Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gate connected convolutional neural network for object tracking

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been employed in visual tracking due to their rich levels of feature representation. While the learning capability of a CNN increases with its depth, unfortunately spatial information is diluted in deeper layers which hinders its important ability to localise targets. To successfully manage this trade-off, we propose a novel residual network based gating CNN architecture for object tracking. Our deep model connects the front and bottom convolutional features with a gate layer. This new network learns discriminative features while reducing the spatial information lost. This architecture is pre-trained to learn generic tracking characteristics. In online tracking, an efficient domain adaptation mechanism is used to accurately learn the target appearance with limited samples. Extensive evaluation performed on a publicly available benchmark dataset demonstrates our proposed tracker outperforms state-of-the-art approaches.
Deservingness, self-interest and the welfare state: Why some care more about deservingness than others and why It matters

A common assumption in political economy is that voters are self-regarding maximizers of material goods, choosing their preferred level of social spending accordingly. In contrast, students of American social policy have emphasized the key role of an other-regarding motive that makes support for social transfers conditional on the perceived deservingness of recipients. The two motives often conflict as large portions of the poor (rich) find recipients undeserving (deserving). Under what conditions might one motive trump the other? I argue that material self-interest overruns perceptions of deservingness when the share of income affected by social transfers is high. Using European data, I show that low (high) income individuals are less (more) likely to be driven by considerations of deservingness. This framework has important macro-level implications: the more working-age benefits are evenly spread across income groups, the less likely considerations of deservingness will permeate public debates on welfare state reform.
Cross-Calibration between ASTER and MODIS Visible to Near-Infrared Bands for Improvement of ASTER Radiometric Calibration

Radiometric cross-calibration between the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and the Terra-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been partially used to derive the ASTER radiometric calibration coefficient (RCC) curve as a function of date on visible to near-infrared bands. However, cross-calibration is not sufficiently accurate, since the effects of the differences in the sensor’s spectral and spatial responses are not fully mitigated. The present study attempts to evaluate radiometric consistency across two sensors using an improved cross-calibration algorithm to address the spectral and spatial effects and derive cross-calibration-based RCCs, which increases the ASTER calibration accuracy. Overall, radiances measured with ASTER bands 1 and 2 are on averages 3.9% and 3.6% greater than the ones measured on the same scene with their MODIS counterparts and ASTER band 3N (nadir) is 0.6% smaller than its MODIS counterpart in current radiance/reflectance products. The percentage root mean squared errors (%RMSEs) between the radiances of two sensors are 3.7, 4.2, and 2.3 for ASTER band 1, 2, and 3N, respectively, which are slightly greater or smaller than the required ASTER radiometric calibration accuracy (4%). The uncertainty of the cross-calibration is analyzed by elaborating the error budget table to evaluate the International System of Units (SI)-traceability of the results. The use of the derived RCCs will allow further reduction of errors in ASTER radiometric calibration and subsequently improve interoperability across sensors for synergistic applications.
Refactoring android Java code for on-demand computation offloading

Computation offloading is a promising way to improve the performance as well as reducing the battery power consumption of a smartphone application by executing some parts of the application on a remote server. Supporting such capability is not easy for smartphone application developers due to (1) correctness: some code, e.g., that for GPS, gravity, and other sensors, can run only on the smartphone so that developers have to identify which parts of the application cannot be offloaded; (2) effectiveness: the reduced execution time must be greater than the network delay caused by computation offloading so that developers need to calculate which parts are worth offloading; (3) adaptability: smartphone applications often face changes of user requirements and runtime environments so that developers need to implement the adaptation on offloading. More importantly, considering the large number of today's smartphone applications, solutions applicable for legacy applications will be much more valuable. In this paper, we present a tool, named DPartner, that automatically refactors Android applications to be the ones with computation offloading capability. For a given Android application, DPartner first analyzes its bytecode for discovering the parts worth offloading, then rewrites the bytecode to implement a special program structure supporting on-demand offloading, and finally generates two artifacts to be deployed onto an Android phone and the server, respectively. We evaluated DPartner on three real-world Android applications, demonstrating the reduction of execution time by 46%-97% and battery power consumption by 27%-83%.
Short tone burst-evoked myogenic potentials on the sternocleidomastoid muscle: are these potentials also of vestibular origin?

OBJECTIVES To show that short tone bursts (STBs) evoke myogenic potentials from the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) that are of vestibular origin. DESIGN Evoked potential activity was recorded from the SCMs of normal volunteers and from patients with vestibulocochlear disorders. SETTING This outpatient study was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. SUBJECTS Nine normal volunteers and 30 patients (34 affected ears) with vestibulocochlear disorders were examined. INTERVENTION Diagnostic. OUTCOME MEASURES Sound-evoked myogenic potentials in response to STBs were recorded with surface electrodes over each SCM. Responses evoked by STBs in patients were compared with responses evoked by clicks. RESULTS In all normal subjects, STBs (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) evoked biphasic responses on the SCM ipsilateral to the stimulated ear; the same was true for clicks. Short tone bursts of 0.5 kHz evoked the largest responses, while STBs of 2 kHz evoked the smallest. In patients with vestibulocochlear disorders, responses to STBs of 0.5 kHz were similar to responses evoked by clicks. Thirty (88%) of the 34 affected ears demonstrated the same results with 0.5-kHz STBs and with clicks. Responses were present in patients with total or near-total hearing loss and intact vestibular function. Conversely, patients with preserved hearing but with absent or severely decreased vestibular function had absent or significantly decreased myogenic potentials evoked by STBs. CONCLUSIONS Short tone bursts as well as clicks can evoke myogenic potentials from the SCM. Myogenic potentials evoked by STBs are also probably of vestibular origin.
Body weight and body composition in old age and their relationship with frailty

Purpose of review Aging is associated with various changes in body composition, including changes in weight, loss of muscle mass, and increase in fat mass. This article describes the role of body weight and body composition, and their changes, in the risk of frailty in old age. Recent findings Based on current literature, observational studies on obesity and high waist circumference show most convincing results for an association with frailty. The independent role of muscle mass and muscle fat infiltration remains unclear, mainly due to a lack of studies and a lack of accurate measurement of body composition by computed tomography or MRI. Weight loss and exercise training intervention studies can be of benefit to frail older adults. Summary Obesity and high waist circumference may be important determinants of frailty in old age, whereas the role of muscle mass and muscle fat infiltration is still unclear. More prospective studies that will specifically focus on frailty as an outcome measure are needed to identify specific body composition components as potential targets for the prevention of frailty in old age.
Transcriptional Response to Lactic Acid Stress in the Hybrid Yeast Zygosaccharomyces parabailii

ABSTRACT Lactic acid has a wide range of applications starting from its undissociated form, and its production using cell factories requires stress-tolerant microbial hosts. The interspecies hybrid yeast Zygosaccharomyces parabailii has great potential to be exploited as a novel host for lactic acid production, due to high organic acid tolerance at low pH and a fermentative metabolism with a high growth rate. Here we used mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze Z. parabailii's transcriptional response to lactic acid added exogenously, and we explore the biological mechanisms involved in tolerance. Z. parabailii contains two homeologous copies of most genes. Under lactic acid stress, the two genes in each homeolog pair tend to diverge in expression to a significantly greater extent than under control conditions, indicating that stress tolerance is facilitated by interactions between the two gene sets in the hybrid. Lactic acid induces downregulation of genes related to cell wall and plasma membrane functions, possibly altering the rate of diffusion of lactic acid into cells. Genes related to iron transport and redox processes were upregulated, suggesting an important role for respiratory functions and oxidative stress defense. We found differences in the expression profiles of genes putatively regulated by Haa1 and Aft1/Aft2, previously described as lactic acid responsive in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, formate dehydrogenase (FDH) genes form a lactic acid-responsive gene family that has been specifically amplified in Z. parabailii in comparison to other closely related species. Our study provides a useful starting point for the engineering of Z. parabailii as a host for lactic acid production. IMPORTANCE Hybrid yeasts are important in biotechnology because of their tolerance to harsh industrial conditions. The molecular mechanisms of tolerance can be studied by analyzing differential gene expression under conditions of interest and relating gene expression patterns to protein functions. However, hybrid organisms present a challenge to the standard use of mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to study transcriptional responses to stress, because their genomes contain two similar copies of almost every gene. Here we used stringent mapping methods and a high-quality genome sequence to study the transcriptional response to lactic acid stress in Zygosaccharomyces parabailii ATCC 60483, a natural interspecies hybrid yeast that contains two complete subgenomes that are approximately 7% divergent in sequence. Beyond the insights we gained into lactic acid tolerance in this study, the methods we developed will be broadly applicable to other yeast hybrid strains.
Temperature effects on the electronic properties of lead telluride (PbTe) and the influence of nano-size precipitates on the performance of thermoelectric materials. (SrTe precipitates in PbTe bulk material)

This study seeks to evaluate the temperature effects on the electronic properties of thermoelectric materials, using first principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations by incorporating the temperature effects on structural properties of the material. Using the electronic properties attained, the charge carrier scattering relaxation times were determined. The effect of interface between PbTe and SrTe on the charge carrier mobility was studied by finding out the relative alignment of energy bands at the semiconductor heterojunction. The crystal shape of the SrTe precipitates in the PbTe host matrix was evaluated from the interface energies using the Wulffman construction. We also attempted to develop a relation between the interface energies and electronic band alignment for different interface orientations. In this research, we incorporated the temperature effects on the structural properties of PbTe to get the temperature dependence of electronic properties like energy bandgap and effective masses of charge carriers. We used the values of bandgap and effective masses to determine the charge carrier scattering relaxation time at different temperatures which is used in evaluating the transport properties of thermoelectric materials like the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity.
Thermal analysis : techniques and applications

Introduction to thermal analysis, S. St. J. Warne differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, V.J. Griffin and P.G. Laye thermogravimetry, D. Dollimore complementary thermal analysis techniques, E.L. Charsley evolved gas analysis, S.B. Warrington thermomechanical analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis, M. Reading controlled rate thermal analysis and beyond, M. Reading applications of thermal analysis of polymers, J.N. Hay pharmaceutical applications of thermal analysis, M.J. Hardy applications in metallurgy and materials science, F.R. Sale and A.P. Taylor minerals to fossil fuels, S. St. J. Warne catalysts - thermal analysis applications, D. Dollimore quality assurance in the thermal analysis laboratory, P.H. Willcocks the international confederation for thermal analysis - a review, S. St. J. Warne sources of information in thermal analysis, E.L. Charsley.
Algorithm for writing a scientific manuscript

We present an algorithm for the construction of a strong initial draft. It is designed to overcome writer's block and to assist scientists who are not native English speakers. The writing starts with making figures and tables. These suggest several terse summary statements, the few major conclusions or observations the author will present to the scientific community. After identification of the audience, the specific community addressed, materials and methods are written to explain how the tables and figures were generated. Results are initially restricted to describing the logical data relations in each table and figure. The discussion then converts each data relationship into mechanistic cause‐and‐effect interpretations suitable for the abstract. A brief epilogue deals with the submission and the fate of the final manuscript once submitted. Although other models for the initial draft exist, this model has worked for us and new researchers in our laboratories and addresses problems we encountered while editing manuscripts.
Link Prediction Based on Local Information

Link prediction in complex networks is an important issue in graph mining. It aims at estimating the likelihood of the existence of links between nodes by the know network structure information. Currently, most link prediction algorithms based on local information consider only the individual characteristics of common neighbors. In this paper, first, we study the link prediction results as the change of the exponent on the degree of common neighbors, and find some regular pattern between different networks and different exponent. After that, we come up with a new algorithm exploiting the interactions between common neighbors, namely Individual Attraction Index. To reduce the time complexity, we design a simple edition, called Simple Individual Attraction Index. We compare nine well-known local information metrics on eight real networks. The result proves well the best overall performance of these two new algorithms.
Hepatitis C following liver transplantation: current approach and future research opportunities

Purpose of review The treatment of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in liver transplant recipients was very limited until direct-acting antivirals became widely available. We review the current approach to HCV treatment following liver transplantation and future research opportunities. Recent findings Current treatment of HCV infection with all oral new direct-acting antivirals in the postliver transplant setting is easier, shorter, tolerable, and more effective with high-sustained virological response rates. However, some challenges remain, including the optimal timing of therapy, drug–drug interactions, renal insufficiency, and HIV coinfection. Summary Patients with recurrent HCV following liver transplant will significantly benefit from all oral new direct acting antivirals. Ongoing studies will determine the optimal timing and combination in this unique population.
Should Touch Screen Tablets Be Used to Improve Educational Outcomes in Primary School Children in Developing Countries?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (United Nations, 2015). Whereas, the principal focus of global education planning since 2000 had been on getting children into schools, sustainable development goal 4 (above) reflects concerns about quality. As improving learning outcomes starts to receive heightened policy focus, it becomes imperative to consider the types of intervention that can be most effective in raising learning outcomes, particularly in settings characterized by poor resourcing and persistent low attainment levels. Here, we consider if touch screen tablets can be used to improve educational outcomes in primary school children in developing countries. We focus on early maths attainment in Malawi as one of the most dramatic examples of the current learning challenge.
Fetal programming and adult health

Abstract Low birthweight is now known to be associated with increased rates of coronary heart disease and the related disorders stroke, hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes. These associations have been extensively replicated in studies in different countries and are not the result of confounding variables. They extend across the normal range of birthweight and depend on lower birthweights in relation to the duration of gestation rather than the effects of premature birth. The associations are thought to be consequences of ‘programming’, whereby a stimulus or insult at a critical, sensitive period of early life has permanent effects on structure, physiology and metabolism. Programming of the fetus may result from adaptations invoked when the materno-placental nutrient supply fails to match the fetal nutrient demand. Although the influences that impair fetal development and programme adult cardiovascular disease remain to be defined, there are strong pointers to the importance of maternal body composition and dietary balance during pregnancy.
High Order Weighted Essentially Nonoscillatory Schemes for Convection Dominated Problems

High order accurate weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) schemes are relatively new but have gained rapid popularity in numerical solutions of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) and other convection dominated problems. The main advantage of such schemes is their capability to achieve arbitrarily high order formal accuracy in smooth regions while maintaining stable, nonoscillatory, and sharp discontinuity transitions. The schemes are thus especially suitable for problems containing both strong discontinuities and complex smooth solution features. WENO schemes are robust and do not require the user to tune parameters. At the heart of the WENO schemes is actually an approximation procedure not directly related to PDEs, hence the WENO procedure can also be used in many non-PDE applications. In this paper we review the history and basic formulation of WENO schemes, outline the main ideas in using WENO schemes to solve various hyperbolic PDEs and other convection dominated problems, and present a collection of applications in areas including computational fluid dynamics, computational astronomy and astrophysics, semiconductor device simulation, traffic flow models, computational biology, and some non-PDE applications. Finally, we mention a few topics concerning WENO schemes that are currently under investigation.
Health-related social control among older men with depressive symptomatology

Objectives: Social control attempts, or attempts by social network members to influence a person's behavior, significantly predict men's health behaviors and psychological well-being. Despite the fact that depression is associated with compromised interpersonal functioning and poor health behaviors, the association between social control processes and depression has not been studied. Thus, this pilot study explored differential vulnerability to spouses’ social control attempts among older, male primary care patients with varying levels of depression symptom severity and the degree to which these attempts predicted patients’ behavioral and affective responses. Method: Participants included 88 older men referred by their primary care providers for a behavioral health assessment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Data on sociodemographics, depressive symptomatology, health behaviors, spouses’ positive and negative social control attempts, and patients’ behavioral and affective responses to attempts were collected by telephone. Results: The sample was primarily Caucasian (mean age = 65.3 (SD = 8.1) years). Patients’ higher depressive symptoms were significantly associated with positive and negative affective responses to their spouses’ social control attempts. The frequency of control attempts and patients’ behavioral responses, however, were unrelated to patients’ depressive symptoms. Multiple regression models revealed that while spouses’ control attempts were unrelated to patients’ positive behavioral responses, more frequent negative attempts predicted greater negative behavioral responses (e.g., ignoring spouses’ attempts). Moreover, negative control attempts predicted greater negative affective responses (e.g., resentment, sadness). Conclusion: The findings highlight the value of identifying effective social control strategies that maximize positive behavioral change, emotional responses, and health outcomes among older men with depressive symptoms.
Efficiently building 3D line model with points

3D modeling is a popular topic in the field of computer vision. Most of the existing methods based on the interest point matches or the line matches. The point-based methods are more mature, but usually less intuitive. Lines can provide more structural information and thus more intuitive, however, lines have more complex geometric properties, which makes the line-based methods usually time consuming. In this paper, we proposed a simple and effective approach of 3D modeling, which takes the intersections of the real lines and the virtual lines passing through interest points to construct the 3D models, and use a simple invariant to filter out wrong matches. Thus we can use the mature technology of point-based methods while the 3D point cloud maintain the structural information of lines. Experiments show our method can build meaningful 3D point cloud efficiently.