Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constructing Adaptive Complex Cells for Robust Visual Tracking

Representation is a fundamental problem in object tracking. Conventional methods track the target by describing its local or global appearance. In this paper we present that, besides the two paradigms, the composition of local region histograms can also provide diverse and important object cues. We use cells to extract local appearance, and construct complex cells to integrate the information from cells. With different spatial arrangements of cells, complex cells can explore various contextual information at multiple scales, which is important to improve the tracking performance. We also develop a novel template-matching algorithm for object tracking, where the template is composed of temporal varying cells and has two layers to capture the target and background appearance respectively. An adaptive weight is associated with each complex cell to cope with occlusion as well as appearance variation. A fusion weight is associated with each complex cell type to preserve the global distinctiveness. Our algorithm is evaluated on 25 challenging sequences, and the results not only confirm the contribution of each component in our tracking system, but also outperform other competing trackers.
Denoising of natural stochastic colored-textures based on fractional brownian motion model

Denoising of Natural Stochastic Colored-Textures (color NST) is of special interest in image processing. Existing algorithms produce over-smoothed images with sharp edges, and do not restore the fine textural color details. We analyze the structure of color NST images and propose a simple model. This model is Gaussian and has a low number of parameters that can be estimated efficiently. A maximum-a-posteriori (MAP) scheme is proposed for patch-wise denoising of color NST. The denoised images exhibit better restored textural details compared to existing algorithms. A boosting algorithm is proposed for denoising of complex images containing both cartoon-type and textural image components.
Screening for serum total homocysteine in newborn children.

BACKGROUND Newborn screening for total homocysteine (tHcy) in blood may identify babies with vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency or homocystinuria, but data on the causes of increased tHcy in screening samples are sparse. METHODS Serum concentrations of tHcy, cystathionine, methionine, folate, and B12 and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C > T polymorphism were determined in 4992 capillary blood samples collected as part of the routine screening program in newborn children. Methylmalonic acid (MMA), gender (SRY genotyping), and the frequency of six cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) mutations were determined in 20-27% of the samples, including all samples with tHcy > 15 micromol/L (n = 127), B12 < 100 pmol/L (n = 159), or methionine > 40 micromol/L (n = 154). RESULTS The median (5th-95th percentile) tHcy concentration was 6.8 (4.2-12.8) micromol/L. B12 status, as determined by serum concentrations of B12, tHcy, and MMA, was moderately better in boys than in girls. tHcy concentrations between 10 and 20 micromol/L were often associated with low B12, whereas tHcy > 20 micromol/L (n = 43) was nearly always explained by increased methionine. tHcy did not differ according to folate concentrations or MTHFR 677C > T genotypes. None of the babies had definite CBS deficiencies, but heterozygosity led to low cystathionine, increased methionine, but normal tHcy concentrations. CONCLUSION Increased tHcy is a common but not specific finding in newborns. The metabolite and vitamin profiles will point to the cause of hyperhomocysteinemia. Screening for tHcy and related factors should be further evaluated in regions with high prevalence of homocystinuria and in babies at high risk of B12 deficiency.
Epigenetic plasticity: A central regulator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer

Tumor metastasis is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in most solid cancers. A growing body of evidence suggests that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a central role during tumor metastasis and frequently imparts a stem cell-like phenotype and therapeutic resistance to tumor cells. The induction of EMT is accompanied by a dynamic reprogramming of the epigenome involving changes in DNA methylation and several post-translational histone modifications. These changes in turn promote the expression of mesenchymal genes or repress those associated with an epithelial phenotype. Importantly, in order for metastatic colonization and the formation of macrometastases to occur, tumor cells frequently undergo a reversal of EMT referred to as the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). Thus, a high degree of epigenetic plasticity is required in order to induce and reverse EMT during tumor progression. In this review, we describe various epigenetic regulatory mechanisms employed by tumor cells during EMT and elaborate on the importance of the histone code in controlling both the expression and activity of EMT-associated transcription factors. We propose that a more thorough understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms controlling EMT may provide new opportunities which may be harnessed for improved and individualized cancer therapy based on defined molecular mechanisms.
Phoenix: Reviving MLC blocks as SLC to extend NAND flash devices lifetime

On a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) flash memory, a flash block that is becoming unreliable to store multiple bits per cell can be “revived” by storing only a single bit per cell. While the revived-block capacity is halved, its lifetime is significantly extended without jeopardizing the stored data. We present Phoenix, a technique that benefits from this feature to extend a device lifetime, and we evaluate its potential through detailed trace simulation on realistic benchmarks. Phoenix shows systematic lifetime extensions ranging from 3% up to 17%, without extra memory requirements or performance loss.
Effectiveness of therapeutic programs for students with ADHD with executive function deficits

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of therapeutic programs, an executive function training program and a collaborative program, for students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with executive function deficits (EFDs), especially regarding working memory, planning, and monitoring. The participants were eight students diagnosed with ADHD with EFDs between 10–12 years old and “supporters” (parents, teachers, principals, and peers). The eight students participated in EF trainings three times weekly for seven weeks. A one-group pretest–posttest design measured changes in executive functions (EFs) using the Tower of London-Drexel University (TOLDX), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R; Digit Span subtest), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) pre- and postintervention. The collaborative program taught “supporters” ways to assist students with ADHD with EFDs in improving their EFs. Statistically significant improvements (p < .05) with the Wilcoxon signed rank test were found for working memory, planning, and self-monitoring on the BRIEF (Teacher Form), and working memory in WISC-R. No significant differences within the group for the TOLDX were found. School performance (as indicated by Grade Point Average) showed significant improvement. These findings indicate that these therapeutic programs were effective in improving EF for students with ADHD with EFDs.
Resource optimization for CSDF-modeled streaming applications with latency constraints

In this paper, we study the problem of minimizing the number of processors required for scheduling latency-constrained streaming applications modeled as CSDF graphs, where the actors of a CSDF are executed as strictly periodic tasks. We formalize the problem and prove that due to the strict periodicity of actors the problem is an integer convex programming problem, that can be solved efficiently by using an existing convex programming solver. We evaluate our solution approach on a set of 13 real-life streaming applications modeled as CSDF graphs and demonstrate that it can reduce the number of processors in more than 52% of the conducted experiments in comparison to an existing approach.
Computational analysis of Plasmodium falciparum metabolism: organizing genomic information to facilitate drug discovery.

Identification of novel targets for the development of more effective antimalarial drugs and vaccines is a primary goal of the Plasmodium genome project. However, deciding which gene products are ideal drug/vaccine targets remains a difficult task. Currently, a systematic disruption of every single gene in Plasmodium is technically challenging. Hence, we have developed a computational approach to prioritize potential targets. A pathway/genome database (PGDB) integrates pathway information with information about the complete genome of an organism. We have constructed PlasmoCyc, a PGDB for Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, using its annotated genomic sequence. In addition to the annotations provided in the genome database, we add 956 additional annotations to proteins annotated as "hypothetical" using the GeneQuiz annotation system. We apply a novel computational algorithm to PlasmoCyc to identify 216 "chokepoint enzymes. " All three clinically validated drug targets are chokepoint enzymes. A total of 87.5% of proposed drug targets with biological evidence in the literature are chokepoint reactions. Therefore, identifying chokepoint enzymes represents one systematic way to identify potential metabolic drug targets.
Lexical Evidence in Transliterating for Deaf Students in the University Classroom: Two Perspectives - eScholarship

This study examines the accuracy of transliterated messages produced by sign language interpreters in university classrooms. Causes of interpreter errors fell into three main categories: misperception of the source message, lack of recognition ofsourceforms, and failure to identify a target language equivalent. Most errors were found to be in the third category, a finding which raises questions not only about the preparation these interpreters receivedfor tertiary settings, but more generally about their knowledge of semantic aspects of the American Sign Language (ASL) lexicon. Deaf consumers' perceptions of problems with transliteration in the classroom and their strategies for accommodating various kinds of interpreter error were also elicited and are discussed. In support of earlier research, this study' s finding that transliteration may not be the most effective means of conveying equivalent information to deaf students in the university classroom raises questions about the adequacy of interpreters'preparationfor this task.
Sedative Drug Use among King Saud University Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Sampling Study

Introduction. Medical students experience significant psychological stress and are therefore at higher risk of using sedatives. There are currently no studies describing the prevalence of sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional convenience sampling study gathered data by anonymous questionnaire from students enrolled at the King Saud University College of Medicine in 2011. The questionnaires collected data regarding social and demographic variables, sleep patterns, and the use of stimulant and sedative drugs since enrollment. Sedatives were defined as any pharmaceutical preparations that induce sleep. Results and Discussion. Of the 729 students who returned questionnaires, 17.0% reported sedative drug use at some time since enrollment. Higher academic year, lower grade point average, regular exercise, fewer hours of sleep per day, poorer quality of sleep, and the presence of sleeping disorders were found to be significantly associated with sedative drug use. Conclusions. Further study is required to increase our understanding of sedative drug use patterns in this relatively high-risk group, as such understanding will help in the development of early intervention programs.
ASAP: An Automatic Algorithm Selection Approach for Planning

Despite the advances made in the last decade in automated planning, no planner outperforms all the others in every known benchmark domain. This observation motivates the idea of selecting different planning algorithms for different domains. Moreover, the planners' performances are affected by the structure of the search space, which depends on the encoding of the considered domain. In many domains, the performance of a planner can be improved by exploiting additional knowledge, for instance, in the form of macro-operators or entanglements. In this paper we propose ASAP, an automatic Algorithm Selection Approach for Planning that: (i) for a given domain initially learns additional knowledge, in the form of macro-operators and entanglements, which is used for creating different encodings of the given planning domain and problems, and (ii) explores the 2 dimensional space of available algorithms, defined as encodings–planners couples, and then (iii) selects the most promising algorithm for optimising either the runtimes or the quality of the solution plans.
Selective Targeting of B Cells with Agonistic Anti-CD40 Is an Efficacious Strategy for the Generation of Induced Regulatory T2-Like B Cells and for the Suppression of Lupus in MRL/lpr Mice1

We have previously reported that IL-10+ regulatory B cells, known to play an important role in controlling autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders, are contained within the transitional 2 immature (T2) B cell pool (T2 Bregs). Therapeutic strategies facilitating their enrichment or enhancing their suppressive activity are highly attractive. In this study, we report that agonistic anti-CD40 specifically targets T2 B cells and enriches Bregs upon short-term in vitro culture. Although transfer of unmanipulated T2 B cells, isolated from mice with established lupus, failed to confer protection to diseased mice, transfer of in vitro anti-CD40-generated T2 B cells (T2-like-Bregs) significantly improved renal disease and survival by an IL-10-dependent mechanism. T2-like-Bregs readily accumulated in the spleen after transfer, suppressed Th1 responses, induced the differentiation of IL-10+CD4+T cells, and conveyed a regulatory effect to CD4+T cells. In addition, in vivo administration of agonistic anti-CD40, currently on trial for the treatment of cancer, halted and reversed established lupus. Taken together, our results suggest a novel cellular approach for the amelioration of experimental lupus.
The Wake-Promoting Peptide Orexin-B Inhibits Glutamatergic Transmission to Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Serotonin Neurons through Retrograde Endocannabinoid Signaling

The wake-promoting neuropeptides orexins (hypocretins) play a crucial role in controlling neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the CNS. In this study, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in an acute dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) slice preparation, we report that orexin B (Orx-B) depresses the evoked glutamate-mediated synaptic currents in DRN 5-HT neurons. The Orx-B-induced depression is accompanied by an increase in the paired-pulse ratio and the coefficient of variance, suggesting a presynaptic site of action. Orx-B also reduces the frequency but not the amplitude of miniature EPSCs, indicating that depression of glutamatergic transmission is mediated by a decrease in glutamate release. Surprisingly, the Orx-B-induced inhibition of glutamatergic transmission is abolished by postsynaptic inhibition of G-protein signaling with GDPβS, suggesting that this effect is signaled by postsynaptic orexin receptors and expressed presynaptically, presumably through a retrograde messenger. Interestingly, the Orx-B-induced depression of glutamate release is mimicked and occluded by the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2, and is abolished by the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM 251. These results imply that the Orx-B-induced depression of glutamatergic transmission to DRN 5-HT neurons is mediated by retrograde endocannabinoid release. Examination of downstream signaling pathways involved in this response indicates that the effect of Orx-B requires the activation of phospholipase C and DAG lipase enzymatic pathways but not a rise in postsynaptic intracellular calcium. Therefore, our findings reveal a previously unsuspected mechanism by which postsynaptic orexin receptors can modulate glutamatergic synaptic transmission to DRN 5-HT neurons.
Integrating Temperature-Dependent Life Table Data into a Matrix Projection Model for Drosophila suzukii Population Estimation

Temperature-dependent fecundity and survival data was integrated into a matrix population model to describe relative Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) population increase and age structure based on environmental conditions. This novel modification of the classic Leslie matrix population model is presented as a way to examine how insect populations interact with the environment, and has application as a predictor of population density. For D. suzukii, we examined model implications for pest pressure on crops. As case studies, we examined model predictions in three small fruit production regions in the United States (US) and one in Italy. These production regions have distinctly different climates. In general, patterns of adult D. suzukii trap activity broadly mimicked seasonal population levels predicted by the model using only temperature data. Age structure of estimated populations suggest that trap and fruit infestation data are of limited value and are insufficient for model validation. Thus, we suggest alternative experiments for validation. The model is advantageous in that it provides stage-specific population estimation, which can potentially guide management strategies and provide unique opportunities to simulate stage-specific management effects such as insecticide applications or the effect of biological control on a specific life-stage. The two factors that drive initiation of the model are suitable temperatures (biofix) and availability of a suitable host medium (fruit). Although there are many factors affecting population dynamics of D. suzukii in the field, temperature-dependent survival and reproduction are believed to be the main drivers for D. suzukii populations.
Differential Modulation of Spontaneous and Evoked Thalamocortical Network Activity by Acetylcholine Level In Vitro

Different levels of cholinergic neuromodulatory tone have been hypothesized to set the state of cortical circuits either to one dominated by local cortical recurrent activity (low ACh) or to one dependent on thalamic input (high ACh). High ACh levels depress intracortical but facilitate thalamocortical synapses, whereas low levels potentiate intracortical synapses. Furthermore, recent work has implicated the thalamus in controlling cortical network state during waking and attention, when ACh levels are highest. To test this hypothesis, we used rat thalamocortical slices maintained in medium to generate spontaneous up- and down-states and applied different ACh concentrations to slices in which thalamocortical connections were either maintained or severed. The effects on spontaneous and evoked up-states were measured using voltage-sensitive dye imaging, intracellular recordings, local field potentials, and single/multiunit activity. We found that high ACh can increase the frequency of spontaneous up-states, but reduces their duration in slices with intact thalamocortical connections. Strikingly, when thalamic connections are severed, high ACh instead greatly reduces or abolishes spontaneous up-states. Furthermore, high ACh reduces the spatial propagation, velocity, and depolarization amplitude of evoked up-states. In contrast, low ACh dramatically increases up-state frequency regardless of the presence or absence of intact thalamocortical connections and does not reduce the duration, spatial propagation, or velocity of evoked up-states. Therefore, our data support the hypothesis that strong cholinergic modulation increases the influence, and thus the signal-to-noise ratio, of afferent input over local cortical activity and that lower cholinergic tone enhances recurrent cortical activity regardless of thalamic input.
MICROHABITAT USE IN SAND LIZARD - LACERTA AGILIS CHERSONENSIS (SQUAMATA, LACERTIDAE) AS AN INDICATOR FOR PLANNING OF DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR PASTURES

GrozDaNov, a. P., N. D. TzаNkov, C. aNDres and s. G. PoPovA, 2014. Microhabitat use in sand lizard Lacerta agilis chersonensis (squamata, Lacertidae) as an indicator for planning of different management practices for pastures. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 20: 1386-1391 Microhabitat selection is an important tool for spatial segregation among sexes and age classes in lizards. This study explored the microhabitat use in both sexes of Lacerta agilis chersonensis at different ontogenetic stages in order to test the generalist/specialist hypothesis already stated to be valid for this species. The study area situated in the sofia plain, Western Bulgaria includes five isolated polygons. Both sexes were separated into groups according to age class. a total of 68 specimens were studied (18 adult and 16 juvenile females, 20 adult and 14 juvenile males). For every specimen microhabitat characteristics at 100 square meters around the observation point were recorded and classified into the next categories: grass density (4 classes), grass height (3 classes), presence/absence of country roads, trees, shrubs, stones and artificial shelters. Multivariate analyses by means of correspondent analyses well separated the four designated groups. Males were mostly found in the microhabitats with shrubs and tall/dense grasses. Females were affiliated to a microhabitat with lower height and density of grasses than males and commonly used artificial shelters. a clear segregation among sexes at their juvenile stage was also demonstrated. Grass height and density seem to be important parameters for microhabitat selection of the different age-sex classes. The present research confirms the sand lizard as an important indicator species for estimating of pasture habitats quality according to the proved selection of grass with different density and height and other microhabitat elements. The species could be used as indicator of changes in the land use and should be treated as vulnerable from human activities. The presented information could be implemented in planning of different management regimes for the pastures as one of the most important agricultural habitats and at the same time natural environment of many protected or endangered species.