Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SVM-Based Boosting of Active Learning Strategies for Efficient Domain Adaptation

We propose a procedure that efficiently adapts a classifier trained on a source image to a target image with similar spectral properties. The adaptation is carried out by adding new relevant training samples with active queries in the target domain following a strategy specifically designed for the case where class distributions have shifted between the two acquisitions. In fact, the procedure consists of two nested algorithms. An active selection of the pixels to be labeled is performed on a set of candidates of the target image in order to select the most informative pixels. Along the inclusion of the pixels to the training set, the weights associated with these samples are iteratively updated using different criteria, depending on their origin (source or target image). We study this adaptation framework in combination with a SVM classifier accepting instance weights. Experiments on two VHR QuickBird images and on a hyperspectral AVIRIS image prove the validity of the proposed adaptive approach with respect to existing techniques not involving any adjustments to the target domain.
Disarmed by density

We observed a cell concentration-dependent differentiation switch among cultured dendritic cells (DCs) triggered by lactic acid, a product of glycolytic metabolism. In particular, while interleukin (IL)-12, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-producing, migratory DCs developed in sparse cultures, IL-10-producing, non-migratory DCs differentiated in dense cultures. This points to a novel opportunity for tailoring DC-based anticancer therapies through metabolism modulation in developing DCs.
Nucleation sites for multilayer graphene on nickel catalyst

The structural quality of graphene films is of immense importance both in improving growth procedures and understanding the resulting films' electronic properties. The graphene film needs to be atomically smooth with low defects, low roughness, and high electronic mobility for high performance Field Effect Transistor (FET) devices. Because of graphene's high optical transmittance and conductivity, it is also being considered as a transparent conductive electrode [1]. Multilayer graphene prepared by diluted methane-based CVD at 1 atm on nickel (Ni) films deposited over Si/SiO2 wafers has been shown in various colours, sizes, and shapes [2]. Their preferred nucleation sites in relation to the Ni grain boundaries are not well understood. In this study, we prepared a variety of Ni templates having grain structures ranging from small to large and with mixed distribution across the surface. This was achieved through evaporation and sputter deposition methods. We found the greatest variety of Ni grains was achieved by changing the sputter deposition temperature (100 and 250 °C), and pressure (2 and 20 mT). The ability to grow single- and few-layer graphene on top of the Ni catalyst depended on the highly diluted methane gas in CVD, as confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Methane ratios from 0.5 vol.% to 0.41 vol.% exhibited a strong presence of graphene, 0.36 vol. % produced mixed results, and 0.24 vol.% or less produced no evidence of graphene on a Ni template after the anneal and CVD. Annealing temperatures with as small as a 25 °C difference had a great influence on final size of graphene. The grains grew almost double in size when annealed at 975 °C as compared to 950 °C. So it is advantageous to perform annealing followed by growth at the highest possible temperature and then combine it with an optimized cooling rate.
Crystallization Behavior of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) with WS2 as Nucleating Agent

Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is one of the aliphatic polyesters that are completely synthesized by microorganisms. Owing to the physical and chemical properties of PHA being similar with those of polypropylene, PHBV is expected to be able to partially replace petroleum-based polymers, and to reduce the pollution of environment at the same time. However, many inherent defects, including slow crystallization rate, large-size spherulite and secondary crystallization phenomenon, restrict the development of PHBV. In the present study, PHBV/WS2 hybrid materials where the tungsten disulphide (WS2) acted as nucleating agent were produced, and then its accelerated crystallization effect on PHBV was evaluated. Mo’s methods were employed to describe the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the nucleated PHBV hybrid materials. The activation energy (ΔE) of hybrid material was calculated by Kissinger formula. It was found that the addition of low WS2 loadings strongly increased the crystallization rate of PHBV and correspondingly the crystallization half time (t1/2) decreased from 97s to 38s with only 1wt. % WS2 added. Meanwhile, the crystallization temperature (Tc) increased from 81.9°C to 112 °C. The results reported here are expected to be of great interest for the practical application of PHBV.
Parametric Surface Rendering

Parametric surface is a surface defined by a tensor-product of parametric curves, which are represented by parametric equations. As such a surface comes with a well-defined mathematical definition, it becomes one of the most common geometric tools for computer-aided geometric design and for the object modeling aids of many computer graphics applications. Typical examples of such a surface include Bezier surfaces and non-uniform rational B-Spline (NURBS) surfaces. Unfortunately, because most existing graphics hardware only handle polygons, extra procedures must be carried out to convert a parametric surface into a polygon representation for rendering. This process introduces a significant bottleneck to graphics applications, which involve parametric surfaces, to assure interactiveness in terms of rendering performance. Keywords: B-Spline surface; NURBS surfaces; Bezier triangle; pixel based rendering; polygon based rendering; deformable surfaces
Gender differences in the genetic and environmental determinants of adolescent depression

Background: The well‐documented gender differences in the risk for depression may be explained by genetic factors, by different responses to social context, or by a combination of both. We sought to assess whether there were gender differences in the longitudinal associations between serotonin transporter promoter (5‐HTTLPR) genotype and depressive symptoms in adolescents, and whether macrosocial context plays a role in explaining any observed differences. Methods: Using data from a nationally representative survey of adolescents, we applied multilevel mixed models to assess, separately for adolescent males and females (a) the relation between 5‐HTTLPR genotype and depressive symptoms and (b) the interaction of county‐level deprivation and 5‐HTTLPR genotype in models predicting depressive symptoms. All models adjusted for age and other covariates. Results: Among females (n=560), main effects models showed an association between the sl genotype and lowered risk of depressive symptoms (b=−.18, P=.03). Among males (n=524), interaction models showed an association between sl genotype and lowered risk of depressive symptoms in deprived counties only (b=−.32, P=.04). Conclusions: In adolescent females, the 5‐HTTLPR sl genotype confers protection against depressive symptoms independent of county‐level social context, whereas in adolescent males, protection by the same genotype is conferred only within the context of county‐level deprivation. Future work should aim to understand how genetic and macrosocial factors jointly shape risk for mental illness, and how these factors shape gender differences in mental illness. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gravitational Waves from Coalescing Black Hole MACHO Binaries

If MACHOs are black holes of mass ~0.5 M☉, they must have been formed in the early universe when the temperature was ~1 GeV. We estimate that in this case in our Galaxy's halo out to ~ 50 kpc there exist ~5×108 black hole binaries the coalescence times of which are comparable to the age of the universe, so that the coalescence rate will be ~5×10−2 events yr-1 per galaxy. This suggests that we can expect a few events per year within 15 Mpc. The gravitational waves from such coalescing black hole MACHOs can be detected by the first generation of interferometers in the LIGO/VIRGO/TAMA/GEO network. Therefore, the existence of black hole MACHOs can be tested within the next 5 yr by gravitational waves.
Genetic Control of Canine Leishmaniasis: Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Selection Analysis

Background The current disease model for leishmaniasis suggests that only a proportion of infected individuals develop clinical disease, while others are asymptomatically infected due to immune control of infection. The factors that determine whether individuals progress to clinical disease following Leishmania infection are unclear, although previous studies suggest a role for host genetics. Our hypothesis was that canine leishmaniasis is a complex disease with multiple loci responsible for the progression of the disease from Leishmania infection. Methodology/Principal Findings Genome-wide association and genomic selection approaches were applied to a population-based case-control dataset of 219 dogs from a single breed (Boxer) genotyped for ∼170,000 SNPs. Firstly, we aimed to identify individual disease loci; secondly, we quantified the genetic component of the observed phenotypic variance; and thirdly, we tested whether genome-wide SNP data could accurately predict the disease. Conclusions/Significance We estimated that a substantial proportion of the genome is affecting the trait and that its heritability could be as high as 60%. Using the genome-wide association approach, the strongest associations were on chromosomes 1, 4 and 20, although none of these were statistically significant at a genome-wide level and after correcting for genetic stratification and lifestyle. Amongst these associations, chromosome 4: 61.2–76.9 Mb maps to a locus that has previously been associated with host susceptibility to human and murine leishmaniasis, and genomic selection estimated markers in this region to have the greatest effect on the phenotype. We therefore propose these regions as candidates for replication studies. An important finding of this study was the significant predictive value from using the genomic information. We found that the phenotype could be predicted with an accuracy of ∼0.29 in new samples and that the affection status was correctly predicted in 60% of dogs, significantly higher than expected by chance, and with satisfactory sensitivity-specificity values (AUC = 0.63).
Comparison of anterior section parameters using anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy in myopic patients after ICL implantation.

AIM To compare the agreement of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and central vault measurements obtained by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) of post surgical high myopic eyes with posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (Visian ICL; STAAR Surgical) implantation. METHODS Fifty-two phakic eyes of 28 high myopic patients who underwent implantable Collamer lens (ICL) surgery for the correction of high myopia were studied. The postoperative ACD, the distance between the corneal endothelium and the anterior surface of ICL (cornea-ICL) and the central vault were measured with the AS-OCT system and the UBM system. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman plot were used to evaluate the repeatability and agreement of two devices. RESULTS The mean ACD, cornea-ICL and central vault in the 52 phakic eyes after ICL surgery was 3.19±0.28 mm, 2.47±0.28 mm, 0.50±0.19 mm by AS-OCT and 3.13±0.25 mm, 2.49±0.25 mm, 0.44±0.19 mm by UBM, respectively. Pairwise comparison of ACD and central vault measurements showed significant differences between AS-OCT and UBM (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between these imaging techniques in cornea-ICL (P>0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between AS-OCT and UBM measurements for ACD, cornea-ICL and vault was 0.88, 0.80 and 0.89, respectively (P<0.001). The ICC was 0.89-0.94 for the measurements of AS-OCT and UBM. Bland-Altman analysis showed the 95% limits of agreement of ACD, cornea-ICL, central vault measurements between these two devices were -0.20 to 0.32 mm, -0.36 to 0.32 mm and -0.12 to 0.24 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION Central ACD and vault measurements using AS-OCT demonstrated a slight significantly higher value than using UBM in phakic eyes after ICL surgery. These two devices should not be used interchangeably for measurements of central ACD and vault in patients after phakic intraocular lens implantation.
Detection of a novel DNA virus (TTV) in blood donors and blood products.

BACKGROUND A newly discovered DNA virus, transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV), has been implicated as a cause of post-transfusion hepatitis. We investigated the frequency of TTV viraemia in UK blood donors, and the extent to which TTV contaminates blood products such as factor VIII and IX clotting factors. We also investigated the possible aetiological role of TTV in cryptogenic fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). METHODS We extracted DNA from plasma of blood donors and patients with FHF, and from blood products (factor VIII and IX clotting-factor concentrates, immunoglobulin preparations). We detected TTV by PCR using primers from a conserved region in the TTV genome. FINDINGS TTV viraemia was detected in 19 (1.9%) of 1000 non-remunerated regular blood donors. Infection occurred more frequently in older donors (mean age 53 years), compared with the age prolife of donors infected with hepatitis C virus and other parenterally-transmitted viruses. TTV contamination was found in ten (56%) of 18 batches of factor VIII and IX concentrate manufactured from such non-remunerated donors, and in seven (44%) of 16 batches of commercially available products. Whereas solvent or detergent treatment had little effect on the detection of TTV in factor VIII and IX by PCR, this virucidal step seemed to inactivate TTV infectivity. TTV infection was detected in four (19%) of 21 patients with FHF; in three cases, infection was detected at the onset of disease and could thus not be excluded from its aetiology. INTERPRETATION TTV viraemia is frequent in the blood-donor population, and transmission of TTV through transfusion of blood components may have occurred extensively. Clinical assessment of infected donors and recipients of blood and blood products, and assessment of TTV's aetiological role in hepatic and extra-hepatic disease, are urgently needed.
Latency-Sensitive Data Allocation for cloud storage

Customers often suffer from the variability of data access time in cloud storage service, caused by network congestion, load dynamics, etc. One solution to guarantee a reliable latency-sensitive service is to issue requests with multiple download/upload sessions, accessing the required data (replicas) stored in one or more servers. In order to minimize storage costs, how to optimally allocate data in a minimum number of servers without violating latency guarantees remains to be a crucial issue for the cloud provider to tackle. In this paper, we study the latency-sensitive data allocation problem for cloud storage. We model the data access time as a given distribution whose Cumulative Density Function (CDF) is known, and prove that this problem is NP-hard. To solve it, we propose both exact Integer Nonlinear Program (INLP) and Tabu Search-based heuristic. The proposed algorithms are evaluated in terms of the number of used servers, storage utilization and throughput utilization.
Death Is Associated with Complement C3 Depletion in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Pneumococcal Meningitis

ABSTRACT Pneumococcal meningitis can lead to death or serious neurological sequelae as a result of the host inflammatory response. We investigated the association between host response protein expression and outcome in patients with pneumococcal meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained from 80 patients with pneumococcal meningitis (40 nonsurvivors and 40 survivors) and 10 normal controls. Candidate proteins were analyzed for an association with survival. Complement C3 levels were 5-fold lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P < 0.05). This C3 reduction was not associated with lower levels in serum, indicating a compartmentalized CSF response. Transferrin levels were significantly higher in CSF (but not serum) from nonsurvivors than in CSF from survivors, suggestive of blood-brain barrier damage. Classical apoptosis proteins caspase 3 and apoptosis-inducing factor were not present in CSF. Expression of creatine kinase BB in clinically infected CSF suggested neuronal necrosis, but there was no clear association between level of expression and clinical outcome. Increased blood-brain barrier permeability and complement C3 depletion may have a role in determining outcome from bacterial meningitis. Therapeutic use of citicoline or caspase inhibitors is unlikely to have beneficial effects in patients with meningitis. IMPORTANCE We previously identified proteins associated with clinical outcome in patients diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis in a pilot proteomics study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this article, we have quantitatively assayed specific proteins identified from this previous proteomics analysis along with proteins associated with cell death by using Western blotting. We previously identified proteins associated with clinical outcome in patients diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis in a pilot proteomics study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this article, we have quantitatively assayed specific proteins identified from this previous proteomics analysis along with proteins associated with cell death by using Western blotting.
Design Optimization of SynRM Drives for HEV Power Train Applications

This work investigates the feasibility of utilizing a team artificial intelligence-electromagnetic, TAI-EM, environment for the characterization and design optimization of synchronous reluctance motors, SynRM, with axially laminated anisotropic, ALA, rotor configurations. The main objective of this optimization is to minimize the torque ripple, as well as Ohmic and core losses at a given torque-speed condition. This environment is applied for the characterization and design optimization of a prototype 100 KW, 6000 rev/min ALA rotor SynRM drive system for traction applications. The TAI-EM environment resulted in an optimized machine design. The results are verified by comparing major performance indices of the predicted optimized design to those obtained from the prototype measurements.
Thrombolytic and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Human Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Variants, Obtained by Deletion and/or Duplication of Structural/Functional Domains, in a Hamster Pulmonary Embolism Model

Summary A pulmonary embolism model in hamsters was used for the quantitative evaluation of the thrombolytic and pharmacokinetic properties of variants of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). A 25 μi 125I-fibrin labeled human plasma clot was made in vitro and injected into the jugular vein of heparinized hamsters. The extent of thrombolysis within 90 min was determined as the difference between the radioactivity injected in the jugular vein and that recovered in the heart and lungs. Recombinant t-PA (home-made rt-PA or Activase®) infused intravenously over 60 min caused dose-dependent progressive thrombolysis. The results of thrombolytic potency (clot lysis in percent versus dose administered in mg/kg) and of specific thrombolytic activity (clot lysis in percent versus steady state plasma level in μg/ml) were fitted with an exponentially transformed sigmoidal function y = 100 c/(1+e−a(ex−eb)) and the maximal percent lysis (c), the dose or plasma level at which maximal rate of lysis is achieved (b) and the maximal rate of lysis (z = ¼ ac .eb) were determined. With rt-PA, these parameters were c = 72 ± 6% (mean ± SEM), b = 0.19 ± 0.08 mg/kg, z = 68 ± 25% lysis per mg/kg, with corresponding values of 87 ± 5%, 0.07 ± 0.03 mg/kg and 150 ± 38% lysis per mg/kg for Activase® (p = NS). Deletion of the finger and growth factor domains in rt-PA ( rt-PA-ΔFE) was not associated with marked alteration of the thrombolytic potency (c = 90 ± 30%, b = 0.34 ± 0.35 mg/kg, and z = 54 ± 14% per mg/kg), but was associated with a significant reduction of the specific thrombolytic activity. Substitution of the kringle 1 domain by a second copy of the kringle 2 domain in rt-PA and in rt-PA-ΔFE did not significantly alter the thrombolytic potency as characterized by a simultaneous decrease of the b value and an increase of the z value (b = 0.07 ± 0.03 mg/kg and z = 210 ± 70% per mg/kg for rt-PA-ΔK1∇K2 and b = 0.13 ± 0.02 mg/kg and z = 210 ± 29% per mg/kg for rt-PA-ΔFEK1∇K2). Deletion of either the finger or the growth factor domain in rt-PA-ΔK1∇K2 also did not significantly alter the thrombolytic potency (b = 0.08 ± 0.008 mg/kg and z = 320 ± 33% per mg/kg for rt-PA-ΔEK1∇K2 and b = 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/kg and z = 270 ± 48% per mg/kg for rt-PA-ΔFK1∇K2). Likewise, none of the variants had a higher specific thrombolytic activity than wild-type rt-PA. Plasma clearance rates were reduced 10- to 20-fold for the rt-PA mutants lacking the FE domains, and 3- to 5-fold for rt-PA-ΔK1∇K2.
Role of adenosine in pathogenesis of anginal pain.

The intravenous infusion of adenosine provokes anginalike chest pain. To establish its origin, an intracoronary infusion of increasing adenosine concentrations was given in 22 patients with stable angina pectoris. During adenosine infusion, 20 patients had chest pain without electrocardiographic signs of ischemia. They all reported that the chest pain was similar to their usual anginal pain. In 10 of the 22 patients adenosine was also infused into the right atrium, but it never produced symptoms at the doses that had provoked chest pain during intracoronary infusion. In seven other patients, the intracoronary adenosine infusion was repeated after intravenous administration of aminophylline, an antagonist of adenosine P1-receptors. Aminophylline decreased the severity of adenosine-induced chest pain (assessed with a visual analog scale) from 42 +/- 22 to 23 +/- 17 mm (p less than 0.002). In the remaining five of the 22 patients, monitoring of blood oxygen saturation in the coronary sinus during intracoronary adenosine administration showed that maximum coronary vasodilation was achieved at doses lower than those responsible for chest pain. A single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of the effect of aminophylline on exercise-induced chest pain was also performed in 20 other patients with stable angina. Aminophylline, compared with placebo, decreased the severity of chest pain at peak exercise from 67 +/- 21 to 51 +/- 23 mm (p less than 0.02), despite the achievement of a similar degree of ST-segment depression. Finally, the effect of intravenous adenosine was compared in 10 patients with predominantly painful myocardial ischemia and in 10 patients with predominantly silent ischemia. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)