Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First report of prevalence of non‐syndromic hereditary prosopagnosia (HPA)

Acquired prosopagnosia (PA) is a rare condition after, for example, a stroke or brain injury. The congenital form of PA is generally considered to be even less common. Beside a few single case reports and anecdotal mentioning of familial cases no data on the epidemiology exists. Following a questionnaire‐based screening in local secondary schools and at our medical faculty, candidates suspicious for PA underwent a semi‐structured interview followed by examinations of first degree relatives. Among 689 local pupils and medical students of our university we found 17 with congenital PA. This corresponds to a prevalence rate of 2.47% (95% CI 1.31–3.63). The frequency is among the highest known for a monogenic disorder. All those index subjects (n = 14) of the target group who agreed to further examinations of their family members had other first degree relatives with the same cognitive disorder. This study provides epidemiological evidence that congenital PA is a very common cognitive disorder which almost always runs in families. The segregation pattern of this hereditary prosopagnosia (HPA) is fully compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Irregular turbo code design for the binary erasure channel

In this paper, the design of irregular turbo codes for the binary erasure channel is investigated. An analytic expression of the erasure probability of punctured recursive systematic convolutional codes is derived. This expression will be used to study the density evolution of turbo codes over the binary erasure channel, that will allow for the design of capacity-approaching irregular turbo codes. Next, we propose a graph-optimal interleaver for irregular turbo codes. Simulation results for different coding rates are shown at the end.
Pupillary Responses to Words That Convey a Sense of Brightness or Darkness

Theories about embodiment of language hold that when you process a word’s meaning, you automatically simulate associated sensory input (e.g., perception of brightness when you process lamp) and prepare associated actions (e.g., finger movements when you process typing). To test this latter prediction, we measured pupillary responses to single words that conveyed a sense of brightness (e.g., day) or darkness (e.g., night) or were neutral (e.g., house). We found that pupils were largest for words conveying darkness, of intermediate size for neutral words, and smallest for words conveying brightness. This pattern was found for both visually presented and spoken words, which suggests that it was due to the words’ meanings, rather than to visual or auditory properties of the stimuli. Our findings suggest that word meaning is sufficient to trigger a pupillary response, even when this response is not imposed by the experimental task, and even when this response is beyond voluntary control.
Shape Tracking with Occlusions via Coarse-to-Fine Region-Based Sobolev Descent

We present a method to track the shape of an object from video. The method uses a joint shape and appearance model of the object, which is propagated to match shape and radiance in subsequent frames, determining object shape. Self-occlusions and dis-occlusions of the object from camera and object motion pose difficulties to joint shape and appearance models in tracking. They are unable to adapt to new shape and appearance information, leading to inaccurate shape detection. In this work, we model self-occlusions and dis-occlusions in a joint shape and appearance tracking framework. Self-occlusions and the warp to propagate the model are coupled, thus we formulate a joint optimization problem. We derive a coarse-to-fine optimization method, advantageous in tracking, that initially perturbs the model by coarse perturbations before transitioning to finer-scale perturbations seamlessly. This coarse-to-fine behavior is automatically induced by gradient descent on a novel infinite-dimensional Riemannian manifold that we introduce. The manifold consists of planar parameterized regions, and the metric that we introduce is a novel Sobolev metric. Experiments on video exhibiting occlusions/dis-occlusions, complex radiance and background show that occlusion/dis-occlusion modeling leads to superior shape accuracy.
Oral cancer: Current role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy

The term oral cavity cancer (OSCC) constitutes cancers of the mucosal surfaces of the lips, floor of mouth, oral tongue, buccal mucosa, lower and upper gingiva, hard palate and retromolar trigone. Treatment approaches for OSCC include single management with surgery, radiotherapy [external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and/or brachytherapy], as well as adjuvant systemic therapy (chemotherapy and/or target agents); various combinations of these modalities may also be used depending on the disease presentation and pathological findings. The selection of sole or combined modality is based on various considerations that include disease control probability, the anticipated functional and cosmetic outcomes, tumor resectability, patient general condition, and availability of resources and expertise. For resectable OSCC, the mainstay of treatment is surgery, though same practitioners may advocate for the use of radiotherapy alone in selected “early” disease presentations or combined with chemotherapy in more locally advanced stage disease. In general, the latter is more commonly reserved for cases where surgery may be problematic. Thus, primary radiotherapy ± chemotherapy is usually reserved for patients unable to tolerate or who are otherwise unsuited for surgery. On the other hand, brachytherapy may be considered as a sole modality for early small primary tumor. It also has a role as an adjuvant to surgery in the setting of inadequate pathologically assessed resection margins, as does postoperative external beam radiotherapy ± chemotherapy, which is usually reserved for those with unfavorable pathological features. Brachytherapy can also be especially useful in the re-irradiation setting for persistent or recurrent disease or for a second primary arising within a previous radiation field. Biological agents targeting the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) have emerged as a potential moda-lity in combination with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherpy and are currently under evaluation in clinical trials. Key words:Radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, oral cavity cancer, treatment.
Acute management of poor condition subarachnoid hemorrhage patients

Poor condition subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients present a high mortality and morbidity. In this study, we reviewed the acute interventional (surgical and endovascular) management of 109 SAH-poor condition patients, who were treated as early as logistically possible after confirming stable circulation parameters. Patients over the age of 70 years, without clinical response to painful stimulation were excluded. We recognized at least 3 different postinterventional therapeutic approaches: (1) Norm- or hypovolemic, normotensive hemodilution in 30 patients with space-occupying intracranial hematomas as well as in 31 cases with acute cerebro-spinal-fluid obstruction. (2) Normovolemic, hypertensive hemodilution after unilateral decompressive craniotomy in 23 surgical- and 2 endovascular-treated patients with focalized space occupying lesions and reduced cerebral perfusion. (3) Hypovolemic, normo-, or hypertensive hemodilution after bilateral decompressive craniotomy in 23 cases with massive brain-swelling. We observed a reduced mortality (21%). The overall late outcome was favorable in 56% and unfavorable in 23%. Selective aggressive treatment adapted to increase the cerebral perfusion, seems to be an effective therapy to improve the survival and outcome of several poor condition SAH-patients.
Evolution of Voronoi based fuzzy recurrent controllers

A fuzzy controller is usually designed by formulating the knowledge of a human expert into a set of linguistic variables and fuzzy rules. Among the most successful methods to automate the fuzzy controllers development process are evolutionary algorithms. In this work, we propose the Recurrent Fuzzy Voronoi (RFV) model, a representation for recurrent fuzzy systems. It is an extension of the FV model proposed by Kavka and Schoenauer that extends the application domain to include temporal problems. The FV model is a representation for fuzzy controllers based on Voronoi diagrams that can represent fuzzy systems with synergistic rules, fulfilling the ε-completeness property and providing a simple way to introduce a priory knowledge. In the proposed representation, the temporal relations are embedded by including internal units that provide feedback by connecting outputs to inputs. These internal units act as memory elements. In the RFV model, the semantic of the internal units can be specified together with the a priori rules. The geometric interpretation of the rules allows the use of geometric variational operators during the evolution. The representation and the algorithms are validated in two problems in the area of system identification and evolutionary robotics.
Mutagenesis of the phosphorylation site (serine 19) of smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain and its effects on the properties of myosin.

A full-length cDNA of smooth muscle regulatory light chain was obtained and the recombinant regulatory light chain was expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system. The recombinant regulatory light chain was introduced into myosin or HMM using a subunit exchange strategy [Morita, J., Takashi, R. , & Ikebe, M. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 9539-9545]. The recombinant wild-type regulatory light chain exhibited the same biological properties as the natural isolate, i.e., phosphorylation at Ser-19 by myosin light-chain kinase and phosphorylation-activated actomyosin ATPase activity. To clarify whether or not the activation of the ATPase by phosphorylation is simply due to the introduction of negative charge, we produced three mutant light chains. Two of them contain Ser-19 substituted by either Asp or Ala and the third contains Asp substituted for both Thr-18 and Ser-19. Incorporation of the Asp mutant partially activated actomyosin ATPase activity but the activation level was significantly lower than that by phosphorylation. The Asp/Asp mutant further activated actomyosin ATPase activity. On the other hand, the Ala mutant did not affect the ATPase activity. Incorporation of Asp mutant slightly affected the 10S-6S conformational transition and filament formation of myosin. The Asp/Asp mutant more significantly affected the 10S-6S conformational transition and filament formation of myosin. These results suggested that the activation of smooth muscle myosin requires the introduction of negative charge in the defined spacial position. Using Ser-19 deficient mutants, the effects of Thr-18 phosphorylation on myosin function was also studied. Actin-activated ATPase activity of myosin was significantly activated by phosphorylation of Thr-18. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Organizing Encyclopedic Knowledge based on the Web and its Application to Question Answering

We propose a method to generate large-scale encyclopedic knowledge, which is valuable for much NLP research, based on the Web. We first search the Web for pages containing a term in question. Then we use linguistic patterns and HTML structures to extract text fragments describing the term. Finally, we organize extracted term descriptions based on word senses and domains. In addition, we apply an automatically generated encyclopedia to a question answering system targeting the Japanese Information-Technology Engineers Examination.
A step-indexed Kripke model of hidden state

Frame and anti-frame rules have been proposed as proof rules for modular reasoning about programs. Frame rules allow the hiding of irrelevant parts of the state during verification, whereas the anti-frame rule allows the hiding of local state from the context. We discuss the semantic foundations of frame and anti-frame rules, and present the first sound model for Charguéraud and Pottier's type and capability system including both of these rules. The model is a possible worlds model based on the operational semantics and step-indexed heap relations, and the worlds are given by a recursively defined metric space. We also extend the model to account for Pottier's generalised frame and anti-frame rules, where invariants are generalised to families of invariants indexed over preorders. This generalisation enables reasoning about some well-bracketed as well as (locally) monotone uses of local state.
Base-Calling Algorithm with Vocabulary (BCV) Method for Analyzing Population Sequencing Chromatograms

Sanger sequencing is a common method of reading DNA sequences. It is less expensive than high-throughput methods, and it is appropriate for numerous applications including molecular diagnostics. However, sequencing mixtures of similar DNA of pathogens with this method is challenging. This is important because most clinical samples contain such mixtures, rather than pure single strains. The traditional solution is to sequence selected clones of PCR products, a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive procedure. Here, we propose the base-calling with vocabulary (BCV) method that computationally deciphers Sanger chromatograms obtained from mixed DNA samples. The inputs to the BCV algorithm are a chromatogram and a dictionary of sequences that are similar to those we expect to obtain. We apply the base-calling function on a test dataset of chromatograms without ambiguous positions, as well as one with 3–14% sequence degeneracy. Furthermore, we use BCV to assemble a consensus sequence for an HIV genome fragment in a sample containing a mixture of viral DNA variants and to determine the positions of the indels. Finally, we detect drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains carrying frameshift mutations mixed with wild-type bacteria in the pncA gene, and roughly characterize bacterial communities in clinical samples by direct 16S rRNA sequencing.
Using Qualitative Hypotheses to Identify Inaccurate Data

Identifying inaccurate data has long been regarded as a significant and difficult problem in AI. In this paper, we present a new method for identifying inaccurate data on the basis of qualitative correlations among related data. First, we introduce the definitions of related data and qualitative correlations among related data. Then we put forward a new concept called support coefficient function (SCF). SCF can be used to extract, represent, and calculate qualitative correlations among related data within a dataset. We propose an approach to determining dynamic shift intervals of inaccurate data, and an approach to calculating possibility of identifying inaccurate data, respectively. Both of the approaches are based on SCF. Finally we present an algorithm for identifying inaccurate data by using qualitative correlations among related data as confirmatory or disconfirmatory evidence. We have developed a practical system for interpreting infrared spectra by applying the method, and have fully tested the system against several hundred real spectra. The experimental results show that the method is significantly better than the conventional methods used in many similar systems.
Microdata Information System MISSY.

The German Microcensus The Microcensus is the biggest continuing survey in Germany. Conducted annually since 1957 by the Federal Statistical Office, it samples one percent of all German households or approximately 820.000 people. The main topics of the Microcensus are occupation and qualification, labor markets and household and family structures. Every four years the Microcensus contains additional questions about health or housing conditions, for example. The large sample size and the broad scope of topics make the Microcensus an invaluable data source for different scientific questions of varying complexity. For example, the Microcensus enables one to examine higher education among relatively small groups of immigrants, e.g. Italians or Greeks.
Global seismic tomography with sparsity constraints: Comparison with smoothing and damping regularization

We present a realistic application of an inversion scheme for global seismic tomography that uses as prior information the sparsity of a solution, defined as having few nonzero coefficients under the action of a linear transformation. In this paper, the sparsifying transform is a wavelet transform. We use an accelerated iterative soft‐thresholding algorithm for a regularization strategy, which produces sparse models in the wavelet domain. The approach and scheme we present may be of use for preserving sharp edges in a tomographic reconstruction and minimizing the number of features in the solution warranted by the data. The method is tested on a data set of time delays for finite‐frequency tomography using the USArray network, the first application in global seismic tomography to real data. The approach presented should also be suitable for other imaging problems. From a comparison with a more traditional inversion using damping and smoothing constraints, we show that (1) we generally retrieve similar features, (2) fewer nonzero coefficients under a properly chosen representation (such as wavelets) are needed to explain the data at the same level of root‐mean‐square misfit, (3) the model is sparse or compressible in the wavelet domain, and (4) we do not need to construct a heterogeneous mesh to capture the available resolution.
Structural and optical properties of high quality zinc-blende/wurtzite GaAs nanowire heterostructures

The structural and optical properties of three different kinds of GaAs nanowires with 100% zinc-blende structure and with an average of 30% and 70% wurtzite are presented. A variety of shorter and longer segments of zinc-blende or wurtzite crystal phases are observed by transmission electron microscopy in the nanowires. Sharp photoluminescence lines are observed with emission energies tuned from 1.515 eV down to 1.43 eV when the percentage of wurtzite is increased. The downward shift of the emission peaks can be understood by carrier confinement at the interfaces, in quantum wells and in random short period superlattices existent in these nanowires, assuming a staggered band offset between wurtzite and zinc-blende GaAs. The latter is confirmed also by time-resolved measurements. The extremely local nature of these optical transitions is evidenced also by cathodoluminescence measurements. Raman spectroscopy on single wires shows different strain conditions, depending on the wurtzite content which affects also the band alignments. Finally, the occurrence of the two crystallographic phases is discussed in thermodynamic terms.
The direction of the changes of rates of the internal and external training load under the influence of high-altitude hypoxia on mountain bikers

The aim of the research carried out was to establish the direction, and scope of the changes in internal, and external load indicator values in cyclists, men, and women, in high-altitude hypoxia conditions. The participants of the study were mountain bike cyclists, members of Russian and Polish Nationals Teams (women n=11, men n=9). They have done the graded incremental exercise test at the altitude of 170 m (Lonato del Garda, Italy) and 2250 m (Livignio-Trepale Italy). In the course of effort VO2, VE, VCO2 was measured by means of K4b2 analyser (Cosmed Italy). Effort intensity was determined at ventilators thresholds VT1 (AT), and VT2. Internal and external load indicators undergo changes during physical effort in cyclists under the influence of high altitude hypoxia. In groups of men and women, the changes in indicator values reach VE: 9% and 12%, HR: 0,5% and 15, O2HR: 7% and 15%, VO2: 14% and 20% respectively, as well as a decrease in 5 and 4% of the generated power, respectively. A decrease in the generated power by 5%, higher ventilation, amounting to 10%, a higher VO2max, amounting to 17% in hypoxic conditions, in comparison with the conditions similar to those at sea level, show that it is necessary to modify training loads.
Papyrus: a software platform for distributed dynamic spectrum sharing using SDRs

Proliferation and innovation of wireless technologies require significant amounts of radio spectrum. Recent policy reforms by the FCC are paving the way by freeing up spectrum for a new generation of frequency-agile wireless devices based on software defined radios (SDRs). But despite recent advances in SDR hardware, research on SDR MAC protocols or applications requires an experimental platform for managing physical access. We introduce Papyrus, a software platform for wireless researchers to develop and experiment dynamic spectrum systems using currently available SDR hardware. Papyrus provides two fundamental building blocks at the physical layer: flexible non-contiguous frequency access and simple and robust frequency detection. Papyrus allows researchers to deploy and experiment new MAC protocols and applications on USRP GNU Radio, and can also be ported to other SDR platforms. We demonstrate the use of Papyrus using Jello, a distributed MAC overlay for high-bandwidth media streaming applications and Ganache, a SDR layer for adaptable guardband configuration. Full implementations of Papyrus and Jello are publicly available.
Primitive Part-of-Speech Tagging using Word Length and Sentential Structure

It has been argued that, when learning a first language, babies use a series of small clues to aid recognition and comprehension, and that one of these clues is word length. In this paper we present a statistical part of speech tagger which trains itself solely on the number of letters in each word in a sentence.
Dynamic observation-prediction for LTI systems with a time-varying delay in the input

A predictive-based controller is proposed to control LTI systems in presence of time-varying delay in the input. The control method is based on the computation of an approximated (or asymptotic) prediction thanks to a dynamic system. Then, this prediction is “plugged” into any Lipschitz controller that stabilizes the delay-free system. Explicit conditions that guarantee the closed-loop stability are given thanks to a Lyapunov-Krasovskii analysis. A qualitative analysis of these conditions is performed and the results are illustrated in simulation.