Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised Multi-class Regularized Least-Squares Classification

Regularized least-squares classification is one of the most promising alternatives to standard support vector machines, with the desirable property of closed-form solutions that can be obtained analytically, and efficiently. While the supervised, and mostly binary case has received tremendous attention in recent years, unsupervised multi-class settings have not yet been considered. In this work we present an efficient implementation for the unsupervised extension of the multi-class regularized least-squares classification framework, which is, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first one in the literature addressing this task. The resulting kernel-based framework efficiently combines steepest descent strategies with powerful meta-heuristics for avoiding local minima. The computational efficiency of the overall approach is ensured through the application of matrix algebra shortcuts that render efficient updates of the intermediate candidate solutions possible. Our experimental evaluation indicates the potential of the novel method, and demonstrates its superior clustering performance over a variety of competing methods on real-world data sets.
The ISOPHOT 170 μ m serendipity survey. I. Compact sources with galaxy associations

The first set of compact sources observed in the ISOPHOT 170 μm Serendipity Survey is presented. From the slew data with low (I100μm ≤ 15 MJy/sr) cirrus background, 115 well-observed sources with a high signal-to-noise ratio in all detector pixels having a galaxy association were extracted. Of the galaxies with known optical morphologies, the vast majority are classified as spirals, barred spirals, or irregulars. The 170 μm fluxes measured from the Serendipity slews have been put on an absolute flux level by using calibration sources observed additionally with the photometric mapping mode of ISOPHOT. For all but a few galaxies, the 170 μm fluxes are determined for the first time, which represents a significant increase in the number of galaxies with measured Far-Infrared (FIR) fluxes beyond the IRAS 100 μm limit. The 170 μm fluxes cover the range 2 <∼ F170μm <∼ 100 Jy. Formulae for the integrated FIR fluxes F40−220μm and the total infrared fluxes F1−1000μm incorporating the new 170 μm fluxes are provided. The large fraction of sources with a high F170μm/F100μm flux ratio indicates that a cold (TDust <∼ 20 K) dust component is present in many galaxies. The detection of such a cold dust component is crucial for the determination of the total dust mass in galaxies, and, in cases with a large F170μm/F100μm flux ratio, increases the dust mass by a significant factor. The typical mass of the coldest dust component is MDust = 107.5 ± 0.5 M , a factor 2–10 larger than that derived from IRAS fluxes alone. As a consequence, the majority of the derived gas-to-dust ratios are much closer to the canonical value of ≈ 160 for the Milky Way. By relaxing the selection criSend offprint requests to: M. Stickel ? Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA. Members of the Consortium on the ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey (CISS) are MPIA Heidelberg, ESA ISO SOC Villafranca, AIP Potsdam, IPAC Pasadena, Imperial College London Correspondence to: stickel@mpia-hd.mpg. de teria, it is expected that the Serendipity Survey will eventually lead to a catalog of 170 μm fluxes for ≈ 1000 galaxies.
PUNCH-P for global translatome profiling

Regulation of mRNA translation is a major modulator of gene expression, allowing cells to fine tune protein levels during growth and differentiation and in response to physiological signals and environmental changes. Mass-spectrometry and RNA-sequencing methods now enable global profiling of the translatome, but these still involve significant analytical and economical limitations. We developed a novel system-wide proteomic approach for direct monitoring of translation, termed PUromycin-associated Nascent CHain Proteomics (PUNCH-P), which is based on the recovery of ribosome-nascent chain complexes from cells or tissues followed by incorporation of biotinylated puromycin into newly-synthesized proteins. Biotinylated proteins are then purified by streptavidin and analyzed by mass-spectrometry. Here we present an overview of PUNCH-P, describe other methodologies for global translatome profiling (pSILAC, BONCAT, TRAP/Ribo-tag, Ribo-seq) and provide conceptual comparisons between these methods. We also show how PUNCH-P data can be combined with mRNA measurements to determine relative translation efficiency for specific mRNAs.
Requirement of NF-kappa B Activation in Different Mice Brain Areas during Long-Term Memory Consolidation in Two Contextual One-Trial Tasks with Opposing Valences

NF-kappa B is a transcription factor whose activation has been shown to be necessary for long-term memory consolidation in several species. NF-kappa B is activated and translocates to the nucleus of cells in a specific temporal window during consolidation. Our work focuses on a one trial learning tasks associated to the inhibitory avoidance (IA) setting. Mice were trained either receiving or not a footshock when entering a dark compartment (aversive vs. appetitive learning). Regardless of training condition (appetitive or aversive), latencies to step-through during testing were significantly different to those measured during training. Additionally, these testing latencies were also different from those of a control group that only received a shock unrelated to context. Moreover, nuclear NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity was augmented in the aversive and the appetitive tasks when compared with control and naïve animals. NF-kappa B inhibition by Sulfasalazine injected either in the Hippocampus, Amygdala or Nucleus accumbens immediately after training was able to impair retention in both training versions. Our results suggest that NF-kappa B is a critical molecular step, in different brain areas on memory consolidation. This was the case for both the IA task and also the modified version of the same task where the footshock was omitted during training. This work aims to further investigate how appetitive and aversive memories are consolidated.
Crystal structure of S-octyl (E)-3-(4-methoxybenzylidene)dithiocarbazate

As already observed in similar molecules, the dithiocarbazate group in the title compound, C17H26N2OS2, adopts an EE configuration with respect to the C=N bond of the benzylidene moiety. In the crystal, molecules are connected into inversion dimers by pairs of N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds. The dimers are linked by weak π–π interactions, with centroid-to-centroid distances of 3.723 (11) Å, forming chains parallel to [110].
Tumor‐derived spheroids: Relevance to cancer stem cells and clinical applications

Recently, many types of in vitro 3‐D culture systems have been developed to recapitulate the in vivo growth conditions of cancer. The cancer 3‐D culture methods aim to preserve the biological characteristics of original tumors better than conventional 2‐D monolayer cultures, and include tumor‐derived organoids, tumor‐derived spheroids, organotypic multicellular spheroids, and multicellular tumor spheroids. The 3‐D culture methods differ in terms of cancer cell sources, protocols for cell handling, and the required time intervals. Tumor‐derived spheroids are unique because they are purposed for the enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cells with stem cell‐related characteristics. These spheroids are grown as floating spheres and have been used as surrogate systems to evaluate the CSC‐related characteristics of solid tumors in vitro. Because eradication of CSCs is likely to be of clinical importance due to their association with the malignant nature of cancer cells, such as tumorigenicity or chemoresistance, the investigation of tumor‐derived spheroids may provide invaluable clues to fight against cancer. Spheroid cultures have been established from cancers including glioma, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate cancers, and their biological and biochemical characteristics have been investigated by many research groups. In addition to the investigation of CSCs, tumor‐derived spheroids may prove to be instrumental for a high‐throughput screening platform or for the cultivation of CSC‐related tumor cells found in the circulation or body fluids.
Ethical and methodologic benefits of using a reflexive journal in hermeneutic-phenomenologic research.

PURPOSE To illustrate the importance of considering the researcher's written reflections on the qualitative research process as a valuable source of data and as a means of enhancing ethical and methodologic rigour. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT Excerpts from the researcher's reflexive journal are presented as evidence of an audit trail. Ethical and methodologic concerns arising during the research process are outlined and the value of reflecting on these issues is addressed. METHODS A hermeneutic-phenomenologic study, conducted in Scotland, included in-depth interviews with six problem drinkers to explore the lived experience of their suffering. The researcher was considered to be a primary data-collection tool, whose reflections on the research process added to the contextual richness of the study. For an interpretative approach to data analysis, the researcher found metaphors to convey the participants' stories to a new audience. This intuitive, creative process was analysed and reported in the reflexive journal. CONCLUSIONS The researcher's self-awareness, fostered by the use of a reflexive journal, is mirrored by the participants' ability to reflect on the final interpretation of their stories and on the therapeutic benefits of the research process. The researcher's reflexive journal reveals previously hidden contextual information which enhances the prime ethical and methodologic aim of the study--to understand the lived experience of suffering by problem drinkers.
Determinants of Bacterial Morphology: From Fundamentals to Possibilities for Antimicrobial Targeting

Bacterial morphology is extremely diverse. Specific shapes are the consequence of adaptive pressures optimizing bacterial fitness. Shape affects critical biological functions, including nutrient acquisition, motility, dispersion, stress resistance and interactions with other organisms. Although the characteristic shape of a bacterial species remains unchanged for vast numbers of generations, periodical variations occur throughout the cell (division) and life cycles, and these variations can be influenced by environmental conditions. Bacterial morphology is ultimately dictated by the net-like peptidoglycan (PG) sacculus. The species-specific shape of the PG sacculus at any time in the cell cycle is the product of multiple determinants. Some morphological determinants act as a cytoskeleton to guide biosynthetic complexes spatiotemporally, whereas others modify the PG sacculus after biosynthesis. Accumulating evidence supports critical roles of morphogenetic processes in bacteria-host interactions, including pathogenesis. Here, we review the molecular determinants underlying morphology, discuss the evidence linking bacterial morphology to niche adaptation and pathogenesis, and examine the potential of morphological determinants as antimicrobial targets.
EnGeoMAP 2.0 - Automated Hyperspectral Mineral Identification for the German EnMAP Space Mission

Algorithms for a rapid analysis of hyperspectral data are becoming more and more important with planned next generation spaceborne hyperspectral missions such as the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) and the Japanese Hyperspectral Imager Suite (HISUI), together with an ever growing pool of hyperspectral airborne data. The here presented EnGeoMAP 2.0 algorithm is an automated system for material characterization from imaging spectroscopy data, which builds on the theoretical framework of the Tetracorder and MICA (Material Identification and Characterization Algorithm) of the United States Geological Survey and of EnGeoMAP 1.0 from 2013. EnGeoMAP 2.0 includes automated absorption feature extraction, spatio-spectral gradient calculation and mineral anomaly detection. The usage of EnGeoMAP 2.0 is demonstrated at the mineral deposit sites of Rodalquilar (SE-Spain) and Haib River (S-Namibia) using HyMAP and simulated EnMAP data. Results from Hyperion data are presented as supplementary information.
A review of fiber-reinforced denture base resins.

PURPOSE One method of reinforcing denture base material is to use fiber composite reinforcement. Different types of fibers, such as glass (GF), carbon/graphite, aramid, and ultrahigh-modulus polyethylene (UHMP) fibers have been tested for this purpose. MATERIALS AND METHODS This article reviews the studies conducted on the fiber-reinforced denture base resin systems. RESULTS The literature has reported that the fiber concentration and its adhesion to polymer matrix influences the transverse strength of the fiber composite. The highest transverse strength value (265 MPa) with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was obtained by incorporating 58 wt% GF into the resin. UHMP fibers incorporated into PMMA resin yielded the highest impact strength value (134 kJm-2) of the fiber-PMMA composites. CONCLUSIONS Despite the improved mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced denture materials, further research is required to show the clinical usefulness of the fiber reinforcement.
Motion Compensated Fan-Beam CT by Enforcing Fourier Properties of the Sinogram

In computed tomography involuntary patient motion can lead to a severe degradation of image quality. Most of the motion estimation methods rely on additional information, such as fiducial markers or an ECG signal. In contrast, data driven motion estimation exists which aims to estimate the motion directly from the acquired projections. This is typically achieved by the optimization of an error metric that is either defined in the image or in the projection domain. In this work, we present a novel data driven error function for motion compensation in fan-beam CT and its combination with a simple motion compensation scheme. The new method operates entirely in the fourier domain of the sinogram, by enforcing zero energy regions of the spectrum. Qualitative and quantitative results show that the proposed method is able to remove most of the motion artifacts, yielding a relative root mean square error of 7.09% compared to 20.35% for the motion corrupted reconstruction. Keywords—Computed Tomography, C-arm CT, Motion Compensation, Image Reconstruction
New measurement of psychological safety for humanoid

In this article, we aim to discover the important factors for determining the psychological safety of humanoids and to develop a new psychological scale to measure the degree of safety quantitatively. To discover the factors that determine the psychological safety of humanoids from an ordinary person's perspective, we studied 919 Japanese, who observed movies of 11 humanoids and then freely described their impressions about what the safety of each humanoid was for them. Five psychologists categorized all of the obtained descriptions into several categories and then used the categories to compose a new psychological scale. Then, 2,624 different Japanese evaluated the same 11 humanoids using the new scale. Factor analysis on the obtained quantitative data revealed six factors of psychological safety: Performance, Humanness, Acceptance, Harmlessness, Toughness, and Agency. Additional analysis revealed that Performance, Acceptance, Harmlessness, and Toughness were the most important factors for determining the psychological safety of general humanoids. The usability of the new scale is discussed.
A space decomposition method for path planning of loop linkages

This paper introduces box approximations as a new tool for path planning of closed-loop linkages. Box approximations are finite collections of rectangloids that tightly envelop the robot's free space at a desired resolution. They play a similar role to that of approximate cell decompositions for open-chain robots - they capture the free-space connectivity in a multi-resolutive fashion and yield rectangloid channels enclosing collision-free paths - but have the additional property of enforcing the satisfaction of loop closure constraints frequently arising in articulated linkages. We present an efficient technique to compute such approximations and show how resolution-complete path planners can be devised using them. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first space-decomposition approach to closed-loop linkage path planning proposed in the literature.
Evaluation of Fiji National University Campus Information Systems

Fiji National University (FNU) has been encountering many difficulties with its current campus administrative systems. These difficulties include accessibility, scalability, performance, flexibility and integration. In order to address these difficulties, we developed a thin client web based campus information system. The newly designed system allows the students, academic and administration staff of the university to handle their day to day affairs with the university online. In this paper we describe three types of evaluation carried out to determine the suitability of newly developed system for FNU environment. User interface evaluation was carried out to assess user interface on a set of usability principles, usability evaluation to see the ease at which users can use the system and finally performance evaluation to verify and validate user response time required to complete various tasks. The result of each of these evaluations were analysed and the system was rectified as part of iterative design process.
Changes of nocturnal blood pressure dipping status in hypertensives by nighttime dosing of alpha-adrenergic blocker, doxazosin : results from the HALT study.

Abnormal nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping status may be partly determined by nocturnal sympathetic activity. We studied the effect of nighttime dosing of an alpha(1)-adrenergic blocker, doxazosin, on the BP dipping status of 118 hypertensives, all of whom underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring before and after treatment. The mean nighttime/daytime ratio of systolic BP was increased (0.91 after therapy versus 0.89 at baseline, P<0.05). The patients were initially divided into 4 groups on the basis of their dipping status at the baseline assessment: 18 (15%) were extreme dippers, with a nighttime systolic BP fall of at least 20% of daytime BP; 46 (39%) were dippers (fall between 10% and 20%); 48 (41%) were nondippers (fall between 0% and 10%); and 6 (5%) were risers (nocturnal increase of systolic BP). A shift in dipping status toward less nocturnal BP dipping was observed after doxazosin therapy (P<0.05). Dipping status was determined by nighttime more than by daytime BP, and this was not explained by differences in the number of daytime and nighttime readings. The effects of doxazosin on the mean nocturnal systolic BP changes were an increase of 4.3 mm Hg in extreme dippers and decreases of 0.7 mm Hg in dippers, 12 mm Hg in nondippers, and 18 mm Hg in risers; the reduction was only significant in the latter 2 groups (both P<0.01). To estimate the effects of regression to the mean on the changes in dipping status, we also defined dipping status with the average of the BPs before and after doxazosin and found no difference in the degree of nighttime BP reduction among each group. The reduction of daytime BP was now significantly greater in the subgroups with less dipping: 6. 4 mm Hg for extreme dippers and 16 mm Hg for risers (P<0.05). In conclusion, nighttime dosing with doxazosin markedly affects the nocturnal BP dipping status of hypertensives, but the apparently greater reduction in nighttime pressure in nondippers and risers may be, at least partly, due to the effect of regression to the mean. The most important determinants of the effect of doxazosin were the absolute BP levels, both day and night, rather than dipping status per se.
Enhancement of current driving capability in data driver ICs for plasma display panels

The design and experimental results of a 192-bit low-cost and high-current-driving PDP data driver IC implemented in a 100 V silicon-on-insulator (SOI) lateral double-diffused MOS (LDMOS) process are presented. The LDMOSFET is the device of a choice in this design, because it is compatible with low-voltage transistors for logic circuits. To maximize the current driving capability and protect the pull-up n-channel LDMOSFET of the output buffet, zener diode circuits are established between the gate and source of the transistor, by which the current driving capability double without increasing the transistor size. The circuit area is further saved through replacement of two high-voltage LDMOSFETs with low- voltage transistors in the level shifter, which is possible by inserting a blocking transistor. The PDP data driver IC with the proposed output buffer and level shifter has been designed for 60-inch WXGA-format PDPs.
Conventional Agar-Based Culture Method, and Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) of the cppB Gene for Detection of Neisseria gonorrhea in Pregnant Women Endocervical Swab Specimens

Background Neisseria gonorrhea is the etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea, and primarily infects the mucous membranes of the urethra, endocervix, pharynx or rectum of females which may result in substantial morbidity. N. gonorrhea also causes disseminated infection, with complications that may result in ectopic pregnancy, tubal infertility, chronic pelvic pain or maternal transmission of gonorrhea, and also increases susceptibility to HIV. Objectives In the present investigation, we used conventional agar-based culture method, and nucleic acid amplification of CCPB gene for detection of Neisseria gonorrhea in endocervical swabs samples collected from pregnant women studied Patients and Methods Endocervical swabs specimens for this study were obtained from 1100 pregnant women who presented to Shiraz (Iran) Hospitals from 2009 to 2011. In the present investigation we used conventional agar-based culture method, and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) of CCPB gene for detection of Neisseria gonorrhea in endocervical swabs samples collected from pregnant women studied. From each pregnant woman two endocervical swabs were taken: one swab placed in tubes containing phosphate buffered saline for Polymerase Chain Reaction, and the other to inoculate on culture media. Results Among 1100 endocervical swabs examined, 13 (1.18%) samples had positive results by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on Neisseria gonorrhea CCPB gene. All endocervical swabs culture had negative results for Neisseria gonorrhea. 84 (7%) of the women had vaginal discharge, in whom PCR on endocervical swabs of these individuals had negative findings. Conclusions Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are very appropriate in detection of infected individuals. Detection techniques such as NAATs are independent of bacterial viability, and have a potential to limit false negative samples, therefore, in our country, the application of different laboratory diagnosis methods including NAATs with culture as gold standard for determination antimicrobial susceptibility is essential.