Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volume segmentation of susceptibility weighted images of the brain using a level set approach

An improved version of the variational level set algorithm was used for volume segmentation of susceptibility weighted images of the brain. Binary maps based on an intensity histogram were used as edge indicators in the level set evolution equation. The parameters of the evolution equation were optimized with a synthetic SWI phantom using a simulated annealing algorithm. The convergence condition for brain tissue segmentation was presented. The algorithm was applied to the mIP of the 3D magnitude images to define the brain contour, which was then used as the initialization contour in the volume segmentation in all slices. Robust volume segmentation was obtained and the signal loss in the peripheral regions of the brain was effectively reduced in the mIP display of the 3D SWI data. The level set algorithm provides a feasible solution for robust and fully automated volume segmentation for the display of 3D SWI of the brain.
UNDERSTANDING THE BRAZILIAN WAY OF SPEAKING ENGLISH

To better understand the aspects that characterize Brazilians’ pronunciation of English, we have formed a study group, formed by researchers, professors, and under-graduate students, to study phonetics, phonology and pronunciation teaching, with a theoretical focus on usage-based phonology (Bybee, 2001, 2010) and exemplar models (Pierrehumbert, 2000, 2001, 2003). The group has had an interesting experience using Praat (Boersma & Weenink), a software for acoustic analysis of speech data. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the basis for the formation of the group and to show how the participants have been using their own speech data, recorded in our laboratory, to understand the acquisition of English phonology by Brazilians. As a result of the experience, group members have improved their own pronunciation, developed educational activities to use in teaching pronunciation, and carried out their own research projects.
Role of cannabinoid receptor CB2 in HER2 pro-oncogenic signaling in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Pharmacological activation of cannabinoid receptors elicits antitumoral responses in different cancer models. However, the biological role of these receptors in tumor physio-pathology is still unknown. METHODS We analyzed CB2 cannabinoid receptor protein expression in two series of 166 and 483 breast tumor samples operated in the University Hospitals of Kiel, Tübingen, and Freiburg between 1997 and 2010 and CB2 mRNA expression in previously published DNA microarray datasets. The role of CB2 in oncogenesis was studied by generating a mouse line that expresses the human V-Erb-B2 Avian Erythroblastic Leukemia Viral Oncogene Homolog 2 (HER2) rat ortholog (neu) and lacks CB2 and by a variety of biochemical and cell biology approaches in human breast cancer cells in culture and in vivo, upon modulation of CB2 expression by si/shRNAs and overexpression plasmids. CB2-HER2 molecular interaction was studied by colocalization, coimmunoprecipitation, and proximity ligation assays. Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS We show an association between elevated CB2 expression in HER2+ breast tumors and poor patient prognosis (decreased overall survival, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09 to 0.71, P = .009) and higher probability to suffer local recurrence (HR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.049 to 0.54, P = .003) and to develop distant metastases (HR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.75, P = .009). We also demonstrate that genetic inactivation of CB2 impairs tumor generation and progression in MMTV-neu mice. Moreover, we show that HER2 upregulates CB2 expression by activating the transcription factor ELK1 via the ERK cascade and that an increased CB2 expression activates the HER2 pro-oncogenic signaling at the level of the tyrosine kinase c-SRC. Finally, we show HER2 and CB2 form heteromers in cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal an unprecedented role of CB2 as a pivotal regulator of HER2 pro-oncogenic signaling in breast cancer, and they suggest that CB2 may be a biomarker with prognostic value in these tumors.
Finite-time Analysis for the Knowledge-Gradient Policy

We consider sequential decision problems in which we adaptively choose one of finitely many alternatives and observe a stochastic reward. We offer a new perspective of interpreting Bayesian ranking and selection problems as adaptive stochastic multi-set maximization problems and derive the first finite-time bound of the knowledge-gradient policy for adaptive submodular objective functions. In addition, we introduce the concept of prior-optimality and provide another insight into the performance of the knowledge gradient policy based on the submodular assumption on the value of information. We demonstrate submodularity for the two-alternative case and provide other conditions for more general problems, bringing out the issue and importance of submodularity in learning problems. Empirical experiments are conducted to further illustrate the finite time behavior of the knowledge gradient policy.
Introduction to Formal Preference Spaces

Summary In the article the formal characterization of preference spaces [1] is given. As the preference relation is one of the very basic notions of mathematical economics [9], it prepares some ground for a more thorough formalization of consumer theory (although some work has already been done - see [17]). There was an attempt to formalize similar results in Mizar, but this work seems still unfinished [18]. There are many approaches to preferences in literature. We modelled them in a rather illustrative way (similar structures were considered in [8]): either the consumer (strictly) prefers an alternative, or they are of equal interest; he/she could also have no opinion of the choice. Then our structures are based on three relations on the (arbitrary, not necessarily finite) set of alternatives. The completeness property can however also be modelled, although we rather follow [2] which is more general [12]. Additionally we assume all three relations are disjoint and their set-theoretic union gives a whole universe of alternatives. We constructed some positive and negative examples of preference structures; the main aim of the article however is to give the characterization of consumer preference structures in terms of a binary relation, called characteristic relation [10], and to show the way the corresponding structure can be obtained only using this relation. Finally, we show the connection between tournament and total spaces and usual properties of the ordering relations.
Relational mobility and close relationships: A socioecological approach to explain cross‐cultural differences

This article reviews how behaviors and psychological tendencies in close relationships differ between cultures, and proposes a socioecological framework to understand those differences. Our review of the literature finds that paradoxically, people in individualistic cultures are more actively engaged in close relationships (e.g., higher levels of social support, self-disclosure, intimacy, and love) than those in collectivistic cultures. From an adaptationist perspective, we argue that one reason for these differences is higher levels of relational mobility in individualistic cultures. In societies with high relational mobility, where relationships are relatively more fragile, more active engagement in close relationships helps individuals to impress potential, and retain current, partners. We emphasize the importance of examining socioecologies to better understand close relationships.
Ectomycorrhizal fungi and past high CO2 atmospheres enhance mineral weathering through increased below-ground carbon-energy fluxes

Field studies indicate an intensification of mineral weathering with advancement from arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) to later-evolving ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal partners of gymnosperm and angiosperm trees. We test the hypothesis that this intensification is driven by increasing photosynthate carbon allocation to mycorrhizal mycelial networks using 14CO2-tracer experiments with representative tree–fungus mycorrhizal partnerships. Trees were grown in either a simulated past CO2 atmosphere (1500 ppm)—under which EM fungi evolved—or near-current CO2 (450 ppm). We report a direct linkage between photosynthate-energy fluxes from trees to EM and AM mycorrhizal mycelium and rates of calcium silicate weathering. Calcium dissolution rates halved for both AM and EM trees as CO2 fell from 1500 to 450 ppm, but silicate weathering by AM trees at high CO2 approached rates for EM trees at near-current CO2. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the involvement of EM-associating forest trees in strengthening biological feedbacks on the geochemical carbon cycle that regulate atmospheric CO2 over millions of years.
Advances in childhood tuberculosis - contributions from the University of Cape Town.

UNLABELLED Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is common in high TB burden countries, contributing a substantial proportion to the TB caseload. The HIV epidemic has had a large impact on the incidence, diagnosis and management of childhood TB. AIM To review the contributions from researchers at the University of Cape Town to the field of childhood TB over the past decades. METHODS Review of published literature on studies of childhood TB done by investigators from the University of Cape Town. RESULTS Important advances have been made, especially in the areas of epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention of childhood TB. Epidemiological research has led to improved understanding of the large burden of childhood TB in Cape Town. Advances in diagnosis include use of improved specimens, particularly induced sputum and better diagnostic tests. The efficacy of GeneXpert, a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic test, on induced sputum specimens, has potential to enable a confirmed diagnosis in children of all ages at a range of healthcare facilities, and represents an important advance in management of children presenting with suspected TB. Advances in prevention include the establishment of a vaccine study site and several studies on immunisation, and on the use of primary isoniazid prophylaxis as an effective preventive strategy in symptomatic HIV-infected children. CONCLUSION Research in childhood TB has led to important advances in diagnosis and management, enabling better care for HIV-infected and uninfected children.
Linking TIMSS and NAEP assessments to evaluate international trends in achievement

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) makes it possible to compare the performance of students in the US in Mathematics and Science to the performance of students in other countries. TIMSS uses four international benchmarks for describing student achievement: Low, Intermediate, High, and Advanced. In this study, we linked the eighth-grade Math TIMSS and NAEP scales using equipercentile equating to (a) help better interpret U.S. eighth-grade students’ performance on TIMSS, and (b) investigate the progress of eighth-grade U.S. students over time relative to the progress of students in other countries. Results indicated that relative to other countries, U.S. eighth-grade students increased with respect to the “At or Above Basic” NAEP Achievement level, but that other countries saw larger improvements in the higher achievement level categories, relative to the US. This finding may reflect the emphasis of No Child Left Behind on raising lower achievement to “proficient. ” However, with respect to “Advanced” mathematics achievement, eighth-grade U.S. students showed less improvement than students in other countries.
Image inpainting using multiresolution wavelet transform analysis

Digital image processing technique can be applied to virtual restoration of artistic paintings. This paper introduced a method for the restoration of digitized paintings which is based on wavelet transformation analysis. Initially the given image gets separated into two principal components which encompass image texture and image color, respectively. Then, using multiresolution characteristics of wavelet transform, from the lowest spatial-frequency layer to the higher one, the image is analyzed from global-area to local-area progressively. Then, variance of the energy of wavelet coefficients within each image block is used to decide the priority of inpainting blocks. Final step is to extract the multi-resolution features of each block. The correlation among horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions are considered, to determine the inpainting strategy for filling image pixels and approximate high-quality image inpainting to human vision. This method can be used for a variety of input images that exhibit different kinds of defects.
Performance of Quantification of Modified Hodge Test: An Evaluation with Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Isolates

Modified Hodge Test (MHT) has been suggested as screening tests for carbapenemases, but concerns regarding its difficult interpretation and common false-positive results obtained in the presence of other β-lactamases have been noted. This study aimed to quantify the enhanced growth formed by the indicator strain and thus evaluate the performance of a quantitative interpretation of MHT for KPC screening. MHT was performed in 50 KPC-producing isolates and 334 non-carbapenemase-producing isolates, using ertapenem (ETP) and meropenem (MEM) as substrates. The size of enhanced growth of indicator strain was measured for each isolate tested and for the positive control used, and a ratio was calculated. Our results revealed 17 different ETP and MEM ratios, with distinct sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP). Higher SN combined to higher SP was achieved when ETP and MEM ratios were 0.45, with a SN value of 96% for both substrates and SP values of 99.4% and 100% for ETP and MEM, respectively. The quantification with both substrates increased SP of the test for KPC detection. Considering that MHT is the unique phenotypic test that is referred to by CLSI, a more accurate approach for its interpretation could be applied to make it a more useful tool.
Evolution of the Molecular Machines for Protein Import into Mitochondria

In creating mitochondria some 2 billion years ago, the first eukaryotes needed to establish protein import machinery in the membranes of what was a bacterial endosymbiont. Some of the preexisting protein translocation apparatus of the endosymbiont appears to have been commandeered, including molecular chaperones, the signal peptidase, and some components of the protein-targeting machinery. However, the protein translocases that drive protein import into mitochondria have no obvious counterparts in bacteria, making it likely that these machines were created de novo. The presence of similar translocase subunits in all eukaryotic genomes sequenced to date suggests that all eukaryotes can be considered descendants of a single ancestor species that carried an ancestral “protomitochondria. ”
An intelligent compaction technique for pin constrained routing in cross referencing digital microfluidic biochips

The recent advances in microfluidic technology have resulted in the emergence of commercially successful lab-on-chip systems that manifested as applicable devices in the wide range of areas e.g. high-throughput DNA sequencing, immunoassays and clinical chemistry, environmental toxicity monitoring and point of- care diagnosis of diseases. The current generation of microfluidic devices termed as digital microfluidic biochips (DMFB) are capable of manipulating individual droplets of chemicals on a 2D planar array of electrodes. A special class of DMFB classified as Cross-referencing biochip has currently drawn major attention for targeted integration of multiple bioassay protocols. The major aspect of cross referencing biochip technology is that - it scales down the number of pins per chip drastically and thereby reducing the costs of manufacturing and testing. However, for parallel execution of multiple bioassays within a single array -these chips face a serious issue of electrode interference during simultaneous routing of droplets. In this paper, we propose a routing-aware zone-based detailed placement and compaction technique that reorients the droplet locations on a pre-synthesized Bioassay schematic fulfilling the requisite dependency constraints necessary for efficient execution# of the specified bioassay protocols. The focus for the proposed scheme include (i)enhanced routing in respect of less overall and average routing time, optimum cell utilization (ii)minimum or no crossover with intelligent collision avoidance, and (iii) optimized pin utilization with intelligent pin clustering and hence overcoming the major issue of electrode interference for Cross referencing biochips. Simulations are carried out on three test benches of Benchmark suite III, and the results obtained are encouraging.
Analysis and utilisation of deviations in RO-PUFs under altered FPGA designs

Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) based on ring oscillators (ROs) are a popular primitive in hardware security, enabling the unambiguous and tamper-proof identification of computer chips. This is achieved by exploiting uncontrollable variations in the chip manufacturing process, leading to different signal delays of each chip. Thus, if all ROs on a chip are affected uniformly by ageing and temperature effects, the relation between their frequencies can be used as the chip’s unique finger print. A problem arises when the RO frequencies change in a non-uniform way. Here, we are sharing our experiences from analyses on 70 FPGAs about how ROs implemented on Altera Cyclone IV FPGAs are affected in non-uniform ways depending on the nonPUF circuitry of the design. As specific ROs are affected towards faster or slower frequencies on all devices, this leads to bad inter-device uniqueness. We suggest that subtracting the mean frequency – derived with a training set of devices – from the sampled frequencies per RO on all devices will overcome this disadvantage.
A Kalman Filter-Based Short Baseline RTK Algorithm for Single-Frequency Combination of GPS and BDS

The emerging Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) offer more visible satellites for positioning users. To employ those new satellites in a real-time kinematic (RTK) algorithm to enhance positioning precision and availability, a data processing model for the dual constellation of GPS and BDS is proposed and analyzed. A Kalman filter-based algorithm is developed to estimate the float ambiguities for short baseline scenarios. The entire work process of the high-precision algorithm based on the proposed model is deeply investigated in detail. The model is validated with real GPS and BDS data recorded from one zero and two short baseline experiments. Results show that the proposed algorithm can generate fixed baseline output with the same precision level as that of either a single GPS or BDS RTK algorithm. The significantly improved fixed rate and time to first fix of the proposed method demonstrates a better availability and effectiveness on processing multi-GNSSs.
A-symmetric information , Firm Size and the Promotion Policy 1

This paper analyzes an economy in which rms cannot observe the ability of their employees upon hiring them. We augment the Waldman (1984a) framework by endogenousing rm size and show that in an environment with free entry, in the only Strong Nash Equilibrium, each rm employs workers with di¤erent amounts of ability. These discrepancies lead to variance in rm size and a positive correlation between rm size and wages. We also show that the each rms assignment policy is e¢ cient; however, rms that employ workers with greater ability are above optimal size. JEL classi cation: L25, J30, J31, M51.
Exploiting multi-lingual text potentialities in EBMT systems

Translating documents from a source to a target language is a repetitive activity. The attempt to automate such a difficult task has been a long-term scientific dream. Among the several types of approaches in machine translation (MT), one of the most promising paradigms is example-based machine translation (EBMT). An EBMT system translates by analogy, using past translations to translate other similar source-language material into the target language. In this paper, we introduce EXTRA (EXample-based TRanslation Assistant), a complete EBMT system that exploits some innovative ideas in information retrieval and multilingual text management to effectively and efficiently extract useful suggestions from past translations and present them to the translator. This work has been developed as a joint work with the LOGOS group, a worldwide leader in multilingual document translation.
Galactose and Lactose Genes from the Galactose-Positive Bacterium Streptococcus salivarius and the Phylogenetically Related Galactose-Negative Bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus: Organization, Sequence, Transcription, and Activity of the gal Gene Products

ABSTRACT Streptococcus salivarius is a lactose- and galactose-positive bacterium that is phylogenetically closely related to Streptococcus thermophilus, a bacterium that metabolizes lactose but not galactose. In this paper, we report a comparative characterization of the S. salivarius and S. thermophilus gal-lac gene clusters. The clusters have the same organization with the order galR (codes for a transcriptional regulator and is transcribed in the opposite direction), galK (galactokinase), galT (galactose-1-P uridylyltransferase), galE (UDP-glucose 4-epimerase), galM (galactose mutarotase), lacS (lactose transporter), and lacZ (β-galactosidase). An analysis of the nucleotide sequence as well as Northern blotting and primer extension experiments revealed the presence of four promoters located upstream from galR, the gal operon, galM, and the lac operon of S. salivarius. Putative promoters with virtually identical nucleotide sequences were found at the same positions in the S. thermophilus gal-lac gene cluster. An additional putative internal promoter at the 3′ end of galT was found in S. thermophilus but not in S. salivarius. The results clearly indicated that the gal-lac gene cluster was efficiently transcribed in both species. The Shine-Dalgarno sequences of galT and galE were identical in both species, whereas the ribosome binding site of S. thermophilus galK differed from that of S. salivarius by two nucleotides, suggesting that the S. thermophilus galK gene might be poorly translated. This was confirmed by measurements of enzyme activities.
Demonstration of a Sub-Millimeter Wave Integrated Circuit (S-MMIC) using InP HEMT with a 35-nm Gate

In this paper, we present two single stage MMIC amplifiers with the first demonstrating a measured S21 gain of 3-dB at 280-GHz and the second demonstrating 2.5-dB gain at 300-GHz, which is the threshold of the sub-millimeter wave regime. The high-frequency operation is enabled by a high-speed InP HEMT with a 35-nm gate. This is the first demonstrated S21 gain at sub-millimeter wave frequencies in a MMIC