Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ECHO-liveFISH: in vivo RNA labeling reveals dynamic regulation of nuclear RNA foci in living tissues

Elucidating the dynamic organization of nuclear RNA foci is important for understanding and manipulating these functional sites of gene expression in both physiological and pathological states. However, such studies have been difficult to establish in vivo as a result of the absence of suitable RNA imaging methods. Here, we describe a high-resolution fluorescence RNA imaging method, ECHO-liveFISH, to label endogenous nuclear RNA in living mice and chicks. Upon in vivo electroporation, exciton-controlled sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes revealed focally concentrated endogenous 28S rRNA and U3 snoRNA at nucleoli and poly(A) RNA at nuclear speckles. Time-lapse imaging reveals steady-state stability of these RNA foci and dynamic dissipation of 28S rRNA concentrations upon polymerase I inhibition in native brain tissue. Confirming the validity of this technique in a physiological context, the in vivo RNA labeling did not interfere with the function of target RNA nor cause noticeable cytotoxicity or perturbation of cellular behavior.
Matrix Variate Distribution-Induced Sparse Representation for Robust Image Classification

Sparse representation learning has been successfully applied into image classification, which represents a given image as a linear combination of an over-complete dictionary. The classification result depends on the reconstruction residuals. Normally, the images are stretched into vectors for convenience, and the representation residuals are characterized by I2-norm, which actually assumes that the elements in the residuals are independent and identically distributed variables. However, it is hard to satisfy the hypothesis when it comes to some structural errors, such as illuminations, occlusions, and so on. In this paper, we represent the image data in their intrinsic matrix form rather than concatenated vectors. The representation residual is considered as a matrix variate following the matrix elliptically contoured distribution, which is robust to dependent errors and has long tail regions to fit outliers. Then, we seek the maximum a posteriori probability estimation solution of the matrix-based optimization problem under sparse regularization. An alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMMs) is derived to solve the resulted optimization problem. The convergence of the ADMM is proven theoretically. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is more effective than the state-of-the-art methods when dealing with the structural errors.
Adolescent Reactance and Anti-Smoking Campaigns: A Theoretical Approach

Children between the ages of 9 and 15 are a high-risk group for tobacco use. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that first use of cigarettes among adolescents has risen 30% over the past decade, and that more than 1.2 million people age <18 became daily smokers in 1996 alone. Moreover, research indicating that awareness and liking of cigarette advertisements is higher among adolescents than adults underscores the need to devote more effort to understanding reactions to tobacco-related messages. Adding to this problem is the fact that the early gains of some successful anti-tobacco interventions disappear as adolescents age. Drawing on the theory of psychological reactance, a number of hypotheses were tested that addressed the impact of pro- and anti-smoking messages on a variety of outcomes, including participants' intended behaviors, evaluation of message sources, and seeking of disconfirming information. All the messages were created and delivered to 4th-, 7th-, and 10th-grade students via personal computers. The pattern of results supports the theoretically derived hypotheses, indicating that grade level and message type had a significant impact on the processing of tobacco-related messages. Implications and suggestions for future tobacco prevention campaigns are discussed.
SPACE-BORNE TROPOSPHERIC NO2 ABOVE THE ALPINE REGION: EVIDENCES OF SYSTEMATIC RERIEVAL ERRORS AND THE EFFECT OF INACCURATE PIXEL SURFACE PRESSURE

Vertical tropospheric columns (VTC) of NO2 measured by SCIMACHY have been compared with a detailed NOx emission inventory over Switzerland and with GOME measurements. Both comparisons indicate that SCIMACHY columns tend to be too low over the polluted Swiss Plateau during winter but not (or less so) during the other seasons. By analyzing the different factors affecting the NO2 retrieval it was found that the coarsely resolved surface pressure data used in the retrieval algorithm is likely responsible for this problem. Because of averaging with the high elevation of the nearby Alps, the Swiss Plateau is placed roughly 500 m higher than in reality in the retrieval algorithm. Because of the higher sensitivity of SCIMACHY to NO2 at higher altitudes the measurements are scaled by a too high sensitivity leading to an underestimation of the NO2 VTCs. Because NO2 resides closer to the ground in winter than in other seasons, this problem appears to be largest in winter.
Challenges of Data Provenance for Cloud Forensic Investigations

Cloud computing has gained popularity due to its efficiency, robustness and cost effectiveness. Carrying out digital forensic investigations in the cloud is currently a relevant and open issue. The root of this issue is the fact that servers cannot be physically accessed, coupled with the dynamic and distributed nature of cloud computing with regards to data processing and storage. This renders traditional methods of evidence collection impractical. The use of provenance data in cloud forensics is critical as it provides forensic investigators with data history in terms of people, entities and activities involved in producing related data objects. Therefore, cloud forensics requires effective provenance collection mechanisms. This paper provides an overview of current provenance challenges in cloud computing and identifies limitations of current provenance collection mechanisms. Recommendations for additional research in digital provenance for cloud forensics are also presented.
Telerehabilitation in robotic assistive therapy for children with developmental disabilities

This paper embarks on the initial development of a telerehabilitation system in assistive therapy for children with disabilities. The goal is specifically for children with autism and cerebral palsy at various locations to gain access to robotic intervention. Ten learning modules targeting at specific therapy outcomes have been developed for this system. Here, this research proposes to link various stakeholders including engineers, parents, clinicians and therapists in a network that promotes robotic and telecommunication technology as a rehabilitation platform for children with disabilities. Field trials involving real users will be executed in the next phase of study.
Textile Modification with Plasma Treatment

This paper provides a picture of using plasma treatment as a means for textile modification. It discusses the different modes for the generation of plasma. As plasma treatment is acting as a surface modification treatment, the paper also addresses the various types of plasmasubstrate interaction and their effects on the substrates. The use of plasma as a finishing application for different textile substrates is another highlight of this study.
The “Behavior, interaction and priority” framework applied to SystemC-based embedded systems

We present an approach for formal modelling of SystemC programs build uppon the “Behavior, Interactions and Priority” framework. Produced automata interactions are restricted only by using priorities rather than cutting their interactions. Produced models have thus the advantages of being composable — with other futur programs — without any change, except for the priorities. Furthermore automata are reduced by (1) collapsing all transitions inside a SystemC delta-step into a single transition before composing the automata, and (2) cuttting some interactions of private signals whitout any loss in program composability. Produced models sizes can thus be much smaller than non-reduced ones and verification speed of their properties may be much faster. We show the feasibility of the approach through the modeling, and verification of a set of SystemC benchmarks.
MDL-28170 Has No Analgesic Effect on CCI Induced Neuropathic Pain in Mice

The calpain inhibitor MDL-28710 blocks the early local pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in mice after chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI). One-hundred-thirteen wild type mice of C57Bl/6J background received CCI of the right sciatic nerve. Mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds and thermal withdrawal latencies were investigated at baseline and at 1, 3, and 7 days after CCI. Three application regimens were used for MDL-28170: a) single injection 40 min before CCI; b) serial injections of MDL-28170 40 min before and up to day three after CCI; c) sustained application via intraperitoneal osmotic pumps. The control animals received the vehicle DMSO/PEG 400. The tolerable dose of MDL-28170 for mice was 30 mg/kg body weight, higher doses were lethal within the first hours after application. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds and thermal withdrawal latencies were reduced after CCI and did not normalize after single or serial injections, nor with application of MDL-28170 via osmotic pumps. Although the calpain inhibitor MDL-28170 inhibits the early local cytokine upregulation in the sciatic nerve after CCI, pain behavior is not altered. This finding implies that local cytokine upregulation after nerve injury alone is only one factor in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain.
Retrospective Interference Alignment for the MIMO interference broadcast channel

Retrospective Interference Alignment is a linear precoding strategy that seizes delayed channel state information at the transmitters (CSIT), improving the degrees of freedom (DoF) that can be achieved without CSIT for both the broadcast and interference channels. However, little is known for other channel configurations. This work studies the multiple-input multiple-output interference broadcast channel (IBC) with delayed CSIT, 2 cells and 2 users per cell. Although some of the schemes designed for other channels may be applied, they do not exploit the specific topology of the IBC. In this regard, we proposes a precoding strategy that includes the concept of redundancy transmission, and takes into account that users of each cell are served by a common transmitter. Assuming that transmitters and receivers are equipped with M, N antennas, respectively, state-of-the-art achievable DoF are improved for ρ = M over N > ρA, with ρA ≈ 3.5414.
The Study on Ship-Flow Analysis and Counting System in a Specific Sea-Area Based on Video Processing

In this paper, we proposed an intelligent visual surveillance in specific sea-area based on video processing. We apply the technology of computer vision and video processing to implement the automatic system. At the first, we separate background and foreground in videos, and set a weight to update the new background. To extract the moving ships in videos, we apply the techniques including the change detection, the updated background, and the block enhancement. We apply the connect component labeling to each ship in the specified area of the port. Finally, we implement our ship-clocker system. Our system can analyze the moving direction of each ship, and track the ships. The experimental results show that this method can provide immediate and effective vessels information and data, the correct rate of 88.5 per cent more than they can be used as a follow-up of maritime traffic management basis.
Factors influencing horizontal cracking in continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP).

This research presents the results on an experimental investigation to identify the significant factors influencing horizontal cracking in continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP). An in-depth analysis of the microstructure, morphological characteristics of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and the observation of cracking using the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) was done. Characterization of oxides using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was also performed. Water to cement ratio (w/c) and rebar temperature had a significant influence on the rebar-concrete bond strength. The 28-day shear strength measurements showed an increase in rebar-concrete bond strength as the water to cement ratio (w/c) was reduced from 0.50 to 0.40. There was a reduction in the peak pullout load as the temperature increased from 14oF to 252oF for the corroded and non-corroded rebar experiments. The corroded rebar pullout test results showed a 20-50 % reduction in bond strength compared to the non-corroded rebars. FTIR measurements indicated a presence of lepidocrocrite (γ -FeOOH) and maghemite (γ -Fe2O3) on the ITZ. ESEM images showed the existence of microcracks as early as three days after casting with the bridging of these cracks between coarse aggregate locations in the interfacial zone propagating through the mortar.
Simultaneous Localization and Map Building Using Natural features in Outdoor Environments

This work presents efficient algorithms for real time Simultaneous Localization and Map Building (SLAM). The accuracy of the algorithm is investigated with respect to standard localization algorithms using a 1cm kinematic GPS as ground truth. The issue of algorithm convergence when running in large areas of operation and for long period of time is investigated. Experimental results in unstructured environment are presented using more than 200 natural features. The complexity of feature extraction is also investigated with an approach to identify common types of outdoor natural features.
A Rapid HPLC Analysis for Dermal Penetration: The Case Study of 4-Chloro-3-Methylphenol (CMP) from Metal Working Fluid Trim VX

A rapid and simple HPLC method has been developed for the determination of 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (CMP) in the metal working fluid (MWF), Trim VX and in experiments designed to measure the dermal penetration of CMP from MWF. The method used 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol as an internal standard (IS). Water was used as the extraction solvent. The retention times of CMP and internal standard (IS) were 5.56 and 6.67 min, respectively. The standard plots of CMP are linear over the range of 62.5 2,500 ng·mL -1 with correlation coefficients of 0.999. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for CMP was estimated to be 62.5 ng·mL -1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was approached to be 20 ng·mL -1 . Reproducibility of the sample handling and HPLC analysis had a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6%. The average recoveries for the analyte in Trim VX were better than 92%. Using the method, we found that Trim VX contains 2% CMP. In our preliminary dermal penetration study, the permeability coefficient kp and lag time were estimated to be 4.88 10 -3 cm·h -1 and 1.65 h, respectively.
Tunable Frequency Selective Surface based on ferroelectric ceramics for beam steering antennas

A Tunable Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) as a transmission array with beam steering capability is presented. A FSS is implemented on screen printed Barium-Strontium-Titanate (BST) thick film ceramic. The FSS is designed to behave as a band pass filter and is made tunable by loading with a BST layer, which is placed beneath the metallic structures. The tunable FSS (TFFS) is simulated for different permittivities of the BST film which results in a shift in the filter response and therefore, a phase change in the wave. In the measurement of a prototype, a maximum phase shift of 116 degrees is obtained at 10 GHz, while transmission and reflection levels are kept invariable.
A data streaming algorithm for estimating entropies of od flows

Entropy has recently gained considerable significance as an important metric for network measurement. Previous research has shown its utility in clustering traffic and detecting traffic anomalies. While measuring the entropy of the traffic observed at a single point has already been studied, an interesting open problem is to measure the entropy of the traffic between every origin-destination pair. In this paper, we propose the first solution to this challenging problem. Our sketch builds upon and extends the Lp sketch of Indyk with significant additional innovations. We present calculations showing that our data streaming algorithm is feasible for high link speeds using commodity CPU/memory at a reasonable cost. Our algorithm is shown to be very accurate in practice via simulations, using traffic traces collected at a tier-1 ISP backbone link.
Privately Information Sharing with Delusive Paths for Data Forwarding in Vehicular Networks

We discuss how to efficiently forward data in vehicular networks. Existing solutions do not make full use of trajectory planning of nearby vehicles, or social attributes. The development of onboard navigation system provides drivers some traveling route information. The main novelty of our approach is to envision sharing partial traveling information to the encountered vehicles for better service. Our data forwarding algorithm utilizes this lightweight information under the delusive paths privacy preservation together with the social community structure in vehicular networks. We assume that data transmission is carried by vehicles and road side units (RSUs), while cellular network manages and coordinates relevant global information. The approximate destination set is the set of RSUs that are often passed by the destination vehicle. RSU importance is raised by summing encounter ratios of RSUs in the same connected component. We first define a concept of space-time approachability which is derived from shared partial traveling route and encounter information. It describes the capability of a vehicle to advance messages toward destination. Then, we design a novel data forwarding algorithm, called approachability based algorithm, which combines the space-time approachability with the social community attribute in vehicular networks. We evaluate our approachability based algorithm on data sets from San Francisco Cabspotting and Shanghai Taxi Movement. Results show that the partially shared traveling information plays a positive role in data forwarding in vehicular networks. Approachability based data forwarding algorithm achieves a better performance than existing social based algorithms in vehicular networks.
Development of the Barriers to Error Disclosure Assessment Tool

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objectives An interprofessional group of health colleges’ faculty created and piloted the Barriers to Error Disclosure Assessment tool as an instrument to measure barriers to medical error disclosure among health care providers. Methods A review of the literature guided the creation of items describing influences on the decision to disclose a medical error. Local and national experts in error disclosure used a modified Delphi process to gain consensus on the items included in the pilot. After receiving university institutional review board approval, researchers distributed the tool to a convenience sample of physicians (n = 19), pharmacists (n = 20), and nurses (n = 20) from an academic medical center. Means and SDs were used to describe the sample. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to examine test-retest correspondence between the continuous items on the scale. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine factor loadings and examine internal consistency reliability. Cronbach α coefficients were calculated during initial and subsequent administrations to assess test-retest reliability. Results After omitting 2 items with intraclass correlation coefficient of less than 0.40, intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.43 to 0.70, indicating fair to good test-retest correspondence between the continuous items on the final draft. Factor analysis revealed the following factors during the initial administration: confidence and knowledge barriers, institutional barriers, psychological barriers, and financial concern barriers to medical error disclosure. α Coefficients of 0.85 to 0.93 at time 1 and 0.82 to 0.95 at time 2 supported test-retest reliability. Conclusions The final version of the 31-item tool can be used to measure perceptions about abilities for disclosing, impressions regarding institutional policies and climate, and specific barriers that inhibit disclosure by health care providers. Preliminary evidence supports the tool’s validity and reliability for measuring disclosure variables.
Face location with LBP scale transform

Local Binary Patterns (LBP) is an effective texture description operator and the histogram that it generates has been proved to be a very useful texture feature to adapt to rotation and illumination. Using the LBP features as feature vectors in adaBoost classifier for target identification has become a trend. But LBP is bound by the scale transformation, so it is not widely used in adaBoost face detector. This paper proposes a scale transform formula for Local Binary Patterns. Based on this formula, LBP features extracted from single fixed size templates can be trained to identify any size of faces. This paper also proposes a method to obtain particular detecting sub-areas called binary ring-shaped sub-windows, which can keep the LBP features rotation invariant. Experimental results show that the method we proposed here is feasible in face detecting.
Increased Expression of Down‐Regulatory CTLA‐4 Molecule on T Lymphocytes from Rheumatoid Synovial Compartment

Since the CTLA‐4 molecule expressed on activated T lymphocytes has recently been suggested to be an important negative regulator in autoimmune diseases, this study was undertaken to investigate the expression and function of CTLA‐4 on synovial T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. CTLA‐4‐expressing T cells were detected using a dual fluorescence flow cytometric method. Only a small percentage of peripheral blood T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis had detectable surface CTLA‐4 expression (mean ± SD, 1.89 ± 1.92%). However, the levels of CTLA‐4‐positive T cells was increased significantly in rheumatoid synovial fluids (5.44 ± 4.96%) and synovial membranes (28.76 ± 14.30%). To explore the role of CTLA‐4 molecule in the inflammation of rheumatoid joints, CTLA‐4 was blocked with anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody to assess its effects on the production of tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in synovial fluid mononuclear cell culture. The addition of anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody enhanced the production of tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in a dose‐dependent manner. The data suggest that the expression of CTLA‐4 plays a down‐regulatory role in rheumatoid articular inflammation. We thus concluded that CTLA‐4 was up‐regulated on synovial T cells from patients with RA, and the increased CTLA‐4 expression might exert a down‐regulation effect on tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β production.
Evaluation of the expert system tools KEE and ART: a Case Study

In this paper we review KEE∗ and ART,† two expert system toolkits. We study their specific competences with respect to existing expert system technologies. Beyond the KEE and ART case study, we show the advantages of evaluating knowledge engineering tools with respect to the classification of the expert system technologies we discuss. Basically, these technologies differ from one another in their underlying problem-solving philosophies. This leads to three different expert system paradigms with specific competences and tools.