Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Reconstruction of Defective Point Clouds Based on Dual Off-Set Gradient Functions

Surface reconstruction is an interesting and challenging task in extensively applied fields including rapid prototype manufacturing, computer vision, virtual reality and computer aided design (CAD). A typical reconstruction procedure begins with scanning, in which the point data are sampled from physical objects by digitizing measurement systems (such as laser-range scanners and hand-held digitizers). And then, the point data are generated as a smooth, water-tight and proper resulting surface by a suitable reconstruction method. In industry the most difficulty comes from the defective samples that are subject to the noise, holes and overlapping regions. The defective samples are often unavoidable due to the sampling inaccuracy, scan mis-registration and accessibility constraints of scanning device. They often make most existing reconstruction methods not practical for engineering application because the oriented or neighbour information of points, which the most methods are highly based on, are hard to evaluate. For instance, many methods rely on consistent normals, or pose the demand on triangular meshes generated from point data. However, the holes and overlapping samples confuse the point’s neighbour relationship, some jagged, self-intersect regions could exist in the corresponding triangular mesh or the estimation of consistent normals becomes an ill-posed problem. Only a few methods need not such specific information, but they have to resort to some complex or time-consuming steps, like re-sampling, distance-computing, mesh-smooth or deformable models. Even if these methods can generate a water-tight resulting surface, the reasonableness of fitting overlapping samples and holes is not guaranteed. In fact, such issues, especially “badscanning” data, often lead long scanning time, massive manual work and poor model quality. Given these challenges, this paper propose a novel surface reconstruction method that takes as input defective point clouds without any specific information and output a smooth and water-tight surface. The main idea is that (1) this technique is based on implicit function, because implicit reconstruction is convenient to guarantee a water-tight result; (2) the approach is indirect, two off-set surfaces are generated to best fit the point clouds instead of direct approximation. As shown in Fig.1 (1D situation for simple expression), the point
Pilin expression and processing in pilus mutants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: critical role of Gly‐1 in assembly

Spontaneous mutants of Neisseria gonorrheae failing to express pili or having diminished levels of piliation were studied with regard to pilin expression. All mutants displayed altered pilin processing detectable as the release of soluble, truncated pilin molecules (S‐pilin). Of particular interest was the finding, in one mutant, that substitution of serine for glycine at position ‐1 of propilin, a highly conserved residue among N‐metPhe and related pilins, abolished pilus expression but not S‐pilin release. The degree of S‐pilin processing and the levels of membrane‐associated pilin varied among the different classes of mutants, suggesting that each was blocked at a distinct step of pilus biogenesis. The data support a model in which increased S‐pilin processing is a result of a decreased rate of pilus polymerization.
Analysis of Spurious Emission and In-Band Phase Noise of an All Digital Phase Locked Loop for RF Synthesis using a Frequency Discriminator

In almost every wireless RF application, a phase locked loop (PLL) is required. Digital signal processing especially for PLLs in CMOS technology is increasingly used instead of conventional analog processing to improve reliability, to reduce power consumption, and to allow for re-configurability. This paper presents a simulative analysis of an all digital PLL (ADPLL) with a two bit frequency discriminator (FD) in the feedback path. Effects on the in-band noise performance due to the sampling rate are treated. Furthermore, a theoretical prediction and simulative analysis of spurious emission offset frequencies will be given.
Convolutional Architecture Exploration for Action Recognition and Image Classification

Abstract : Convolutional Architecture for Fast Feature Encoding (CAFFE) [11] is a software package for the training, classifying, and feature extraction of images. The UCF Sports Action dataset is a widely used machine learning dataset that has 200 videos taken in 720x480 resolution of 9 different sporting activities: diving, golf swinging, kicking, lifting, horseback riding, running, skateboarding, swinging (various gymnastics), and walking. In this report we report on a caffe feature extraction pipeline of images taken from the videos of the UCF Sports Action dataset. A similar test was performed on overfeat, and results were inferior to caffe. This study is intended to explore the architecture and hyper parameters needed for effective static analysis of action in videos and classification over a variety of image datasets.
The association between the subjective memory complaints scale and depressive state and cognitive impairment: a factor analysis

Background We aimed to discriminate individuals with depressive state from individuals with cognitive impairment among community-dwelling people using the subjective memory complaints (SMC) scale. Methods The study group consisted of 289 volunteers (over 60 years old; 104 males and 185 females). Participants’ SMCs were assessed using the SMC scale. The Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination were administered. Participants whose Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression scores were 16 or higher were defined as the depressive group and participants whose Mini-Mental State Examination scores were less than 24 were defined as the cognitive impairment group. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify the factor structure of the items of the SMC scale. A multiple logistic regression analysis of the association between depressive state and cognitive impairment and the score of each factor was performed. Results In the final factor analysis model, six items of the SMC scale remained, and a two-factor structure was adequate. Factor 1 included the items 8, 9, and 10 about thought or the ability to think; thus, Factor 1 was defined as “thought disturbance factor”. Factor 2 included the items 1, 2, and 4 about memory or forgetfulness; thus, Factor 2 was defined as “memory disturbance factor”. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, Factor 1 was significantly associated with depressive state and Factor 2 was significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Conclusion For individuals with SMCs, we might be able to discriminate depressive state or depression from cognitive impairment or dementia through a detailed investigation using the SMC scale.
Associations between [18F]AV1451 tau PET and CSF measures of tau pathology in a clinical sample

Objective To assess the relationships between fluid and imaging biomarkers of tau pathology and compare their diagnostic utility in a clinically heterogeneous sample. Methods Fifty-three patients (28 with clinical Alzheimer disease [AD] and 25 with non-AD clinical neurodegenerative diagnoses) underwent β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau ([18F]AV1451) PET and lumbar puncture. CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, total tau [t-tau], and phosphorylated tau [p-tau]) were measured by multianalyte immunoassay (AlzBio3). Receiver operator characteristic analyses were performed to compare discrimination of Aβ-positive AD from non-AD conditions across biomarkers. Correlations between CSF biomarkers and PET standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) were assessed using skipped Pearson correlation coefficients. Voxelwise analyses were run to assess regional CSF–PET associations. Results [18F]AV1451-PET cortical SUVR and p-tau showed excellent discrimination between Aβ-positive AD and non-AD conditions (area under the curve 0.92–0.94; ≤0.83 for other CSF measures), and reached 83% classification agreement. In the full sample, cortical [18F]AV1451 was associated with all CSF biomarkers, most strongly with p-tau (r = 0.75 vs 0.57 for t-tau and −0.49 for Aβ42). When restricted to Aβ-positive patients with AD, [18F]AV1451 SUVR correlated modestly with p-tau and t-tau (both r = 0.46) but not Aβ42 (r = 0.02). On voxelwise analysis, [18F]AV1451 correlated with CSF p-tau in temporoparietal cortices and with t-tau in medial prefrontal regions. Within AD, Mini-Mental State Examination scores were associated with [18F]AV1451-PET, but not CSF biomarkers. Conclusion [18F]AV1451-PET and CSF p-tau had comparable value for differential diagnosis. Correlations were robust in a heterogeneous clinical group but attenuated (although significant) in AD, suggesting that fluid and imaging biomarkers capture different aspects of tau pathology. Classification of evidence This study provides Class III evidence that, in a clinical sample of patients with a variety of suspected neurodegenerative diseases, both CSF p-tau and [18F]AV1451 distinguish AD from non-AD conditions.
Results from DROXO. II. [Ne II] and X-ray emission from ρ Ophiuchi young stellar objects

Context. The infrared [Ne II] and [Ne III] fine structure lines at 12.81 μ m and 15.55 μ m have recently been theoretically predicted to trace the circumstellar disk gas subject to X-ray heating and ionization. Aims. We observationally investigate the origin of the neon fine structure line emission by comparing observations with models of X-ray irradiated disks and by searching for empirical correlations between the line luminosities and stellar and circumstellar parameters. Methods. We select a sample of 28 young stellar objects in the ρ Ophiuchi star formation region for which good quality infrared spectra and X-ray data have been obtained, the former with the Spitzer/IRS and the latter with the deep rho Ophiuchi XMM-Newton observation (DROXO). We measure neon line fluxes and X-ray luminosities; we complement these data with stellar/circumstellar parameters obtained by fitting the spectral energy distributions of our objects (from optical to millimeter wavelengths) with star/disk/envelope models. Results. We detect the [Ne II] and the [Ne III] lines in 10 and 1 cases, respectively. Line luminosities show no correlation with X-ray emission. The luminosity of the [Ne II] line for one star, and that of both the [Ne II] and [Ne III] lines for a second star, match the predictions of published models of X-ray irradiated disks; for the remaining 8 objects the [Ne II] emission is 1–3 dex higher than predicted on the basis of their L X . However, the stellar/circumstellar characteristics assumed in published models do not match those of most of the stars in our sample. Class I objects show significantly stronger [Ne II] lines than Class II and Class III ones. A correlation is moreover found between the [Ne II] line emission and the disk mass accretion rates estimated from the spectral energy distributions. This might point toward a role of accretion-generated UV emission in the generation of the line or to other mechanisms related to mass inflows from circumstellar disks and envelopes and/or to the associated mass outflows (winds and jets). Conclusions. The X-ray luminosity is clearly not the only parameter that determines the [Ne II] emission. For more exacting tests of X-ray irradiated disk models, these must be computed for the stellar and circumstellar characteristics of the observed objects. Explaining the strong [Ne II] emission of Class I objects likely requires the inclusion in the models of additional physical components such as the envelope, inflows, and outflows.
58K, a Microtubule-binding Golgi Protein, Is a Formiminotransferase Cyclodeaminase*

58K was previously identified as a rat liver protein that binds microtubules in vitro and is associated with the cytoplasmic surface of the Golgi apparatus in vivo(Bloom, G. S., and Brashear, T. A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 16083–16092). We now report that 58K is a formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase (FTCD), a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes two consecutive steps in the modification of tetrahydrofolate to 5,10-methenyl tetrahydrofolate. Comparative immunoblotting using several monoclonal antibodies made against 58K and a polyclonal antibody made against a chicken liver protein (p60) with similar properties (Hennig, D., Scales, S. J., Moreau, A., Murley, L. L., De Mey, J., and Kreis, T. E. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 19602–19611) demonstrated precise co-purification of protein recognized by all antibodies through multiple fractionation steps, including gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography, and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Eight peptides derived from 58K showed high sequence identity to amino acid sequences predicted by full length cDNA for p60 and porcine liver FTCD. Furthermore, purified 58K was associated with formiminotransferase and cyclodeaminase activities. Based on these collective results, 58K was concluded to be a rat liver version of FTCD. Microtubules assembled from brain tubulin, but not from liver tubulin, were able to bind rat liver FTCD. Binding to brain microtubules is suspected to occur via polyglutamates that are added post-translationally to tubulin in brain, which was shown to contain very low levels of FTCD, but not to tubulin in liver, which was determined to be the richest tissue source, by far, of FTCD. The physiological significance of the microtubule binding activity of FTCD is thus called into question, but an association of FTCD with the Golgi apparatus has now been established.
Mouse Model for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Has a Generalized Vascular Abnormality

Background—Mutations in endoglin or activin like kinase-1, both involved in the endothelial transforming growth factor-&bgr; signaling pathway, cause the autosomal dominant bleeding disorder hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. We and others have reported mouse models for this disease that share the characteristic phenotype of dilated vessels and sporadic hemorrhage. The reasons for the variable phenotype in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia are not understood. Methods and Results—After a detailed immunohistochemical analysis of 129/Ola mice, which are heterozygous for a targeted deletion in the endoglin gene, we observed intrinsic abnormalities in the vascular walls throughout the cutaneous vasculature. Postcapillary venules were dilated, and up to 70% of the vascular wall had no smooth muscle cells. The supporting layers of collagens and elastin were irregular, with thin areas, adding to the fragility of these vessels. A variable hemorrhagic phenotype was observed in which local bleeding is associated not only with fragile vessels but also with regions of inflammation. Conclusions—These findings have relevance to our understanding of the molecular basis of vascular integrity in a wide range of diseases.
Photocatalytic water disinfection on oxide semiconductors: Part 2 – structure, functional properties and reactivity of microbial agents

Worldwide, waterborne diseases resulting from ingestion of contaminated drinking water carrying infectious microbial agents kill some 2 million people annually. Disinfection of drinking water aimed at the removal and inactivation of microbiological agents typically requires the consumption of energy, which to date is mainly generated from fossil fuels. The titanium dioxide (TiO2) based photo-induced oxidising system (POS) is one of the most promising candidates for the disinfection of water using solar energy. Progress in photocatalytic water disinfection requires understanding both concepts of TiO2 semiconductors as well the biochemistry of microorganisms. The aim of the present study is to introduce workers in the solid state sciences to relevant basic concepts and terminology of microbial biochemistry. We review the structure of the bacterial cell envelope, which is the major target of the TiO2 based POS. We outline how attack by the POS leads to the production of additional reactive species commonly referred to in the biological literature as reactive oxygen species both at the surface and the inside of the cell and develop a unifying model of the molecular mechanisms underlying the biocidal activity of the TiO2 POS.
Severe Hypoglycemia and Cognitive Decline in Older People With Type 2 Diabetes: The Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study

OBJECTIVE People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Hypoglycemia is a candidate risk factor, but the direction of association between episodes of severe hypoglycemia and cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes remains uncertain. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study, cognitive function was assessed in 831 adults with type 2 diabetes (aged 60–75 years) at baseline and after 4 years. Scores on seven neuropsychological tests were combined into a standardized general ability factor g. Self-reported history of severe hypoglycemia at baseline (history of hypoglycemia) and at follow-up (incident hypoglycemia) was recorded. RESULTS A history of hypoglycemia was reported by 9.3% of subjects, and 10.2% reported incident hypoglycemia. Incident hypoglycemia was associated with poorer cognitive ability at baseline (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for lowest tertile of g 2.04 [95% CI 1.25–3.31], P = 0.004). Both history of hypoglycemia and incident hypoglycemia were also associated with greater cognitive decline during follow-up (mean follow-up g adjusted for age, sex, and baseline g −0.25 vs. 0.03 [P = 0.02] and −0.28 vs. 0.04 [P = 0.01], respectively), including after addition of vascular risk factors and cardiovascular and microvascular disease to the models (−0.23 vs. 0.03 [P = 0.04] and −0.21 vs. 0.05 [P = 0.03], respectively). CONCLUSIONS The relationship between cognitive impairment and hypoglycemia appeared complex, with severe hypoglycemia associated with both poorer initial cognitive ability and accelerated cognitive decline.
Parallel Finite Element Operator Application: Graph Partitioning and Coloring

We present an efficient implementation of parallel finite element operator application for hexahedral elements. The implementation is tailored to data structures for adaptively refined meshes and exploits parallelism on modern computer systems. The evaluation of local shape functions and gradients is performed with sum-factorization that makes use of the tensor-product form. For shared memory parallelization, we propose a novel two-level partitioning/coloring approach that avoids race conditions when writing into the result vector. We give evidence for the good performance of our implementation. We employ the optimized operator implementation on a problem in quantum dynamics described by the time-dependent Schroedinger equation. We obtain a speedup of more than a factor four over conventional solvers based on sparse matrices for a moderate polynomial order of four in three dimensions.
Microstructure-Scale In-Situ Image Correlation-Based Study of Grain Deformation and Crack Tip Displacements in Al–Cu Alloys

Mechanistic understanding based on experimental measurements of grain and crack tip deformation at relevant length scales is critical for improvement of physics-based modeling of microstructurally-sensitive fatigue crack propagation and for the computationally-assisted design of more durable materials. In this study, single-crystal, bi-crystal, and large-grain multi-crystal specimens of Al–Cu alloys are fabricated, characterized using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), and mechanically tested. In addition to conventional optic al–imaging based 3D image correlation (IC), scanning electron microscope (SEM) based high-resolution 2D IC is used to measure displacements within grain interiors, near crack tips, and grain boundaries. The use of micro-scale IC and EBSD-based experiments is discussed as they relate to the development of crystal-plasticity-based finite element models (CP–FEMs). This article specifically highlights experimental methods that have been developed to obtain the relevant data needed for CP–FEM calibration and validation.
Retrieval of atmospheric and surface parameters from AIRS/AMSU/HSB data in the presence of clouds

New state-of-the-art methodology is described to analyze the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit/Humidity Sounder for Brazil (AIRS/AMSU/HSB) data in the presence of multiple cloud formations. The methodology forms the basis for the AIRS Science Team algorithm, which will be used to analyze AIRS/AMSU/HSB data on the Earth Observing System Aqua platform. The cloud-clearing methodology requires no knowledge of the spectral properties of the clouds. The basic retrieval methodology is general and extracts the maximum information from the radiances, consistent with the channel noise covariance matrix. The retrieval methodology minimizes the dependence of the solution on the first-guess field and the first-guess error characteristics. Results are shown for AIRS Science Team simulation studies with multiple cloud formations. These simulation studies imply that clear column radiances can be reconstructed under partial cloud cover with an accuracy comparable to single spot channel noise in the temperature and water vapor sounding regions; temperature soundings can be produced under partial cloud cover with RMS errors on the order of, or better than, 1 K in 1-km-thick layers from the surface to 700 mb, 1-km layers from 700-300 mb, 3-km layers from 300-30 mb, and 5-km layers from 30-1 mb; and moisture profiles can be obtained with an accuracy better than 20% absolute errors in 1-km layers from the surface to nearly 200 mb.
A Deterministic Methodology for Identifying Functionally Untestable Path-Delay Faults in Microprocessor Cores

Delay testing is crucial for most microprocessors. Software-based self-test (SBST) methodologies are appealing, but devising effective test programs addressing the true functionally testable paths and assessing their actual coverage are complex tasks. In this paper, we propose a deterministic methodology, based on the analysis of the processor instruction set architecture, for determining rules arbitrating the functional testability of path-delay faults in the data path and control unit of processor cores. Moreover, the performed analysis gives guidelines for generating test programs. A case study on a widely used 8-bit microprocessor is provided.
Measuring P2P IPTV traffic on both sides of the world

P2P IPTV applications arise on the Internet and will be massively used in the future. It is expected that P2P IPTV will contribute to increase the overall Internet traffic. Moreover, these emerging applications are proprietary and their exact implementation details are still widely unknown. In this context, it is important to measure the traffic generated by these applications to understand their underlying mechanisms and to evaluate their impact on the network.