Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RT-Seg: A Real-Time Semantic Segmentation Network for Side-Scan Sonar Images

Real-time processing of high-resolution sonar images is of great significance for the autonomy and intelligence of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in complex marine environments. In this paper, we propose a real-time semantic segmentation network termed RT-Seg for Side-Scan Sonar (SSS) images. The proposed architecture is based on a novel encoder-decoder structure, in which the encoder blocks utilized Depth-Wise Separable Convolution and a 2-way branch for improving performance, and a corresponding decoder network is implemented to restore the details of the targets, followed by a pixel-wise classification layer. Moreover, we use patch-wise strategy for splitting the high-resolution image into local patches and applying them to network training. The well-trained model is used for testing high-resolution SSS images produced by sonar sensor in an onboard Graphic Processing Unit (GPU). The experimental results show that RT-Seg can greatly reduce the number of parameters and floating point operations compared to other networks. It runs at 25.67 frames per second on an NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier on 500*500 inputs with excellent segmentation result. Further insights on the speed and accuracy trade-off are discussed in this paper.
Wind speed dynamical model in a wind farm

This paper presents a model for wind speed in a wind farm. The basic purpose of the paper is to calculate approximately the wind speed in the vicinity of each wind turbine in a farm. In this regard the governing equations of flow will be solved for the whole wind farm. In ideal circumstances, the dynamic model for wind flow will be established. The state space variables are determined based on a fine mesh defined for the farm. The end goal of this method is to assist the development of a dynamical model of a wind farm that can be engaged for better wind farm control strategies.
Neural Regularized Domain Adaptation for Chinese Word Segmentation

For Chinese word segmentation, the large-scale annotated corpora mainly focus on newswire and only a handful of annotated data is available in other domains such as patents and literature. Considering the limited amount of annotated target domain data, it is a challenge for segmenters to learn domain-specific information while avoid getting over-fitted at the same time. In this paper, we propose a neural regularized domain adaptation method for Chinese word segmentation. The teacher networks trained in source domain are employed to regularize the training process of the student network by preserving the general knowledge. In the experiments, our neural regularized domain adaptation method achieves a better performance comparing to previous methods.
Correlation of rhodopsin biogenesis with ultrastructural morphogenesis in the chick retina

The developing chick retina from stages 39-45 has been examined by biochemical and electron microscope techniques. The levels of rhodopsin contained in the maturing chick retina were evaluated by detergent extraction and correlated with rod outer segment formation. It was found that the appearance of rhodopsin in significant levels preceded outer segment formation by at least 2 days, thus implying that rhodopsin is synthesized in the receptor cell inner segment and translocated to the outer limb when disk membrane biogenesis occurs. The level of rhodopsin continues to rise as the rod outer segment develops. Development of both rods and cones originates and proceeds most rapidly in the fundus or central region and proceeds toward the periphery. In general, rod outer segments were noted to develop far more rapidly than cone outer segments.
Emerging Molecularly Targeted Therapies in Castration Refractory Prostate Cancer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with medical or surgical castration is the mainstay of therapy in men with metastatic prostate cancer. However, despite initial responses, almost all men eventually develop castration refractory metastatic prostate cancer (CRPC) and die of their disease. Over the last decade, it has been recognized that despite the failure of ADT, most prostate cancers maintain some dependence on androgen and/or androgen receptor (AR) signaling for proliferation. Furthermore, androgen independent molecular pathways have been identified as drivers of continued progression of CRPC. Subsequently, drugs have been developed targeting these pathways, many of which have received regulatory approval. Agents such as abiraterone, enzalutamide, orteronel (TAK-700), and ARN-509 target androgen signaling. Sipuleucel-T, ipilimumab, and tasquinimod augment immune-mediated tumor killing. Agents targeting classic tumorogenesis pathways including vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin like growth factor-1, tumor suppressor, and those which regulate apoptosis and cell cycles are currently being developed. This paper aims to focus on emerging molecular pathways underlying progression of CRPC, and the drugs targeting these pathways, which have recently been approved or have reached advanced stages of development in either phase II or phase III clinical trials.
Iterative DA/DD Channel Estimation for KSP-OFDM

In this paper, we propose an iterative joint DA/DD channel estimation algorithm for known symbol padding (KSP) OFDM. The pilot symbols used to estimate the channel are not only located in the guard interval, but also on some of the OFDM carriers. Initially, the channel is estimated using the pilot symbols only. Next, a decision is made with respect to the transmitted data symbols. We consider both hard and soft decision of the data symbols. The decisions on the data symbols are then used to update the channel estimate in a joint DA/DD estimation algorithm. The algorithm iterates between data detection and channel estimation until convergence is reached. At high SNR, the MSE performance of the iterative estimator converges to the MSE performance of the case where all data symbols are prior known at the receiver, i.e. the all pilot DA estimator. It turns out that the MSE performance of hard decision of the data symbols reaches the MSE of the all pilot DA estimator at lower SNR than that of soft decision of the data symbols; this is caused by some approximations needed to simplify the estimation algorithm.
Increasing the user experience of multimedia presentations with sensory effects

The term Universal Multimedia Experience (UME) has gained momentum and is well recognized within the research community. As this approach puts the user into the center stage, additional complexity is added to the overall quality assessment problem which calls for a scientific framework to capture, measure, quantify, judge, and explain the user experience. In previous work we have proposed the annotation of multimedia content with sensory effect metadata that can be used to stimulate also other senses than vision or audition. In this paper we report first results obtained from subjective tests in the area of sensory effects attached to traditional multimedia presentations such as movies that shall lead to an enhanced, unique, and worthwhile user experience.
Confucianism Values for Transformational Leadership Development in the Chinese Context

Transformational leadership has received a great significance in the leadership literature during the past two decades. However, this research is dominated by Western traditions and scant attention is paid to Asian traditions. Therefore, in this paper, the authors explore the relevance of Confucianism, an Asian tradition, and its significance in transformational leadership development. For this purpose, the authors have selected the Analects, which provide the essence of Confucianism to explore the relevant transformational leadership concepts. This paper is based on hermeneutics, a qualitative research methodology that involves study, understanding and interpretation of ancient text. Confucianism provides an inside-out approach to transformational leadership development, which is self leadership first, before leadership of others. This inside-out perspective is also similar to other Asian traditions, such as ancient Indian wisdom. The prospects of analysis of Confucianism in other areas of leadership and management can be considered for future research.
A recursive bijective approach to counting permutations containing 3-letter patterns

We present a method, illustrated by several examples, to find explicit counts of permutations containing a given multiset of three letter patterns. The method is recursive, depending on bijections to reduce to the case of a smaller multiset, and involves a consideration of separate cases according to how the patterns overlap. Specifically, we use the method (i) to provide combinatorial proofs of Bona's formula {2n-3}choose{n-3} for the number of n-permutations containing one 132 pattern and Noonan's formula 3/n {2n}choose{n+3} for one 123 pattern, (ii) to express the number of n-permutations containing exactly k 123 patterns in terms of ballot numbers for k<=4, and (iii) to express the number of 123-avoiding n-permutations containing exactly k 132 patterns as a linear combination of powers of 2, also for k<=4. The results strengthen the conjecture that the counts are algebraic for all k.
On amount and quality of bias in reinforcement learning

Reinforcement learning is widely regarded as elegant in theory but hopelessly slow in practice. This is because it is often studied under the assumption that there is little or no prior information about the task at hand. This assumption, however, is not the defining characteristic of learning. Learning involves the incorporation of prior knowledge or bias that can greatly accelerate or otherwise improves the learning process. We address the influence of the amount and quality of bias on the speed of reinforcement learning. For a chosen class of learning problem different forms of biases are initially identified. Some of the biases are extracted from the knowledge of the environment, others from the task, and yet a few from both. Belief matrices, which reset Q-tables before learning commences, encode the biases. The average number of interactions between the agent and the environment is used to quantify the biases. Based on this performance measure, the biases are graded and some new results are reported. In addition, the paper compares continual learning to learning from scratch and presents results that clearly demonstrate the advantages of the former.
Influence of Factor VIIa and Phospholipids on Coagulation in “Acquired” Hemophilia

Objective—This study was performed to evaluate the influences of phospholipids and recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) on thrombin generation and clot formation in “acquired” hemophilia B. Methods and Results—A synthetic mixture corresponding to hemophilia A (SHA) and “acquired” hemophilia B blood (AHBB) manufactured in vitro by an anti-FIX antibody were used in this study. With 10 pmol/L tissue factor (TF), 10 nmol/L rFVIIa, and saturating phospholipid, established thrombin generation in SHA was similar to that observed in the presence of factor VIII and rFVIIa at physiological concentrations. At lower phospholipid concentrations, thrombin generation was delayed and reduced. With 5 pmol/L TF, contact pathway-inhibited AHBB clotted later than normal blood and showed reduced clot stability and thrombin generation. These parameters of effectiveness were increased by the addition of phospholipids to AHBB, which restored clot stability and increased thrombin generation. No correction of clot formation or thrombin generation was observed when rFVIIa and phospholipids were added to AHBB in the absence of TF. Conclusions—The influence of rFVIIa is dependent on TF, and phospholipids substantially increase the hemostatic (or thrombotic) potential of rFVIIa/TF.
Performance analysis of JPEG 2000 over 802.15.4 wireless image sensor network

This paper presents a performance analysis of JPEG 2000 image compression over a 802.15. 4 wireless network. The interdependence among image quality, JPEG 2000 compression parameters and network throughput have been investigated. The objective of the work is to give useful guidelines in the design of image wireless networks over low cost, low power, low rate 802.15. 4 wireless protocol.
Fast delivery of game events with an optimistic synchronization mechanism in massive multiplayer online games

As smart players often win MMOG sessions by adopting frantic gaming strategies along the game evolution, also the system activities concerned with the distributed support of MMOGs must advance at a very fast pace. Unfortunately, MMOGs' responsiveness requirements are hardly met when pessimistic approaches are adopted to synchronize the game event exchange activities among game servers. In this paper we show how MMOGs are better supported by optimistic synchronization schemes coupled with mechanisms that exploit the semantics of games. Results obtained from an experimental assessment of our developed scheme demonstrate the validity of our claim.
Hearts from Mice Fed a Non-Obesogenic High-Fat Diet Exhibit Changes in Their Oxidative State, Calcium and Mitochondria in Parallel with Increased Susceptibility to Reperfusion Injury

Rationale High-fat diet with obesity-associated co-morbidities triggers cardiac remodeling and renders the heart more vulnerable to ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the effect of high-fat diet without obesity and associated co-morbidities is presently unknown. Objectives To characterize a non-obese mouse model of high-fat diet, assess the vulnerability of hearts to reperfusion injury and to investigate cardiac cellular remodeling in relation to the mechanism(s) underlying reperfusion injury. Methods and Results Feeding C57BL/6J male mice high-fat diet for 20 weeks did not induce obesity, diabetes, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, atherosclerosis or cardiac apoptosis. However, isolated perfused hearts from mice fed high-fat diet were more vulnerable to reperfusion injury than those from mice fed normal diet. In isolated cardiomyocytes, high-fat diet was associated with higher diastolic intracellular Ca2+ concentration and greater damage to isolated cardiomyocytes following simulated ischemia/reperfusion. High-fat diet was also associated with changes in mitochondrial morphology and expression of some related proteins but not mitochondrial respiration or reactive oxygen species turnover rates. Proteomics, western blot and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques revealed that high-fat diet led to less cardiac oxidative stress, higher catalase expression and significant changes in expression of putative components of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Inhibition of the mPTP conferred relatively more cardio-protection in the high-fat fed mice compared to normal diet. Conclusions This study shows for the first time that high-fat diet, independent of obesity-induced co-morbidities, triggers changes in cardiac oxidative state, calcium handling and mitochondria which are likely to be responsible for increased vulnerability to cardiac insults.
On Synchronous and Asynchronous Monitor Instrumentation for Actor-based systems

We study the impact of synchronous and asynchronous monitoring instrumentation on runtime overheads in the context of a runtime verification framework for actor-based systems. We show that, in such a context, asynchronous monitoring incurs substantially lower overhead costs. We also show how, for certain properties that require synchronous monitoring, a hybrid approach can be used that ensures timely violation detections for the important events while, at the same time, incurring lower overhead costs that are closer to those of an asynchronous instrumentation.
TRIANGLE COUNTING IN LARGE NETWORKS A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY YANG, CHANGYU IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE ADVISOR: JAMES, KANG

In network analysis, data are usually modeled as graph. Two important metrics: clustering coefficient and transitive ratio are used describe a graph. In order to calculate these two metrics in a large graph, we need to know the number of triangles in a graph. Counting the number of triangles has drawn great interest in the past few years. However, counting the triangle in large graphs such as the World Wide Web, Facebook, biology network, is very time consuming. In this project, I will introduce some counting algorithms and test their performance.
Avoidance and tolerance of freezing in ectothermic vertebrates

Summary Ectothermic vertebrates have colonized regions that are seasonally or perpetually cold, and some species, particularly terrestrial hibernators, must cope with temperatures that fall substantially below 0°C. Survival of such excursions depends on either freeze avoidance through supercooling or freeze tolerance. Supercooling, a metastable state in which body fluids remain liquid below the equilibrium freezing/melting point, is promoted by physiological responses that protect against chilling injury and by anatomical and behavioral traits that limit risk of inoculative freezing by environmental ice and ice-nucleating agents. Freeze tolerance evolved from responses to fundamental stresses to permit survival of the freezing of a substantial amount of body water under thermal and temporal conditions of ecological relevance. Survival of freezing is promoted by a complex suite of molecular, biochemical and physiological responses that limit cell death from excessive shrinkage, damage to macromolecules and membranes, metabolic perturbation and oxidative stress. Although freeze avoidance and freeze tolerance generally are mutually exclusive strategies, a few species can switch between them, the mode used in a particular instance of chilling depending on prevailing physiological and environmental conditions.
Hospitalizations With Respiratory Illness Among Pregnant Women During Influenza Season

OBJECTIVE: To examine hospitalizations with respiratory illness among pregnant women in the United States during periods of influenza activity. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest publicly available all-payer hospital discharge database. Hospitalizations for respiratory illness and pregnancy were classified with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Analyses were stratified by delivery status. Discharge characteristics, length of stay, and complications of delivery among hospitalized pregnant women with and those without respiratory illness were compared. RESULTS: During the 1998–2002 influenza seasons, 3.4 per 1,000 hospitalizations of pregnant women included diagnoses of respiratory illness. Characteristics of pregnancy hospitalizations associated with higher odds of respiratory illness were presence of a high-risk condition for which influenza vaccination is recommended (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–3.5 and OR 6.0, 95% CI 5.2–6.9 for nondelivery and delivery, respectively), Medicaid/Medicare as primary expected payer of care (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3 and OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.7–2.2 for nondelivery and delivery, respectively), and hospitalization in a rural area (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4 for nondelivery). During influenza season, hospitalized pregnant women with respiratory illness had significantly longer lengths of stay and higher odds of delivery complications than hospitalized pregnant women without respiratory illness. CONCLUSION: Hospitalizations with respiratory illness among pregnant women during influenza season are associated with increased burden for patients and the health care system. Intervention efforts to decrease influenza-related respiratory morbidity among pregnant women should be encouraged. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Structure of the woody component of an Atlantic forest Fragment, Moreno - PE

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a estrutura fitossociologica do componente arboreo adulto em um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica denominada Mata da Onca, em Moreno - PE. Foram demarcadas 15 parcelas de 10 x 25 m, em tres linhas de cinco parcelas distantes 25 m entre si e as linhas distantes 50 m uma das outras. Consideraram-se individuos arboreos adultos aqueles com CAP (circunferencia a 1,30 m do solo) ? 15 cm, os quais foram identificados em nivel de especie e mensurados o diâmetro e a altura. Foram amostrados 444 individuos, de 76 especies, com uma densidade estimada de 1.184 ind.ha -1 e com uma dominância absoluta estimada de aproximadamente 28 m 2 . ha -1 . As especies mais representativas foram Parkia pendula, Tapirira guianensis, Albizia saman, Schefflera morototoni, Miconia prasina, Inga thibaudiana, Eriotheca crenulaticalyx, Cupania racemosa e Cecropia pachystachya . O indice de diversidade foi 3,61 nats.ind -1 e de equabilidade 0,87. Assim, os resultados observados sao proximos ou elevados em relacao a outros fragmentos de Floresta Atlântica na regiao, mesmo diante do seu estado de antropizacao, ressaltando assim, a importância da conservacao desta area.
DNA interstrand crosslink repair in mammalian cells: step by step

Interstrand DNA crosslinks (ICLs) are formed by natural products of metabolism and by chemotherapeutic reagents. Work in E. coli identified a two cycle repair scheme involving incisions on one strand on either side of the ICL (unhooking) producing a gapped intermediate with the incised oligonucleotide attached to the intact strand. The gap is filled by recombinational repair or lesion bypass synthesis. The remaining monoadduct is then removed by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Despite considerable effort, our understanding of each step in mammalian cells is still quite limited. In part this reflects the variety of crosslinking compounds, each with distinct structural features, used by different investigators. Also, multiple repair pathways are involved, variably operative during the cell cycle. G1 phase repair requires functions from NER, although the mechanism of recognition has not been determined. Repair can be initiated by encounters with the transcriptional apparatus, or a replication fork. In the case of the latter, the reconstruction of a replication fork, stalled or broken by collision with an ICL, adds to the complexity of the repair process. The enzymology of unhooking, the identity of the lesion bypass polymerases required to fill the first repair gap, and the functions involved in the second repair cycle are all subjects of active inquiry. Here we will review current understanding of each step in ICL repair in mammalian cells.
Business intelligence for small and middle-sized entreprises

Data warehouses are the core of decision support systems, which nowadays are used by all kind of enterprises in the entire world. Although many studies have been conducted on the need of decision support systems (DSSs) for small businesses, most of them adopt existing solutions and approaches, which are appropriate for large-scaled enterprises, but are inadequate for small and middle-sized enterprises. Small enterprises require cheap, lightweight architectures and tools (hardware and software) providing online data analysis. In order to ensure these features, we review web-based business intelligence approaches. For real-time analysis, the traditional OLAP architecture is cumbersome and storage-costly; therefore, we also review in-memory processing. Consequently, this paper discusses the existing approaches and tools working in main memory and/or with web interfaces (including freeware tools), relevant for small and middle-sized enterprises in decision making.