Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sparse PDE for SAR image speckle suppression

Speckle suppression is extremely important for understanding and utilising synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, while the emphasis of the traditional methods for speckle suppression is usually focused on removing the noise instead of keeping the scattering character of imaging objects, which has caused serious interference to the subsequent applications of SAR images. The authors aim to develop sparse partial differential equation (PDE) for speckle suppression of SAR image, where the PDE model is associated with the sparse prior of objects and the statistical property of speckle. The PDE model has been proved to have the ability of denoising and edge-preserving by proper design, and the sparse prior of the point- and line-like objects on SAR images has been also illustrated, both of which help for keeping the scattering characters. To solve the proposed sparse PDE model, a numerical algorithm is designed and the sparse constraint is realised in each step of the diffusion process. In experiments, several real SAR images are utilised to validate the performance of the proposed method.
Influence of anatomic features on the effectiveness of enamel matrix derivative proteins in the treatment of proximal Class II furcation involvements.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the influence of furcation anatomy and bone defect morphology on the treatment of Class II proximal furcations treated with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) proteins. METHOD AND MATERIALS Eighteen Class II proximal furcations were treated with open-flap debridement + 24% EDTA conditioning + EMD proteins. Probing depth, gingival margin position, relative vertical and horizontal clinical attachment level, and vertical and horizontal bone levels were evaluated immediately before and 6 months after the surgeries. The changes in these parameters were correlated with vertical defect depth, number of walls, depth defect, interdental distance, root divergence, furcation distance, horizontal measure, root trunk, and furcation height, using the Pearson and Spearman rank correlation tests (a = 5%). RESULTS The depth defect correlated with gingival margin position (r = 0.52; P = .03), probing depth (r = 0.63; P = .005), and horizontal bone level (r = -0.46; P = .05). The furcation height also correlated with gingival margin position (r = 0.53; P = .02) and horizontal bone level (r = -0.57; P = .01). Moreover, the number of walls of vertical defect positively influenced relative vertical clinical attachment level (r = 0.47; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of this study, furcation anatomy and defect morphology influence the clinical response of EMD protein therapy in Class II proximal furcation involvements.
Evelyn Underhill: Modern Guide to the Ancient Quest for the Holy

Thank you for downloading evelyn underhill modern guide to the ancient quest for the holy. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their chosen readings like this evelyn underhill modern guide to the ancient quest for the holy, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some infectious bugs inside their desktop computer.
Microlithiasis of the gallbladder: role of endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES Causes may be found in most cases of acute pancreatitis, however no etiology is found by clinical, biological and imaging investigations in 30% of these cases. Our objective was to evaluate results from endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of gallbladder microlithiasis in patients with unexplained (idiopathic) acute pancreatitis. METHODS Thirty-six consecutive non-alcoholic patients with diagnoses of acute pancreatitis were studied over a five-year period. None of them showed signs of gallstones on transabdominal ultrasound or tomography. We performed EUS within one week of diagnosing acute pancreatitis. Diagnosis of gallbladder microlithiasis on EUS was based upon findings of hyperechoic signals of 0.5-3.0 mm, with or without acoustic shadowing. All patients (36 cases) underwent cholecystectomy, in accordance with indication from the attending physician or based upon EUS diagnosis. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients (75%) had microlithiasis confirmed by histology and nine did not (25%). EUS findings were positive in twenty-five. Two patients had acute cholecystitis diagnosed at EUS that was confirmed by surgical and histological findings. In two patients, EUS showed cholesterolosis and pathological analysis disclosed stones not detected by EUS. EUS diagnosed microlithiasis in four cases not confirmed by surgical treatment. In our study, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values to identify gallbladder microlithiasis (with 95% confidence interval) were 92.6% (74.2-98.7%), 55.6% (22.7-84.7%), 86.2% (67.4-95.5%) and 71.4% (30.3-94.9%), respectively. Overall EUS accuracy was 83.2%. CONCLUSIONS EUS is a very reliable procedure to diagnose gallbladder microlithiasis and should be used for the management of patients with unexplained acute pancreatitis. This procedure should be part of advanced endoscopic evaluation.
Domain-specific design pattern instanciation

The use of domain-specific design patterns improves substantially software quality and reduce the development cost since they capture domain knowledge and provide solutions of non trivial design problems in a specific domain. In order to benefit from these advantages, these patterns must be correctly instantiated by application designers. When a pattern is deployed in an application design, some constraints must be preserved to make the pattern instantiation valid. Accordingly, assistance for domain-specific design patterns instantiation has great significance. In this paper we propose a pattern instantiation process that guides the application designers in patterns reuse and prevents them from violating pattern constraints. We implement the proposed process based on model transformation as plug-in to the Eclipse modeling environment. Our proposal is especially intended for the reuse of patterns specific to real-time domain.
Candida albicans Sfl1 Suppresses Flocculation and Filamentation

ABSTRACT Hyphal morphogenesis in Candida albicans is regulated by multiple pathways which act by either inducing or repressing filamentation. Most notably, Tup1, Nrg1, and Rfg1 are transcriptional repressors, while Efg1, Flo8, Cph1, and Czf1 can induce filamentation. Here, we present the functional analysis of CaSFL1, which encodes the C. albicans homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SFL1 (suppressor of flocculation) gene. Deletion of CaSFL1 results in flocculation (i.e., the formation of clumps) of yeast cells, which is most pronounced in minimal medium. The flocs contained hyphae already under noninducing conditions, and filamentation could be enhanced with hypha-inducing cues at 37°C. Expression of SFL1 in a heterozygous mutant under the control of the CaMET3 promoter was shown to complement these defects and allowed switching between wild-type and mutant phenotypes. Interestingly, increased expression of SFL1 using a MET3prom-SFL1 construct prior to the induction of filamentation completely blocked germ tube formation. To localize Sfl1 in vivo, we generated a SFL1-GFP fusion. Sfl1-green fluorescent protein was found in the nucleus in both yeast cells and, to a lesser extent, hyphal cells. Using reverse transcription-PCR, we find an increased expression of ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, ECE1, and also FLO8. Our results suggest that Sfl1 functions in the repression of flocculation and filamentation and thus represents a novel negative regulator of C. albicans morphogenesis.
Children Discover Music and Dance

Charles B. Righter, former president of the North Central Division of the MENC, has drawn upon his long experience in the field of instrumental music to construct a "check-list" of items of concern to conductors of bands and orchestras. There are 347 separate paragraphs, each of which contains a technique or a teaching procedure. These paragraphs are organized into eighteen chapters covering such topics as large group rehearsals, band rehearsals, orchestra rehearsals, group and individual lessons, uniforms, record keeping and office files, faculty, parent and community relations. Blank pages at the end of each chapter provide room for additional notes. In his foreword the author says "the work makes no pretense to profundity, or even to completeness. The basic approach is technical rather than literary and represents an atempt to reduce a mass of educational theory to a usable collection of fairly direct statements dealing with specific problems which are the common concern of all teachers of instrumental music. " Teachers young and old should indeed find this a most usable volume.
Two-step colocalization of MORC3 with PML nuclear bodies

Many functional subdomains, including promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs), are formed in the mammalian nucleus. Various proteins are constitutively or transiently accumulated in PML NBs in a PML-dependent manner. MORC3 (microrchidia family CW-type zinc-finger 3), also known as NXP2, which consists of GHL-ATPase, a CW-type zinc-finger and coiled-coil domains, is localized in PML NBs, where it recruits and activates p53 to induce cellular senescence. Interestingly, we found that MORC3 can form PML-independent nuclear domains (NDs) in mouse hematopoietic cells and even in Pml-deficient cells. Here, we show that MORC3 colocalizes with PML by a two-step molecular mechanism: the PML-independent formation of MORC3 NDs by the ATPase cycle, and the association of MORC3 with PML via the SUMO1-SUMO-interacting motif (SIM). Similarly to other members of the GHL-ATPase family, MORC3 functions as a ‘molecular clamp’. ATP binding induces conformational changes in MORC3, leading to the formation of MORC3 NDs, and subsequent ATP hydrolysis mediates the diffusion and binding of MORC3 to the nuclear matrix. MORC3 might clamp DNA or nucleosomes in MORC3 NDs via the CW domain. Furthermore, the SUMOylation of MORC3 at five sites was involved in the association of MORC3 with PML, and SUMO1-unmodified MORC3 formed NDs independently of PML.
TEMPORAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LAND-BASED RUNOFF EVENTS AND CALIFORNIA SEA OTTER (ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS) PROTOZOAL MORTALITIES

Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona have caused significant morbidity and mortality in threatened Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) along the central California coast. Because only terrestrial animals are known to serve as definitive hosts for T. gondii and S. neurona, infections in otters suggest a land to sea flow of these protozoan pathogens. To better characterize the role of overland runoff in delivery of terrestrially derived fecal pathogens to the near shore, we assessed the temporal association between indicators of runoff and the timing of sea otter deaths due to T. gondii and S. neurona. Sea otter stranding records 1998–2004, from Monterey and Estero bays were reviewed and cases identified for which T. gondii or S. neurona were determined to be a primary or contributing cause of death. Precipitation and stream flow data from both study sites were used as indicators of land-based runoff. Logistic regression was applied to determine if a temporal association could be detected between protozoal mortalities and runoff indicators that occur in the 2 mo preceding mortality events. A significant association was found between S. neurona otter deaths at Estero Bay and increased stream flow that occurred 30–60 days prior to mortality events. At this site, the cause of otter mortality following increased river flows was 12 times more likely to be S. neurona infection compared with nonprotozoal causes of death. There were no significant associations between the timing of T. gondii otter deaths and indicators of overland runoff. Our results indicate that the association between overland runoff and otter mortalities is affected by geography as well as parasite type, and highlight the complex mechanisms that influence transmission of terrestrially derived pathogens to marine wildlife. Policy and management practices that aim to mitigate discharges of contaminated overland runoff can aid conservation efforts by reducing pathogen pollution of coastal waters, which impacts the health of threatened marine wildlife and humans.
Sox9 Duplications Are a Relevant Cause of Sry-Negative XX Sex Reversal Dogs

Sexual development in mammals is based on a complicated and delicate network of genes and hormones that have to collaborate in a precise manner. The dark side of this pathway is represented by pathological conditions, wherein sexual development does not occur properly either in the XX and the XY background. Among them a conundrum is represented by the XX individuals with at least a partial testis differentiation even in absence of SRY. This particular condition is present in various mammals including the dog. Seven dogs characterized by XX karyotype, absence of SRY gene, and testicular tissue development were analysed by Array-CGH. In two cases the array-CGH analysis detected an interstitial heterozygous duplication of chromosome 9. The duplication contained the SOX9 coding region. In this work we provide for the first time a causative mutation for the XXSR condition in the dog. Moreover this report supports the idea that the dog represents a good animal model for the study of XXSR condition caused by abnormalities in the SOX9 locus.
Cost-effectiveness evaluation of voriconazole versus liposomal amphotericin B as empirical therapy for febrile neutropenia in Australia.

OBJECTIVES A major randomized clinical trial, evaluating voriconazole versus liposomal amphotericin B (LAMB) as empirical therapy in febrile neutropenia, recommended voriconazole as a suitable alternative to LAMB. The current study sought to investigate the health economic impact of using voriconazole and LAMB for febrile neutropenia in Australia. METHODS A decision analytic model was constructed to capture downstream consequences of empirical antifungal therapy with each agent. The main outcomes were: success, breakthrough fungal infection, persistent baseline fungal infection, persistent fever, premature discontinuation and death. Underlying transition probabilities and treatment patterns were derived directly from trial data. Resource use was estimated using an expert panel. Cost inputs were obtained from the latest Australian representative published sources. The perspective adopted was that of the Australian hospital. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were undertaken via the Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS Compared with voriconazole, LAMB was associated with a net cost saving of AU$1422 (2.9%) per patient. A similar trend was observed with the cost per death prevented and successful treatment. LAMB dominated voriconazole as it resulted in higher efficacy and lower costs when compared with voriconazole. The results were most sensitive to the duration of therapy and the alternative therapy used post discontinuations. In uncertainty analysis, LAMB had 99.8% chance of costing less than voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS In this study, which used the current standard five component endpoint to assess the impact of empirical antifungal therapy, LAMB was associated with cost savings relative to voriconazole.
Is Addiction a Heterogeneous Condition? Reflections on Pickard's “The Purpose in Chronic Addiction”

Both the traditional disease model of addiction and Pickard’s “purposive” model (Pickard 2012) attempt to define the motivational influence exerted by substances of abuse on agents that influence the agents’ behavior toward further substance consumption. Such a definition would seem to take the form “For all substances S that cause addiction/dependence, there exists a kind of motivational influence M such that agents affected by M are more inclined to engage in substance-related behaviors B. ” In these terms, the argument between Pickard and proponents of the disease model is over the nature of M, and evidence such as the epidemiological data cited by Pickard and neurological changes cited by disease theories (e.g., Everitt and Robbins 2005) are attempts to support differing conceptions of M. Specifically, the disease model argues that M is a change in control from mechanisms underlying voluntary to those underlying compulsive action, whereas Pickard argues that M is a combination of five factors that converge around a putative reason or “purpose” for the agent to consume the substance. This kind of definition assumes a homogeneity in the mechanism by which substances cause dependence. That is, it assumes that M is sufficiently similar across substances such that all substances that can lead to dependence or addiction do so in a sufficiently similar way so that we can classify each of their influences as belonging to M, and all of the substances as belonging to S. However, there is good empirical evidence to suggest that the mechanisms by which substance use results in dependence differ significantly. Pickard’s claim that substance use in nonpsychiatric populations drops off after age 30 assumes that the age of addicted patients does not vary to a significant degree across substances. Yet nicotine dependence does not vary with age (Hughes, Helzer, and Lindberg 2006). Pickard’s conception thus seems ill-suited to explain nicotine dependence: Either her epidemiological claims are unrelated to dependence, or the putative reasons for substance use described by Pickard do not apply to nicotine dependence. The different pattern of use suggests a distinct effect or mechanism underlying nicotine dependence. Similarly, the particular neurological changes thought to underlie the shift to compulsive use (Everitt and Robbins 2005) do not happen after chronic use of all substances that can result in dependence. Specifically, chronic cannabis use
Study and Analysis of MAC/IPAD Lab Configuration

This paper is about three virtualization modes: VMware, Parallels, and Boot Camping. The trade off of their testing is the hardware requirements. The main question is, among the three, which is the most suitable? The answer actually varies from user to user. It depends on the user needs. Moreover, it is necessary to consider its performance, graphics, efficiency and reliability, and interoperability, and that is our major scope. In order to take the final decision in choosing one of the modes it is important to run some tests, which costs a lot in terms of money, complexity, and time consumption. Therefore, in order to overcome this trade off, most of the research has been done through online benchmarking and my own anticipation. The final solution was extracted after comparing all previously mentioned above and after rigorous testing made which will be introduced later in this document.
An Integrated Wireless Wearable Sensor System for Posture Recognition and Indoor Localization

In order to provide better monitoring for the elderly or patients, we developed an integrated wireless wearable sensor system that can realize posture recognition and indoor localization in real time. Five designed sensor nodes which are respectively fixed on lower limbs and a standard Kalman filter are used to acquire basic attitude data. After the attitude angles of five body segments (two thighs, two shanks and the waist) are obtained, the pitch angles of the left thigh and waist are used to realize posture recognition. Based on all these attitude angles of body segments, we can also calculate the coordinates of six lower limb joints (two hip joints, two knee joints and two ankle joints). Then, a novel relative localization algorithm based on step length is proposed to realize the indoor localization of the user. Several sparsely distributed active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are used to correct the accumulative error in the relative localization algorithm and a set-membership filter is applied to realize the data fusion. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Threshold concepts and the integration of understanding in economics

This article outlines the recently developed idea of ‘Threshold Concepts’ and explains how this idea may be used to describe the progress of learning in economics. The authors examine the relationship between threshold concepts, key concepts and conceptual change and suggest that a distinction between basic, discipline and procedural concepts may be useful in determining a framework for the identification of threshold concepts. The current understanding of threshold concepts is extended by indicating that these might best be seen as a web of concepts which link thinking and practice in a discipline. A range of evidence is presented to illustrate the existence and implications of threshold concepts in economics.
The Language Status of Three Children at the Same Ages

Although, in various publications, information in growing quantity has been published about the language development of the individual child, little appears to be available regarding groups of children. Usually each author observes only one subject who is, in most cases, an only child. This leads to the exclusion of certain factors such as individual differences, the influence of children upon one another, the reaction to different environments, etc. Holden (11) listed the words used by his two daughters at the same age; W. and C. Stern (19) have published an interesting volume on some phases of language development using their three children as subjects; Gale (8) has recorded the vocabularies with some comments on three children of the same family; Bateman (1-2-3) is noting the various steps in the acquisition of speech by his two children, but these seem to exhaust the references. This paper discusses the ability in talking gained by three children from birth to twenty-eight months, the subjects being the author's two daughters and niece. Some of the data have already been published (I) but will be used here for comparison. In two other articles (2-3) will be found more extended information regarding two of the children.
The Reliability and Validity of a Chinese-Translated Version of the Gifted Rating Scale- Preschool/Kindergarten Form

This study examines the reliability and validity of a Chinese-translated version of the Gifted Rating Scales—Preschool/Kindergarten Form (GRS-P) and explores the effect of gender and age on each of the subscales. Data were collected from 250 kindergarten children, with age ranging from 4 years, 0 months to 6 years, 11 months. Results indicated that the reliability for the subscales of GRS-P was high. There were also significant correlations between GRS-P subscale scores and children’s school performance in language, number concept, and music. Results from the confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the five-factor model of the original GRS-P. No significant difference was identified across all age groups and in gender. The study, however, provided some initial findings for the use of GRS-P as a screening tool for identifying gifted young children in a Chinese population. Suggestions for further research on exploring the use of GRS-P for preschoolers are discussed.