Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The more fine-grained, the better for transfer learning

In this paper, we investigate the correlation between the degree of detail (granularity) in the source task and the quality of the learned features for transfer learning to new tasks. For this purpose, we design a DNN for action classification and video captioning. The same video encoding architecture is trained to solve multiple tasks with different granularity levels. In our transfer learning experiments, we fine-tune a network on a target task, while freezing the video encoding learned from the source task. Experiments reveal that training with more fine-grained tasks tends to produce better features for transfer learning. We use Something-Something dataset with over 220, 000 videos, and multiple levels of granularity of the target labels. With impressive coarse-grained and fine-grained classification results, our model introduces a strong baseline on the new Something-Something captioning task.
Gross Capital Flows: Dynamics and Crises

This paper analyzes the joint behavior of international capital flows by foreign and domestic agents -- gross capital flows -- over the business cycle and during financial crises. The authors show that gross capital flows are very large and volatile, especially relative to net capital flows. When foreigners invest in a country, domestic agents tend to invest abroad, and vice versa. Gross capital flows are also pro-cyclical, with foreigners investing more in the country and domestic agents investing more abroad during expansions. During crises, especially during severe ones, there is retrenchment, that is, a reduction in both capital inflows by foreigners and capital outflows by domestic agents. This evidence sheds light on the nature of shocks driving capital flows and helps discriminate among existing theories. The findings seem consistent with shocks that affect foreign and domestic agents asymmetrically, such as sovereign risk and asymmetric information.
Digital elevation model accuracy requirements for catchment management

[Abstract]: Across Australia, recent drought has severely limited water supplies and natural flows in catchments with impacts being felt across communities, business and government. Understanding the flow and accumulation of water across catchments is critical to achieving an improved balance in managing and sustaining catchment resources. Digital elevation models (DEM) are now recognized as a core spatial dataset required for catchment and water resource management. However the availability of comprehensive DEMs for catchments is limited. This paper discusses the importance of digital elevation models to catchment management activities and the technologies available to capture DEMs over large areas. These technologies are examined in the context of their suitability for various applications including natural resource management, flood assessment and management, asset protection and land planning. Strategies for capturing, managing and utilizing these DEMs for the benefit of catchment communities are discussed. A case study over the Condamine Catchment was conducted to assess the digital elevation requirements as a function of slope, landuse and floodplain extents. The role of various stakeholders across these catchments is explored and the collaborative efforts required in realizing the capture of these large spatial data sets is discussed.
On the Melting Curve at High Pressures

Summary The asymptotic behaviour of the melting curves for substances with close-packed structures is analysed by means of Monte Carlo calculations on model systems of hard spheres. The Kraut-Kennedy melting law does not show the correct asymptotic behaviour. On this basis some recent results on the physics of the Earth'score are rejected.
Denial and Alarmism in Collective Action Problems 1 2

We analyze communication about the social returns to investment in a public good. We model two agents who have private information about these returns as well as their own taste for cooperation, or social preferences. Before deciding to contribute or not, each agent submits an unverifiable report about the returns to the other agent. We show that even if the public good benefits both agents, there are incentives to misrepresent information. First, others’ willingness to cooperate generates an incentive for “alarmism”, the exaggeration of social returns in order to opportunistically induce more investment. Second, if people also want to be perceived as cooperators, a “justification motive” arises for low contributors. As a result, equilibrium communication features “denial” about the returns, depressing contributions. We illustrate the model in the context of institutional inertia and the climate change debate. JEL classification: C72, D64, D82, D83, D91.
Robust Beamforming Technique with Sidelobe Suppression Using Sparse Constraint on Beampattern

─ In this paper, we propose two beamforming algorithms which impose sparse constraint on beampattern to suppress the sidelobe level and enhance robustness of the beamformer against steering vector error. The sparse constraint is given by an lp-norm, where ≤ 2 holds. It is shown that the proposed algorithms can be solved using iterative algorithm. Computer simulations show that the proposed algorithms not only yield lower sidelobe level than that of the conventional beamformer, but also show better robustness against steering vector error than the conventional
Comparative Evaluation of Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects of Synthetic Derivatives of Organoantimony (Ѵ) Ferocenyl Benzoate with Piroxicam

The current study was planned to evaluate comparative anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of two newly synthesized organo-antimony (v) ferrocenyl benzoate derivatives with piroxicam. Anti-microbial activity of these compounds was also screened against two microorganisms. Analgesic effect of test compounds was evaluated by formalin-induced paw licking test in mice. The test compounds at 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w. doses exhibited significant (p<0.001) reduction of paw licking in treated mice comparable with standard drug piroxicam. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed against carrageenan-induced paw oedema. The compound A produced anti-inflammatory effects comparable with standard piroxicam in dose dependent manner whereas compound B showed better effects than piroxicam at dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. To investigate anti-pyretic activity, fever was induced by administration of Brewer’s yeast in mice. Compound A showed highly significant inhibition of pyrexia (p<0.001) comparable to piroxicam after 3 hours while compound B (50 and 100 mg/kg) produced relatively lower anti-pyretic effect than standard drug. Antibacterial activity determined by disc diffusion method showed that compound B was relatively more effective than compound A against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. It is conceivable that both the tested compounds possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-microbial effects even after the structural modification of parent compound. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 19 (1): 15-24, 2016
Complete characterization of laser wakefield acceleration

We report on measurement techniques of the charge, spectrum, divergence, transverse emittance and the first real-time observation of the accelerated electron pulse and the accelerating plasma wave. Our time-resolved study allows a singleshot measurement of the electron bunch duration providing a value of 5.8 +1.9 -2.1 fs full-width at half maximum (2.5+0.8 -0.9 fs root mean square) as well as the plasma wave with a density-dependent period of 12-22 fs. It reveals the evolution of the bunch, its position in the surrounding plasma wave and the wake dynamics. The results afford promise for brilliant, sub-angstrom-wavelength ultrafast electron and photon sources for diffraction imaging with atomic resolution in space and time.
A Statistical Analysis of CATH, SCOP and FSSP Databases

: There are so many databases available for protein structure classification like CATH, SCOP, and FSSP. Databases promote keyword search, sequence search, navigation, hierarchy classification, and external online links. However we have found that these databases are not consistent in determining which classes of proteins belong to the same family. Some proteins have been put in the same class despite the fact they have less robust relationship. It is essential for the available classification system to be compared and examine the classes to determine which proteins remain in the same family. Identification of the biochemical function of protein based on its structure and sequence poses several challenges in this post-genomic era. The shear amount of research being carried in the genomics field has resulted in most sequences characterized for a function, which is normally annotated as hypothetical. In this study, we have done a statistical analysis of protein structure classification databases based on its sequence, structure and function.
Effects of Daidzein on Testosterone Synthesis and Secretion in Cultured Mouse Leydig Cells

The objective of this work was to study the direct effects of daidzein on steroidogenesis in cultured mouse Leydig cells. Adult mouse Leydig cells were purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation, and the cell purity was determined using a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) staining method. The purified Leydig cells were exposed to different concentrations (10 -7 M to 10 -4 M) of daidzein for 24 h under basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated conditions. The cell viability and testosterone production were determined, and the related mechanisms of daidzein action were also evaluated using the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 and measuring the mRNA levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and 3β-HSD-1 involved in testosterone biosynthesis. The results revealed that daidzein did not influence cell viability. Daidzein increased both basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone production in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was statistically significant at concentrations of 10 -5 M and 10 -4 M daidzein (p<0.05). ICI 182.780 had no influence on daidzein action. RT-PCR results revealed that 10 -5 M and 10 -4 M daidzein did not exert any obvious influence on the mRNA level of P450scc in Leydig cells. However, in the presence of hCG, these concentrations of daidzein significantly increased the StAR and 3β-HSD-1 mRNA levels (p<0.05), but in the absence of hCG, only 10 -5 M and 10 -4 M daidzein up-regulated the StAR and 3β-HSD-1 mRNA expression (p<0.05), respectively. These results suggest that daidzein has direct effect on Leydig cells. Daidzein-induced increase of testosterone production is probably not mediated by the estrogen receptor but correlates with the increased mRNA levels of StAR and 3β-HSD-1.
FEEDING REGIMEN DURING REARING IN FEMALE RABBITS UNDER EGYPTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS : EFFECT ON OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND EMBRYO QUALITY PRODUCTION

Forty New Zealand White rabbit does, ten weeks old with an average live body weight of 1605±10 g, were divided into four homogenous groups. The 1 group was fed ad libitum (control, C) and the 2 group was fed ad libitum but fasted one day per week (F). The 3 group was restricted fed (80% of ad libitum, R-1) while the last group was also restricted fed but they received their diet in two meals/day (at 8-9 am and 5-6 pm, R-2). All treatment groups were fed according to the treatment procedure until one week prior to the first insemination (22 weeks of age) to stimulate receptivity (flushing), afterwards they were all fed ad libitum the standard diet. At the end of the flushing period, does were intramuscularly injected with 20 μg GnRH and were inseminated with fresh semen. All does were slaughtered at 72-76 hr post AI. Daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.001) reduced in restricted and one day/week fasted groups. Compared to the control group, ovulation rate and number of CL on ovaries significantly (P<0.05) increased with restrictive diets. Fertilization rate was higher in R-2 group, followed by R-1 than in F and C groups, respectively, but differences were not significant. Relative weights of ovaries, oviducts and uterus were increased (P<0.05) under feeding regime. From the histological point of view, oviducts and uterus development were more pronounced with fed restriction groups, followed by F than C groups. Restricted fed does had an increased number of embryos recovered and significantly (P<0.05) higher percentages of embryo developed to early blastocyst stage with an excellent or good quality. It can be concluded that restricted regime given in two or one meal/day, with one week flushing period before the 1 insemination, enhances ovarian efficiency, genital organs development, and improves pre-implantation embryo development.
Fuzzy Consistency Algorithm for Performance Evaluation of Sudanese Universities

The consistency of judgment that is carried out by experts/ participants during a series of pairwise comparison methods represents a key evaluation issue to the reliability of the ultimate output (performance evaluation). This paper presents a Fuzzy Consistency Algorithm (FCA) to check and evaluate the consistency level of expert’s judgment. The new algorithm proposes a consistent preference linguistic value(s) as an option to the experts in case of inconsistency judgment in evaluation performance. Based on the proposed algorithm, the paper introduces new tools that allow experts to trace and understand the roots of inconsistency and select the relevant consistent option(s). The algorithm allows the degree of consistency to be configured by user. The paper also applies the proposed algorithm to the performance evaluation of Sudanese universities as an empirical study.
Should We Use Linearized Models to Calculate Fiscal Multipliers?

We calculate the magnitude of the government consumption multiplier in linearized and nonlinear solutions of a New Keynesian model at the zero lower bound. Importantly, the model is amended with real rigidities to simultaneously account for the macroeconomic evidence of a low Phillips curve slope and the microeconomic evidence of frequent price changes. We show that the nonlinear solution is associated with a much smaller multiplier than the linearized solution in long-lived liquidity traps, and pin down the key features in the model which account for the difference. Our results caution against the common practice of using linearized models to calculate fiscal multipliers in long-lived liquidity traps.
Tumors with an Effective Induction of Tumor-Specific Immunity A Novel Therapeutic Regimen to Eradicate Established Solid

Purpose: The efficacy of oncolytic viruses depends on multiple actions including direct tumor lysis, modulation of tumor perfusion, and stimulation of tumor-directed immune responses. In this study, we investigated whether a sequential combination of immunologically distinct viruses might enhance antitumor efficacy through the induction of tumor-specific immunity and circumvention or mitigation of antiviral immune responses. Experimental Design: The Syrian hamster as an immune-competent model that supports replication of both adenovirus and vaccinia virus was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The antitumor efficacy of either virus alone or sequential combination of the two viruses was examined in pancreatic and kidney cancer models. The functional mechanism of the regimen developed here was investigated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry staining, CTL assay, and T-cell depletion. Results: The Syrian hamster is a suitablemodel for assessment of oncolytic adenovirus and vaccinia virus. Three low doses of adenovirus followed by three low doses of vaccinia virus resulted in a superior antitumor efficacy to the reverse combination, or six doses of either virus alone, against pancreatic andkidney tumors in Syrian hamsters. A total of 62.5% of animals bearing either tumor type treated with the sequential combination became tumor-free, accompanied by the induction of effective tumor-specific immunity. This enhanced efficacy was ablated by CD3þ T-cell depletion but was not associated with humoral immunity against the viruses. Conclusion: These findings show that sequential treatment of tumors with oncolytic adenovirus and vaccinia virus is a promising approach for cancer therapy and that T-cell responses play a critical role. Clin Cancer Res; 18(24); 6679–89. 2012 AACR.
Apparent Survival of White-tailed Deer in the Mississippi River Delta of Louisiana

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations located at the mouth of the Mississippi River are of historical significance as they have been a major source for restocking in Louisiana since the 1960s. Apparent population declines of these deer since the 1990s led the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to initiate a study to gather demographic data on white-tailed deer on the 46,540-ha Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA). We captured and individually marked 57 deer on PALWMA from 2007 to 2012. We monitored travel corridors using un-baited trail cameras and recorded all sightings of marked and unmarked individuals until 2014. We collected 4,325 photographic observations of white-tailed deer with 340 (8%) resightings of individually marked deer. Estimated apparent annual survival for female and male white-tailed deer was 0.48 ± 0.07 and 0.78 ± 0.06, respectively. We found that recapture probability was significantly greater for tagged males (0.81 ± 0.11) than females (0.54 ± 0.08). We found no evidence that white-tailed deer survival was influenced by the three tropical systems that directly impacted our study site. Overall, our estimates of female annual survival were low relative to estimates from other population studies from the southeastern United States. As coastal marsh habitats represent an important component of statewide deer harvest in Louisiana and because environmental studies show coastal habitats are slowly degrading in Louisiana, our results suggest that additional focus on female white-tailed deer demography and harvest rates are necessary in coastal regions of Louisiana.
Application of a COTS Resource Optimization Framework to the SSN Sensor Tasking Domain – Part I : Problem Definition

With the onset of the SmallSat era, the Resident Space Object (RSO) catalog is expected to see continuing growth in the near future. This presents a significant challenge to the current sensor tasking of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). The Air Force is in need of a sensor tasking system that is robust, efficient, scalable, and able to respond in real-time to interruptive events that can change the tracking requirements of the RSOs. Furthermore, the system must be capable of using processed data from heterogeneous sensors to improve tasking efficiency. The SSN sensor tasking can be regarded as an economic problem of supply and demand: the amount of tracking data needed by each RSO represents the demand side while the SSN sensor tasking represents the supply side. As the number of RSOs to be tracked grows, demand exceeds supply. The decision-maker is faced with the problem of how to allocate resources in the most efficient manner. Recently we developed a framework called Multi-Objective Resource Optimization using Genetic Algorithm (MOROUGA) within one of Braxton’s modern COTS software products, ACE PremierTM Intelligent Resource Optimizer (AceIRO). This optimization framework takes advantage of the maturing technology of evolutionary computation in the last 15 years. This framework was applied successfully to address the resource allocation of an AFSCN-like problem. In any resource allocation problem, there are five key elements: (1) the resource pool, (2) the tasks using the resources, (3) a set of constraints on the tasks and the resources, (4) the objective functions to be optimized, and (5) the demand levied on the resources. In this paper we explain in detail how the design features of this optimization framework are directly applicable to address the SSN sensor tasking domain. We also discuss our validation effort using twoand three-objective test problems as well as present the result of the AFSCN resource allocation domain using a prototype based on this optimization framework.
Certain Investigation on Missing Value Imputation Techniques

Missing values can cause incorrect conclusions about data. Correspondingly, substitution of the missing values may introduce inaccuracies and irregularity. In the final result, a data value missing is the main drawback. Due to this problem, the system performance has the highest error rate in other words it degrades the system performance. Additionally, most of the analysis methods cannot be performed if there are missing values in the data. Some of the techniques are explained in this survey article. The main goal of this survey is to present an overview of the missing value imputation techniques. And also it gives the Bandwidth Selection and the Kernel Function Selection techniques related to the missing value estimation. This demonstration of these techniques is used to obtain the efficient scheme for missing value or data estimation. We can obtain the more efficient method or we may propose the new technique to overcome the problems in these existing approaches. This survey article is intended to provide easy accessibility to the main ideas for non-experts.
Explorer Modified cell cycle status in a mouse model of altered neuronal vulnerability (Wallerian degeneration slow: WLDs)

<p>Profiling of gene expression changes in mice harbouring the neurodegenerative Wlds mutation shows a strong correlation between changes in cell cycle pathways and altered vulnerability of terminally differentiated neurons. </p> Abstract Background: Altered neuronal vulnerability underlies many diseases of the human nervous system, resulting in degeneration and loss of neurons. The neuroprotective slow Wallerian degeneration ( Wld s ) mutation delays degeneration in axonal and synaptic compartments of neurons following a wide range of traumatic and disease-inducing stimuli, providing a powerful experimental tool with which to investigate modulation of neuronal vulnerability. Although the mechanisms through which Wld s confers neuroprotection remain unclear, a diverse range of downstream modifications, incorporating several genes/pathways, have been implicated. These include the following: elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels associated with nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 ( Nmnat1 ; a part of the chimeric Wld s gene); altered mRNA expression levels of genes such as pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 ( Pttg1 ); changes in the location/activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery via binding to valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97); and modified synaptic expression of proteins such as ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (Ube1). Results: Wld s expression in mouse cerebellum and HEK293 cells induced robust increases in a broad spectrum of cell cycle-related genes. Both NAD-dependent and Pttg1-dependent pathways were responsible for mediating different subsets of these alterations, also incorporating changes in VCP/p97 localization and Ube1 expression. Cell proliferation rates were not modified by Wld s , suggesting that later mitotic phases of the cell cycle remained unaltered. We also demonstrate that Wld s concurrently altered endogenous cell stress pathways. Conclusion: We report a novel cellular phenotype in cells with altered neuronal vulnerability. We show that previous reports of diverse changes occurring downstream from Wld s expression converge upon modifications in cell cycle status. These data suggest a strong correlation between modified cell cycle pathways and altered vulnerability of axonal and synaptic compartments in postmitotic, terminally differentiated neurons.