Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quad-tree segmentation for texture-based image query

In this paper we propose a technique for segmenting images by texture content with application to indexing images in a large image database. Using quad-tree decomposition, texture features are extracted from spatial blocks at a hierarchy of scales in each image. The quad-tree is grown by iteratively testing conditions for splitting parent blocks based on texture content of children blocks. While this approach does not achieve smooth identification of texture region borders, homogeneous blocks of texture are extracted which can be used in a database index. Furthermore, this technique performs the segmentation directly using image spatial-frequency data. In the segmentation reported here, texture features are extracted from the wavelet representation of the image. This method however, can use other subband decompositions including Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), which has been adopted by the JPEG standard for image coding. This makes our segmentation method extremely applicable to databases containing compressed image data. We show application of the texture segmentation towards providing a new method for searching for images in large image databases using “Query-by-texture. ”
The Arg–Phe‐amide peptide 26RFa/glutamine RF‐amide peptide and its receptor: IUPHAR Review 24

The RFamide neuropeptide 26RFa was first isolated from the brain of the European green frog on the basis of cross‐reactivity with antibodies raised against bovine neuropeptide FF (NPFF). 26RFa and its N‐terminally extended form glutamine RF‐amide peptide (QRFP) have been identified as cognate ligands of the former orphan receptor GPR103, now renamed glutamine RF‐amide peptide receptor (QRFP receptor). The 26RFa/QRFP precursor has been characterized in various mammalian and non‐mammalian species. In the brain of mammals, including humans, 26RFa/QRFP mRNA is almost exclusively expressed in hypothalamic nuclei. The 26RFa/QRFP transcript is also present in various organs especially in endocrine glands. While humans express only one QRFP receptor, two isoforms are present in rodents. The QRFP receptor genes are widely expressed in the CNS and in peripheral tissues, notably in bone, heart, kidney, pancreas and testis. Structure–activity relationship studies have led to the identification of low MW peptidergic agonists and antagonists of QRFP receptor. Concurrently, several selective non‐peptidic antagonists have been designed from high‐throughput screening hit optimization. Consistent with the widespread distribution of QRFP receptor mRNA and 26RFa binding sites, 26RFa/QRFP exerts a large range of biological activities, notably in the control of energy homeostasis, bone formation and nociception that are mediated by QRFP receptor or NPFF2. The present report reviews the current knowledge concerning the 26RFa/QRFP‐QRFP receptor system and discusses the potential use of selective QRFP receptor ligands for therapeutic applications.
Developing Global Leadership Competencies

Executive Summary This paper documents the intense need for greater global leadership competencies in American and Chinese business leaders. The paper also explores some of the cultural and philosophical differences. Finally, the paper explains an original conceptual model for developing global leadership competencies. This is offered as a heuristic attempt to advance the research and development on this topic.
Isolation and Expansion of Adult Cardiac Stem Cells From Human and Murine Heart

Cardiac myocytes have been traditionally regarded as terminally differentiated cells that adapt to increased work and compensate for disease exclusively through hypertrophy. However, in the past few years, compelling evidence has accumulated suggesting that the heart has regenerative potential. Recent studies have even surmised the existence of resident cardiac stem cells, endothelial cells generating cardiomyocytes by cell contact or extracardiac progenitors for cardiomyocytes, but these findings are still controversial. We describe the isolation of undifferentiated cells that grow as self-adherent clusters (that we have termed “cardiospheres”) from subcultures of postnatal atrial or ventricular human biopsy specimens and from murine hearts. These cells are clonogenic, express stem and endothelial progenitor cell antigens/markers, and appear to have the properties of adult cardiac stem cells. They are capable of long-term self-renewal and can differentiate in vitro and after ectopic (dorsal subcutaneous connective tissue) or orthotopic (myocardial infarction) transplantation in SCID beige mouse to yield the major specialized cell types of the heart: myocytes (ie, cells demonstrating contractile activity and/or showing cardiomyocyte markers) and vascular cells (ie, cells with endothelial or smooth muscle markers).
Wireless backhauling of 5G small cells: challenges and solution approaches

Dense deployment of small cells over traditional macrocells is considered as a key enabling technique for the emerging 5G cellular networks. However, a fundamental challenge is to provide an economical and ubiquitous backhaul connectivity to these small cells. There is a wide range of backhaul solutions that together can address the backhaul challenges of 5G networks. In this context, this article provides an overview of the different backhaul solutions and highlights the perceived challenges in backhauling small cells. A qualitative overview of the existing research studies and their critical assumptions are then discussed. Next, for backhauling downlink traffic of a small cell user, we characterize the cellular region in which the downlink transmission capacity for a user served by a given half-duplex small cell becomes limited by the backhaul link capacity. We then illustrate solution techniques such as full-duplex backhauling to improve the performance of wireless backhauling for small cells.
Becoming a teacher of writing: Primary student teachers reviewing their relationship with writing

Abstract This article investigates the extent to which Year One B.Ed student teachers arrived at university already possessing self‐confidence as writers. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were used to identify students' self perceptions and confidence as writers and their understanding of processes of written composition. The article argues that to consciously engage student teachers in the writing process and to require them to reflect on that process can lead to their self efficacy as writers. Evidence from this study suggests one's self‐confidence, as a writer, is enhanced by explicitly engaging in self reflection of one's own approaches to writing. The findings have implications for course design of literacy components in teacher education internationally.
RWC Music Database: Music genre database and musical instrument sound database

This paper describes the design policy and specifications of the RWC Music Database, a copyright-cleared music database (DB) compiled specifically for research purposes. Shared DBs are common in other research fields and have made significant contributions to progress in those fields. The field of music information processing, however, has lacked a common DB of musical pieces or a large-scale DB of musical instrument sounds. We therefore recently constructed the RWC Music Database comprising four original component DBs: the Popular Music Database (100 pieces), Royalty-Free Music Database (15 pieces), Classical Music Database (50 pieces), and Jazz Music Database (50 pieces). In this paper we report the construction of two additional component DBs: the Music Genre Database (100 pieces) and Musical Instrument Sound Database (50 instruments). For all 315 musical pieces, we prepared original audio signals, corresponding standard MIDI files, and text files of lyrics (for songs). For all 50 instruments, we recorded individual sounds at half-tone intervals with several variations of playing styles, dynamics, instrument manufacturers, and musicians. It is our hope that our DB will make a significant contribution to future advances in the field of music information processing.
Enhanced cognitive flexibility in reversal learning induced by removal of the extracellular matrix in auditory cortex

Significance The brain’s extracellular matrix (ECM) mediates structural stability by enwrapping synaptic contacts fundamental for long-term memory storage. Whether the ECM in the adult brain might thereby govern learning-related plasticity, lifelong memory reformation, and higher cognitive functions is largely unknown. Here, we enzymatically degraded the ECM in the auditory cortex of adult Mongolian gerbils during a reversal learning task. Such local weakening of the structurally rigid ECM specifically accelerated strategy changes required for reversal learning. It neither affected general sensory learning nor erased already established, learned memory traces. Thus, ECM modulation might promote the cognitive flexibility that can build on learned behaviors, and has further implications to develop new tools for guided neuroplasticity with therapeutic potential. During brain maturation, the occurrence of the extracellular matrix (ECM) terminates juvenile plasticity by mediating structural stability. Interestingly, enzymatic removal of the ECM restores juvenile forms of plasticity, as for instance demonstrated by topographical reconnectivity in sensory pathways. However, to which degree the mature ECM is a compromise between stability and flexibility in the adult brain impacting synaptic plasticity as a fundamental basis for learning, lifelong memory formation, and higher cognitive functions is largely unknown. In this study, we removed the ECM in the auditory cortex of adult Mongolian gerbils during specific phases of cortex-dependent auditory relearning, which was induced by the contingency reversal of a frequency-modulated tone discrimination, a task requiring high behavioral flexibility. We found that ECM removal promoted a significant increase in relearning performance, without erasing already established—that is, learned—capacities when continuing discrimination training. The cognitive flexibility required for reversal learning of previously acquired behavioral habits, commonly understood to mainly rely on frontostriatal circuits, was enhanced by promoting synaptic plasticity via ECM removal within the sensory cortex. Our findings further suggest experimental modulation of the cortical ECM as a tool to open short-term windows of enhanced activity-dependent reorganization allowing for guided neuroplasticity.
A Hidden Cost of Virtualization When Scaling Multicore Applications

As the number of cores in a multicore node increases in accordance with Moore’s law, the question arises as to whether there are any “hidden” costs of a cloud’s virtualized environment when scaling applications to take advantage of larger core counts. This paper identifies one such cost, resulting in up to a 583% slowdown as the multicore application is scaled. Surprisingly, these slowdowns arise even when the application’s VM has dedicated use of the underlying physical hardware and does not use emulated resources. Our preliminary findings indicate that the source of the slowdowns is the intervention from the VMM during synchronization-induced idling in the application, guest OS, or supporting libraries. We survey several possible mitigations, and report preliminary findings on the use of “idleness consolidation” and “IPI-free wakeup” as a partial mitigation.
Cervical specimens collected in liquid buffer are suitable for both cytologic screening and ancillary human papillomavirus testing

Several new techniques have been developed to improve the sensitivity of cervical carcinoma screening and reduce equivocal cytologic diagnoses referred to as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). This study evaluates the effectiveness of combining two newly introduced diagnostic techniques: preparation of thin‐layer cytologic slides from ThinPrep liquid buffer and selected Hybrid Capture testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Because HPV DNA detection has been strongly associated with the presence of a cervical carcinoma precursor (“squamous intraepithelial lesion,” or SIL), HPV testing might be useful for identifying women with ASCUS who have an underlying SIL.
TarSeqQC : Targeted Sequencing Experiment Quality Control

Targeted Sequencing experiments are a Next Generation Sequencing application, designed to explore a small group of specific genomic regions. The TarSeqQC package models this kind of experiments in R, and its main goal is to allow the quality control and fast exploration of the experiment results. To do this, a new R class, called TargetExperiment , was implemented. This class is based on the Bed File, that characterize the experiment, the alignment BAM File and the reference genome FASTA File. When the constructor is called, coverage and read count information are computed for the targeted sequences. After that, exploration and quality control could be carried out using graphical and numerical tools. Density, bar, read profile and box plots were implemented to achieve this task. A circular histogram plot was also implemented in order to summarize all experiment results. Coverage or median count intervals can be defined and explored to further assist quality control analysis. Library and pool preparation, sequencing errors, fragment length or GC content bias could be easily detected. Finally, an . xlsx file reporting quality control results can be built. Since its 1.1. 8 version, TarSeqQC implements a new class, TargetExperimentList in order to allow the comparison and joint analysis of several Targeted Sequencing experiments performed using the same Bed File. This class includes several plots that can help to analyze several samples from the same patient or from different patients under the same pathological condition.
Potato flour viscosity improvement is associated with the expression of a wheat LMW‐glutenin gene

It has been previously shown that expression of a high‐molecular‐weight glutenin (HMW‐GS) in transgenic wheat seeds resulted in the improvement of flour functional properties. In this study, potato flour viscosity was improved through a specific expression of a low‐molecular‐weight glutenin (LMW‐GS‐MB1) gene in tuber. The resulting construct was introduced into potato leaf explants (Solanum tuberosum cv Kennebec) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated gene transfer. Southern and Northern analysis of transgenic potato confirmed that the integration of LMW‐GS‐MB1 in genomic DNA was stable and its mRNA was abundant in transgenic line 16 tubers. Western blot analysis of line 16 extract shows a LMW‐GS subunit accumulation in tuber. To demonstrate the capacity of transgenic lines to produce tubers with improved flour functional properties, transgenic lines 9 and 16 exhibiting, respectively, moderate and high expression of LMW‐GS‐MB1 mRNA and nontransgenic plants were transferred to field plots. The mean viscosity value of flour obtained from the field‐grown tubers of transgenic line 16 exhibited a 3‐fold increase in viscosity at 23°C when compared to flour from nontransgenic tubers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial Navigation with Consistency Maintenance System

This paper presents a consistency maintenance system for spatial navigation with integration of fuzzy and two-valued logics on spatial reasoning. We introduce a simple semantics of natural language which can treat fuzzy and two-valued logics, both of which are essential in natural language sentences, especially on spatial depiction. For realizing the reasoning system, we propose a fuzzy assumption-based truth management system (FATMS) and apply image synthesis system with natural language input data.
The Role of the Mitochondrial Genome in Ageing and Carcinogenesis

Mitochondrial DNA mutations and polymorphisms have been the focus of intensive investigations for well over a decade in an attempt to understand how they affect fundamental processes such as cancer and aging. Initial interest in mutations occurring in mitochondrial DNA of cancer cells diminished when most were found to be the same mutations which occurred during the evolution of human mitochondrial haplogroups. However, increasingly correlations are being found between various mitochondrial haplogroups and susceptibility to cancer or diseases in some cases and successful aging in others.
Vector Based Techniques for Short Answer Grading

Vector-based approaches proved their validity during the past few years as promising techniques for word and sentence representation. Automatic short answer grading is a challenging problem in natural language processing that can reduce a lot of human effort, accordingly research was focused towards exploiting several vector representations to solve this problem. In this paper various sentence representation techniques and wide range of similarity measures are compared and finally a system for short answer grading is presented. The system either outperforms the state of the art systems on different data sets or achieves comparable results.
Quantum Channel Capacities With Passive Environment Assistance

We initiate the study of passive environment-assisted communication via a quantum channel, modeled as a unitary interaction between the information carrying system and an environment. In this model, the environment is controlled by a benevolent helper, who can set its initial state such as to assist sender and receiver of the communication link (the case of a malicious environment, also known as jammer, or arbitrarily varying channel, is essentially well-understood and comprehensively reviewed). Here, after setting out precise definitions, focusing on the problem of quantum communication, we show that entanglement plays a crucial role in this problem: indeed, the environment-assisted capacity where the helper is restricted to product states between the channel uses is different from the one with unrestricted helper. Furthermore, prior shared entanglement between the helper and the receiver makes a difference, too.
In defence of a human conversation in medical vocational education: a discussion from the United Kingdom

Abstract At a time when the regulation by statutory bodies of medical education is tighter than ever before, and (particularly) postgraduate medical education is become more didactic and less experiential, the author examines questions inherent in education and training of the doctor in the United Kingdom. Recently introduced educational paradigms and the tensions inherent in the competency model are discussed. A return to that kind of conversation, which is at the same time a dialogue with the discipline and also with the teacher/practitioner, is advocated.
On the Simplified LVI-based Primal-Dual Neural Network for Solving LP and QP Problems

Motivated by real-time solution to robotic issues, researchers have considered the general unified problem-formulation of linear programs (LP) and quadratic programs (QP) subject to equality, inequality and bound constraints simultaneously (Y. Zhang, 2002), (Y. Zhang, 2005). An LVI-based primal-dual neural network (LVI-PDNN) has been developed for such an online solution (Y. Zhang, 2005). It is with simple piecewise-linear dynamics, global convergence to optimal solutions, and ability to handle linear-programs and quadratic-programs in real time and in the same manner. In this paper, to further reduce the implementation and computational complexities, a simplified LVI-PDNN model (T.L. Friesz et al., 1994) is investigated. Interesting numerical results and properties of this simplified LVI-based primal-dual neural network are discussed. For example, the convergence starting within feasible region, the case of no solutions, and the oscillation in solving LP problems.
How are personality disorders related to compliance?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality disorders, as measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – III, and compliance, as measured by the Gudjonsson Compliance Scale. A voluntary sample of 58 mentally disordered offenders residing in medium secure units completed both tests. Of these, 54 (93%) met a diagnosis threshold for either a trait or a disorder (50% met the full diagnosis for at least one personality disorder). The most common personality traits/disorders were avoidant, passive-aggressive, dependent, depressive, and paranoid. The presence or prominence of clinical syndrome/severe clinical syndrome was evident in 42 (72%) of the patients. As far as clinical syndromes are concerned, the most common diagnoses were anxiety, followed by drug dependence and alcohol dependence. Compliance correlated most significantly with dependent, avoidant, passive-aggressive, and masochistic personality disorder scores (Axis II), and with dysthymia, anxiety, and delusional disorders (Axis I). These findings support the hypothesis that compliance is more strongly associated with some personality disorders than others, particularly those in Cluster C, and that the primary link with compliance is through anxiety and low self-esteem.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Targeted by Functionalized Polysaccharide Microparticles: a new Tool for SPECT Imaging

Aneurysm diagnostic is nowadays limited by the lack of technology that enables early detection and rupture risk prediction. New non invasive tools for molecular imaging are still required. In the present study, we present an innovative SPECT diagnostic tool for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) produced from injectable polysaccharide microparticles radiolabeled with technetium 99m (99mTc) and functionalized with fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide with the ability to target P-Selectin. P-Selectin is a cell adhesion molecule expressed on activated endothelial cells and platelets which can be found in the thrombus of aneurysms, as well as in other vascular pathologies. Microparticles with a maximum hydrodynamic diameter of 4 µm were obtained by crosslinking the polysaccharides dextran and pullulan. They were functionalized with fucoidan. In vitro interactions with human activated platelets were assessed by flow cytometry that demonstrated a specific affinity of fucoidan functionalized microparticles for P-Selectin expressed by activated platelets. For in vivo AAA imaging, microparticles were radiolabeled with 99mTc and intravenously injected into healthy and AAA rats obtained by elastase perfusion through the aorta wall. Animals were scanned by SPECT imaging. A strong contrast enhancement located in the abdominal aorta of AAA rats was obtained, while no signal was obtained in healthy rats or in AAA rats after injection of non-functionalized control microparticles. Histological studies revealed that functionalized radiolabeled polysaccharide microparticles were localized in the AAA wall, in the same location where P-Selectin was expressed. These microparticles therefore constitute a promising SPECT imaging tool for AAA and potentially for other vascular diseases characterized by P-Selectin expression. Future work will focus on validating the efficiency of the microparticles to diagnose these other pathologies and the different stages of AAA. Incorporation of a therapeutic molecule is also considered.