Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial weighted fisher vector for image retrieval

Several recent works interpret convolutional features produced by deep convolutional neural networks as local descriptors. Existing high-dimensional aggregation based methods, e.g., Fisher Vector (FV) obtain inferior performance to pooling based methods in most situations, and we observe that it is mainly caused by the ignorance of spatial weights. In this paper, we propose a novel method named spatial weighted Fisher Vector (SWFV) to enhance the representation of FV by injecting the spatial weight map to FV. In addition, we further analyze the distribution of spatial weights and propose truncated spatial weighted FV (TSWFV). Experimental results on two benchmark datasets demonstrate that the two proposed methods achieve competitive results compared with other global representation based methods.
Refining smartphone usage analysis by combining crowdsensing and survey

Crowdsensing has been used quite regularly in recent years to study smartphone usage. However context information associated with smartphone usage is mostly of the type geo-localisation, user mobility, temporal behavior etc. Furthermore most studies are not sufficiently user-centric i.e. don't consider the perception or cognitive aspects of the user. In this paper we collect data about social context and user perception via in-app and on-line questionnaires and show that when these are combined with crowdsensed data can help improve both sensing and survey and can be applied to interesting cases.
Observations and models of lateral hydrothermal circulation on a young ridge flank: Numerical evaluation of thermal and chemical constraints

We used a two‐dimensional coupled heat and fluid flow model to investigate large‐scale, lateral heat and fluid transport on the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Cool seawater in the natural system is inferred to enter basement where it is exposed close to the spreading center and flow laterally beneath thick sediments, causing seafloor heat flow to be depressed relative to that input at the base of the plate. The flow rate, and thus the properties of permeable basement (the flow layer), controls the efficiency of lateral heat transport, as quantified through numerical modeling. We simulated forced flow in this layer by pumping water through at a fixed rate and quantified relations between flow rate, thickness of the permeable basement, and the extent of suppression of seafloor heat flow. Free flow simulations, in which fluid flow was not forced, match heat flow constraints if nonhydrostatic initial conditions are used and flow layer permeabilities are set to the high end of observed values (10−11 to 10−9 m2). To match seafloor heat flow observations, the models required lateral specific discharge of 1.2 to 40 m/yr for flow layer thicknesses of 600 to 100 m, respectively. The models also replicate differences in fluid pressures in basement, and the local distribution of pressures above and below hydrostatic. Estimated lateral flow rates are 10× to 1000× greater than estimates based on radiocarbon ages of basement pore waters. Estimated lateral flow rates based on thermal and chemical constraints can be reconciled if diffusion from discrete flow zones into less permeable stagnant zones in the crust is considered.
A Bayesian copula model for stochastic claims reserving

We present a full Bayesian model for assessing the reserve requirement of multiline Non-Life insurance companies. Bayesian models for claims reserving allow to account for expert knowledge in the evaluation of Outstanding Loss Liabilities, allowing the use of additional information at a low cost. This paper combines a standard Bayesian approach for the estimation of marginal distribution for the single Lines of Business for a Non-Life insurance company and a Bayesian copula procedure for the estimation of aggregate reserves. The model we present allows to "mix" own-assessments of dependence between LoBs at a company level and market-wide estimates provided by regulators. We illustrate results for the single lines of business and we compare standard copula aggregation for different copula choices and the Bayesian copula approach.
Teaching Social Communication to Children with Autism

In this book critique, the book titled "Teaching social communication to children with autism" and written by Brooke Ingersoll and Anna Dvortcsakby was examined. The authors of the book state that the book with the materials constitutes a comprehensive program developed for families. It is also mentioned that the comprehensive program consists of an implementation guide, an auxiliary DVD and a family guide. The book consists of three chapters and appendices. The authors indicated that the developed training program is a product of a 5-year study, and carried out with approximately 200 families from different states. This book is in three sections and consists of a total of 386 pages with subsections under those sections. These sections are "An introduction to parent training, Individual parent training program session guidelines, and Group parent training program session guidelines".
Membrane Bridging and Hemifusion by Denaturated Munc18

Neuronal Munc18-1 and members of the Sec1/Munc18 (SM) protein family play a critical function(s) in intracellular membrane fusion together with SNARE proteins, but the mechanism of action of SM proteins remains highly enigmatic. During experiments designed to address this question employing a 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) fluorescence de-quenching assay that is widely used to study lipid mixing between reconstituted proteoliposomes, we observed that Munc18-1 from squid (sMunc18-1) was able to increase the apparent NBD fluorescence emission intensity even in the absence of SNARE proteins. Fluorescence emission scans and dynamic light scattering experiments show that this phenomenon arises at least in part from increased light scattering due to sMunc18-1-induced liposome clustering. Nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism data suggest that, although native sMunc18-1 does not bind significantly to lipids, sMunc18-1 denaturation at 37°C leads to insertion into membranes. The liposome clustering activity of sMunc18-1 can thus be attributed to its ability to bridge two membranes upon (perhaps partial) denaturation; correspondingly, this activity is hindered by addition of glycerol. Cryo-electron microscopy shows that liposome clusters induced by sMunc18-1 include extended interfaces where the bilayers of two liposomes come into very close proximity, and clear hemifusion diaphragms. Although the physiological relevance of our results is uncertain, they emphasize the necessity of complementing fluorescence de-quenching assays with alternative experiments in studies of membrane fusion, as well as the importance of considering the potential effects of protein denaturation. In addition, our data suggest a novel mechanism of membrane hemifusion induced by amphipathic macromolecules that does not involve formation of a stalk intermediate.
Motivational and cognitive determinants of attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli : implications for a new attentional-training intervention

This research examined the adequacy of cognitive-motivational theory (Cox & Klinger, 1988,1990; Klinger, 1995) for integrating cognitive and motivational predictors of alcohol consumption. It did so by evaluating_the role of motivational structure and attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli in predicting drinking behaviour. The study used an abridged version of the Personal Concerns Inventory (PCI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Shipley Institute of Living Scale (SILS), a self-report inventory of alcohol use, two versions of a computerised Stroop test, and a post-Stroop memory test and emotional valence ratings. In Experiments 1-3,128 university students and 50 inpatient alcohol abusers completed the instruments. Experiment 1 revealed that, after other variables had been controlled in a hierarchical multiple regression model, maladaptive motivation and alcohol attentional bias scores were significant predictors of students' alcohol consumption. Experiment 2 revealed that (a) drinking problems predicted students' Executive Cognitive Function (ECF), (b) students' ECF did not predict their motivational structure, and (c) students' attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli was independent of their ECF. Experiment 3 revealed that (a) alcohol abusers had a poorer ECF than students, (b) alcohol abusers showed greater attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli than did students, (c) alcohol abusers had poorer motivation than students, (d) motivational distinctions among different alcohol abusers could be identified, (e) alcohol abusers' ECF impairment predicted their degree of maladaptive motivation, and (f) alcohol abusers' attentional bias for alcohol related stimuli was independent of their ECF. Because there has been a gap between prior research on attentional bias for alcoholrelated stimuli and applications of the findings of this research in treatment, a new, computerised training programme called the Alcohol Attention Diversion Training Programme (AADTP) was developed in the current research to help alcohol abusers overcome their attentional bias for alcohol. In Experiment 4, nine detoxified alcohol abusers took part in an evaluation of the training. Results revealed that, after training with the AADTP, the trainees' attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli, but not their bias for other concern-related stimuli, considerably decreased. Overall, the results of the research indicate that (a) motivational structure and alcohol attentional bias are important correlates of drinking behaviour among non-dependent and dependent drinkers, and (b) AADTP is an effective, alcohol-specific intervention to help alcohol abusers overcome their drinking difficulties.
Brucella Omp25 Upregulates miR-155, miR-21-5p, and miR-23b to Inhibit Interleukin-12 Production via Modulation of Programmed Death-1 Signaling in Human Monocyte/Macrophages

Brucella spp. infection results in compromised Type1 (Th1) cellular immune response. Several reports have described an immunomodulatory function for Brucella major outer membrane protein Omp25. However, the mechanism by which Omp25 modulates macrophage dysfunction has not been defined. Herein, we reported that Omp25-deficient mutant of Brucella suis exhibited an enhanced ability to induce interleukin (IL)-12 whereas ectopic expression of Omp25 protein inhibited TLR agonists-induced IL-12 p70 production through suppression of both IL-12 p40 and p35 subunit expression in THP-1 cells. In addition, Omp25 significantly upregulated miR-155, -23b and -21-5p, as well as the immunomodulator molecule programmed death-1 (PD-1) in monocyte/macrophages. The upregulation of miR-155 and -23b correlated temporally with decreased TAB2 levels, IκB phosphorylation and IL-12 p40 levels by targeting TAB2 and il12B 3′ untranslated region (UTR), respectively, while miR-21-5p increase directly led to the reduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/R848-induced IL-12 p35 protein by targeting il12A 3′UTR. Consistent with this finding, reduction of miR-155 and -23b attenuated the inhibitory effects of Omp25 on LPS/R848-induced IL-12 p40 expression at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, while reduction of miR-21-5p attenuated the inhibitory effects of Omp25 on LPS/R848-induced IL-12 p35 expression at the posttranscriptional level, together significantly enhanced IL-12 p70 production upon LPS/R848 stimulation. We also found that blocking PD-1 signaling decreased the expression of miR-155, -23b and -21-5p induced by Omp25 and enhanced IL-12 production in monocyte/macrophages. Altogether, these data demonstrate that Brucella Omp25 induces miR-155, -23b and -21-5p to negatively regulate IL-12 production at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels via regulation of PD-1 signaling, which provides an entirely new mechanism underlying monocyte/macrophages dysfunction during Brucella spp. infection.
The Chemokine Receptor CXCR3 Attenuates the Control of Chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in BALB/c Mice1

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 plays a significant role in regulating the migration of Th1 cells. Given the importance of Th1 immunity in the control of tuberculous infection, the results of the present study demonstrating that CXCR3-deficient BALB/c mice are more resistant to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, compared with wild-type mice, is surprising. This enhanced resistance manifests in the chronic but not the acute phase of infection. Remarkable differences in the cellular composition of the pulmonic granuloma of the CXCR3−/− and wild-type mice were found, the most striking being the increase in the number of CD4+ T cells in the knockout strain. In the chronic phase of infection, the number of CD69-expressing CD4+ T lymphocytes in the lungs of CXCR3−/− mice was higher than in wild-type mice. Additionally, at 1 mo postinfection, the number of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes of the CXCR3-deficient strain was elevated compared with wild-type mice. Pulmonic expression of IFN-γ, IL-12, TNF-α, or NO synthase 2, the principal antimycobacterial factors, were equivalent in the two mouse strains. These results indicate that: 1) CXCR3 plays a role in modulating the cellular composition of tuberculous granuloma; 2) CXCR3 impairs antimycobacterial activity in chronic tuberculosis; and 3) in the absence of CXCR3, mice exhibit a heightened state of CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in the chronic phase of infection that is associated with enhanced CD4+ T cell priming. Therefore, CXCR3 can attenuate the host immune response to M. tuberculosis by adversely affecting T cell priming.
Antisocial behaviour across the life course: An examination of the effects of early onset desistence and early onset persistent antisocial behaviour in adulthood

Abstract There is evidence to show that individuals who have persistent behaviour problems over time have the worst outcomes across a range of domains. However, the adult outcomes of those who have high levels of behavioural problems in childhood but desist by adolescence remain relatively under‐investigated. This article examines different patterns of antisocial behaviour over the life course using the Australian Mater University Study of Pregnancy (MUSP), a prospective longitudinal study of mothers and their children up to age 21. Antisocial behaviour is measured using the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist at ages 5 and 14. Young adult outcomes (age 21) of health problems, educational attainment, employment, marriage, discomfort with relationships, and anxiety and depression are examined. Multinomial logistic regression analyses show that those individuals who no longer showed high levels of antisocial behaviour in adolescence continued to have problems across several outcomes. However, the worst outcomes were observed for those individuals with persistent behaviour problems in childhood and adolescence. Overall, the evidence supports the importance of programmes which aim to not only prevent the onset of early childhood antisocial behaviour, but to also draw attention to the need to address antisocial behaviour that emerges during adolescence.
The case of the hidden hand

In unconditionally secure protocols, a sender and receiver are able to communicate their secrets to each other without the eavesdropper(s) being able to learn the secret, even when the eavesdropper intercepts the entire communication. We investigate such protocols for the special case of deals of cards over players, where two players aim to communicate to each other their hand of cards without the remaining player(s) learning a single card from either hand. In this contribution we show that a particular protocol of length strictly larger than two (i.e., consisting of more than just one announcement by one player, and one other announcement by the other player) is after all not acceptable, and therefore does not constitute a new solution. The demonstration requires a detailed case-based analysis. The result may bring a general approach to arbitrary finite-length protocols closer.
The Creative Stereotype Effect

Because of its fundamental relevance to scientific innovation, artistic expression, and human ingenuity, creativity has long been the subject of systematic psychological investigation. Concomitantly, the far-reaching effects of stereotypes on various cognitive and social processes have been widely researched. Bridging these two literatures, we show in a series of two studies that stereotypes related to creativity can both enhance and diminish individuals’ performance on a divergent thinking task. Specifically, Study 1 demonstrated that participants asked to take on a stereotypically uninhibited perspective performed significantly better on a divergent thinking task than those participants who took on a stereotypically inhibited perspective, and a control group. Relatedly, Study 2 showed that the same effect is found within-subjects, with divergent thinking significantly improving when participants invoke an uninhibited stereotype. Moreover, we demonstrate the efficacy of Latent Semantic Analysis as an objective measure of the originality of ideas, and discuss implications of our findings for the nature of creativity. Namely, that creativity may not be best described as a stable individual trait, but as a malleable product of context and perspective.
An efficient power management unit for μWatt thermoelectric generators

This paper presents an efficient power management unit (PMU) that supports μWatt load range for TEG-based applications. The PMU consists of an inductor-based DC-DC converter that boosts a small TEG voltage and followed by two switched capacitor-based buck converters which are used to drive a μWatt-SoC. The PMU generates a regulated 1.1V and 0.6V output voltages. Pulse frequency modulation scheme is utilized to regulate the output voltages. SPICE simulation results in 65nm CMOS technology show that the maximum end-to-end efficiency of the PMU is 68% at an output power of 62μWatt. The PMU occupies an area of less than 0.9mm2. The switched capacitor circuit enables the usage of dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) that helps the PMU to operate in ultra-low power modes.
Patient-reported outcome measures in arthroplasty registries

Abstract The International Society of Arthroplasty Registries (ISAR) Steering Committee established the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Working Group to convene, evaluate, and advise on best practices in the selection, administration, and interpretation of PROMs and to support the adoption and use of PROMs for hip and knee arthroplasty in registries worldwide. The 2 main types of PROMs include generic (general health) PROMs, which provide a measure of general health for any health state, and specific PROMs, which focus on specific symptoms, diseases, organs, body regions, or body functions. The establishment of a PROM instrument requires the fulfillment of methodological standards and rigorous testing to ensure that it is valid, reliable, responsive, and acceptable to the intended population. A survey of the 41 ISAR member registries showed that 8 registries administered a PROMs program that covered all elective hip or knee arthroplasty patients and 6 registries collected PROMs for sample populations; 1 other registry had planned but had not started collection of PROMs. The most common generic instruments used were the EuroQol 5 dimension health outcome survey (EQ-5D) and the Short Form 12 health survey (SF-12) or the similar Veterans RAND 12-item health survey (VR-12). The most common specific PROMs were the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and the University of California at Los Angeles Activity Score (UCLA).
The Logic of Political Coverage on Twitter: Temporal Dynamics and Content

Social media services have become areas of political communication. Politicians integrate them in their campaigns, journalists use them as sources and topics, and the public uses them for the discussion of politics. In this, political activities on social media are clearly interconnected with the coverage of politics by traditional media. This article analyzes Twitter messages commenting on politics during the campaign for the 2009 federal election in Germany. It will be shown that the temporal dynamics and content of Twitter messages follow a hybrid logic of political coverage, sometimes following the same logic as the coverage of political actors in traditional news media, whereas in other cases following a logic specific to political expression on the Internet.
Connectivity map of bipolar cells and photoreceptors in the mouse retina

Visual processing begins at the first synapse of the visual system. In the mouse retina, three different types of photoreceptors provide input to 14 bipolar cell (BC) types. Classically, most BC types are thought to contact all cones within their dendritic field; ON BCs would contact cones exclusively via so-called invaginating synapses, while OFF BCs would form basal synapses. By mining publically available electron microscopy data, we discovered interesting violations of these rules of outer retinal connectivity: ON BC type X contacted only ~20% of the cones in its dendritic field and made mostly atypical non-invaginating contacts. Types 5T, 5O and 8 also contacted fewer cones than expected. In addition, we found that rod BCs received input from cones, providing anatomical evidence that rod and cone pathways are interconnected in both directions. This suggests that the organization of the outer plexiform layer is more complex than classically thought.
Variability Resolution and Product Configuration with SMarty: An Experimental Study on UML Class Diagrams

Variability management is one of the most important activities during software product line development and evolution. Current literature presents several approaches for variability management, especially based on UML, such as, PLUS and SMarty. A systematic process with guidelines support SMarty. Existing literature for these kind of approaches provides slight experimental evidence of their effectiveness at product configuration. Thus, this is considered fundamental for transferring technology to the industry. This paper provides experimental evidence on the product configuration capability of SMarty by comparing it to PLUS, one of the most cited product-line method in literature. The experimental study provides incipient evidence that SMarty is more effective for resolving variabilities and configuring consistent products at UML class level. Thus, overall obtained results indicated the capability of SMarty at configuring specific products.
Current Management and Future Strategies of Gastric Cancer

The overall prognosis of gastric cancer has gradually improved over the past decades with growing awareness of potential carcinogens, surveillance programs and early diagnosis, as well as advances in surgical techniques and multimodality treatments. Nevertheless, the outcome of advanced stage disease still remains poor with currently available treatments, and a worldwide consensus on the standard management thereof has not been established. To improve prognosis and quality of life in gastric cancer patients, both standardization and individualization of managements are imperative. Diagnostic tests and surgical procedures need to be further sophisticated and standardized based on more recent evidences from ongoing and future randomized controlled trials, while comprehensive management should be individualized to each patient. Future challenges lie with how to optimize personalized therapies by deciphering biological complexity of gastric cancer and incorporating molecular biomarkers in clinical practice to forecast prognosis and to guide targeted therapeutics in adjunct to current standards of care.