Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Range Map with Missing Data - Joint Resolution Enhancement and Inpainting

Range images captured from range scanning devices such as laser scanners or PMD (photonic mixer device) cameras, often possess drawbacks of having low resolution and/or missing regions due to occlusions, reflectivity, limited scanning area, sensor imperfections etc. In this work, we address both the issues in a single framework. We employ Bayesian regularization for resolution enhancement and inpainting in a general multi-image super-resolution scenario. We modify the traditional image formation model used in image/range super-resolution to account for the missing regions. This modification is important to couple the inpainting process with super-resolution. We also stress the importance of prior information in the integration and note that we require the priors to constrain the solution differently for inpainting and for super-resolution. The proposed inhomogeneous prior handles the requirements for inpainting as well as super-resolution. The modification of the imaging model and the formulation of the inhomogeneous prior are both important for the success of the integration. Our results show inpainting of large missing regions, reduction in distortions and good preservation of details at the high-resolution.
Women and Mental Health: Augmenting Undergraduates' Knowledge and Critical Thinking

This article describes a course that introduces undergraduates to important information about women. This course prepares students to articulate controversies related to culture and women's mental health and provides a background for a more genderbalanced view of psychology. Cultural factors that influence mental health and treatment for women are explored in relation to specific mental health topics, such as eating disorders, self-esteem, sexual assault, depression, sex bias in diagnosis, and feminist therapy. Pretest and posttest scores collected on a 25-item truefalse measure of relevant information showed a significant gain in knowledge.
The Effects of Interpersonal Closeness and Issue Seriousness on Blowing the Whistle

This study used registered nurses to examine if relational closeness and issue seriousness affected the likelihood of reporting a wrongdoing. Results from the study were as predicted. More wide ranging revelations found that regardless of the closeness factor and severity of the wrongdoing, respondents would follow the proper chain of command in reporting a wrongdoing. In this organizational setting (that is, a hospital), use of internal channels for whistleblowing (versus external channels) seems to be encouraged by variables other than those found to be important in research with different samples from different types of organi zations.
Diverse According to Whom? Racial Group Membership and Concerns about Discrimination Shape Diversity Judgments

People often treat diversity as an objective feature of situations that everyone perceives similarly. The current research shows, however, that disagreement often exists over whether a group is diverse. We argue that diversity judgments diverge because they are social perceptions that reflect, in part, individuals’ motivations and experiences, including concerns about how a group would treat them. Therefore, whether a group includes in-group members should affect how diverse a group appears because the inclusion or apparent exclusion of in-group members signals whether perceivers can expect to be accepted and treated fairly. Supporting our claims, three experiments demonstrate that racial minority group members perceive more diversity when groups included racial in-group members rather than members of other racial minority groups. Moreover, important differences exist between Asian Americans and African Americans, which underscore the need for more research to explore uniqueness rather than commonalities across racial minority groups.
Targeting Microtubules by Natural Agents for Cancer Therapy

Natural compounds that target microtubules and disrupt the normal function of the mitotic spindle have proven to be one of the best classes of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs available in clinics to date. There is increasing evidence showing that even minor alteration of microtubule dynamics can engage the spindle checkpoint, arresting cell-cycle progression at mitosis and subsequently leading to cell death. Our improved understanding of tumor biology and our continued appreciation for what the microtubule targeting agents (MTAs) can do have helped pave the way for a new era in the treatment of cancer. The effectiveness of these agents for cancer therapy has been impaired, however, by various side effects and drug resistance. Several new MTAs have shown potent activity against the proliferation of various cancer cells, including resistance to the existing MTAs. Sustained investigation of the mechanisms of action of MTAs, development and discovery of new drugs, and exploring new treatment strategies that reduce side effects and circumvent drug resistance could provide more effective therapeutic options for patients with cancer. This review focuses on the successful cancer chemotherapy from natural compounds in clinical settings and the challenges that may abort their usefulness. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(2); 275–84. ©2014 AACR.
Long-Distance Dispersal Shaped Patterns of Human Genetic Diversity in Eurasia

Most previous attempts at reconstructing the past history of human populations did not explicitly take geography into account or considered very simple scenarios of migration and ignored environmental information. However, it is likely that the last glacial maximum (LGM) affected the demography and the range of many species, including our own. Moreover, long-distance dispersal (LDD) may have been an important component of human migrations, allowing fast colonization of new territories and preserving high levels of genetic diversity. Here, we use a high-quality microsatellite data set genotyped in 22 populations to estimate the posterior probabilities of several scenarios for the settlement of the Old World by modern humans. We considered models ranging from a simple spatial expansion to others including LDD and a LGM-induced range contraction, as well as Neolithic demographic expansions. We find that scenarios with LDD are much better supported by data than models without LDD. Nevertheless, we show evidence that LDD events to empty habitats were strongly prevented during the settlement of Eurasia. This unexpected absence of LDD ahead of the colonization wave front could have been caused by an Allee effect, either due to intrinsic causes such as an inbreeding depression built during the expansion or due to extrinsic causes such as direct competition with archaic humans. Overall, our results suggest only a relatively limited effect of the LGM contraction on current patterns of human diversity. This is in clear contrast with the major role of LDD migrations, which have potentially contributed to the intermingled genetic structure of Eurasian populations.
Rates and Reasons for Nonuse of Prescription Medication for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Referral Clinic

Background:We aimed to determine the rates and reasons for nonuse of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-specific medication in a referral clinic. Methods:Consecutive persons with Crohn's disease (CD) (n = 423) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 342) were followed in a single clinic over 2 years. At each patient visit, it was determined whether and what type of IBD-specific medications were used at that visit. If medications were not used, the reason for nonuse was recorded. Disease remission, further stratified by “clinical remission” and “deep remission” (clinical remission plus imaging evidence of remission), was considered a reason for nonuse if the attending physician believed the person was in remission and agreed for them to be off medications. Results:Nonuse of IBD-specific medication was seen in 121 persons with CD (29%) and 65 persons with UC (18%). In CD, increased age and disease duration were associated with nonuse; disease phenotype did not predict nonuse. In UC, disease duration was associated with nonuse but age was not. In CD, the most common reason for medication nonuse was deep remission (22.5%), followed by clinical remission (21.4%), not having seen a gastroenterologist for a lengthy period (21.4%) and nonadherence (16%). In UC, nonuse was attributed to deep remission (27.7%), followed by nonadherence (26.3%) and clinical remission (23%). Conclusions:Approximately a quarter of persons with IBD attending at a tertiary care practice do not use IBD-specific medications with a higher rate in CD than UC. The decision not to use medications was deemed appropriate in approximately one-half of all nonusers.
The carbon bonus of organic nitrogen enhances nitrogen use efficiency of plants

Abstract The importance of organic nitrogen (N) for plant nutrition and productivity is increasingly being recognized. Here we show that it is not only the availability in the soil that matters, but also the effects on plant growth. The chemical form of N taken up, whether inorganic (such as nitrate) or organic (such as amino acids), may significantly influence plant shoot and root growth, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). We analysed these effects by synthesizing results from multiple laboratory experiments on small seedlings (Arabidopsis, poplar, pine and spruce) based on a tractable plant growth model. A key point is that the carbon cost of assimilating organic N into proteins is lower than that of inorganic N, mainly because of its carbon content. This carbon bonus makes it more beneficial for plants to take up organic than inorganic N, even when its availability to the roots is much lower – up to 70% lower for Arabidopsis seedlings. At equal growth rate, root:shoot ratio was up to three times higher and nitrogen productivity up to 20% higher for organic than inorganic N, which both are factors that may contribute to higher NUE in crop production.
Effects of Daily Almond Consumption on Cardiometabolic Risk and Abdominal Adiposity in Healthy Adults With Elevated LDL‐Cholesterol: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Evidence consistently shows that almond consumption beneficially affects lipids and lipoproteins. Almonds, however, have not been evaluated in a controlled‐feeding setting using a diet design with only a single, calorie‐matched food substitution to assess their specific effects on cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods and Results In a randomized, 2‐period (6 week/period), crossover, controlled‐feeding study of 48 individuals with elevated LDL‐C (149±3 mg/dL), a cholesterol‐lowering diet with almonds (1.5 oz. of almonds/day) was compared to an identical diet with an isocaloric muffin substitution (no almonds/day). Differences in the nutrient profiles of the control (58% CHO, 15% PRO, 26% total fat) and almond (51% CHO, 16% PRO, 32% total fat) diets were due to nutrients inherent to each snack; diets did not differ in saturated fat or cholesterol. The almond diet, compared with the control diet, decreased non‐HDL‐C (−6.9±2.4 mg/dL; P=0.01) and LDL‐C (−5.3±1.9 mg/dL; P=0.01); furthermore, the control diet decreased HDL‐C (−1.7±0.6 mg/dL; P<0.01). Almond consumption also reduced abdominal fat (−0.07±0.03 kg; P=0.02) and leg fat (−0.12±0.05 kg; P=0.02), despite no differences in total body weight. Conclusions Almonds reduced non‐HDL‐C, LDL‐C, and central adiposity, important risk factors for cardiometabolic dysfunction, while maintaining HDL‐C concentrations. Therefore, daily consumption of almonds (1.5 oz.), substituted for a high‐carbohydrate snack, may be a simple dietary strategy to prevent the onset of cardiometabolic diseases in healthy individuals. Clinical Trial Registration URL: www.clinicaltrials. gov; Unique Identifier: NCT01101230.
Collagen degradation products modulate matrix metalloproteinase expression in cultured articular chondrocytes

Destruction of collagen within osteoarthritic cartilage depends in part on collagen‐degrading matrix metalloproteases (MMP). Degradative fragments of type II collagen (Col II) occur in normal and in osteoarthritic cartilage, and may contribute to regulation of matrix turnover by interfering with normal cell–matrix communication pathways. Therefore, the effects of different types of collagen fragments on mRNA and protein levels of MMP‐2, MMP‐3, MMP‐9, and MMP‐13 in cultured bovine articular knee chondrocytes and explants were examined. Primary chondrocytes and explants were incubated with fragments from whole cartilage collagen matrix (Colf) and from purified type II collagen (Col2f), or with a synthetic 29‐mer peptide representing the amino‐terminal domain of type II collagen (Ntelo). Gelatin zymography revealed increases of proMMP‐2, a shift towards active MMP‐2 and increases in proMMP‐9, depending on the type of fragment. In situ hybridization of cartilage sections displayed MMP‐3 mRNA in virtually all cells. Moderate to strong increases in MMP‐2, MMP‐3, MMP‐9, and MMP‐13 mRNA levels were detected by quantitative PCR. The results demonstrate stimulating effects of collagen fragments on both mRNA and/or protein from MMP ‐2, ‐3, ‐9, and ‐13, and suggest a novel mechanism of MMP induction and activation that includes a particular role for N‐telo in controlling catabolic pathways of matrix turnover. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
Migration and Wage‐Setting: Reassessing the Labor Market Effects of Migration

This paper employs a wage-setting approach to analyze the labor market effects of immigration into Germany. The wage-setting framework relies on the assumption that wages tend to decline with the unemployment rate, albeit imperfectly. This enables us to consider labor market rigidities, which are particularly relevant in Europe. We find that the elasticity of the wage-setting curve is particularly high for young and well-educated workers. The labor market effects of immigration are moderate: a 1 percent increase in the German labor force through immigration increases the unemployment rate by less than 0.1 percentage points and reduces wages by 0.1 percent.
Recruiting and selecting professionals: context, qualities and method

Evidence based on a survey of professional firms and in-depth interviews with decision-makers responsible for selection examines the most frequently used and valued methods for hiring qualified professional staff in a sample of Scottish accountancy, architecture, law, and surveying practices. The survey suggests an emphasis on personality, work experience and general attributes for senior posts, and that high value is placed on interviews and informal sources of information in assessing these qualities. Firm characteristics and context, particularly size of practice, the role of the partner in the selection process, labour supply, and perception of recruitment difficulties are shown to be related to the type of selection method used. Consistent with the view of selection as a social process, the case study evidence suggests that ‘informality’ may play an important role when partners responsible for selection have long tenure with their firm and when firms experience recruitment difficulties. More generally, informal networks and interview processes may act as effective information and communication vehicles for small and medium-sized professional practices.
Two different types of double-strand breaks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are repaired by similar RAD52-independent, nonhomologous recombination events

In haploid rad52 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains unable to undergo homologous recombination, a chromosomal double-strand break (DSB) can be repaired by imprecise rejoining of the broken chromosome ends. We have used two different strategies to generate broken chromosomes: (i) a site-specific DSB generated at the MAT locus by HO endonuclease cutting or (ii) a random DSB generated by mechanical rupture during mitotic segregation of a conditionally dicentric chromosome. Broken chromosomes were repaired by deletions that were highly variable in size, all of which removed more sequences than was required either to prevent subsequent HO cleavage or to eliminate a functional centromere, respectively. The junction of the deletions frequently occurred where complementary strands from the flanking DNA could anneal to form 1 to 5 bp, although 12% (4 of 34) of the events appear to have occurred by blunt-end ligation. These types of deletions are very similar to the junctions observed in the repair of DSBs by mammalian cells (D. B. Roth and J. H. Wilson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:4295-4304, 1986). When a high level of HO endonuclease, expressed in all phases of the cell cycle, was used to create DSBs, we also recovered a large class of very small (2- or 3-bp) insertions in the HO cleavage site. These insertions appear to represent still another mechanism of DSB repair, apparently by annealing and filling in the overhanging 3' ends of the cleavage site. These types of events have also been well documented for vertebrate cells.
Classroom collaboration in the design of tangible interfaces for storytelling

We describe the design of tangible interfaces to the KidPad collaborative drawing tool. Our aims are to support the re-enactment of stories to audiences, and integration within real classroom environments. A six-month iterative design process, working with children and teachers in school, has produced the “magic carpet”, an interface that uses pressure mats and video-tracked and barcoded physical props to navigate a story in KidPad. Reflecting on this process, we propose four guidelines for the design of tangible interfaces for the classroom. (1) Use physical size and shysical props to encourage collaboration. (2) Be aware of how different interfaces emphasize different actions. (3) Be aware that superficial changes to the design can produce very different physical interactions. (4) Focus on open low-tech technologies rather than (over) polished products.
Molecular Structure and Physiological Functions of GABAB Receptors

GABA(B) receptors are broadly expressed in the nervous system and have been implicated in a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The cloning of the first GABA(B) receptor cDNAs in 1997 revived interest in these receptors and their potential as therapeutic targets. With the availability of molecular tools, rapid progress was made in our understanding of the GABA(B) system. This led to the surprising discovery that GABA(B) receptors need to assemble from distinct subunits to function and provided exciting new insights into the structure of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in general. As a consequence of this discovery, it is now widely accepted that GPCRs can exist as heterodimers. The cloning of GABA(B) receptors allowed some important questions in the field to be answered. It is now clear that molecular studies do not support the existence of pharmacologically distinct GABA(B) receptors, as predicted by work on native receptors. Advances were also made in clarifying the relationship between GABA(B) receptors and the receptors for gamma-hydroxybutyrate, an emerging drug of abuse. There are now the first indications linking GABA(B) receptor polymorphisms to epilepsy. Significantly, the cloning of GABA(B) receptors enabled identification of the first allosteric GABA(B) receptor compounds, which is expected to broaden the spectrum of therapeutic applications. Here we review current concepts on the molecular composition and function of GABA(B) receptors and discuss ongoing drug-discovery efforts.
Design and implementation of two camera's calibration based on directshow

In order to solve the problem that calibration method of Zhang Zhengyou is difficult to extract three-dimensional image. This paper use Zhang's method to solve focal length and offset, using Brown's method to solve distortion. The experimental results show that this method can achieve high precision, the camera's internal and external parameters have good stability and high precision, achieved good dection effect.
Precision-biased Parsing and High-Quality Parse Selection

We introduce precision-biased parsing: a parsing task which favors precision over recall by allowing the parser to abstain from decisions deemed uncertain. We focus on dependency-parsing and present an ensemble method which is capable of assigning parents to 84% of the text tokens while being over 96% accurate on these tokens. We use the precision-biased parsing task to solve the related high-quality parse-selection task: finding a subset of high-quality (accurate) trees in a large collection of parsed text. We present a method for choosing over a third of the input trees while keeping unlabeled dependency parsing accuracy of 97% on these trees. We also present a method which is not based on an ensemble but rather on directly predicting the risk associated with individual parser decisions. In addition to its efficiency, this method demonstrates that a parsing system can provide reasonable estimates of confidence in its predictions without relying on ensembles or aggregate corpus counts.
Rethinking Leadership Preparation: Focus on Faculty Learning Communities

Demands continue for the reform of educational administration preparation programs. Attention typically focuses on the knowledge base, its foundation and relationship with the field. This article raises the pivotal issue of faculty learning through conversation and its role in the development of core purpose to frame the reconsideration of leadership. Insights gained from wide-ranging preparation reform efforts are used to talk about the nature of meaningful conversations and behaviors that lead to “learning to learn” together. Through conversation, existing assumptions, beliefs, and practices can be questioned to create new conceptions of the core purpose in leadership preparation programs.
Somatosensory‐ and Motor‐Evoked Potential Monitoring Without a Wake‐Up Test During Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: An Accepted Standard of Care

Study Design. This was a retrospective study of 500 patients undergoing corrective surgery between 1987 and 1997 for spinal deformity caused by idiopathic scoliosis. Objectives. To report the sensitivity and specificity of somatosensory‐evoked and neurogenic motor‐evoked potentials monitoring and the requirements for an intraoperative wake‐up test for all idiopathic scoliosis surgeries at a single institution. Summary of Background Data. Intraoperative monitoring is recommended for use during corrective spinal surgery. Accepted monitoring standards and requirements for an intraoperative wake‐up test are still debated. Methods. The study group consisted of 500 patients undergoing corrective surgery for idiopathic scoliosis between 1987 and 1997. All patients were monitored using somatosensory‐evoked and neurogenic motor‐evoked potential techniques, using a standard protocol developed at this institution. Results. The false‐positive rate (significant data change without postoperative neurologic deficit) was 0.014% (n = 7). The true‐positive rate (degradation of data that met warning criteria, with a corresponding postoperative neurologic deficit) was 0.004% (n = 2). No false‐negative results (normal data during with a postoperative neurologic deficit) were seen. The sensitivity of combined somatosensory‐evoked and neurogenic motor‐evoked potentials data in predicting neurologic status was 98.6%, and the specificity of normal data predicting normal findings in a neurologic examination was 100%. Conclusions. Combined somatosensory‐evoked and neurogenic motor‐evoked potentials monitoring during idiopathic scoliosis surgery represents a standard of care that obviates the need for an intraoperative wake‐up test when reliable data are obtained and maintained.