Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HLBVH: hierarchical LBVH construction for real-time ray tracing of dynamic geometry

We present HLBVH and SAH-optimized HLBVH, two high performance BVH construction algorithms targeting real-time ray tracing of dynamic geometry. HLBVH provides a novel hierarchical formulation of the LBVH algorithm [LGS*09] and SAH-optimized HLBVH uses a new combination of HLBVH and the greedy surface area heuristic algorithm. These algorithms minimize work and memory bandwidth usage by extracting and exploiting coarse-grained spatial coherence already available in the input meshes. As such, they are well-suited for sorting dynamic geometry, in which the mesh to be sorted at a given time step can be defined as a transformation of a mesh that has been already sorted at the previous time step. Our algorithms always perform full resorting, unlike previous approaches based on refitting. As a result they remain efficient even during chaotic and discontinuous transformations, such as fracture or explosion.
Conservation Tracking

The quality of any tracking-by-assignment hinges on the accuracy of the foregoing target detection / segmentation step. In many kinds of images, errors in this first stage are unavoidable. These errors then propagate to, and corrupt, the tracking result. Our main contribution is the first probabilistic graphical model that can explicitly account for over- and under segmentation errors even when the number of tracking targets is unknown and when they may divide, as in cell cultures. The tracking model we present implements global consistency constraints for the number of targets comprised by each detection and is solved to global optimality on reasonably large 2D+t and 3D+t datasets. In addition, we empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of a post processing that allows to establish target identity even across occlusion / under segmentation. The usefulness and efficiency of this new tracking method is demonstrated on three different and challenging 2D+t and 3D+t datasets from developmental biology.
Stalking the Stranger in Web 2.0: A Contemporary Regulatory Analysis

Cyberstalking is an important issue which causes significant distress but which has been difficult to find a means of regulating, particularly through formal criminal systems. Yet proper regulation of cyberstalking behaviour could have substantial impact upon the wellbeing of many victims – from child to adult. In this article, I suggest that a different from of regulation is required: one based upon a virtual, community-based concept of regulation. Such a concept offers a novel approach based on three elements fundamental to the discussion of regulation of cyberstalking: (1) the differences between physical stalking and cyberstalking; (2) the character of a virtual community and the effects of social interactions; and (3) the scope of experience and reality. This formulation is based on an expansive view of regulation and ‘normativity’ of a virtual community. The author advocates the formation of codes of conduct based on the ‘rights and responsibilities’ discourse, termed here as ‘protocols,’ which reflect optimal sociological conceptions. The philosophical underpinning of protocols recognises the value of community, essentially the connection between individuals and their community. As such, these protocols will assist in the formation of private laws that are practical and acceptable within the virtual community. The aim of this concept of regulation is to ensure that cyberspace remains a lawful and socially useful space.
Wide-field kinematics of globular clusters in the Leo I group

We present wide-field spectroscopy of globular clusters around the Leo I group galaxies NGC 3379 and NGC 3384 using the FLAMES multi-fibre instrument at the VLT. We obtain accurate radial velocities for 42 globular clusters (GCs) in total, 30 for GCs around the elliptical NGC 3379, eight around the lenticular NGC 3384, and four which may be associated with either galaxy. These data are notable for their large radial range extending from 0. � 7t o 14. � 5 (2 to 42 kpc) from the centre of NGC 3379, and small velocity uncertainties of about 10 km s −1 . W e combine our sample of 30 radial velocities for globular clusters around NGC 3379 with 8 additional GC velocities from the literature, and find a projected velocity dispersion of σp = 175 +24 km s −1 at R 5 � . These velocity dispersions are consistent − − with a dark matter halo around NGC 3379 with a concentration in the range expected from a ΛCDM cosmological model and a total mass of ≈ 6 × 10 11 M. Such a model is also consistent with the stellar velocity dispersion at small radii and the rotation of the H i ring at large radii, and � has a (M/L)B that increases by a factor of five from several kpc to 100 kpc. Our velocity dispersion for the globular cluster system of NGC 3379 is somewhat higher than that found for the planetary nebulae (PNe) in the inner region covered by the PN data, and we discuss possible reasons for this difference. For NGC 3384, we find the GC system has a rotation signature broadly similar to that seen in other kinematic probes of this SB0 galaxy. This suggests that significant rotation may not be unusual in the GC systems of disc galaxies.
COST ACTION B27

s of some published works are as follows: 1. Strüber D. , Isoglu-Alkac Ü. , Basar-Eroglu C. In Search for a Possible Role of the Alpha-Band in Multistable Visual Perception. (Symposium 12) International Journal of Psychophysiology Associated with the United Nations (New York), 13th World Congress of Psychophysiology the Olympics of the Brain, August 28September 2, 2006, Istanbul TURKEY. IN SEARCH FOR A POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE ALPHA-BAND IN MULTISTABLE VISUAL PERCEPTION Strüber D , Işoğlu-Alkaç U, and Başar-Eroğlu C. a Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, University of Bremen, Germany b Hanse Institute for Advance Study, Delmenhorst, Germany Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Physiology, 34390 CapaIstanbul, Turkey Reversible figures, such as the Necker cube, make up a well-known class of visual phenomena in which an invariant stimulus pattern gives rise to at least two different perceptual interpretations. A better understanding of the neurophysiological processes underlying perceptual reversals might help to disentangle bottom-up from top-down influences on multistable perception. Former studies of our research group demonstrated a role of frontal gamma activity for attentional top-down processes while the alpha band was related to bottom-up processes which trigger the spontaneous fluctuations in visual awareness. In a recent study, we divided the extended alpha band into three sub-bands (lower-1 alpha, lower-2 alpha, upper alpha). We employed a longterm recording condition, during which 10 healthy participants observed the Necker cube for approximately 60 min and responded by pressing a button to any perceived reversal. The results showed a reversal-related alpha desynchronization differing across the time course of the experiment. It is concluded that the lower-1 alpha desynchronization reflects an automatic arousal reaction which triggers attentional processing in a bottomup manner, whereas the lower-2 alpha desynchronization is related to attentional processes that are achieved by top-down control with limited resources. Taken together, our work suggests that oscillatory activity in the alpha-band and sub-bands of alpha might indicate different aspects during multistable perception that can be related to preconscious bottom-up processes as well as to top-down processes near visual awareness. 2. Ü. İsoglu-Alkac, H. Gunoz, S. Karamursel, F. Bas. Event-related potentials in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. International Journal of Psychophysiology Associated with the United Nations (New York), 13th World Congress of Psychophysiology the Olympics of the Brain, International Journal of Psychophysiology, 61: 334, 2006. Event Related Potentials in Girls with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Ümmühan Isoglu-Alkac*, Hülya Günöz **, Sacit Karamürsel*, Firdevs Bas** *İstanbul University, İstanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Physiology, 34390,ÇapaIstanbul **Department of Pediatric Endocrinology
An SQP method for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints with strong convergence properties

We propose an SQP algorithm for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints which solves at each iteration a quadratic program with linear complementarity constraints. We demonstrate how strongly M-stationary solutions of this quadratic program can be obtained by an active set method without using enumeration techniques. We show that all limit points of the sequence of iterates generated by our SQP method are at least M-stationary.
Field test performance assessment of GNSS/INS ultra-tight coupling scheme targeted to mass-market applications

This article describes field test results of hybridization between MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GPS L1 C/A signal using an ultra-tight coupling (UTC) architecture. A software receiver is used to post-process raw GPS signal and IMU measurement recorded during the field tests. Both indoor and outdoor environments are explored and UTC with MEMS is compared to UTC with high-grade IMU and vectorized GNSS standalone positioning.
Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in anxiety circuitry: Correspondence of physiological response and subcellular distribution

Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) in the amygdala plays a critical role in the regulation of fear and anxiety states. Previous studies using nonselective agonists have suggested this action can result from activation of either pre‐ or postsynaptic mGluR2/3. Here, we have used a combination of whole‐cell patch clamp recording with highly selective agonists (LY354740 and LY379268) and immunoelectron microscopy to examine structure‐function relationships for mGluR2/3 in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Stimulation of mGluR2/3 evoked a direct, TTX‐insensitive membrane hyperpolarization in all BLA projection neurons tested, but only about half of BNST neurons. The membrane hyperpolarization was mediated by activation of an outward potassium current or blockade of a tonically active inward Ih current in different groups of BLA neurons. In both regions, mGluR2/3 caused a long‐lasting reduction of glutamate release from presynaptic afferent terminals even at concentrations that failed to elicit a direct postsynaptic response. The localization of mGluR2/3 differed regionally, with postsynaptic labeling significantly more common in BLA than BNST, corresponding to the strength of postsynaptic responses recorded there. Our results demonstrate a complex role for mGluR2/3 receptors in modulating anxiety circuitry, including direct inhibition and reduction of excitatory drive. The combination of direct inhibition of projection neurons within the BLA and suppression of excitatory neurotransmission in the BNST may be responsible for the anxiolytic actions of group II mGluR agonists. J. Comp. Neurol. 505:682–700, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preoperative Imaging Staging of Rectal Cancer

Carcinomas of the rectum are associated with a significant local and distant recurrence rate. Not all patients are appropriate candidates for preoperative radiation therapy. Preoperative identification of those most likely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy is important. There is no general consensus on the role of endorectal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in staging patients with rectal cancer. Although the tumor stage is an important prognostic factor, preoperative assessment is associated with prediction of the circumferential resection margin. Newer developments such as coils, sequences and gradients in MRI, evolution of multidetector CT and new contrast media, allow for an algorithm selection aiming at the best diagnostic options for patients. The present review will discuss the current role of the various imaging modalities in staging carcinomas of the rectum.
Regulation of endoderm formation and left-right asymmetry by miR-92 during early zebrafish development

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of 21-23 nucleotide endogenous non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. Typically, miRNAs downregulate target genes by recognizing and recruiting protein complexes to 3′UTRs, followed by translation repression or mRNA degradation. miR-92 is a well-studied oncogene in mammalian systems. Here, using zebrafish as a model system, we uncovered a novel tissue-inductive role for miR-92 during early vertebrate development. Overexpression resulted in reduced endoderm formation during gastrulation with consequent cardia and viscera bifida. By contrast, depletion of miR-92 increased endoderm formation, which led to abnormal Kupffer's vesicle development and left-right patterning defects. Using target prediction algorithms and reporter constructs, we show that gata5 is a target of miR-92. Alteration of gata5 levels reciprocally mirrored the effects of gain and loss of function of miR-92. Moreover, genetic epistasis experiments showed that miR-92-mediated defects could be substantially suppressed by modulating gata5 levels. We propose that miR-92 is a critical regulator of endoderm formation and left-right asymmetry during early zebrafish development and provide the first evidence for a regulatory function for gata5 in the formation of Kupffer's vesicle and left-right patterning.
Fourier-Integral-Operator Approximation of Solutions to First-Order Hyperbolic Pseudodifferential Equations I: Convergence in Sobolev Spaces

An approximation Ansatz for the operator solution, U(z′,z), of a hyperbolic first-order pseudodifferential equation, ∂ z + a(z,x,D x ) with Re (a) ≥ 0, is constructed as the composition of global Fourier integral operators with complex phases. An estimate of the operator norm in L(H (s),H (s)) of these operators is provided, which yields a convergence result for the Ansatz to U(z′,z) in some Sobolev space as the number of operators in the composition goes to ∞.
Incentive mechanisms for device-to-device communications

D2D communication has recently been proposed as a promising technique to improve resource utilization of cellular networks by offloading the traffic through base stations to local direct links between devices. While various optimization frameworks have been intensively studied, little attention has been given to how to attract users to adopt D2D communication. In this article we fill the gap by designing incentive mechanisms to encourage users to work under D2D mode. We consider two basic market types, open markets and sealed markets, where users have information of all users or only their own, respectively. For open markets, we design a Stackelberg game based incentive mechanism that can achieve Nash equilibrium. For sealed markets, we design an auction based incentive mechanism that guarantees truthfulness.
Formal verification of concurrent software: two case studies

Software model checking came to the focus of research recently, with sharp growth in the number of safety-critical applications and in the complexity of software. In model checking of software we meet some obstacles which do not exist in model checking of hardware: the state explosion problem is more acute, the model often consists of many processes that run concurrently, and there also can be a requirement for correct behavior in the presence of failures. Also, the programs are written in high-level programming languages, which causes two problems: the model-checker has to understand a programming language,and the state space of the program can be infinite (for example, the range of values for integer values is infinite in theory). In this paper, we present two case studies of real projects at IBM, which were formally modeled and verified using ExpliSAT model checker, as well a testing tool ConTest. The second case also involves modeling limited Byzantine (malicious) failures of processes. We discuss the special structure of the control flow graph of these programs and perform probabilistic analysis of the number of random executions needed in order to execute all control flow paths with high probability. We also compare the performance of ConTest and ExpliSAT on these case studies.
Efficient statistical analysis of large correlated multivariate datasets: a case study on brain connectivity matrices

In neuroimaging, a large number of correlated tests are routinely performed to detect active voxels in single-subject experiments or to detect regions that differ between individuals belonging to different groups. In order to bound the probability of a false discovery of pair-wise differences, a Bonferroni or other correction for multiplicity is necessary. These corrections greatly reduce the power of the comparisons which means that small signals (differences) remain hidden and therefore have been more or less successful depending on the application. We introduce a method that improves the power of a family of correlated statistical tests by reducing their number in an orderly fashion using our a-priori understanding of the problem . The tests are grouped by blocks that respect the data structure and only one or a few tests per group are performed. For each block we construct an appropriate summary statistic that characterizes a meaningful feature of the block. The comparisons are based on these summary statistics by a block-wise approach. We contrast this method with the one based on the individual measures in terms of power. Finally, we apply the method to compare brain connectivity matrices. Although the method is used in this study on the particular case of imaging, the proposed strategy can be applied to a large variety of problems that involves multiple comparisons when the tests can be grouped according to attributes that depend on the specific problem. Keywords and phrases: Multiple comparisons ; Family-wise error rate; False discovery rate; Bonferroni procedure; Human brain connectivity; Brain connectivity matrices.
Chandra Observations of the Dwarf Nova WX Hydri in Quiescence

We report Chandra observations of the dwarf nova WX Hyi in quiescence. The X-ray spectrum displays strong and narrow emission lines of N, O, Mg, Ne, Si, S, and Fe. The various ionization states implied by the lines suggest that the emission is produced within a flow spanning a wide temperature range, from T ~ 106 K to T ≳ 108 K. Line diagnostics indicate that most of the radiation originates from a very dense region, with n ~ 1013-1014 cm-3. The Chandra data allow the first tests of specific models proposed in the literature for the X-ray emission in quiescent dwarf novae. We have computed the spectra for a set of models ranging from hot boundary layers, to hot settling flow solutions, to X-ray-emitting coronae. WX Hyi differs from other dwarf novae observed at minimum in having much stronger low-temperature lines, which prove difficult to fit with existing models, and possibly a very strong, broad O VII line, perhaps produced in a wind moving at a few times 103 km s-1. The accretion rate inferred from the X-rays is lower than the value inferred from the UV. The presence of high-velocity mass ejection could account for this discrepancy while at the same time explaining the presence of the broad O VII line. If this interpretation is correct, it would provide the first detection of a wind from a dwarf nova in quiescence.
Multiple Clone Row DRAM: A low latency and area optimized DRAM

Several previous works have changed DRAM bank structure to reduce memory access latency and have shown performance improvement. However, changes in the area-optimized DRAM bank can incur large area-overhead. To solve this problem, we propose Multiple Clone Row DRAM (MCR-DRAM), which uses existing DRAM bank structure without any modification.
Initial Neighborhood Biases and the Quality of Motion Stimulation Jointly Influence the Rapid Emergence of Direction Preference in Visual Cortex

Visual experience plays a critical role in the development of direction-selective responses in ferret visual cortex. In visually naive animals, presentation of a bidirectional “training” stimulus induces rapid increases in the direction-selective responses of single neurons that can be predicted by small but significant direction biases that are present in neighboring neurons at the onset of stimulation. In this study we used in vivo two-photon imaging of calcium signals to further explore the contribution of visual experience to the emergence of direction- selective responses in ferret visual cortex. The first set of experiments was designed to determine whether visual experience is required for the development of the initial neighborhood bias. In animals that were dark-reared until the time of eye opening, we found that individual neurons exhibited weak direction-selective responses accompanied by a reduced but statistically significant neighborhood bias, indicating that both features arise without the need for visual experience. The second set of experiments used a unidirectional training stimulus to assess the relative roles of the neighborhood bias and visual experience in determining the direction preference that cortical neurons acquire during direction training. We found that neurons became more responsive to the trained direction even when they were located in regions of the cortex with an initial neighborhood bias for the direction opposite the training stimulus. Together, these results suggest an adaptive developmental strategy for the elaboration of direction-selective responses, one in which experience-independent mechanisms provide a symmetry-breaking seed for the instructive effects of visual experience.
Comparisons between Chemical Mapping and Binding to Isoenergetic Oligonucleotide Microarrays Reveal Unexpected Patterns of Binding to the Bacillus subtilis RNase P RNA Specificity Domain

Microarrays with isoenergetic pentamer and hexamer 2′-O-methyl oligonucleotide probes with LNA (locked nucleic acid) and 2,6-diaminopurine substitutions were used to probe the binding sites on the RNase P RNA specificity domain of Bacillus subtilis. Unexpected binding patterns were revealed. Because of their enhanced binding free energies, isoenergetic probes can break short duplexes, merge adjacent loops, and/or induce refolding. This suggests new approaches to the rational design of short oligonucleotide therapeutics but limits the utility of microarrays for providing constraints for RNA structure determination. The microarray results are compared to results from chemical mapping experiments, which do provide constraints. Results from both types of experiments indicate that the RNase P RNA folds similarly in 1 M Na+ and 10 mM Mg2+.
Multimodal desktop interaction: The face - object - gesture - voice example

This paper presents a natural user interface system based on multimodal human computer interaction, which operates as an intermediate module between the user and the operating system. The aim of this work is to demonstrate a multimodal system which gives users the ability to interact with desktop applications using face, objects, voice and gestures. These human behaviors constitute the input qualifiers to the system. Microsoft Kinect multi-sensor was utilized as input device in order to succeed the natural user interaction, mainly due to the multimodal capabilities offered by this device. We demonstrate scenarios which contain all the functions and capabilities of our system from the perspective of natural user interaction.