Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual Object Tracking by Structure Complexity Coefficients

Appearance change of moving targets is a challenging problem in visual tracking. In this paper, we present a novel visual object tracking algorithm based on the observation dependent hidden Markov model (OD-HMM) framework. The observation dependency is computed by structure complexity coefficients (SCC) which is defined to predict the target appearance change. Unlike conventional methods addressing the appearance change problem by investigating different online appearance models, we handle this problem by addressing the fundamental reason of motion-related appearance change during visual tracking. Based on the analysis of motion-related appearance change, we investigate the relationship between the structure of the object surface and the appearance stability. The appearance of complex structural regions is easier to change compared with that of smooth structural regions with object moving. Based on this, we define SCC to predict the appearance stability of moving objects. Different from the standard HMM-based tracking algorithms where observations between different frames are assumed to be independent, we consider the observation dependency between consecutive frames with the information provided by SCC. Moreover, we present a novel outlier removing method in appearance model updating which helps to avoid error accumulation. Experimental results on challenging video sequences demonstrate that the proposed visual tracking algorithm with OD-HMM and SCC achieves better performance than existing related tracking algorithms.
TLR2 and TLR9 Synergistically Control Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in the Brain1

Viruses are recognized by the innate immune system through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). For instance, HSV virions and genomic DNA are recognized by TLR2 and TLR9, respectively. Although several viruses and viral components have been shown to stimulate cells through TLRs, only very few studies have defined essential roles for single TLRs in innate immune defense in vivo. This could suggest that PRRs act in concert to mount the first line of defense against virus infections. To test this hypothesis we have examined the host response of C57BL/6, TLR2−/−, TLR9−/−, and TLR2/9−/− mice toward HSV-2 infection. After a systemic infection, the cytokine serum response was markedly reduced in the double knockout mice, but only partly affected in either strain of the single knockout mice. This was supported by in vitro data showing that HSV-induced cytokine expression relayed on TLR2 and TLR9 in a cytokine- and cell type-dependent manner. With respect to the cellular response to infection, we found that recruitment but not activation of NK cells was impaired in TLR2/9−/− mice. Importantly, the viral load in the brain, but not liver, was significantly higher in the brain of TLR2/9−/− mice whereas the viral loads in organs of single knockout mice were statistically indistinguishable from C57BL/6 mice. In the brain we found that TNF-α and the IFN-stimulated gene CXCL9 were expressed during infection and were dependent on either TLR2 or TLR9. Thus, TLR2 and TLR9 synergistically stimulate innate antiviral activities, thereby protecting against HSV infection in the brain.
Croatian visual speech synthesis

Virtual human characters are being used in a variety of applications, such as computer games, movies, tutoring software and virtual guides. Virtual characters interact with persons using speech and gestures. In some applications speech can be pre-recorded and synchronized with animation to produce a believable virtual character. However in many cases an ability to produce synthesized speech synchronized with facial animation is necessary or desireable, for example in cases the output text is not known in advance, for ability to choose among various voices, or because recording natural speech is too time consuming and expensive for a given application. This paper presents the effort to integrate and extend existing text-to-speech system for Croatian language and a face and body animation system to produce a system capable of real-time visual text-to-speech synthesis for Croatian language.
Necroptosis inhibitors as therapeutic targets in inflammation mediated disorders - a review of the current literature and patents

ABSTRACT Introduction: Recent studies have shown substantial interplay between the apoptosis and necroptosis pathways. Necroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has been found to stimulate the immune system contributing to the pathophysiology of several inflammation-mediated disorders. Determining the contribution of necroptotic signaling pathways to inflammation may lead to the development of selective and specific molecular target implicated necroptosis inhibitors. Areas covered: This review summarizes the recently published and patented necroptosis inhibitors as therapeutic targets in inflammation-mediated disorders. The role of several necroptosis inhibitors, focusing on specific signaling molecules, was discussed with particular attention to inflammation-mediated disorders. Data was obtained from Espacenet®, WIPO®, USPTO® patent websites, and other relevant sources (2006-2016). Expert opinion: Necroptosis inhibitors hold promise for treatment of inflammation-mediated clinical conditions in which necroptotic cell death plays a major role. Although necroptosis inhibitors reviewed in this survey showed inhibitory effects against several inflammation-mediated disorders, only a few have passed to the stage of clinical testing and need extensive research for therapeutic practice. Revisiting the existing drugs and developing novel necroptosis inhibiting agents as well as understanding their mechanism are essential. A detailed study of necroptosis function in animal models of inflammation may provide us an alternative strategy for the development of drug-like necroptosis inhibitors.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme in the Testis and Epididymis of Mammals

Summary: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity has been reported in testis and epididymis of seven different animal species. Among all the species, the mouse testis and epididymis showed the highest converting enzyme activity followed by rat testis and epididymis. The lowest activity was detected in buffalo testis and rabbit epididymis. Most of the testicular enzyme was found concentrated in the 107,00 xg sediment while the epididymal enzyme was equally distributed between sediment and supernatant. ACE levels of different regions of the rat testis and epididymis was analyzed. The gradient of ACE was found increasing from caput to cauda. A major fraction of testicular and epididymal ACE activity was found in their respective fluid. ACE appeared only in mature rats, rabbits and mice testis and epididymis. Sexually stimulated rabbits showed significant ACE increase in the testis. In vitro characterization studies were conducted.
Cytokine therapy prevents left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction after myocardial infarction through neovascularization

Pretreatment with a combination of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) has been reported to attenuate left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (MI). We here examined whether the cytokine treatment started after MI has also beneficial effects. Anterior MI was created in the recipient mice whose bone marrow had been replaced with that of transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). We categorized mice into five groups according to the following treatment: 1) saline; 2) administration of G‐CSF and SCF from 5 days before MI through 3 days after; 3) administration of G‐CSF and SCF for 5 days after MI; 4) administration of G‐CSF alone for 5 days after MI; 5) administration of SCF alone for 5 days after MI. All the three treatment groups with G‐CSF showed less LV remodeling and improved cardiac function and survival rate after MI. The number of capillaries, which express GFP, was increased and the number of apoptotic cells was decreased in the border area of all the treatment groups with G‐CSF. Even if the cytokine treatment is started after MI, it could prevent LV remodeling and dysfunction after MI—at least in part—through an increase in neovascularization and a decrease in apoptosis in the border area.
Aurintricarboxylic Acid Inhibits Protein Synthesis Independent, Sanguinarine-Induced Apoptosis and Oncosis

Sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, has anticancer potential through induction of cell death. We previously demonstrated that sanguinarine treatment at a low concentration (1.5 μg/ml) induced apoptosis in K562 human erythroleukemia cells, and a high concentration (12.5 μg/ml) induced the morphology of blister formation or oncosis-blister cell death (BCD). Treatment of cells at an intermediate sanguinarine concentration (6.25 μg/ml) induced diffuse swelling or oncosis-diffuse cell swelling (DCS). To assess the underlying mechanism of sanguinarine-induced apoptosis and oncosis-BCD in K562 cells, we studied their response to pre-treatment with two chemical compounds: aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) and cycloheximide (CHX). The pretreatment effects of both chemical compounds on apoptosis and oncosis-BCD were evaluated by measuring multiple parameters using quantitative morphology, electron microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) end-labeling and annexin-V-binding. ATA, a DNA endonuclease inhibitor, efficiently prevented DNA nicking and inhibited apoptosis almost completely and oncosis-BCD by about 40%, while CHX, a protein synthesis inhibitor, failed to inhibit both apoptosis and oncosis-BCD. These results demonstrate, first, the importance of endonuclease in sanguinarine-induced apoptosis and to some extent in oncosis-BCD and, second, that this inhibition does not require de novo protein synthesis.
Effects of a Nurse-Managed Program on Hepatitis A and B Vaccine Completion Among Homeless Adults

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection constitutes a major health problem for homeless persons. Ability to complete an HBV vaccination series is complicated by the need to prioritize competing needs, such as addiction issues, safe places to sleep, and food, over health concerns. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-case-managed intervention compared with that of two standard programs on completion of the combined hepatitis A virus (HAV) and HBV vaccine series among homeless adults and to assess sociodemographic factors and risk behaviors related to the vaccine completion. Methods: A randomized, three-group, prospective, quasi-experimental design was conducted with 865 homeless adults residing in homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation sites, and outdoor areas in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. The programs included (a) nurse-case-managed sessions plus targeted hepatitis education, incentives, and tracking (NCMIT); (b) standard targeted hepatitis education plus incentives and tracking (SIT); and (c) standard targeted hepatitis education and incentives only (SI). Results: Sixty-eight percent of the NCMIT participants completed the three-series vaccine at 6 months, compared with 61% of SIT participants and 54% of SI participants. NCMIT participants had almost 2 times greater odds of completing vaccination than those of participants in the SI program. Completers were more likely to be older, to be female, to report fair or poor health, and not to have participated in a self-help drug treatment program. Newly homeless White adults were significantly less likely than were African Americans to complete the vaccine series. Discussion: The use of vaccination programs incorporating nurse case management and tracking is critical in supporting adherence to completion of a 6-month HAV/HBV vaccine. The finding that White homeless persons were the least likely to complete the vaccine series suggests that programs tailored to address their unique cultural issues are needed.
Duration and Intensity of NF-κB Activity Determine the Severity of Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury1

Activation of innate immunity in the lungs can lead to a self-limited inflammatory response or progress to severe lung injury. We investigated whether specific parameters of NF-κB pathway activation determine the outcome of acute lung inflammation using a novel line of transgenic reporter mice. Following a single i.p. injection of Escherichia coli LPS, transient NF-κB activation was identified in a variety of lung cell types, and neutrophilic inflammation resolved without substantial tissue injury. However, administration of LPS over 24 h by osmotic pump (LPS pump) implanted into the peritoneum resulted in sustained, widespread NF-κB activation and neutrophilic inflammation that culminated in lung injury at 48 h. To determine whether intervention in the NF-κB pathway could prevent progression to lung injury in the LPS pump model, we administered a specific IκB kinase inhibitor (BMS-345541) to down-regulate NF-κB activation following the onset of inflammation. Treatment with BMS-345541 beginning at 20 h after osmotic pump implantation reduced lung NF-κB activation, concentration of KC and MIP-2 in lung lavage, neutrophil influx, and lung edema measured at 48 h. Therefore, sustained NF-κB activation correlates with severity of lung injury, and interdiction in the NF-κB pathway is beneficial even after the onset of lung inflammation.
A production inventory model for deteriorating products with selling price dependent consumption rate and shortages under inflationary environment

In today's highly competitive market, every business needs a high investment which is directly correlated to the return of the investment. The business will not be advantageous, if the return rate of investment is lesser than the inflation rate. In almost developed models, it is believed that distinct costs related with inventory systems will be constant all the time but in reality it is not true. As the time increases, inflation becomes a considerable function and the costs related to the model differ. This research article presents a production inventory model for deteriorating products with selling price dependent demand and shortages under inflationary environment. The production rate considered here is a function of occurring demand. The shortages during stock out assumed to be partially backlogged. The intention of this study is to compute the optimal value of production period and shortage period. A solution procedure and numerical example are presented to illustrate the implementation of proposed study. A sensitivity analysis with respect to distinct system parameters is also presented to check the stability of the optimal solution.
Comparative epigenomics of human and mouse mammary tumors

Gene silencing by aberrant epigenetic chromatin alteration is a well‐recognized event contributing to tumorigenesis. Although genetically engineered tumor‐prone mouse models have proven a powerful tool in understanding many aspects of carcinogenesis, to date few studies have focused on epigenetic alterations in mouse tumors. To uncover epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in mouse mammary tumor cells, we conducted initial genome‐wide screening by combining the treatment of cultured cells with the DNA demethylating drug 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5‐azadC) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) with expression microarray. By conducting this initial screen on EMT6 cells and applying protein function and genomic structure criteria to genes identified as upregulated in response to 5‐azadC/TSA, we were able to identify two characterized breast cancer TSGs (Timp3 and Rprm) and four putative TSGs (Atp1B2, Dusp2, FoxJ1 and Smpd3) silenced in this line. By testing a panel of 10 mouse mammary tumor lines, we determined that each of these genes is commonly hypermethylated, albeit with varying frequency. Furthermore, by examining a panel of human breast tumor lines and primary tumors we observed that the human orthologs of ATP1B2, FOXJ1 and SMPD3 are aberrantly hypermethylated in the human disease whereas DUSP2 was not hypermethylated in primary breast tumors. Finally, we examined hypermethylation of several genes targeted for epigenetic silencing in human breast tumors in our panel of 10 mouse mammary tumor lines. We observed that the orthologs of Cdh1, RarB, Gstp1, RassF1 genes were hypermethylated, whereas neither Dapk1 nor Wif1 were aberrantly methylated in this panel of mouse tumor lines. From this study, we conclude that there is significant, but not absolute, overlap in the epigenome of human and mouse mammary tumors. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural investigation of P3HT-PCBM-graphene films

Graphene nanosheets (GN) have been synthesized by solution phase exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents. Subsequently, low concentration of GN (2 wt%) uniformly distributed within the P3HT and P3HT-PCBM photo active layers are shown to enhance the crystallinity of the conjugated polymer.
Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Progression to Dementia: Follow-up of the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study Cohort.

IMPORTANCE The association of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and component cardiovascular risk factors with the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and MCI progression to dementia is not well established. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of the MetS and its component cardiovascular risk factors with the incidence of MCI and its progression to dementia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective longitudinal study from September 1, 2003, through December 31, 2009, in communities in 5 districts in the South East region of Singapore. Study participants were a population-based sample of 1519 cognitively normal adults 55 years and older. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prespecified outcomes were incident MCI and MCI progression to dementia. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 1519 participants. Their mean (SD) age was 64.9 (6.8) years, and 64.8% (n = 984) were female. Baseline characteristics associated with an increased risk of incident MCI were MetS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.09), central obesity (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01-1.98), diabetes mellitus (HR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.92-4.19), dyslipidemia (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.01-2.15), and 3 or more component cardiovascular risk factors (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.13-2.33). Baseline characteristics associated with an increased risk of MCI progression to dementia were MetS (HR, 4.25; 95% CI, 1.29-14.00), diabetes mellitus (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.92-4.19), and 3 or more component cardiovascular risk factors (HR, 4.92; 95% CI, 1.39-17.4). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The MetS was associated with an increased incidence of MCI and progression to dementia. Identifying individuals with diabetes mellitus or the MetS with or without MCI is a promising approach in early interventions to prevent or slow progression to dementia.
Uniform dispersal of silent oblivious robots

Consider the Filling problem, in which a set of mobile robots enter an unknown area and have to disperse in that area. The robots are homogeneous, anonymous, autonomous, have limited visibility radius, and do not use explicit communication. Moreover, these robots are oblivious, i.e. they do not have any bits of persistent memory. It is already known that these limitations prevent the creation of a deterministic algorithm to solve the Filling problem. In this paper an algorithm is presented, which is the first to overcome those limitations, to fill the area with oblivious robots. The algorithm is collision-free, has an expected termination time of O(n3) rounds, where n is the number of robots (and the number of cells in the area).
Soft magnets implementation using a stereolithography-based 3D printer

A wide part of the proposed paper is devoted to designing soft magnets using a stereolithography 3D printer. A state of the art on soft magnetic materials is carried out together with an overview of the existing printing technologies to obtain complex non-machinable and solid magnets. All steps to implement such magnets using this method are detailed. A cushion made of a 30% mass ratio of magnetic powder included into a commercial resin is printed. In order to justify the interest of the process-flow, the material is characterized (mechanically and magnetically). A discussion about results explains limitations and advantages of the process.
‘Law and ….’ an Opened Door to a New World of Knowledge

Judge Guido Calabresi’s new book (2016) ‘The Future of Law and Economics – Essays in Reform and Recollection’ not only represents a master piece but also, paraphrasing a sentence by the Author himself, a ‘pearl beyond price’ , a new door opened to a deeper insight on the existing relationship between Legal Theory and Economics or, more generally speaking, between ‘Law and . ’. This paper reinterprets, differently from the existing literature, the relationship between Law and Economics not from the point of view of a lawyer - economist, but rather from the point of view of an economist - mathematician and it raises a methodological issue. To do so I will borrow some of the elements of the theory of sets (particularly the concept and some of the operations on sets) and I’ll start with Judge Calabresi’s distinction, often disregarded by the literature, between Economic Analysis of Law and Law and Economics, to argue that Behavioral Economics, its application to Behavioral Law and Economics, and behavioral economists have generalized the pioneering work of Judge Calabresi, with reference to the famous book Tragic Choices. Even if the usage of the theory of sets I make is intuitive, in the appendix I review so-me of its basics.
Functional domains of a positive regulatory protein, PHO4, for transcriptional control of the phosphatase regulon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The PHO4 gene encodes a positive regulatory factor involved in regulating transcription of various genes in the phosphatase regulon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Besides its own coding region, the 1.8-kilobase PHO4 transcript contains a coding region for a mitochondrial protein which does not appear to be translated. Four functional domains were found in the PHO4 protein, which consists of 312 amino acid (aa) residues as deduced from the open reading frame of PHO4. A gel retardation assay with beta-galactosidase::PHO4 fused protein revealed that the 85-aa C terminus is the domain responsible for binding to the promoter DNA of PHO5, a gene under the control of PHO4. This region has similarities with the amphipathic helix-loop-helix motif of c-myc protein. Determination of the nucleotide sequences of four PHO4c mutant alleles and insertion and deletion analyses of PHO4 DNA indicated that a region from aa 163 to 202 is involved in interaction with a negative regulatory factor PHO80. Complementation of a pho4 null allele with the modified PHO4 DNAs suggested that the N-terminal region (1 to 109 aa), which is rich in acidic aa, is the transcriptional activation domain. The deleterious effects of various PHO4 mutations on the constitutive transcription of PHO5 in PHO4c mutant cells suggested that the region from aa 203 to 227 is involved in oligomerization of the PHO4 protein.