Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hardware design for registration of aerial video imagery

Aerial videos are used in mapping and surveillance applications, especially for updating satellite imagery. For the purpose of video mosaicing, we have used the Levenberg-Marquardt least squares minimization algorithm. Since this is a computationally intensive process, the bottleneck part of the algorithm i.e. sum of squared differences has been moved to hardware. This paper presents a cost effective, optimized design for registration of aerial video imagery. The emphasis is on the design of data path, such that the amount of hardware is minimized while keeping mosaicing error measure below a certain threshold. Furthermore, pixel caching is used to reduce the data transfer to and from memory. Finally, some of the benchmarks and simulation results are discussed.
MicroRNAs responsive to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS modulate expression of genes regulating innate immunity in human macrophages

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptional expression of their respective target genes and are responsive to various stimuli, including LPS. Here we examined the early (4 h) miRNA responses of THP1-differentiated macrophages challenged with LPS derived from the periodontal pathogens, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis or environmentally-modified LPS obtained from P. gingivalis grown in cigarette smoke extract. Predicted miRNA-gene target interactions for LPS-responsive miR-29b and let-7f were confirmed using dual-luciferase assays and by transfection experiments using miRNA mimics and inhibitors. Convergent and divergent miRNA profiles were observed in treated samples where differences in miRNA levels related to the type, concentration and incubation times of LPS challenge. Dual-luciferase experiments revealed miR-29b targeting of interleukin-6 receptorα (IL-6Rα) and IFN-γ inducible protein 30 and let-7f targeting of suppressor of cytokine signaling 4 and thrombospondin-1. Transfection experiments confirmed miR-29b and let-7f modulation of IL-6Rα and SOCS4 protein expression levels, respectively. Thus, we have demonstrated convergent/divergent miRNA responses to wild type LPS and its environmentally-modified LPS, and demonstrate miRNA targeting of key genes linked to inflammation and immunity. Our data indicate that these LPS-responsive miRNAs may play a key role in fine-tuning the host response to periodontal pathogens.
Proteomic and transcriptomic investigations on cold‐responsive properties of the psychrophilic Antarctic bacterium Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119 at subzero temperatures

Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119, isolated from Antarctic permafrost soil, grows and proliferates at subzero temperatures. However, its major mechanism of cold adaptation regulation remains poorly understood. We investigated the transcriptomic and proteomic responses of this species to cold temperatures by comparing profiles at -5°C and 20°C to understand how extreme microorganisms survive under subzero conditions. We found a total of 2,906 transcripts and 584 differentially expressed genes (≥ twofold, P <0.005) by RNA-seq. Genes for translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis were upregulated, and lipid transport and metabolism was downregulated at low temperatures. A total of 60 protein spots (≥ 1.8 fold, P < 0.005) showed differential expression on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. The most prominent upregulated proteins in response to cold were involved in metabolite transport, protein folding and membrane fluidity. Proteins involved in energy production and conversion, and heme protein synthesis were downregulated. Moreover, isoform exchange of cold-shock proteins was detected at both temperatures. Interestingly, pathways for acetyl-CoA metabolism, putrescine synthesis and amino acid metabolism were upregulated. This study highlights some of the strategies and different physiological states that Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119 has developed to adapt to the cold environment in Antarctica.
Faster BlockMax WAND with Variable-sized Blocks

Query processing is one of the main bottlenecks in large-scale search engines. Retrieving the top k most relevant documents for a given query can be extremely expensive, as it involves scoring large amounts of documents. Several dynamic pruning techniques have been introduced in the literature to tackle this problem, such as BlockMaxWAND, which splits the inverted index into constant- sized blocks and stores the maximum document-term scores per block; this information can be used during query execution to safely skip low-score documents, producing many-fold speedups over exhaustive methods. We introduce a refinement for BlockMaxWAND that uses variable- sized blocks, rather than constant-sized. We set up the problem of deciding the block partitioning as an optimization problem which maximizes how accurately the block upper bounds represent the underlying scores, and describe an efficient algorithm to find an approximate solution, with provable approximation guarantees. rough an extensive experimental analysis we show that our method significantly outperforms the state of the art roughly by a factor 2×. We also introduce a compressed data structure to represent the additional block information, providing a compression ratio of roughly 50%, while incurring only a small speed degradation, no more than 10% with respect to its uncompressed counterpart.
Conjunctive management of surface and groundwater in transboundary watercourses: a first assessment

Cooperative management of transboundary river basins is widely recognized as important. Emphasis on joint management of shared aquifers has also grown in recent years. Perhaps surprisingly, despite abundant focus on transboundary surface water and growing focus on shared groundwater, there is scant focus on their intersection. To address this knowledge limitation, this article reviews experiences in transboundary water treaties oriented toward different water sources, in order to: i) understand how transboundary water institutions vary according to the water source to which they are oriented, ii) gauge the nature and strength of conjunctive transboundary water management treaties, and iii) identify ways to enhance conjunctive water management in transboundary contexts. The results reveal the existence of more than 50 treaties that make mention of both water sources. Nonetheless, only eight treaties devote ‘substantive’ focus to both surface and groundwater. Review of treaty contents reveals that their focus is on ‘softer’ issues related to institutional development. Moving forward, the reality that the evolution of conjunctive treaties is relatively nascent, and that scope of such treaties is still limited to institutional issues, may indicate large untapped potential – it may be time to outline pathways toward practical implementation of conjunctive water management in transboundary contexts.
Multiscale Decomposition for Local Edge-Preservation using Median Filter as Preprocessor to LEP Filter

: Edge detection is mainly used in image processing, and is used for feature selection and feature extraction. Edge preservation is important in filtering design to avoid the halo artifacts. Edge preserving decomposition of an image can be achieved using a Local Edge Preserving (LEP) filter. This technique is suitable for High Dynamic Range (HDR) images. Here, multi scale decomposition process is used, in which the image is divided into base layer and detail layer. The output of LEP provides better visual quality to the images. The problem of LEP filter is that it is not capable of eliminating the noise at the output completely and the smoothening performance of the LEP filter is poor compared with the previously established filters. Therefore a median filter is used as the preprocessor. The median filter has the ability to preserve the edges, and the capability to remove the noise present at the input. Thus, the LEP filter performance gets improved by using the median filter as the preprocessor.
Quantifying the Climate Impact of the US Policy Choices Using an Economic and Earth System Model

Climate policy plays an important role in keeping global temperature rises below the target of 1.5–2 ◦C above pre-industrial levels, and technological innovations are key to determining the effectiveness of climate policy. In this study, we investigated the climate impact of the USA’s policy choices using the enforced multi-factor regional climate and economy system (EMRICES,) and the Earth system model from Beijing Normal University (BNU-ESM). Three emission scenarios were designed based on the assumption of whether or not the US follows its proposed nationally determined contribution (NDC) and makes use of technological innovations. The results showed that if the US does not implement the NDC and had no technological progress, there would be an extra 176.7 Gt of cumulative carbon emissions by the end of the 21st century compared to that of all the countries that follow their NDC. The additional emissions would lead to an increase of 62 ppm in CO2 concentration and a 0.4 ◦C increase in global warming by 2100. It would also lead to a 2% loss for the US and Chinese economies, compared to the NDC scenario. The Earth system model results also show that even if all the countries follow the DNC, it would be difficult to keep the temperature from increasing less than 1.5 ◦C. This study implies that the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and their refusal to adopt technological progress is not conducive to achieving the 1.5 ◦C goal, and more stringent emission reduction targets or technology innovations would be required for the world to control global warming to a level below 1.5 ◦C.
Differential effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 on the proliferation of human lymphoid and myeloid leukemia cells.

BACKGROUND Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF beta) exerts different effects on the hemopoietic system which range from the growth stimulation of more mature myeloid progenitors to the growth inhibition of more immature and multilineage hemopoietic precursors. TGF beta is also an inhibitor of the proliferation and functional activities of normal T and B lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effect on the growth of a human leukemic cells of lymphoid and myeloid origin. METHODS We tested its activity on the doubling time, the DNA synthesis rate and the clonal growth of a panel of lymphoid and myeloid leukemic cell lines. RESULTS Among the myeloid cell lines, the proliferation in liquid cultures as well as the clonal growth of KG1, HL60 and U937 were suppressed by TGF beta 1 at doses ranging from 0.025 to 2.5 ng/ml; the degree of inhibition was, however, variable. BV 137, a Ph1-positive cell line derived from a very undifferentiated stem cell, was also highly responsive to TGF beta 1 inhibition. Among the six lymphoid neoplastic cell lines, only Nalm 6, a pre-B leukemic cell line, was consistently and reproducibly inhibited by the same doses of TGF beta 1. Conversely, two Burkitt lymphoma cell lines, Raji and Daudi, and three T-cell leukemias (Molt 4, Jurkat and PF 382) were insensitive to TGF beta inhibition.
The Ability of Computed Tomography to Identify a Painful Zygapophysial Joint in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Study design A prospective cross-sectional analytic study. Objectives To assess in patients with chronic low back pain whether the presence or absence of pain originating from the lumbar zygapophysial joints correlates with changes seen on computed tomography. Summary of Background Data Results of studies have been divided as to whether or not radiologic imaging is able to predict those patients with pain originating from the zygapophysical joints. Methods Sixty-three patients with low back pain lasting for longer than 3 months underwent computed tomography and blocks of the zygapophysial joints at L5-S1,L4-L5, and L3-L4. The zygapophysical joints of all images were scored by three independent, masked radiologists. Results Interobserver agreement was poor with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.34–0.66 using total joint scores for all three assessors. Using the results of a repeat assessment with two radiologists there was no statistically significant difference in joint scores between those with and those without pain originating from the zygapophysial joint. Conclusions Computed tomography has no place in the diagnosis of lumbar zygapophysial joint pain.
Terahertz Band Intra-Chip Communications: Can Wireless Links Scale Modern x86 CPUs?

Massive multi-core processing has recently attracted significant attention from the research community as one of the feasible solutions to satisfy constantly growing performance demands. However, this evolution path is nowadays hampered by the complexity and limited scalability of bus-oriented intra-chip communications infrastructure. The latest advantages of terahertz (THz) band wireless communications providing extraordinary capacity at the air interface offer a promising alternative to conventional wired solutions for intra-chip communications. Still, to invest resources in this field manufacturers need a clear vision of what are the performance and scalability gains of wireless intra-chip communications. Using the comprehensive hybrid methodology combining THz ray-tracing, direct CPU traffic measurements, and cycle-accurate CPU simulations, we perform the scalability study of x86 CPU design that is backward compatible with the current x86 architecture. We show that preserving the current cache coherence protocols mapped into the star wireless communications topology that allows for tight centralized medium access control a few hundreds of active cores can be efficiently supported without any notable changes in the x86 CPU logic. This important outcome allows for incremental development, where THz-assisted x86 CPU with a few dozens of cores can serve as an intermediate solution, while the truly massive multi-core system with broadcast-enabled medium access and enhanced cache coherence protocols can be an ultimate goal.
Reprogramming of endometrial adult stromal cells in the presence of a ROCK inhibitor, thiazovivin, could obtain more efficient iPSCs

Today, there is a need for a platform to efficiently generate and maintain a feeder free culture of pluripotent stem cells by small molecules or pharmacological agents. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) is considered a promising resource for restorative cell therapy in clinical areas. While fully reprogrammed iPSCs are similar to embryonic stem cells, iPSCs could be derived from the patient's own cells (autologous), which avoids the immune rejection activities. Recent advances have demonstrated that iPSCs could be generated from human fibroblasts using only four transcription factors: OCT4, SOX2, CMYC, and KLF4. However, the limitations of reprogramming technologies include low efficiency, slow kinetics, transgene integration and residual expression. Surprisingly, adult stem cells from human endometrium (endometrial stem cells; EnSCs) express OCT4 and KLF4 pluripotency factors. On the other hand, small molecule inhibitors of specific signaling pathways such as thiazovivin have been used in various aspects of iPSC generation and maintenance. Thiazovivin is a selective small molecule that directly targets Rho‐associated kinase (ROCK) and increases expression of pluripotency factors. The process using thiazovivin could be easier, faster and more cost effective than transgene integration into somatic cells. So reprogramming of OCT4 and KLF4 expressing EnSCs by a ROCK inhibitor, thiazovivin, could result in producing more efficient iPSCs compared with fibroblasts or conventional somatic cells without integration any transgene and retroviral vector.
Identical β Cell-Specific CD8+ T Cell Clonotypes Typically Reside in Both Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte and Pancreatic Islets1

A major issue regarding T cell responses in autoimmunity is how the repertoire compares between the periphery and target organ. In type 1 diabetes, the status of at-risk or diabetic individuals can be monitored by measuring β cell-specific T cells isolated from PBL, but whether these T cells accurately reflect the repertoire residing in the pancreatic islets is unclear. The TCR repertoire of disease-relevant, tetramer-sorted CD8+ T cells was examined at the single-cell level in PBL, pancreatic lymph nodes (PLN), and the islets of individual NOD mice. CDR3α and CDR3β sequences demonstrated that the same repertoire of T cells in PBL was detected in the islets and PLN, although the frequency of specific clonotypes varied. Albeit infrequent, clonotypes that were prevalent in the islets but not found in PBL were also detected. β cell Ag immunization expanded immunodominant PBL clonotypes present in the islets and PLN. These results show that insight into repertoire profiles of islet-infiltrating T cells can be obtained from PBL.
Spillover Effects of Status Demotion on Customer Reactions to Loyalty Reward Promotions: The Role of Need for Status and Exclusivity

Prior research demonstrates that status demotion in the loyalty reward program heightens negative emotions, particularly when demotion is due to changes in company policies. In this research, we argue that such negative emotions are likely to spillover to evaluations of post-demotion promotions. We further argue that such spillover effects should be attenuated among individuals high in need for status. Study 1 examines the joint effect of the cause of demotion and customers’ need for status on loyalty. In study 2, we investigate the impact of exclusivity cues in post-demotion promotions and show that exclusive promotions diminish the negative impact of policy-based demotions on post-promotion loyalty among individuals high (vs. low) in need for status. Travel and tourism companies might want to consider using geographical location as a proxy for need for status or priming status-seeking via exclusive promotions (“elevate your travel experience”) to alleviate demoted customers’ negative emotions.
AtSPO11‐1 is necessary for efficient meiotic recombination in plants

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Spo11 protein catalyses DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate meiotic recombination. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana possesses at least three SPO11 homologues. T‐DNA and ethyl‐methane sulfonate mutagenesis allowed us to show that meiotic progression is altered in plants in which the AtSPO11‐1 gene is disrupted. Both male and female meiocytes formed very few bivalents. Furthermore, no fully synapsed chromosomes were observed during prophase I. Later, in meiosis I, we observed that chromosomes segregated randomly, leading to the production of a large proportion of non‐functional gametes. These meiotic aberrations were associated with a drastic reduction in meiotic recombination. Thus, our data show that initiation of meiotic recombination by SPO11‐ induced DSBs is a mechanism conserved in plants. Furthermore, unlike Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, but like fungi, SPO11 is necessary for normal synapsis in plants.
Speckle Noise Reduction in SAR Image : A Survey

Among the remote sensing technologies, Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) has achieved a prominent position. PolSAR Imaging is a well-developed coherent microwave remote sensing technique for providing large-scale two-dimensional (2-D) high spatial resolution images of the Earth's surface dielectric properties. In SAR systems, the value at each pixel is a complex number: the amplitude and phase information of the returned signal. Full PolSAR data is comprised of four complex channels which result from the combination of the horizontal and vertical transmission modes, and horizontal and vertical reception modes. The speckle phenomenonin SAR data hinders the interpretation these data and reduces the accuracy of segmentation, classification and analysis of objects contained within the image. Therefore, reducing the noise effect is an important task, and multi look processing is often used for this purpose in single and full-channel data. In the latter, such processing yields a covariance matrix in each pixel, but further noise Abstract: It is very difficult to detect small targets when the scattering intensity of background clutter is as strong as the targets and the speckle noise is serious in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Because the scattering of manmade objects lasts for a longer time than that of back ground clutter in azimuth matching scope, it is much easier for manmade objects to produce strong coherence than ground objects. As the essence of SAR imaging is coherent imaging, the contrast between targets and background clutter can be enhanced via coherent processing of SAR images. This paper produces the outcome of two methods which are very effective in their research area. One method proposes a novel method to reduce speckle noise for SAR images and to improve the detected ratio for SAR ship targets from the SAR imaging mechanism. This new method includes the coherence reduction speckle noise (CRSN) algorithm and the coherence constant false-alarm ratio (CCFAR) detection algorithm. Real SAR image data is used to test the presented algorithm sand the experimental results verify that they are feasible and effective. In another method Depending on the weighting coefficients, the class of the WVDFs can be designed to perform a number of smoothing operations with different properties, which can be applied for specific filtering scenarios. In order to adapt the weighting coefficients to varying noise and image statistics, the paper presents a methodology, which achieves an optimal trade-off between smoothing and detail preserving characteristics. The proposed angular optimization algorithms take advantage of adaptive stack filters design and weighted median filtering framework. The optimized WVDFs are able to remove image noise, while maintaining excellent signal-detail preservation capabilities and sufficient robustness for a variety of signal and noise statistics.
The application and improvement of gray correlation alogrithm in multisensor data association

Multisensor data association is very important in multisensor information fusion, which will decide whether the data from different sensors is representative for the same target. Tradition data association uses the joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) algorithm as the priority means, which depends on the state measurement and has long computation time. So, in this paper, a new algorithm based on gray correlation theory and information entropy theory is presented. It uses the gray correlation algorithm to get the data correlation result and uses the index entropy to get the weight factor of gray correlation, which makes the data correlation more accurate. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm is effective and accurate, which has much lower computation amount than JPDA.