Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local Analytic and Global Convex Methods for the 3D Reconstruction of Isometric Deformable Surfaces. (Méthodes Analytiques Locales et Méthodes Globales Convexes pour la Reconstruction 3D de Surfaces Isométriquement Déformables)

This thesis contributes to the problem of 3D reconstruction for deformable surfaces using a single camera. In order to model surface deformation, we use the isometric prior because many real object deformations are near-isometric. Isometry implies that the surface cannot stretch or compress. We tackle two different problems. The first is called Shape-from-Template where the object’s deformed shape is computed from a single image and a texture-mapped 3D template of the object surface. Previous methods propose a differential model of the problem and compute the local analytic solutions. In the methods the solution related to the depth-gradient is discarded and only the depth solution is used. We demonstrate that the depth solution lacks stability as the projection geometry tends to affine. We provide alternative methods based on the local analytic solutions of first-order quantities, such as the depth-gradient or surface normals. Our methods are stable in all projection geometries. The second type of problem, called Non-Rigid Shape-from-Motion is the more general templatefree reconstruction scenario. In this case one obtains the object’s shapes from a set of images where it appears deformed. We contribute to this problem for both local and global solutions using the perspective camera. In the local or point-wise method, we solve for the surface normal at each point assuming infinitesimal planarity of the surface. We then compute the surface by integration. In the global method we find a convex relaxation of the problem. This is based on relaxing isometry to inextensibility and maximizing the surface’s average depth. This solution combines all constraints into a single convex optimization program to compute depth and works for a sparse point representation of the surface. We detail the extensive experiments that were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of each of the proposed methods. The experiments show that our local template-free solution performs better than most of the previous methods. Our local template-based method and our global template-free method performs better than the state-of-the-art methods with robustness to correspondence noise. In particular, we are able to reconstruct difficult, non-smooth and articulating deformations with the latter; while with the former we can accurately reconstruct large deformations with images taken at very long focal lengths.
An Experimental Test of the Seismic Behaviors of Antispila Nysaefoliella (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae) to Vibrational Stimuli

ABSTRACT This study tested the sensitivity of the tupelo leafminer, Antispila nysaefoliella, to vibrational cues and whether their unique behaviors, first reported by Low (2008), may be elicited by the frequencies matching those of parasitic wasps. In the tick behavior, a larva ticks its abdomen back and forth rhythmically, and in the rattle behavior, the larva rattles its abdomen in short rapid pulses. To test the specificity of these behaviors to vibrational cues, computer-generated signals of pure tone frequencies ranging from 1–6 kHz were played to the entire leaf of solitary larvae through airborne signal transmission. The experiment demonstrated that the larvae of A. nysaefoliella responded to all frequencies with wriggling movements, but ticked only in response to the frequencies that matched those generated by parasitoid probing activity. Rattling behavior was rarely elicited.
The effects of pre-weaning undernutrition on the expression levels of free radical deactivating enzymes in the mouse brain

Abstract A mild degree of undernutrition brought about by restricting the amount of food in the diet is known to alter the life span of an animal. It has been hypothesised that this may be related to the effects of undernutrition on an animals anti-oxidant defense system. We have therefore, used real-time PCR (rt-PCR) techniques to determine the levels of mRNA expression for manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx 1) and catalase in the brains of Quackenbush mice undernourished from conception until 21-post-natal days of age. It was found that 21- and 61-day-old undernourished mice had a deficit in the expression of Cu/ZnSOD in both the cerebellum and forebrain regions compared to age-matched controls. The expression of MnSOD was found to be greater in the cerebellum, but not the forebrain region, of 21-day-old undernourished mice. There were no significant differences in the expression of GPx 1 and catalase between control and undernourished or previously undernourished mice. Our results confirm that undernutrition during the early life of a mouse may disrupt some of the enzymes involved in the anti-oxidant defense systems.
The paradox of sodium's volume of distribution. Why an extracellular solute appears to distribute over total body water.

When treating hyponatremia, one must know how sodium distributes in the body in order to calculate how much sodium is needed to raise the serum sodium concentration by a desired amount. Most clinicians recognize that while sodium is primarily restricted to the extracellular space it appears to distribute over total body water. 1 However, the reason for this seeming paradox is not self-evident. The standard explanation is that the osmotic effect of added sodium draws water out of cells into the extracellular space. 2-5 But is this the whole story? If so, one would predict that other solutes restricted to the extracellular space (eg, mannitol) would also appear to distribute over total body water. However, such is not the case. Therefore, it is our purpose to review why sodium appears to distribute over a different volume than the anatomic space in which it resides. We further show why solutes restricted
Using a game for social setting in a learning environment: AlgoArena - a tool for learning software design

AlgoArena is a tool for education of software design to beginners. The purpose is to develop the ability to think algorithmically and the ability to view things sys­ tematically. It is a simulation game of sumo wrestling - the traditional Japanese national sport. Students are supposed to program the actions of their own wrestler using a programming language so as 'to win matches against other wrestlers. To make the wrestler stronger, students are encouraged to analyze the chaotic situation systematically, devise better tactics, and incorporate them into the program. Such comprehensive problem­ solving activities are comparable to the processes in­ volved in software design. In addition, students commit to solving their own problems at their own responsibil­ ity. It is also comparable to the authentic activities of a software designer. In this sense, activities with Algo­ Arena can be regarded as a significant 'epitome' of authentic software design. Social setting for the learning environment is at­ tributable to constraints embedded in the system of Al­ goArena. For example, owing to the constraint of the game that a player needs opponents to fight with, stu­ dents are encouraged to have matches with others, and social interaction among students is facilitated. In this way, a game situation is brought into the context of learning and produces a community of learners
Substitution of 5-HT 1 A Receptor Signaling by a Light-activated G Protein-coupled Receptor *

Understanding serotonergic (5-HT) signaling is critical for understanding human physiology, behavior, and neuropsychiatric disease. 5-HT mediates its actions via ionotropic and metabotropic 5-HT receptors. The 5-HT1A receptor is a metabotropic G protein-coupled receptor linked to the Gi/o signaling pathway and has been specifically implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety. To understand and precisely control 5-HT1A signaling, we created a light-activated G protein-coupled receptor that targets into 5-HT1A receptor domains and substitutes for endogenous 5-HT1A receptors. To induce 5-HT1A-like targeting, vertebrate rhodopsin was tagged with the C-terminal domain (CT) of 5-HT1A (Rh-CT5-HT1A). Rh-CT5-HT1A activates G protein-coupled inward rectifying K channels in response to light and causesmembrane hyperpolarization in hippocampal neurons, similar to the agonist-induced responses of the 5-HT1A receptor. The intracellular distribution of Rh-CT5-HT1A resembles that of the 5-HT1A receptor; Rh-CT5HT1A localizes to somatodendritic sites and is efficiently trafficked to distal dendritic processes. Additionally, neuronal expression of Rh-CT5-HT1A, but not Rh, decreases 5-HT1A agonist sensitivity, suggesting that Rh-CT5-HT1A and 5-HT1A receptors compete to interactwith thesametraffickingmachinery.Finally,Rh-CT5-HT1A is able to rescue 5-HT1A signaling of 5-HT1A KOmice in cultured neurons and in slices of the dorsal raphe showing that Rh-CT5HT1A is able to functionally compensate fornative5-HT1A.Thus, as an optogenetic tool, Rh-CT5-HT1A has the potential to directly correlate in vivo 5-HT1A signaling with 5-HT neuron activity and behavior in both normal animals and animal models of neuropsychiatric disease.
Determinants of the critical success factor of disaster recovery planning for information systems

Purpose – Recent disaster recovery planning (DRP) literature has mainly focused on qualitative research, while neglecting the quantification of critical success factors (CSFs) for information systems function (ISF). This paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approach – This paper first conducts an extensive literature review, and then identifies 62 DRP measurement items for ISF. A questionnaire survey, which is based on these 62 measurement items, is used for data collection, and 129 managers of DRP in ISF participate in this paper.Findings – Through the use of convergent factoring analysis, this paper identifies ten DRP CSFs for ISF, they are: DRP documentations, DRP steering committee and DRP testing, DRP policy and goals, DRP training, DRP maintenance and staff involvement, DRP minimum IS processing requirements, top management commitment to DRP, prioritization IS functions/services, external, off‐site back‐up system, and internal, and on‐site back‐up system.Originality/value – This paper.
A Performance Enhancing Proxy for terrestrial-satellite hybrid networks

In terrestrial-satellite hybrid networks, traditional TCP performance degrades a lot due to long propagation delays and high bit error rates link. Performance enhancing proxy(PEP) can shorten round trip time loop time and Peach can enhance the performance over high bit error rates link. In this paper, we propose a new scheme that combines PEP and TCP Peach for terrestrial-satellite hybrid networks. The scheme could reduce the negative impact on performance (in terms of throughput). To obtain an analysis result, we also introduce a mathematic model for our PEP. The analysis and simulation results demonstrate that our scheme could significantly improve the network performance than traditional TCP protocols.
Structural similarity between the hydrophobic fluorescent probe and lipid A as a ligand of MD‐2

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) belong to the family of pattern recognition receptors, as they recognize molecules sharing a broad structural pattern rather than a single defined structure. Bacterial LPS is recognized by MD‐2, which is associated with the extracellular domain of TLR4. Understanding the molecular recognition pattern of MD‐2 could lead to efficient inhibitors of the excessive LPS signaling needed for early treatment of sepsis. The effect of the acyl chain variability of lipid A on its biological activity indicates that in addition to electrostatic interactions, the recognition must also involve hydrophobic interactions. We show that the fluorescent hydrophobic probe bis‐ANS binds to MD‐2 with a dissociation constant in the 10 nanomolar range, both to glycosylated and to nonglycosylated MD‐2, and requires its native conformation. The binding site of bis‐ANS overlaps with the binding site of LPS and is in the proximity of the single tryptophan residue. Furthermore, photoincorporation of bis‐ANS by UV light inhibits the ability of MD‐2 to confer the LPS responsiveness to the TLR4‐transfected HEK293 cell line. Our results show that the structural pattern recognized by MD‐2 is defined by the hydrophobic patch and a pair of separated negative charges. —Mancek‐Keber, M. , Jerala, R. Structural similarity between the hydrophobic fluorescent probe and lipid A as a ligand of MD‐2. FASEB J. 20, 1836–1842 (2006)
Factor-biased Multinational Production

The standard model of multinational production assumes that firms differ in Hicksneutral productivities and ignores differences in factor biases. Using a large firm-level dataset, I show that multinational firms differ from local firms in factor biases along two key dimensions. First, multinational firms are on average larger firms and larger firms on average use more capital-intensive technologies. Second, multinational firms from more capital-abundant home countries choose more capital-intensive technologies. I develop a quantitative framework for modeling factor-biased multinational production that incorporates these two features. The model highlights a new channel through which globalization affects the income distribution between capital and labor: liberalizing multinational production reallocates factors across firms with different factor biases and thus changes the aggregate demand for capital relative to labor. Calibrating the model to both firm-level and aggregate moments for 37 countries, I find that in the past decade, the increase in multinational activity explains 60 percent of the average decline in the labor share. Moreover, the model predicts that countries with a larger increase in multinational activity experience a larger decline in their labor share as observed in the data. ∗I would like to thank Steve Redding for his incredible support and encouragement throughout this project. I would also like to thank Rodrigo Adao, Javier Cravino, Aaron Flaaen, Sharat Ganapati, Gene Grossman, Oleg Itskhoki, Eduardo Morales, Ezra Oberfield and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg for helpful discussions. I am grateful to Natalia Ramondo for generously providing her data on multinational production. Financial support from the International Economics Section at Princeton University is greatly appreciated. Contact information: 1226 K.K. Leung Building, School of Business, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. +852 3917 4220. sunc@hku.hk.
Effect of chronic iron overload on procollagen gene expression

The pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in genetic hemochromatosis may involve a direct effect of excess iron on collagen synthesis in the liver. To investigate this theory, we measured procollagen messenger RNA levels (types I, III and IV) in the livers of rats in which we produced chronic parenchymal iron overload by feeding them dietary carbonyl iron (2.5%, wt/wt) for up to 18 mo. This feeding resulted in predominantly parenchymal iron deposition in a periportal distribution similar to that seen in genetic hemochromatosis. Increased amounts of collagen fibrils were observed in iron‐loaded livers on electron microscopy; all iron‐loaded livers showed some periportal fibrosis. Although very high hepatic iron concentrations (range = 340 to 1,100 μmol/gm dry wt) were achieved in the carbonyl iron–loaded rats, we saw no consistent difference between steady‐state messenger RNA levels for procollagens types I, III and IV in control and iron‐loaded livers examined at five different time points up to 18 mo. Messenger RNA levels of the cytokine transforming growth factor‐β1, which has been implicated as having a role in the production of extracellular matrix proteins, were also measured. No significant differences were observed between ironloaded and control livers. These results suggest that excess parenchymal iron does not have a direct effect on the expression of the procollagens or transforming growth factor‐β1 genes in iron‐loaded livers and that factors other than, or in addition to, iron are necessary for fibrosis to occur. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;18:590–595.)
Intracerebral Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (CD34+) Implantation Induces Neuroplasticity by Enhancing β1 Integrin-Mediated Angiogenesis in Chronic Stroke Rats

Although stem cell-based treatments for stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases have advanced rapidly, there are still few clinical treatments available. In this study, rats receiving intracerebral peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (CD34+) (PBSC) transplantation showed much more improvement in neurological function after chronic cerebral ischemia in comparison with vehicle-treated control rats. Using laser-scanning confocal microscopy, implanted PBSCs were seen to differentiate into glial cells [GFAP+ (glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive)], neurons [Nestin+, MAP-2+ (microtubule-associated protein 2-positive), Neu-N+ (neuronal nuclear antigen-positive)], and vascular endothelial cells [vWF+ (von Willebrand factor-positive)], thereby enhancing neuroplastic effects in the ischemic brain. Cortical neuronal activity, as evaluated by 1H-MRS (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy), also increased considerably in PBSC-treated rats compared with a vehicle-treated control group. In addition, PBSC implantation promoted the formation of new vessels, thereby increasing the local cortical blood flow in the ischemic hemisphere. These observations may be explained by the involvement of stem cell-derived macrophage/microglial cells, and β1 integrin expression, which might enhance this angiogenic architecture over the ischemic brain. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed significantly increased modulation of neurotrophic factor expression in the ischemic hemisphere of the PBSC-transplanted rats compared with vehicle-treated control rats. Thus, intracerebral PBSC transplantation might have potential as a therapeutic strategy for treating cerebrovascular diseases.
Prediction-based autoscaling for container-based PaaS system

As cloud computing becomes popular, Platform as a Service (PaaS) plays an important role in a modern cloud system. The orchestration and efficiency attract more attention and demand a more intelligent solution. In this paper, we present Next Generation PaaS (NG-PaaS) which provides resource management, application management and performance monitoring. The NG-PaaS is built on docker to enable fine-grained rapid management. There is also an intelligent scheduling system to improve the resource allocation and reduce response latency. A pre-allocation mechanism is designed to analyze and predict the application behavior to guide the specific deployment. The experiments show there are around 50% and 33% reduction in average response latency and CPU utilization respectively.
Blind 3D localization and separation of multiple vibration and acoustic sources simultaneously active

Signal source localization and separation are key tasks for many applications. In this paper, a new deterministic method is proposed for estimating the 3D location and separating multiple acoustic or vibration sources, simultaneously active. The method is based on TDOA measurements obtained via crosscorrelation. Then, with the information from the estimated locations, source separation is achieved. The performance of the method was evaluated, only through simulations, in terms of accuracy and computational load. The obtained results, with SNR=6dB, showed estimation errors for the localization method always bounded below 10 centimeters, obtaining the best results with a lower number of sources and a higher number of receivers. Furthermore, the computational load was substantially reduced as compared to exhaustive search, being the gain more noticeable for a higher number of sources. The corresponding error for the separation of the original source signals was bounded below 25%, for 2 sources and 6 receivers. Thus, there are strong evidences that the here-proposed method is accurate and robust enough, while being efficient in computational terms, so many applications can benefit from its use.
Campylobacter-Wolinella group organisms are the only oral bacteria that form arylsulfatase-active colonies on a synthetic indicator medium

Most oral bacteria tested formed colonies on a chemically defined medium with a chromogenic arylsulfatase substrate. Arylsulfatase activity was, however, restricted to Campylobacter-Wolinella group organisms, including Wolinella recta, a possible periodontopathogen. W. recta was the only arylsulfatase-active species against which consistently high levels of antibody were detected in human sera.
Association study of the &bgr;-arrestin 2 gene (ARRB2) with opioid and cocaine dependence in a European–American population

The rewarding properties of drugs of abuse are mediated by the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Genetic variations in MOR and MOR interacting proteins (MORIPs) involved in MOR signaling may increase the risk for drug dependence. The MORIP &bgr;-arrestin plays an important role in the regulation of MOR trafficking, thereby highlighting it as a candidate gene for addiction phenotypes. In this case–control association study, DNA samples from cocaine-dependent (n=336) and opioid-dependent (n=335) patients and controls (n=656) were genotyped for seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs11868227, rs3786047, rs4522461, rs1045280, rs2271167, rs2036657, and rs4790694) across ARRB2, the gene encoding the &bgr;-arrestin 2 protein. No significant differences were observed in genotype or allele frequency between drug-dependent and control individuals for any of the single nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed. Haplotype analysis was similarly negative. Further studies are needed to determine whether variations in ARRB2 (or other MORIPs) are relevant to cocaine or opioid dependence in different ethnic populations or whether they confer a risk that is specific to dependence on other drugs of abuse.
Malware detection using GA optimized K-means and HMM

In this research, we consider the related problem of malware classification based on HMMs. We train HMMs for a variety of malware generators and a variety of compilers. The results of HMM are further classified using k means algorithm but k means algorithm has drawback of stuck into local minima so we optimized the k means with genetic algorithm (GA). Genetic algorithm (GA) tuned k means clustering approach is suggested in our work and evaluated on the basis of score.
Two‐Year Trends in Physical Performance following Supervised Exercise among Community‐Dwelling Older Veterans

The extent to which exercise can delay the normal decline in physical performance associated with aging is unknown. We examined the impact of 2 years of supervised exercise on cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and strength in a group of elderly (age 65–74) veterans. Seventy‐five patients exercised 3 days/week for 90‐minute sessions emphasizing aerobic, flexibility, and strength development. Thirty‐six (47%) completed 2 years of a voluntary supervised exercise program (n = 25 with complete data). Over a 2‐year follow‐up period, cardiovascular outcome variables improved significantly: metabolic equivalents increased 20% (7.4 ± 2.2 to 9.0 ± 2.4, P < 0.001) and submaximal heart rate decreased 7% (68.5 ± 8.0 to 63.6 ± 8.4 beats/minute, P = 0.02). Resting heart rate decreased 8% (131.4 ± 14.8 to 121.0 ± 18.5 beats/minute, P = 0.06), but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Flexibility, measured by hamstring length, improved 11% (57.5 ± 15.1 to 64.0 ± 11.1 degrees, P = 0.02). Strength variables did not improve. The study indicates that improvements in cardiovascular function and flexibility achieved by the elderly in the early stages of an exercise program can be maintained for at least 2 years.