IκBα ELISA, and DNA-binding assays. TNF-α stimulation of NF-κB target genes RelB, NFKB2, RANTES, MCP-1, ENA-78, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3 in pterygium fibroblasts was compared with that in primary tenon fibroblasts by real-time PCR. RESULTS Phosphorylation of IκBα (Ser32) was increased in pterygia tissues compared with uninvolved conjunctiva tissues, as determined by Western blot analysis and ELISA. IκBα expression was decreased, whereas nuclear RelA and p50 DNA-binding capacities were increased. Within 30 minutes of treatment with TNF-α, pterygium fibroblasts showed increased IκBα phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of RelA and p50. Treatment with TNF-α beyond 12 hours resulted in increased nuclear expression of RelB, p100, and p52. Furthermore, the upregulation of RANTES, MCP-1, ENA-78, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3 expression was more pronounced in TNF-α-treated pterygium fibroblasts than in tenon fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS The NF-κB pathway is shown for the first time to be activated in pterygia tissues compared with normal conjunctiva tissues. Stimulation by the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α can activate both canonical and noncanonical NF-κB pathways in pterygium fibroblasts with concomitant upregulation of NF-κB target genes.
A Personalized English Vocabulary Learning System Based on Cognitive Abilities Related to Foreign Language Proficiency

This paper proposes a novel of a personalized Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) system based on learner’s cognitive abilities related to foreign language proficiency. In this CALL system, a strategy of retrieval learning, a method of learning memory cycle, and a method of repeated learning are applied for effective vocabulary memorization. The system is designed to offer personalized learning based on cognitive abilities related to the human language process. For this, the proposed CALL system has a cognitive diagnosis module which can measure five types of cognitive abilities. The results of this diagnosis are used to create dynamic learning scenarios for personalized learning and to evaluate user performance in the learning. This system is also designed in order to have users be able to create learning word lists and to share them simply with various functions based on open APIs. Additionally, through experiments, it has shown that this system helps students to learn English vocabulary effectively and enhances their foreign language skills.
Strategies for autonomy used by people with cervical spinal cord injury: A qualitative study

Purpose. To identify strategies used by people with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) to function autonomously. A multidimensional concept of autonomy was used, with four dimensions: independence, self-determination, participation and identification. Methods. Qualitative methods were used, involving literature study and semi-structured interviews with eight individuals with high SCI who had been discharged from the rehabilitation centre for several years and were members of a sports club. Results. Strategies for independence included making independent functioning a personal challenge and learning from others with SCI. Strategies for self-determination included keeping oneself informed, setting personal goals and being assertive. Strategies for participation were making challenges out of barriers, planning and organizing, asking and accepting help, and dealing with reactions from others. Strategies for identification involved taking life as it comes and focussing on positive aspects of life. Conclusions. Different strategies are necessary for different dimensions of autonomy. Some strategies seem contradictory in terms of their effects on different dimensions of autonomy. Patients can be made aware of strategies for autonomy during the rehabilitation phase.
Effects of fatigue and recovery on knee mechanics during side-step cutting.

INTRODUCTION Changes in knee mechanics immediately after a fatiguing bout of exercise are thought to place an individual at a greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, the recovery time required to restore normal knee kinetics and kinematics after fatigue has not been established. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine knee mechanics during side-step cutting immediately after a fatigue protocol and after 20 and 40 min of rest. METHODS Knee kinematics (eight-camera system Vicon 612; Oxford Metrics, Oxford, United Kingdom) and kinetics (AMTI force platform; AMTI, Newton, MA) of 15 female recreational athletes were recorded during a side-step cutting task. Data were obtained at four different time points: 1) before a fatigue protocol, 2) immediately after the fatigue protocol, 3) 20 min after the fatigue protocol, and 4) 40 min after the fatigue protocol. Peak knee joint angles and knee joint moments in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes were identified during the deceleration phase of the cutting task. One-way ANOVA with repeated measures were used to compare variables among the four time points. RESULTS Peak internal knee adductor moments (external knee valgus moments) and peak knee internal rotation angles were significantly greater after fatigue and remained elevated at 20 and 40 min after fatigue. Peak knee abduction (valgus) angles immediately after the fatigue protocol were significantly greater but returned to prefatigue levels after 20 min of rest. The fatigue protocol had no influence on any other of the variables examined. CONCLUSIONS Fatigue resulted in changes in knee mechanics that are thought to be associated with ACL injury. Forty minutes of recovery was not sufficient in restoring knee mechanics to prefatigue levels.
Structural and antigenic polymorphism of the 35- to 48-kilodalton merozoite surface antigen (MSA-2) of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Merozoite surface antigen MSA-2 of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum is being considered for the development of a malaria vaccine. The antigen is polymorphic, and specific monoclonal antibodies differentiate five serological variants of MSA-2 among 25 parasite isolates. The variants are grouped into two major serogroups, A and B. Genes encoding two different variants from serogroup A have been sequenced, and their DNA together with deduced amino acid sequences were compared with sequences encoded by other alleles. The comparison shows that the serological classification reflects differences in DNA sequences and deduced primary structure of MSA-2 variants and serogroups. Thus, the overall homologies of DNA and amino acid sequences are over 95% among variants in the same serogroup. In contrast, similarities between the group A variants and a group B variant are only 70 and 64% for DNA and amino acid sequences, respectively. We propose that the MSA-2 protein is encoded by two highly divergent groups of alleles, with limited additional polymorphism displayed within each group.
Students Use More Books after Library Instruction: An Analysis of Undergraduate Paper Citations

In fall 2008, students from first-year Composition I and upper-level classes at Florida Gulf Coast University participated in a citation analysis study. The citation pages of their research papers revealed that the students used more books, more types of sources, and more overall sources when a librarian provided instruction. When these results were compared to those produced by students in upper-level classes (all of whom received instruction), it was discovered that, as the class level increased, the number of citations and the percentage of scholarly citations generally increased and there was a high preference for books from all disciplines, especially history.
Criterion validity, reliability and clinical responsiveness of the CareConnections Functional Index

Abstract This study established the criterion validity, test–retest reliability and responsiveness of the CareConnections Functional Index (CCFI). The CCFI is composed of four body-region specific subscales, measuring functional ability. Reference standards included the Neck Disability Index; Modified Oswestry Disability Index; Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. One hundred subjects per body region were enrolled. Subject’s rated their perceived improvement based on the 15-point Global Rating of Change questionnaire. Minimal clinically important differences (MCID) were calculated via receiver operator characteristic curve. Test–retest reliability coefficients were good to excellent. Validity correlations with the reference standard measures were acceptable (r > 0.7) for all subscales. MCID for the cervical subscale = 7 points, lumbar = 8 points, upper extremity = 16 points and lower extremity = 11 points. The results of this study support the use of the CCFI in outpatient physical therapy practice as a responsive tool with good reliability and validity. The results also indicate that future work should focus on the impact of baseline patient factors that may affect future outcome.
The membrane spanning domain of beta‐1,4‐galactosyltransferase specifies trans Golgi localization.

Chimeric cDNAs were constructed so as to generate hybrid proteins in which different parts of the N‐terminal domain of the human invariant chain were replaced by equivalent sequences from the trans Golgi resident enzyme, beta‐1,4‐galactosyltransferase. The cytoplasmic and membrane spanning domains of galactosyltransferase were found to be sufficient to retain all of the hybrid invariant chain in trans Golgi cisternae as judged by indirect immunofluorescence, treatment with brefeldin A and immuno‐electron microscopy. As few as ten amino acids corresponding to the lumenal half of the membrane spanning domain of the Golgi enzyme sufficed to localize most of the hybrid invariant chain to the trans cisternae. A cytoplasmic domain was necessary for complete retention as assessed by flow cytofluorometry but could be provided either by galactosyltransferase or by invariant chain. This suggests that the cytoplasmic domain plays a role accessory to the membrane spanning domain, the latter mediating compartmental specificity.
Exploiting Spatial Channel Covariance for Hybrid Precoding in Massive MIMO Systems

We propose a new hybrid precoding technique for massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems using spatial channel covariance matrices in the analog precoder design. Applying a regularized zero-forcing precoder for the baseband precoding matrix, we find an unconstrained analog precoder that maximizes signal-to-leakage-plus-noise ratio (SLNR) while ignoring analog phase shifter constraints. Subsequently, we develop a technique to design a constrained analog precoder that mimics the obtained unconstrained analog precoder under phase shifter constraints. The main idea is to adopt an additional baseband precoding matrix, which we call a compensation matrix. We analyze the SLNR loss due to the proposed hybrid precoding compared to fully digital precoding, and determine which factors have a significant impact on this loss. In the simulations, we show that if the channel is spatially correlated and the number of users is smaller than the number of RF chains, the SLNR loss becomes negligible compared to fully digital precoding. The main benefit of our method stems from the use of spatial channel matrices in such a way that not only is each user's desired signal considered, but also the inter-user interference is incorporated in the analog precoder design.
Cloud computing

We are used to having huge datasets pouring out of high-throughput genome centres, but with the advent of ultra high-throughput sequencing, genotyping and other functional genomics in every laboratory we are facing a scary new era in petabyte scale data. For example, the 1000 genomes’ projects will probably produce about 1 Tb of finished data. To process data, this project required about 100 Tbs of scratch disk. Working at this level, real technical limitations start to hamper progress. One has to consider storage, but not just having enough, but making sure its available to your compute (network), that you have sufficient I/O to do anything in real time. Software language and implementation become critical factors when dealing with terabytes of data. With such high-intensity computing, power (getting enough), cooling, etc. become real issues. How do you let anyone else access the data? Is the data backed up and even if it is how many years would it take to restore from tape? So how will we solve all these technical hurdles? Each of these can be solved with technical knowledge. But you do not want to have to worry about working within these constraints. When working with large datasets, these constraints can continually hamper progress on getting real research done. Whilst one can choose to solve each of these individual problems, the impact of these constrains on the scientific workflow can be considerable. It would be wiser to optimize for productivity. In software development, similar constrains are addressed with abstraction layers. Database access is mediated through relational mapping tools, visualization is aided with powerful graphical packages preventing individual research groups from having to reinvent the wheel. Rails, Eclipse, Processing, Hibernate, Catalyst. Cloud computing offers a similar level of abstraction for many of the constraints encountered when dealing with extremely large (? ) datasets. You might have encountered similar ideas when using hosted services such as Google Mail, ManyEyes (http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com), others. These tools provide
Limited Activity of Clofazimine as a Single Drug in a Mouse Model of Tuberculosis Exhibiting Caseous Necrotic Granulomas

ABSTRACT New drugs and drugs with a novel mechanism of action are desperately needed to shorten the duration of tuberculosis treatment, to prevent the emergence of drug resistance, and to treat multiple-drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recently, there has been renewed interest in clofazimine (CFZ). In this study, we utilized the C3HeB/FeJ mouse model, possessing highly organized, hypoxic pulmonary granulomas with caseous necrosis, to evaluate CFZ monotherapy in comparison to results with BALB/c mice, which form only multifocal, coalescing cellular aggregates devoid of caseous necrosis. While CFZ treatment was highly effective in BALB/c mice, its activity was attenuated in the lungs of C3HeB/FeJ mice. This lack of efficacy was directly related to the pathological progression of disease in these mice, since administration of CFZ prior to the formation of hypoxic, necrotic granulomas reconstituted bactericidal activity in this mouse strain. These results support the continued use of mouse models of tuberculosis infection which exhibit a granulomatous response in the lungs that more closely resembles the pathology found in human disease.
Accuracy in detecting bone lesions in vitro with conventional and subtracted direct digital imaging.

OBJECTIVE To implement direct digital imaging (DDI) in subtraction radiography and compare the accuracy of conventional and subtracted DD images in detecting small bone lesions in vitro. METHODS Alveolar bone defects were produced in a section of a pig mandible, with slow-speed burs 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 mm in diameter. Standardized DD images were subtracted and displayed in black and white, contrast-enhanced and pseudo-colour transformed formats. 370 pairs of slides taken directly from the computer monitor were evaluated by eight observers. RESULTS The area P(A) under the ROC curve with DDI was 0.67 +/- 0.1. This was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than any of the three modes of subtraction radiography (mean P(A) = 0.88 +/- 0.09). The detection of small lesions (bur diameter 0.6 mm) was significantly better (p < 0.001) with contrast enhancement. Observer agreement was smaller for DDI (chi = 0.22 +/- 0.09) compared with the subtraction images (mean chi 0.64 +/- 0.13) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The diagnostic characteristics of the DDI system were significantly improved by digital subtraction with image processing.
A logical foundation for the case‐based reasoning cycle

Case‐based reasoning (CBR) has drawn considerable attention in artificial intelligence (AI) fields with many successful applications in systems such as e‐commerce and multiagent systems. For the moment, research and development of CBR basically follows the traditional process model of CBR, i.e., the R4 model and problem space model introduced in 1994 and 1996, respectively. However, there has been no logical analysis for this popular CBR model. This article will fill this gap by providing a unified logical foundation for the CBR cycle. The proposed approach is based on an integration of traditional mathematical logic, fuzzy logic, and similarity‐based reasoning. At the same time, we examine the CBR cycle from the knowledge‐based (KB) viewpoint. The proposed logical approach can facilitate research and development of CBR. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From threads to events: Adapting a lightweight middleware for Contiki OS

Interoperability is one of the key requirements in the Internet of Things considering the diverse platforms, communication standards and specifications available today. Inherent resource constraints in the majority of IoT devices makes it very difficult to use existing solutions for interoperability, thus demanding new approaches. This paper presents the process of adapting a lightweight interoperability middleware for IoT, LISA, from RIOT to Contiki OS and evaluates memory and power overheads. The middleware follows a service oriented architecture and classifies devices according to available resources to assign different roles, such as Application, Service and Manager Nodes. These roles live in different tiers in a generic IoT architecture, where the Manager nodes are located in the intermediate Fog layer. To adapt to an event based kernel of Contiki, the middleware defines and handles a set of events that are used to communicate with the user application. A network of nodes is simulated to show the architecture promoted by the middleware and the results are presented.