Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rank-Based Illumination Estimation

A new two-stage illumination estimation method based on the concept of rank is presented. The method first estimates the illuminant locally in subwindows using a ranking of digital counts in each color channel and then combines local subwindow estimates again based on a ranking of the local estimates. The proposed method unifies the MaxRGB and Grayworld methods. Despite its simplicity, the performance of the method is found to be competitive with other state-of-the art methods for estimating the chromaticity of the overall scene illumination.
A modular approach to virtual view creation for a scalable immersive teleconferencing configuration

This paper details a new modular approach to virtual view creation that is designed to work in conjunction with a proposed scalable teleconferencing configuration. This scalable system is configured using building blocks defined as stereo camera analysis blocks (SCAB). SCABs consist of axe-parallel narrow baseline stereo cameras. These provide design flexibility and improve the image analysis process. Virtual view creation is modular in such that we can add or remove SCABs based on our particular requirements without having to modify the view synthesis algorithm. A new approach to virtual view creation from multiple images is defined. This contains two separate processes: surface segmentation, which identifies surfaces, and surface selection and merging, which selects and integrates the best view of a required surface into the virtual view. The surfaces are identified via a sampling density function while the surface selection procedure is based on a weighting scheme.
Comparison of two tandem mass spectrometry-based methods for analyzing the proteome of healthy human lens fibers.

PURPOSE To establish a method for studying the proteome of human lens fibers and to provide the proteome database of lens fibers from healthy male adults. METHODS We compared two liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based methods for studying the proteome of healthy adult human lens fibers. Total proteins were extracted from pooled lens fibers of 12 healthy male adult donors. In one method, the total proteins were digested with trypsin, and the derived peptides were analyzed by strong cation exchange (SCX) coupled with reverse phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC-MS/MS). In the other method, proteins were first resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate PAGE (SDS-PAGE) and then in-gel digested with trypsin, and the peptides were analyzed by RPLC/MS/MS. The tandem mass spectra of positive results were quality controlled by advanced mass spectrum scanner (AMASS) software. The peptide false positive rate was estimated using the reverse database searching method. RESULTS A total of 68 proteins from lens fibers were identified using these two methods based on at least two different peptide matches with reliability of over 97% for each peptide. Among these proteins, 43 were detected by both methods, one was detected only by SCX-RPLC/MS/MS, and 24 were detected only by SDS-PAGE-RPLC-MS/MS. CONCLUSIONS The data clearly indicated that the SDS-PAGE-RPLC-MS/MS method was more suitable than the SCX-RPLC-MS/MS method for analyzing lens fiber proteome. This work greatly expanded the proteome database of human lens fibers, and the results provided a reference for future studies to detect aging-related and cataract-related changes in human lens fibers proteins.
Movements that are Both Variable and Optimal

Abstract This brief review addresses two major aspects of the neural control of multi-element systems. First, the principle of abundance suggests that the central nervous system unites elements into synergies (co-variation of elemental variables across trials quantified within the framework of the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis) that stabilize important performance variables. Second, a novel method, analytical inverse optimization, has been introduced to compute cost functions that define averaged across trials involvement of individual elements over a range of values of task-specific performance variables. The two aspects reflect two features of motor coordination: (1) using variable solutions that allow performing secondary tasks and stabilizing performance variables; and (2) selecting combinations of elemental variables that follow an optimization principle. We suggest that the conflict between the two approaches (a single solution vs. families of solutions) is apparent, not real. Natural motor variability may be due to using the same cost function across slightly different initial states; on the other hand, there may be variability in the cost function itself leading to variable solutions that are all optimal with respect to slightly different cost functions. The analysis of motor synergies has revealed specific changes associated with atypical development, healthy aging, neurological disorders, and practice. These have allowed formulating hypotheses on the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in the synergic control of actions.
Physical and Economic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Low Probability Flooding Events on Coastal Communities

Conventionally flood mapping typically includes only a static water level (e.g. peak of a storm tide) in coastal flood inundation events. Additional factors become increasingly important when increased water-level thresholds are met during the combination of a storm tide and increased mean sea level. This research incorporates factors such as wave overtopping and river flow in a range of flood inundation scenarios of future sea-level projections for a UK case study of Fleetwood, northwest England. With increasing mean sea level it is shown that wave overtopping and river forcing have an important bearing on the cost of coastal flood events. The method presented converts inundation maps into monetary cost. This research demonstrates that under scenarios of joint extreme surge-wave-river events the cost of flooding can be increased by up to a factor of 8 compared with an increase in extent of up to a factor of 3 relative to “surge alone” event. This is due to different areas being exposed to different flood hazards and areas with common hazard where flood waters combine non-linearly. This shows that relying simply on flood extent and volume can under-predict the actual economic impact felt by a coastal community. Additionally, the scenario inundation depths have been presented as “brick course” maps, which represent a new way of interpreting flood maps. This is primarily aimed at stakeholders to increase levels of engagement within the coastal community.
Deception Detection and the Role of Self-Selection

We consider a lie-catching experiment with 9240 judgements. A set of videotapes shows subjects participating in a tax compliance experiment. The subjects chose whether or not to misreport. Subjects knew that underreporters were chosen for an audit with some probability. An audit led to detection and to a punishment fee. This compliance framework induced only persons with high deceptive abilities to underreport and, so, caused self-selection. Among the students who judged these videos, we find that the deception detection rate was significantly below 50 percent and even lower if the self-selection pressure in the tax compliance experiment was higher. This suggests that, when subjects can choose whether to state the truth or to lie, there is a self-selection effect by which individuals with higher deceptive ability are more likely to lie.
GPU Accelerated Stylistic Augmented Reality

With the introduction of programmable graphics pipeline, the highly parallel processing power of graphical processing units (GPU) is being used not only for special graphics effects but also for general purpose computation in areas such as molecular dynamics simulation, stock options pricing, and image processing. In this work, we utilize this power to increase the immersion level in an augmented reality (AR) application. To accomplish this task, the visual gap between real world and virtual objects are closed by applying non-photorealistic filtering/rendering techniques to both the real world video image and the rendered virtual object. The inherent requirement of real-time operation of AR is satisfied by implementing the mentioned techniques on GPU by using NVIDIA’s CUDA. Index Terms – non-photorealistic rendering, GPGPU, CUDA, augmented reality
A Web-based classification system of DNA-binding protein families.

Rational classification of proteins encoded in sequenced genomes is critical for making the genome sequences maximally useful for functional and evolutionary studies. The family of DNA-binding proteins is one of the most populated and studied amongst the various genomes of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes and the Web-based system presented here is an approach to their classification. The DnaProt resource is an annotated and searchable collection of protein sequences for the families of DNA-binding proteins. The database contains 3238 full-length sequences (retrieved from the SWISS-PROT database, release 38) that include, at least, a DNA-binding domain. Sequence entries are organized into families defined by PROSITE patterns, PRINTS motifs and de novo excised signatures. Combining global similarities and functional motifs into a single classification scheme, DNA-binding proteins are classified into 33 unique classes, which helps to reveal comprehensive family relationships. To maximize family information retrieval, DnaProt contains a collection of multiple alignments for each DNA-binding family while the recognized motifs can be used as diagnostically functional fingerprints. All available structural class representatives have been referenced. The resource was developed as a Web-based management system for online free access of customized data sets. Entries are fully hyperlinked to facilitate easy retrieval of the original records from the source databases while functional and phylogenetic annotation will be applied to newly sequenced genomes. The database is freely available for online search of a library containing specific patterns of the identified DNA-binding protein classes and retrieval of individual entries from our WWW server (http://kronos.biol.uoa.gr/~mariak/dbDNA.html).
Evaluation of new distribution channels for IP interactive QoE based services

The current paper focuses on the definition and evaluation of IP interactive services as new distribution channels to establish a closer relation with end-users. These services present features which make them to be an attractive distribution media that requires the analysis of the cognitive and affective aspects experienced by end users during the interaction with them. To evaluate these channels an IPTV (IP-Television) sssbased service has been developed including different existing situations. To this target, previous analyses have been driven to establish the most relevant variables which define users' behavior during the purchasing process. The obtained results may lead enterprises' relationships with their clients, increasing their implication and growing their loyalty.
Altered processing of novel information in N‐CAM‐deficient mice

&NA; N‐CAM‐deficient mice display anatomical and electrophysiological abnormalities in the CNS and behavioral deficits. Here, we address the question whether information processing is altered in these mice by analysis of the expression of c‐fos and arg 3.1/arc in NCAM‐ deficient mice after presentation of saccharin as novel or familiar and water as neutral gustatory stimulus. When compared to their wild‐type control littermates, increased expression of c‐fos mRNA in the amygdala after the novel taste and of arg 3.1/arc mRNA in the dentate gyrus 4.5 h after the neutral taste was detected in the absence of N‐CAM. Furthermore, the novelty‐induced increase in arg 3.1/arc expression in the cingulate cortex 4.5 h after the novel taste was not observed in N‐CAM‐deficient mice. These data suggest that information processing mediated by immediate‐early gene expression is altered in N‐CAM‐deficient mice. NeuroReport 14:1343–1346 © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
‘A Thinning of Skin’: Writing On and Against Whiteness

This article considers how women's life writing has offered a situated mode of resistance to dominant racial regimes in the US and South Africa. Based on a reading of diverse texts, it employs concepts such as entanglement, disentanglement, estrangement and dislocation as keys to understand the relationship between blackness and whiteness, not in abstract, theoretical terms but as a complex configuration of meanings arising from and within specific circumstances. It examines the technique of self-disclosure in life writing against racism as a means to illustrate the tentacles of power and privilege on many levels, and suggests a way of reading and interpreting self-narratives as a means to work through the psychological, material and symbolic processes entailed in the struggle for change. South African writer Antjie Krog work frames this enquiry since her life-project is both ontological, expressed as a search for a different kind of self, and epistemological, in the sense that this it explores the possibility of a different way of knowing. This task requires a deep reckoning with aspects of the past, her own as well as the catastrophic legacies of European colonial expansion and apartheid.
A Quantitative Evaluation of ERP Systems Quality Model

The ERP system is a complex and comprehensive software that integrates various enterprise's functions and resources. Although this system provides the firms many benefits, they still hesitate to adopt it due to high cost and risks. Thus, this study identifies and analysis critical quality characteristics that should be considered to ensure successful development and implementation for the ERP system. The study identifies the new features of ERP systems that differ from other information systems' features. Then in order to develop ERP system quality model, ISO/IEC 9126 standard has been adapted. Finally, analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been applied to evaluate the quality of the proposed model's characteristics. The derived quality characteristics could be used to compare ERP systems which help the organizations to implement better system quality.
An Interpretable Deep Learning Approach for Bearing Remaining Useful Life

Deep learning has achieved excellent performance in bearing life prediction. However, compared to traditional methods that improve performance while sacrificing interpretability, it has brought about many unknown issues. To address the aforementioned problems, the patch and positional transformer recurrent neural network (PPTRNN) method takes center stage. Firstly, it employs the patch mask mechanism and the transformer to visualize the attention maps of deep models in bearing life prediction. Nextly, the model's expressive power concerning periodic signal position offsets is enhanced through periodic positional encoding. Under these circumstances, the results of bearing life prediction on the XJTU-SY dataset validate that the proposed PPTRNN method outperforms other approaches. The visualization of PPTRNN effectively distinguishes features from different life intervals. Furthermore, the attention maps explain the model's attention levels to signals at various positions over the entire lifespan, providing partial insights into the principles behind the deep model's perception.
Elicitation of Goals in Requirements Engineering Using Agile Methods

Several agile software development approaches have been proposed and largely used in practice. All agile processes resolve a paradox of requirements engineering –the need to formulate a clear vision of a system in a world of constantly changing requirements. The fundamental principle underlying requirements engineering is the assumption that a system should be clearly specified before its design and implementation. The Goal Oriented Requirements Engineering method identifies the requirements in terms of goals which are well understood by the stakeholders and the goals are generally extracted from the stakeholders. But extracting these goals is a challenging task in the goal oriented methods. In the present paper, we propose an Agile Technique for Agent Based Goal Elicitation (ATABGE), based on the mechanisms of agile practices and approaches, for extracting the goals from stakeholders. While extracting the goals, the high level goals are decomposed/refined/broken to get the lower level goals/sub-goals involving active participation of stakeholders through the process of Goal decomposition/refinement/splitting involving Agents. The methodology is validated through a case study.
7.1 Quantum Computation

Quantum computers are computational devices that use the dynamics of atomic-scale objects to store and manipulate information. Only a few, small-scale quantum computers have been built to date, but quantum computers can in principle outperform all possible classical computers in signi cant ways. Quantum computation is therefore a subject of considerable theoretical interest that may also have practical applications in the future. Genetic programming can automatically discover new algorithms for quantum computers [Spector et al., 1998]. We describe how to simulate a quantum computer so that the tness of a quantum algorithm can be determined on classical hardware. We then describe ways in which three different genetic programming approaches can drive the simulator to evolve new quantum algorithms. The approaches are standard tree-based genetic programming, stack-based linear genome genetic programming, and stackless linear genome genetic programming. We demonstrate the techniques on four different problems: the two-bit early promise problem, the scaling majority-on problem, the four-item database search problem, and the two-bit and-or problem. For three of these problems (all but majority-on) the automatically discovered algorithms are more ef cient than any possible classical algorithms for the same problems. One of the better-than-classical algorithms (for the two-bit and-or problem) is in fact more ef cient than any previously known quantum algorithm for the same problem, suggesting that genetic programming may be a valuable tool in the future study of quantum programming.
Proteolytic processing of the p75 neurotrophin receptor: A prerequisite for signalling?

The common neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) regulates various functions in the developing and adult nervous system. Cell survival, cell death, axonal and growth cone retraction, and regulation of the cell cycle can be regulated by p75NTR‐mediated signals following activation by either mature or pro‐neurotrophins and in combination with various co‐receptors, including Trk receptors and sortilin. Here, we review the known functions of p75NTR by cell type, receptor‐ligand combination, and whether regulated intra‐membrane proteolysis of p75NTR is required for signalling. We highlight that the generation of the intracellular domain fragment of p75NTR is associated with many of the receptor functions, regardless of its ligand and co‐receptor interactions.
A novel chair-type G-quadruplex formed by a Bombyx mori telomeric sequence

Recently, the human telomeric d[TAGGG(TTAGGG)3] sequence has been shown to form in K+ solution an intramolecular (3+1) G-quadruplex structure, whose G-tetrad core contains three strands oriented in one direction and the fourth in the opposite direction. Here we present a study on the structure of the Bombyx mori telomeric d[TAGG(TTAGG)3] sequence, which differs from the human counterpart only by one G deletion in each repeat. We found that this sequence adopted multiple G-quadruplex structures in K+ solution. We have favored a major G-quadruplex form by a judicious U-for-T substitution in the sequence and determined the folding topology of this form. We showed by NMR that this was a new chair-type intramolecular G-quadruplex which involved a two-layer antiparallel G-tetrad core and three edgewise loops. Our result highlights the effect of G-tract length on the folding topology of G-quadruplexes, but also poses the question of whether a similar chair-type G-quadruplex fold exists in the human telomeric sequences.
The iPlant Collaborative: Cyberinfrastructure for Enabling Data to Discovery for the Life Sciences

The iPlant Collaborative provides life science research communities access to comprehensive, scalable, and cohesive computational infrastructure for data management; identity management; collaboration tools; and cloud, high-performance, high-throughput computing. iPlant provides training, learning material, and best practice resources to help all researchers make the best use of their data, expand their computational skill set, and effectively manage their data and computation when working as distributed teams. iPlant’s platform permits researchers to easily deposit and share their data and deploy new computational tools and analysis workflows, allowing the broader community to easily use and reuse those data and computational analyses.
Modulation of Cell Adhesion by Changes in O ~ L ~ 2 ( LFA-1 , CD 11 a / CD 18 ) Cytoplasmic Domain / Cytoskeleton Interaction By

The integrin O/L /52 (leukocyte function-associated molecule 1, CDlla/CD18) mediates activation-dependent adhesion of leukocytes. The cytoplasmic domains of O~g /52 have been demonstrated to modulate adhesiveness of at/52Affinity changes of O/g /52 for its ligand or postreceptor events can be responsible for this modulation of adhesiveness. To investigate the possible role of the O/g /52 cytoplasmic domains in postreceptor events we constructed eDNA encoding chimeric proteins with intracellular O/g /52 domains, which are responsible for C~L /52 specific intracellular interactions, and extracellular c~iro/33 (GP IIb/IIIa) domains, which allow the assessment of the receptor affinity state. The eDNA was stably transfected in Chinese hamster ovary cells and chimeric heterodimer formation proven by immunoprecipitations and flow cytometry. The chimeric receptors mediate adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen, and this adhesion is increased by phorbol myristate acetate and abolished by cytochalasin D. However, neither treatment affects the affinity state of the chimeric receptor, suggesting involvement of the cytoskeleton in the regulation of r /52 mediated cell adhesion. To exclude the possibility of postoccupancy affinity changes of the chimeric receptors, we locked the receptors into a high affinity state by creating a deletion variant. The region deleted (VGFFK) is highly conserved in integrin ce subunit cytoplasmic domains. Cotransfection of this deletion variant with a/3 subunit truncation (/53 a724) and a triple mutation at 758-760 (TTT to AAA) of/32 abolishes adhesion without changing the affinity state. A single mutation (TTT to TAT) reduces adhesion by half without affinity change. Scanning electron microscopy reveals impaired spreading of these truncated/mutated chimeras. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrates a correlation between impaired adhesion and a decrease in the ability to form focal adhesions and to organize the cytoskeleton into stress fibers. These results describe the integrin/cytoskeleton interaction, the organization of the cytoskeleton, and cell spreading as postreceptor events modulating c~r/52 cytoplasmic domain mediated cell adhesion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the cytoplasmic domain of the/52 subunit, and within it the TTT region, are required for these postreceptor events. Additionally, we present a new approach, using deletion variants to lock integrins in a high affinity state without interfering with the investigated integrin/cytoskeleton interaction. This approach may be generally useful to investigate the role of postreceptor events in integrin-mediated cell adhesion and migration.