Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Inversion of the Anscombe Transformation in Low-Count Poisson Image Denoising

The removal of Poisson noise is often performed through the following three-step procedure. First, the noise variance is stabilized by applying the Anscombe root transformation to the data, producing a signal in which the noise can be treated as additive Gaussian with unitary variance. Second, the noise is removed using a conventional denoising algorithm for additive white Gaussian noise. Third, an inverse transformation is applied to the denoised signal, obtaining the estimate of the signal of interest. The choice of the proper inverse transformation is crucial in order to minimize the bias error which arises when the nonlinear forward transformation is applied. We introduce optimal inverses for the Anscombe transformation, in particular the exact unbiased inverse, a maximum likelihood (ML) inverse, and a more sophisticated minimum mean square error (MMSE) inverse. We then present an experimental analysis using a few state-of-the-art denoising algorithms and show that the estimation can be consistently improved by applying the exact unbiased inverse, particularly at the low-count regime. This results in a very efficient filtering solution that is competitive with some of the best existing methods for Poisson image denoising.
Talking ‘Privilege’: barriers to musical attainment in adolescents’ talk of musical role models

Using a discursive approach, this study explores the ways that adolescents construct the notion of social status and ‘being privileged’ through their talk about musician role models. Drawing on social identity theory (see Tajfel, 1978), we examined how adolescents moved between the relational ‘in’ and ‘out’ groups of being privileged versus being disadvantaged as a framework for discussing classical and popular musician role models. Seven focus groups were conducted, each composed of male and female adolescent musicians and non-musicians aged 14–15 years. Participants were asked to discuss 19 pictures of famous classical and popular musicians, commenting on whether they were familiar or unfamiliar figures, and whether they were liked or disliked and the reasons why. Through their talk, the adolescents constructed and negotiated a complex understanding of musical subcultures, whereby high levels of expertise and success were perceived within the notion of privilege. Findings suggest that adolescents' perceptions of privilege may act as a barrier or constraint to their exploration of alternative conceptualisations of musical expertise and success, thereby limiting their own musical aspirations.
Performance evaluation of MIMO satellite multiple-relay multi-user fading channels

In this paper, a novel transmitting scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) satellite relay-based multi-user multi-beam communications is proposed. It is considered that multiple terrestrial relay nodes employ amplify-and-forward (A-F) relaying and intend to improve the reliability and spectral efficiency of satellite radio links. Zero forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) signal detection techniques are employed, which have been well-established in terrestrial wireless communication systems. Numerical results are provided to quantify the performance gain of the proposed system configuration in terms of the bit-error-rate (BER) and the channel capacity.
A Variable Reduction Technique for Pricing Average-Rate Options

Average-rate options, commonly known as Asian options, are contingent claims whose payoffs depend on the arithmetic average of some underlying index over a fixed time horizon. This paper proposes a new valuation technique, called the variable reduction technique, for average rate options. This method transforms the valuation problem of an average-rate option into an evaluation of a conditional expectation that is determined by a one-dimensional Markov process (as opposed to a two-dimensional Markov process). This variable reduction technique works directly with the arithmetic average and does not encounter approximation errors when volatility of the underlying is relatively large. Further, reducing the dimensionality by one makes pricing more efficient in terms of computing time. The variable reduction technique is applied in a simple Black-Scholes' economy in which there is one risky asset and one riskless bond. The paper also discusses application of the technique to average-rate options where the underlying index is an interest rate. Numerical comparisons of different methods are also presented.
Caching-aided coded multicasting with multiple random requests

The capacity of caching networks has received considerable attention in the past few years. A particularly studied setting is the shared link caching network, in which a single source with access to a file library communicates with multiple users, each having the capability to store segments (packets) of the library files, over a shared multicast link. Each user requests one file from the library according to a common demand distribution and the server sends a coded multicast message to satisfy all users at once. The problem consists of finding the smallest possible average codeword length to satisfy such requests. In this paper, we consider the generalization to the case where each user places L ≥ 1 independent requests according to the same common demand distribution. We propose an achievable scheme based on random vector (packetized) caching placement and multiple groupcast index coding, shown to be order-optimal in the asymptotic regime in which the number of packets per file B goes to infinity. We then show that the scalar (B = 1) version of the proposed scheme can still preserve order-optimality when the number of per-user requests L is large enough. Our results provide the first order-optimal characterization of the shared link caching network with multiple random requests, revealing the key effects of L on the performance of caching-aided coded multicast schemes.
Intra-articular use of a platelet-rich product in normal horses: clinical signs and cytologic responses.

OBJECTIVES (1) To report the clinical and synovial effects of a platelet-rich product (PRPr) in normal equine joints, (2) to assess the persistence of platelets within synovial fluid after intra-articular injection, (3) to compare responses to different preparations of that product, and (4) to evaluate a gravity filtration system for PRPr preparation in horses. STUDY DESIGN Experimental. METHODS A platelet-rich saline product (PRPr) was prepared from 7 normal horses using a proprietary preparation device and was divided into 3 treatments: resting, CaCl2 -activated (23 mM, final), and bovine thrombin-activated (10 U/mL, final). Each horse had 3 concurrent randomly assigned intra-articular PRPr treatments administered in their metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joints; the fourth limb was injected with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution as a control. Clinical assessments, cytologic analysis of synovial fluid and hemograms were performed at 6, 24, 48, and 96 hours after injection. PRPr composition and growth factor content were analyzed. RESULTS The gravity filtration system produced a moderately concentrated PRPr. At 6 and 24 hours, when compared to control values, all PRPr treatments caused a significant increase in synovial WBC concentration (P < .0059) and neutrophil percentage (P < .0005). Bovine thrombin-activated PRPr injection consistently caused increased effusion scores and periarticular signs. At all time points, the synovial WBC concentration after thrombin-activated PRPr was significantly greater (P < .001) than for the control, CaCl2 -activated or resting PRPr. Intact platelets could be observed in synovial fluid for up to 5 days after intra-articular PRPr injection. CONCLUSIONS Resting and CaCl2 -activated PRPr may be safely used to treat equine joints, but bovine thrombin activation is not recommended at 10 U/mL. A PRPr can be prepared using a gravity filtration system, eliminating the need for centrifugation.
Shear Stress Inhibits Apoptosis of Ischemic Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

As a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke, to restore or increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) is the most fundamental option. Laminar shear stress (LS), as an important force generated by CBF, mainly acts on brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). In order to study whether LS was a protective factor in stroke, we investigated LS-intervented ischemic apoptosis of rat BMECs (rBMECs) through PE Annexin V/7-AAD, JC-1 and Hoechst 33258 staining to observe the membranous, mitochondrial and nuclear dysfunction. Real-time PCR and western blot were also used to test the gene and protein expressions of Tie-2, Bcl-2 and Akt, which were respectively related to maintain membranous, mitochondrial and nuclear norm. The results showed that LS could be a helpful stimulus for ischemic rBMECs survival. Simultaneously, membranous, mitochondrial and nuclear regulation played an important role in this process.
Implementing distributed shared memory based on DCE

The Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) software of the Open Software Foundation offers solutions for security problems and for shared file management in heterogeneous computer networks. It allows distributed programming by remote procedure calls and parallel programming by threads. Distributed shared memory in a computer network pretends a globally shared address space among networked computers. By introducing distributed shared memory into DCE we raise the concept of threads to a higher level of concurrency-threads are spread over several machines. POSIX 1003.4a-compliant multithreaded programs are automatically transformed to execute on a computer network running DCE. Reprogramming is not necessary. The translator algorithms are concealed behind a precompiler, and a runtime system on top of DCE realizes the globally shared address space and distributes threads among different machines. <<ETX>>
Hybrid Permission and Signature based technique for Malware Detection using KNN Naïve Baye’s Algorithm

- Malware Classification has been a challenging problem in the recent past and several researchers have attempted to solve this problem using various tools. It is security threat which can break machine operation while not knowing user’s data and it's tough to spot its behavior. This paper proposes a novel technique using DBSCAN (Density based Kmeans) algorithmic rule to spot the behavior of malware. After classification from DBSCAN, pattern matching is applied using the instructions pattern in the generated reports. Among of these techniques a pattern based mostly technique is well famed for the detection of malware. For the moderation and improvement of the present system the signature based mostly technique is most popular. The results are found to be quite accurate and better than the existing ones in terms of accuracy.
Design of a Novel Flexible Capacitive Sensing Mattress for Monitoring Sleeping Respiratory

In this paper, an algorithm to extract respiration signals using a flexible projected capacitive sensing mattress (FPCSM) designed for personal health assessment is proposed. Unlike the interfaces of conventional measurement systems for poly-somnography (PSG) and other alternative contemporary systems, the proposed FPCSM uses projected capacitive sensing capability that is not worn or attached to the body. The FPCSM is composed of a multi-electrode sensor array that can not only observe gestures and motion behaviors, but also enables the FPCSM to function as a respiration monitor during sleep using the proposed approach. To improve long-term monitoring when body movement is possible, the FPCSM enables the selection of data from the sensing array, and the FPCSM methodology selects the electrodes with the optimal signals after the application of a channel reduction algorithm that counts the reversals in the capacitive sensing signals as a quality indicator. The simple algorithm is implemented in the time domain. The FPCSM system is used in experimental tests and is simultaneously compared with a commercial PSG system for verification. Multiple synchronous measurements are performed from different locations of body contact, and parallel data sets are collected. The experimental comparison yields a correlation coefficient of 0.88 between FPCSM and PSG, demonstrating the feasibility of the system design.
Integrin a v b 3 and Fibronectin Upregulate Slug in Cancer Cells to Promote Clot Invasion and Metastasis

The blood clotting cascade is selectively involved in lungmetastasis, but the reason for this selectivity is unclear. Here, we show that tumor cells that metastasize predominantly to the lung, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS), have an inherent capacity to generate extensive invadopodia when embedded in a blood clot. Compared with other metastatic cancer cells tested, RCC and STS cells exhibited increased levels of expression offibronectin and an activated formof the integrinavb3,which coordinately supported the generation of an elaborate fibronectin matrix and actin stress fibers in fibrin-embedded tumor cells. Together, fibronectin and avb3 induced upregulation of the transcription factor Slug, which mediates epithelial–mesenchymal transition as well as fibrin invasion and lung metastasis. This mechanism is clinically significant, because primary cancer cells from patients with metastatic RCC strongly invaded fibrin and this correlated with fibronectin matrix formation and Slug expression. In contrast, tumor cells from patients with localized RCC were largely noninvasive. Together, our findings establish that activated integrin avb3 and fibronectin promote lung metastasis by upregulating Slug, defining a mechanism through which cancer cells can colonize blood clots in the lung vasculature. Cancer Res; 73(20); 1–10. 2013 AACR.
Infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-Ray Sources in the Antennae

We use deep J (1.25 μm) and Ks (2.15 μm) images of the Antennae (NGC 4038/4039) obtained with the Wide-field InfraRed Camera on the Palomar 200 inch (5 m) telescope, together with the Chandra X-ray source list of Zezas and coworkers to search for infrared counterparts to X-ray point sources. We establish an X-ray/IR astrometric frame tie with ~0.5'' rms residuals over a ~4.3' field. We find 13 "strong" IR counterparts brighter than Ks = 17.8 mag and <1.0'' from X-ray sources, and an additional 6 "possible" IR counterparts between 1.0′′ and 1.5′′ from X-ray sources. Based on a detailed study of the surface density of IR sources near the X-ray sources, we expect only ~2 of the "strong" counterparts and ~3 of the "possible" counterparts to be chance superpositions of unrelated objects. Comparing both strong and possible IR counterparts to our photometric study of ~220 IR clusters in the Antennae, we find with a >99.9% confidence level that IR counterparts to X-ray sources are ΔMKs ~ 1.2 mag more luminous than average non-X-ray clusters. We also note that the X-ray/IR matches are concentrated in the spiral arms and "overlap" regions of the Antennae. This implies that these X-ray sources lie in the most "super" of the Antennae's super star clusters, and thus trace the recent massive star formation history here. Based on the NH inferred from the X-ray sources without IR counterparts, we determine that the absence of most of the "missing" IR counterparts is not due to extinction, but that these sources are intrinsically less luminous in the IR, implying that they trace a different (possibly older) stellar population. We find no clear correlation between X-ray luminosity classes and IR properties of the sources, although small-number statistics hamper this analysis.
Seyirciler nereye bakıyor? Where are the spectators gazing at?

In this work, a system that determines the following-up status of spectators, from video scenes that belonging to a presentation to a group, by evaluating the positions of people in a group and a person in stage, was designed and performed. System is evaluating images from at least two cameras synchronously. From images that taken from one of the cameras, the position of the person in the stage, is being determined with Histogram of Oriented Gradients method, and being tracked with Mean-Shift method. On the images that taken from the other camera, with the Haar based face detection method, the faces of the spectators are being detected and tracked. In this work, to determine the direction of spectators looking directions, a basic and effective method that divides the face of tracked face to two, and compares the rate of skin colored pixels on both sides, has been developed. For every spectator, the looking direction and the position of the person on the stage are being matched and it is determined if the spectators are looking at the target person.
Vpma phase variation is important for survival and persistence of Mycoplasma agalactiae in the immunocompetent host

Despite very small genomes, mycoplasmas retain large multigene families encoding variable antigens whose exact role in pathogenesis needs to be proven. To understand their in vivo significance, we used Mycoplasma agalactiae as a model exhibiting high-frequency variations of a family of immunodominant Vpma lipoproteins via Xer1-mediated site-specific recombinations. Phase-Locked Mutants (PLMs) expressing single stable Vpma products served as first breakthrough tools in mycoplasmology to study the role of such sophisticated antigenic variation systems. Comparing the general clinical features of sheep infected with a mixture of phase-invariable PLMs (PLMU and PLMY) and the wild type strain, it was earlier concluded that Vpma phase variation is not necessary for infection. Conversely, the current study demonstrates the in vivo indispensability of Vpma switching as inferred from the Vpma phenotypic and genotypic analyses of reisolates obtained during sheep infection and necropsy. PLMY and PLMU stably expressing VpmaY and VpmaU, respectively, for numerous in vitro generations, switched to new Vpma phenotypes inside the sheep. Molecular genetic analysis of selected ‘switchover’ clones confirmed xer1 disruption and revealed complex new rearrangements like chimeras, deletions and duplications in the vpma loci that were previously unknown in type strain PG2. Another novel finding is the differential infection potential of Vpma variants, as local infection sites demonstrated an almost complete dominance of PLMY over PLMU especially during early stages of both conjunctival and intramammary co-challenge infections, indicating a comparatively better in vivo fitness of VpmaY expressors. The data suggest that Vpma antigenic variation is imperative for survival and persistence inside the immunocompetent host, and although Xer1 is necessary for causing Vpma variation in vitro, it is not a virulence factor because alternative Xer1-independent mechanisms operate in vivo, likely under the selection pressure of the host-induced immune response. This singular study highlights exciting new aspects of mycoplasma antigenic variation systems, including the regulation of expression by host factors.
An Enhanced Mutant of Red Fluorescent Protein DsRed for Double Labeling and Developmental Timer of Neural Fiber Bundle Formation*

We developed a new variant of coral-derived red fluorescent protein, DsRed S197Y, which is brighter and essentially free from secondary fluorescence peak. This makes it an ideal reporter for double labeling with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Though purified protein shows only 20% stronger fluorescence emission, culture cells that express DsRed S197Y exhibit a 3–3.5 times higher level of fluorescence than the cells that express wild-type DsRed. The much slower fluorescence maturation of DsRed than that of GFP is a beneficial feature for a fluorescent developmental timer application. When GFP and DsRed S197Y are expressed simultaneously, emissions start at different latency. This provides information about the time after the onset of expression. It reflects the order of cell differentiation if the expression is activated upon differentiation of certain types of cells. We applied this system to the developing brain of Drosophila and visualized, for the first time, the formation order of neural fibers within a large bundle. Our results showed that newly extending fibers of the mushroom body neurons mainly run into the core rather than to the periphery of the existing bundle. DsRed-based timer thus presents an indispensable tool for developmental biology and genetics of model organisms.
Weighted Average Current control in three-phase grid inverter with LCL-filter

A novel control method, named Weighted Average Current control (WACC) is proposed for damping control of three-phase grid inverter with LCL-filter. With WACC, three-phase current control of the grid inverter can be decoupled under synchronous rotating frame (SRF). Besides the system transfer function is degraded from the 6th order system to the 1st order one. Consequently, the control loop gain and bandwidth can be increased. Therefore the current control of the grid system is able to be optimized easily for higher power quality and good dynamics. WACC is verified with the experiment on a 30kW three-phase grid inverter prototype.
Indentifying pivot technologies in remote training

Remote training is one of the rapid growing fields in computer applications. This paper will investigate the pivot technologies in remote training, specifically for remote control or operational training. By means of working with a test platform of robot telecontrol, the pivot technologies in remote operational training are indentified, which could be propagate to the general training scenario, such as remote education, e-learning, and so on. And examples and evaluations are provided in order to justify the validity of the investigation.
Tru-Alarm: Trustworthiness Analysis of Sensor Networks in Cyber-Physical Systems

A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) integrates physical devices (e.g., sensors, cameras) with cyber (or informational)components to form a situation-integrated analytical system that responds intelligently to dynamic changes of the real-world scenarios. One key issue in CPS research is trustworthiness analysis of the observed data: Due to technology limitations and environmental influences, the CPS data are inherently noisy that may trigger many false alarms. It is highly desirable to sift meaningful information from a large volume of noisy data. In this paper, we propose a method called Tru-Alarm which finds out trustworthy alarms and increases the feasibility of CPS. Tru-Alarm estimates the locations of objects causing alarms, constructs an object-alarm graph and carries out trustworthiness inferences based on linked information in the graph. Extensive experiments show that Tru-Alarm filters out noises and false information efficiently and guarantees not missing any meaningful alarms.
Vision-based distraction analysis tested on a realistic driving simulator

This paper presents a non intrusive approach to obtain driver's face pose estimation based on stereo gray-level image processing. Face pose estimation is based on an automatic and incremental 3D model creation and its correct tracking. From this information, gaze focalization in the scene is calculated in order to detect driver distraction. Different distraction activities are inferred in a realistic simulator and a study of the incidence of these distracting activities in the driver's behaviour is carried out. Some experimental results and conclusions are presented.