Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust feature point matching based on geometric consistency and affine invariant spatial constraint

Feature point matching is essential in computer vision. In this paper, we propose a robust feature point matching framework in which we first obtain a set of refined matches from ranked initial-matches based on a restricted affine invariant spatial constraint, and then compute a global geometrical transformation from the refined matches. After that, we recall the missing correct matches meeting the geometric consistency and spatial constraint. Compared with existing methods, the proposed framework can yield much more correct correspondences, which will be definitely helpful to further tasks. Experimental results demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method.
Trio: enabling sustainable and scalable outdoor wireless sensor network deployments

We present the philosophy, design, and initial evaluation of the Trio testbed, a new outdoor sensor network deployment that consists of 557 solar-powered motes, seven gateway nodes, and a root server. The testbed covers an area of approximately 50,000 square meters and was in continuous operation during the last four months of 2005. This new testbed in one of the largest solar-powered outdoor sensor networks ever constructed and it offers a unique platform on which both systems and application software can be tested safely at scale. The testbed is based on Trio, a new mote platform that provides sustainable operation, enables efficient in situ interaction, and supports fail-safe programming. The motivation behind this testbed was to evaluate robust multi-target tracking algorithms at scale. However, using the testbed has stressed the system software, networking protocols, and management tools in ways that have exposed subtle but serious weaknesses that were never discovered using indoor testbeds or smaller deployments. We have been iteratively improving our support software, with the eventual aim of creating a stable hardware-software platform for sustainable, scalable, and flexible testbed deployments
Myxobacteria: Moving, Killing, Feeding, and Surviving Together

Myxococcus xanthus, like other myxobacteria, is a social bacterium that moves and feeds cooperatively in predatory groups. On surfaces, rod-shaped vegetative cells move in search of the prey in a coordinated manner, forming dynamic multicellular groups referred to as swarms. Within the swarms, cells interact with one another and use two separate locomotion systems. Adventurous motility, which drives the movement of individual cells, is associated with the secretion of slime that forms trails at the leading edge of the swarms. It has been proposed that cellular traffic along these trails contributes to M. xanthus social behavior via stigmergic regulation. However, most of the cells travel in groups by using social motility, which is cell contact-dependent and requires a large number of individuals. Exopolysaccharides and the retraction of type IV pili at alternate poles of the cells are the engines associated with social motility. When the swarms encounter prey, the population of M. xanthus lyses and takes up nutrients from nearby cells. This cooperative and highly density-dependent feeding behavior has the advantage that the pool of hydrolytic enzymes and other secondary metabolites secreted by the entire group is shared by the community to optimize the use of the degradation products. This multicellular behavior is especially observed in the absence of nutrients. In this condition, M. xanthus swarms have the ability to organize the gliding movements of 1000s of rods, synchronizing rippling waves of oscillating cells, to form macroscopic fruiting bodies, with three subpopulations of cells showing division of labor. A small fraction of cells either develop into resistant myxospores or remain as peripheral rods, while the majority of cells die, probably to provide nutrients to allow aggregation and spore differentiation. Sporulation within multicellular fruiting bodies has the benefit of enabling survival in hostile environments, and increases germination and growth rates when cells encounter favorable conditions. Herein, we review how these social bacteria cooperate and review the main cell–cell signaling systems used for communication to maintain multicellularity.
Vitamin D Induces Cyclooxygenase 2 Dependent Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis in HaCaT Keratinocytes

The active metabolite of vitamin D calcitriol and its analogs are well‐known for their anti‐inflammatory action in the skin, while their main side effect associated with topical treatment of inflammatory disorders is irritant contact dermatitis. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is pro‐inflammatory at the onset of inflammation and anti‐inflammatory at its resolution. We hypothesized that induction of PGE2 synthesis by calcitriol in epidermal keratinocytes may contribute both to its pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory effects on the skin. Treatment of human immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes with calcitriol (3–100 nM, 2–24 h) increased PGE2 production due to increased mRNA and protein expression of COX‐2, but not to increase of COX‐1 or release of arachidonic acid. The effect of calcitriol on COX‐2 mRNA was observed also in primary human keratinocytes. The increase in COX‐2 mRNA is associated with COX‐2 transcript stabilization. Calcitriol exerts this effect by a rapid (2 h) and protein synthesis independent mode of action that is dependent on PKC and Src kinase activities. Treatment with a COX‐2 inhibitor partially prevented the attenuation of the keratinocyte inflammatory response by calcitriol. We conclude that upregulation of COX‐2 expression with the consequent increase in PGE2 synthesis may be one of the mechanisms explaining the Janus face of calcitriol as both a promoter and attenuator of cutaneous inflammation. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 837–843, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alignment Effect: Primary – Secondary Learning and Cognitive Styles

The degree to which the way of learning spatial information (primary/secondary learning) and spatial cognitive style (landmark/route/survey) affect orientation specificity (alignment effect) is studied. We think that the most important factor explaining the absence of the alignment effect is the spatial cognitive style. We hypothesise that while landmark participants show an alignment effect after both primary and secondary learning, route participants show this effect only after secondary learning, and survey participants do not show it at all. Participants performed three tasks in order to distinguish their cognitive style; they were then randomly assigned to primary or secondary learning and submitted to directional judgment tasks to verify whether the alignment effect was present. The results confirm our hypothesis.
Epidemiological and Pathogenic Relationship between Sleep Apnea and Ischemic Heart Disease

Obstructive sleep apnea is recognized as having high prevalence and causing remarkable cardiovascular risk. Coronary artery disease has been associated with obstructive sleep apnea in many reports. The pathophysiology of coronary artery disease in obstructive sleep apnea patients probably includes the activation of multiple mechanisms, as the sympathetic activity, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and systemic hypertension. Moreover, chronic intermittent hypoxia and oxidative stress have an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary disease and are also fundamental to the development of atherosclerosis and other comorbidities present in coronary artery diseases such as lipid metabolic disorders. Interestingly, the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease has been associated with obstructive sleep apnea and the severity of sleep disordered breathing may have a direct relationship with the morbidity and mortality of patients with coronary diseases. Nevertheless, treatment with CPAP may have important effects, and recent reports have described the benefits of obstructive sleep apnea treatment on the recurrence of acute heart ischaemic events in patients with coronary artery disease.
Compiler-directed code restructuring for reducing data TLB energy

Prior work on TLB power optimization considered circuit and architectural techniques. A recent software-based technique for data TLBs has considered the possibility of storing the frequently used virtual-to-physical address translations in a set of translation registers (TRs), and using them when necessary instead of going to the data TLB. This paper presents a compiler-based strategy for increasing the effectiveness of TRs. The idea is to restructure the application code in such a fashion that once a TR is loaded, its contents are reused as much as possible. Our experimental evaluation with six array-based benchmarks from the Spec2000 suite indicates that the proposed TR reuse strategy brings significant reductions in data TLB energy over an alternate strategy that employs TRs but does not restructure the code for TR reuse.
MULTIPLEX BEAD ANALYSIS OF URINARY CYTOKINES OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH NORMO- AND MICROALBUMINURIA

Renal damage of diabetic patients is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze urinary concentrations of 27 cytokines in type 2 diabetic patients with normo- and microalbuminuria by multiplex bead immunoassay. Urinary levels of IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, G-CSF, EOTAXIN, RANTES, and TNF-α in microalbuminuric patients were significantly increased compared to those in normoalbuminuric patients (p < 0.05) or controls (p < 0.05). GM-CSF, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β levels were more elevated in microalbuminuric patients than in controls (both p < 0.05). IP-10 and MCP-1 levels were correlated with urinary albumin excretion rate (r = 0.668 and 0.544, both p < 0.01), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (r = −0.454 and −0.418, both p < 0.05). EOTAXIN, GM-CSF, IP-10, MCP-1, and RANTES levels were correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.457, 0.466, 0.678, 0.567, 0.542, respectively, p ≤ 0.01). These results indicate that urinary cytokine determination might be useful for the early diagnosis and management of patients with diabetic nephropathy.
The Beneficial Effect of Direct Peritoneal Resuscitation on Septic Shock in Rats

The high mortality associated with conventionally resuscitated septic shock and the subsequent multiple-organ failure remain a very significant and costly clinical problem. Conventional simple intravenous resuscitation (CR) from septic shock often fails to restore the progressive splanchnic vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion, and fails to reverse gut-derived systemic inflammatory response and fluid sequestration. Numerous interventions have been used to protect organ systems and cellular viability from the lethal injury accompanying hypoperfusion and ischemia but none of these efforts have been sufficient to halt or reverse the main course of the pathophysiology noted with conventional resuscitated shock. Recently, some studies have found that in hemorrhagic shock, direct peritoneal resuscitation (DPR) not only produces sustained hyperperfusion in viscera but also has immunomodulatory and anti-fluid sequestration effects. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of septic shock and hemorrhagic shock differ, both kinds of shock result in hypoperfusion of the intestines and other internal organs. In this paper, we seek to determine whether DPR has a similar therapeutic effect on septic shock/resuscitation.
Archive management for dynamic multi-objective optimisation problems using vector evaluated particle swarm optimisation

Many optimisation problems have more than one objective that are in conflict with one another and that change over time, called dynamic multi-objective problems. To solve these problems an algorithm must be able to track the changing Pareto Optimal Front (POF) over time and find a diverse set of solutions. This requires detecting that a change has occurred in the environment and then responding to the change. Responding to the change also requires to update the archive of non-dominated solutions that represents the found POF. This paper discusses various ways to manage the archive solutions when a change occurs in the environment. Furthermore, two new benchmark functions are presented where the POF is discontinuous. The dynamic Vector Evaluation Particle Swarm Optimisation (DVEPSO) algorithm is tested against a variety of benchmark function types and its performance is compared against three state-of-the-art DMOO algorithms.
Architectural models for realization of web-based personal health systems

Recent advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and more specifically in wireless networks and mobile computing have driven new directions in the development of e-Health sector. New emerging concepts like mobile health (m-Health) and Personal Health Systems (PHS) are expected to revolutionize the way healthcare services are delivered. In the paper a description on the specifics of the PHS's building blocks is presented. An example multi-tiered architectural model for realization of PHS is included and a description of characteristics and functions of the tiers is suggested.
Hybrid analysis of terahertz photoconductive antennas using energy balance transport model

A photoconductive antenna with tip-to-tip rectangular electrodes has been numerically investigated in the terahertz (THz) frequency band. Through a hybrid simulation employing an optoelectronic software, Silvaco, and a full-wave electromagnetic solver, CST, we will show that for analysis of photoconductive antennas in high power applications, energy balance transport model compared to the drift-diffusion model become more accurate due to the consideration of diffusion associated with the carriers temperature.
Self-Concept Responses of Children to Participation in an Eight-Week Precision Jump-Rope Program

Two measures of self-concept were administered to 11 children, aged from 9 to 11 yr. , before and after 8 wk. of participation in a guided exercise program of precision rope jumping. Despite the fact that the children evidenced as a group high self-concept at the outset, a significant improvement on this measure appeared after the jump-rope regimen. This psychological change was noted while there was no alteration in the physiological indices of body composition and cardiovascular fitness.
Accuracy and Bias in Children's Environmental Literature: A Look at Lynne Cherry's Books

he purpose of environmental eduT cation is to produce citizens who are not only aware of their environment but also have the tools and knowledge necessary to deal with environmental issues. Currently, there are three paradigms through which humans view their environment. The first is known as the Dominant Western Worldview, in which humans are considered fundamentally different from other creatures over which they have dominion; hence the world provides them unlimited opportunities. The second is the Human Exemptionalism Paradigm, wherein humans are unlike other species because of their ability to have “culture. ” Because human affairs exist in social and cultural environments, the biophysical environment is considered largely irrelevant. The third is called the New Ecological Paradigm, in which humans are but one of many species in the “web of life,” and no matter how technology may delay the inevitable, ecological laws cannot be repealed (Catton and Dunlap 2001). I bring those paradigms to the fore-
Clinically Addressing Biofilm in Chronic Wounds.

BACKGROUND A chronic wound is a wound that is arrested in the inflammatory phase of wound healing and cannot progress further. Over 90% of chronic wounds contain bacteria and fungi living within a biofilm construct. THE PROBLEM Each aggregation of microbes creates a distinct biofilm with differing characteristics so that a clinical approach has to be tailored to the specifics of a given biofilm. Defining the characteristics of that biofilm and then designing a therapeutic option particular to that biofilm is currently being defined. BASIC/CLINICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES Biofilm becomes resistant to therapeutic maneuvers at 48-96 h after formation. By repeatedly attacking it on a regular schedule, one forces biofilm to reattach and reform during which time it is susceptible to antibiotics and host defenses. Identifying the multiple bacteria and fungi that make up a specific biofilm using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows directed therapeutic maneuvers such as application of specific topical antibiotics and biocides to increase the effectiveness of the debridement. CLINICAL CARE RELEVANCE Most chronic wounds contain biofilm that perpetuate the inflammatory phase of wound healing. Combining debridement with using PCR to identify the bacteria and fungi within the biofilm allows for more targeted therapeutic maneuvers to eliminate a given biofilm. CONCLUSION Therapeutic options in addition to debridement are currently being evaluated to address biofilm. Using PCR to direct adjunctive therapeutic maneuvers may increase the effectiveness of addressing biofilm in a chronic wound.
Graph-based distributed control for adaptive multi-robot patrolling through local formation transformation

Multi-robot cooperative navigation in real-world environments is essential in many applications, including surveillance and search-and-rescue missions. State-of-the-art methods for cooperative navigation are often tested in ideal laboratory conditions and not ready to be deployed in real-world environments, which are often cluttered with static and dynamic obstacles. In this work, we explore a graph-based framework to achieve control of real robot formations moving in a world cluttered with a variety of obstacles by introducing a new distributed algorithm for reconfiguring the formation shape. We systematically validate the reconfiguration algorithm using three real robots in scenarios of increasing complexity.
The Receptor RAGE as a Progression Factor Amplifying Arachidonate-Dependent Inflammatory and Proteolytic Response in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques: Role of Glycemic Control

Background—RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products [AGEs]) plays a role in diabetic atherosclerosis. Recently, we have demonstrated enhanced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE synthase-1 (COX-2/mPGES-1) in human symptomatic plaques, and provided evidence that it is associated with metalloproteinase (MMP)-induced plaque rupture. However, the specific transmembrane signaling pathway(s) influencing plaque COX-2/mPGES-1 expression is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize RAGE expression in human plaques and to correlate it with the inflammatory infiltration, COX-2/mPGES-1 and MMP expression, and with clinical evidence of diabetes. Methods and Results—Plaques obtained from 60 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were divided into diabetic and nondiabetic according to clinical evidence of type 2 diabetes. Plaques were subjected to analysis of RAGE, NF-&kgr;B, COX-2/mPGES-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9, lipid and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) content, and collagen content by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, whereas zymography was used to detect MMP activity. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify CD68+ macrophages, CD3+ T-lymphocytes, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and HLA-DR+ inflammatory cells. Diabetic plaques had more (P <0.0001) macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and HLA-DR+ cells, more (P <0.0001) immunoreactivity for RAGE, activated NF-&kgr;B, COX-2/mPGES-1, and MMPs, increased (P <0.0001) gelatinolytic activity, reduced (P <0.0001) collagen content, and increased (P <0.0001) lipid and oxLDL content. Interestingly, RAGE, COX-2/mPGES-1, and MMP expression was linearly correlated with plasma level of HbA1c. Conclusions—In conclusion, this study demonstrates in humans that RAGE overexpression is associated with enhanced inflammatory reaction and COX-2/mPGES-1 expression in diabetic plaque macrophages, and this effect may contribute to plaque destabilization by inducing culprit metalloproteinase expression.
An ultralow-power low-voltage Class-AB Fully Differential Op Amp with cascoded input stage and indirect compensation

This paper presents an ultra-low-power low-voltage Class-AB Fully Differential Operational Amplifier designed in 45-nm CMOS technology. The proposed circuit uses transistors operating in sub-threshold region for low-power and low-voltage operation. The proposed Op Amp offers an open-loop gain of 74.6 dB, 1 MHz unity gain frequency, 50-degrees Phase Margin, and 91.55 dB common-mode rejection ratio for 10 pF loads with a power consumption of 0.39 μW at a ±0.4 V supply. Simulation results illustrate a Slew Rate of 0.013 V/us and a rail-to-rail output swing, demonstrating its correct functionality.
Opportunities for activity recognition using ultrasound doppler sensing on unmodified mobile phones

Nowadays activity recognition on smartphones is ubiquitously applied, for example to monitor personal health. The smartphone's sensors act as a foundation to provide information on movements, the user's location or direction. Incorporating ultrasound sensing using the smartphone's native speaker and microphone provides additional means for perceiving the environment and humans. In this paper, we outline possible usage scenarios for this new and promising sensing modality. Based on a custom implementation, we provide results on various experiments to assess the opportunities for activity recognition systems. We discuss various limitations and possibilities when wearing the smartphone on the human body. In stationary deployments, e.g. while placed on a night desk, our implementation is able to detect movements in proximities up to 2m as well as discern several gestures performed above the phone.
Sex Differences in Coping Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review and an Examination of Relative Coping

We used meta-analysis to examine recent studies of sex differences in coping. Women were more likely than men to engage in most coping strategies. The strongest effects showed that women were more likely to use strategies that involved verbal expressions to others or the self—to seek emotional support, ruminate about problems, and use positive self-talk. These sex differences were consistent across studies, supporting a dispositional level hypothesis. Other sex differences were dependent on the nature of the stressor, supporting role constraint theory. We also examined whether stressor appraisal (i.e., women's tendencies to appraise stressors as more severe) accountedfor sex differences in coping. We found some support for this idea. To circumvent this issue, we provide some data on relative coping. These data demonstrate that sex differences in relative coping are more in line with our intuitions about the differences in the ways men and women cope with distress.
On the Difference Between Orthogonal Matching Pursuit and Orthogonal Least Squares

Greedy algorithms are often used to solve under- determined inverse problems when the solution is constrained to be sparse, i.e. the solution is only expected to have a relati vely small number of non-zero elements. Two different algorithms have been suggested to solve such problems in the signal pro- cessing and control community, orthogonal Matching Pursuit and orthogonal Least Squares respectively. In the current literature, there exist a great deal of confusion between the two strategies. For example, the later strategy has often be called orthogonal Matching Pursuit and has repeatedly been "re-discovered" in several papers. In this communication we try to pull together some of the literature and clarify the difference between the methods. x and a matrix � ∈ R N x×Ns , find a vector s such that the squared error is small, while s has only a small number of non-zero elements. For the discussion here, we use the term algorithm to mean any computational procedure that gives a particular result, i.e. we here discuss two different algor ithms, which can be implemented using different computational steps.