Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dense Stereo Matching over the Panum Band

Stereo matching algorithms conventionally match over a range of disparities sufficient to encompass all visible 3D scene points. Human vision, however, works over a narrow band of disparities-Panum's fusional band-whose typical range may be as little as 1/20 of the full range of disparities for visible points. Only points inside the band are fused visually; the remainder of points are seen diplopically. A probabilistic approach is presented for dense stereo matching under the Panum band restriction. It is shown that existing dense stereo algorithms are inadequate in this problem setting and the main problem is segmentation, marking the image into the areas that fall inside the band. An approximation is derived that makes up for missing out-of-band information with a ¿proxy¿ based on image autocorrelation. It is shown that the Panum Proxy algorithm achieves accuracy close to what can be obtained when the full disparity band is available, and with gains of between one and two orders of magnitude in computation time. There are also substantial gains in computation space. Panum band processing is also demonstrated in an active stereopsis framework.
Investigating the Similarity Space of Music Artists on the Micro-Blogosphere

Microblogging services such as Twitter have become an important means to share information. In this paper, we thoroughly analyze their potential for a key challenge in th e field of MIR, namely the elaboration of perceptually meaningful similarity measures. To this end, comprehensive evaluation experiments were conducted using Twitter posts gathered during a period of several months. We investigated 23,100 combinations of different term weighting strategies, normalization methods, index term sets, Twitter query schemes, and similarity measurement techniques , aiming at determining in which way they influence the similarity estimates’ quality. Evaluation was performed on the task of similar artist retrieval. Two data sets were used: one of 224 well-known artists with a uniform genre distribution, the other consti tuting a collection of 3,000 artists extracted from last.fm andallmusic.com.
General anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity: an emerging problem for the young and old?

Purpose of review A growing body of evidence from cells, rodents, and sub-human primates suggests that general anesthetics can be neurotoxic to the developing and senescent brain. We review this evidence and put the studies into perspective for the practicing clinician. Recent findings Studies indicate that a variety of general anesthetics, which act primarily as γ-amino-butyric acid receptor modulators and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid glutamate receptor antagonists, produce apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing rodent and nonhuman primate brain. Vulnerability to this neurotoxicity is greatest during the period of synaptogenesis and presumably reflects disruption of the normal balance between excitation and inhibition during a critical period of brain development. Moreover, in the rodent, the neurodegeneration is associated with cognitive impairment into adulthood. Recent data also reveal that general anesthesia produces enduring cognitive impairment in aged but not young rodents and that halothane and isoflurane increase the generation and toxicity of amyloid β, a protein strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The meaning of these experimental results for human surgical patients is unclear, however, because human studies are lacking. Summary General anesthetics produce neurotoxicity and enduring cognitive impairment in young and aged animals but it is premature to change clinical practice because the issue has not been adequately studied in humans.
Effect of diabetes and oxidative stress on plasma CCL23 levels in patients with severe chronic kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION CCL23 is a new CC chemokine involved in leukocyte trafficking and inflammatory diseases. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and diabetes are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in those with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate CCL23 concentrations in patients with CKD and to identify the factors affecting its plasma level. PATIENTS AND METHODS CCL23 levels, inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α) and oxidative stress markers (neopterin and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase [Cu/Zn SOD]) were measured in the plasma of patients with mild-to-moderate CKD (group A) and severe CKD (group B) both with and without diabetes and in controls. RESULTS CCL23 concentrations were higher in group B, particularly in patients with diabetes compared with controls (P <0.001) and group A (P <0.01). The inflammatory markers were increased in CKD patients but they were not correlated with CCL23 levels. In contrast, there were associations between CCL23 and oxidative stress markers and kidney function. The presence of diabetes, Cu/Zn SOD, and percentage of lymphocytes were found to be independent factors affecting CCL23 concentrations in the whole CKD group. In patients without diabetes, only Cu/Zn SOD was independently associated with CCL23. CONCLUSIONS CCL23 levels were increased in patients with severe CKD and were strongly correlated with kidney function. The coexistence of diabetes and oxidative stress independently affected CCL23 levels, while the presence of CVD and inflammation had no impact on its concentrations.
Comparison of Three Versions of Partin Tables to Predict Final Pathologic Stage in a Chinese Cohort: A Decision Curve Analysis

Purpose: To compare Partin tables (PTs) 1997, 2001, and 2007 for their clinical applicability in a Chinese cohort based upon a decision curve analysis (DCA). Methods: Clinical and pathologic data of 264 consecutive Chinese patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were used. These patients underwent open radical prostatectomy between 2005 and 2011. DCA quantified the net benefit of different PT versions relating to specific threshold probabilities of established capsular penetration (ECP), seminal vesicle involvement (SVI), and lymph node involvement (LNI). Results: Overall, ECP, SVI, and LNI were recorded in 23.1, 10.2, and 6.1%, respectively. When the threshold probability was below the prevalence for LNI and ECP predictions, the DCA favored the 2007 version versus the 1997 version for SVI. Conclusions: DCA indicates that for low threshold probability, decision models are useful to discriminate the performance differences of three PT versions, although net benefit differences were not apparent. For high threshold probability, there may not be an important benefit from the use of PTs and the current analysis cannot translate into meaningful net gains differences.
Adaptive synchronizability of coupled oscillators with switching

In this paper, we study the influence of switching couplings in synchronization of a random network of Kuramoto oscillators. The topology of the network is assumed to be time-varying and switched over time. In order to adjust the accuracy of the switching effect, we introduce a switching regulatory index which is combined with the local order parameter in each time interval to regulate the value of switching interval. Under this switching scheme, the network topology can be intermittently changed. Numerical simulations illustrate that phase synchronizability of Kuramoto oscillators can significantly be enhanced in Erdos-Rǩnyi network topology and scale-free network topology, but only slightly enhanced in small-world network topology under the proposed scheme.
An isotope dilution model for partitioning leucine uptake by the liver of the lactating dairy cow.

An isotope dilution model for partitioning leucine uptake by the liver of the lactating dairy cow is constructed and solved in the steady state. If assumptions ae made, model solution permits calculation of the rate of leucine uptake from portal and hepatic arterial blood supply, leucine export into the hepatic vein, leucine oxidation and transamination, and synthesis and degradation of hepatic constitutive and export proteins. The model requires the measurement of plasma flow rate through the liver in combination with leucine concentrations and plateau isotopic enrichments in arterial, portal and hepatic plasma during a constant infusion of [1-13C]leucine tracer. The model can be applied to other amino acids with similar metabolic fates and will provide a means for assessing the impact of hepatic metabolism on amino acid availability to peripheral tissues. This is of particular importance when considering the dairy cow and the requirements of the mammary gland for milk protein synthesis.
Caspases Induce Cytochrome c Release from Mitochondria by Activating Cytosolic Factors*

We investigated the ability of caspases (cysteine proteases with aspartic acid specificity) to induce cytochromec release from mitochondria. When Jurkat cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by Fas receptor ligation, cytochrome cwas released from mitochondria, an event that was prevented by the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk (zVal-Ala-Asp-CH2F). Purified caspase-8 triggered rapid cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria in vitro. The effect was indirect, as the presence of cytosol was required, suggesting that caspase-8 cleaves and activates a cytosolic substrate, which in turn is able to induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The cytochromec releasing activity was not blocked by caspase inhibition, but was antagonized by Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Caspase-8 and caspase-3 cleaved Bid, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, which gains cytochromec releasing activity in response to caspase cleavage. However, caspase-6 and caspase-7 did not cleave Bid, although they initiated cytochrome c release from mitochondria in the presence of cytosol. Thus, effector caspases may cleave and activate another cytosolic substrate (other than Bid), which then promotes cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Mitochondria significantly amplified the caspase-8 initiated DEVD-specific cleavage activity. Our data suggest that cytochrome c release, initiated by the action of caspases on a cytosolic substrates, may act to amplify a caspase cascade during apoptosis.
Translation and validation of the Doll and Torkzadeh end user computing satisfaction instrument

Examines the validity of a well-known user information satisfaction instrument: the Doll and Torkzadeh (1988) end-user computing satisfaction instrument. A first contribution of this study is the replication of earlier findings by an independent researcher. However, more important are the extensions to earlier studies provided in this paper. First, this paper does not only test the validity of the instrument by a confirmatory factor analysis; in addition, structural equation modelling is used to assess the measurement properties of the instrument. Next, an expert panel has been used to assess the face validity of the measurement instrument. Finally, this paper presents a generally applicable method to validate the translation of a measurement instrument, which makes it possible to apply the instrument to non-English speaking respondents.
Stepped parity: A low-cost multiple bit upset detection technique

Radiation-induced Multiple Bit Upsets (MBUs) are major reliability concerns for embedded memory arrays fabricated in advanced technology nodes. Although various error correction techniques with different attributes have been developed, there has been limited efforts towards pure MBU detection. In this paper, we present stepped parity, a cost-efficient technique to detect MBUs in memory arrays. In this technique, each data bit is associated with several parity bits in a way that the most common MBU patterns could be detected by at least one of the parity bits. The experimental results reveal that the stepped parity reduces the area and power overheads of the stat-of-the-art solutions by about 30% for a given reliability constraint.
Is it stress? The role of the CRF system and HPA axis, and the identification of brain sites involved in chronic food restriction-induced augmentation of heroin seeking

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by recurring episodes of abstinence and relapse. The mechanisms that underlie this pattern are yet to be elucidated. Recently, we reported that abstinent rats with a history of chronic food restriction show increased heroin seeking compared to sated controls. It is thought that food restriction may cause sensitization of drug seeking due to its stress-like properties, suggesting a critical role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and corticosterone, hormones involved in the stress response. Blocking corticosterone reduces food restriction-induced sensitization of locomotor activity in response to cocaine, while acute food-deprivation induced reinstatement of extinguished drug seeking is attenuated by CRF antagonism but not removal of corticosterone. The role of CRF and corticosterone in food restriction-induced augmentation of drug seeking remains unknown. Here, male Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 10 days in operant conditioning chambers. Following self-administration rats were subjected to 14 days of unrestricted (sated group) or a mildly restricted (FDR group) access to food, which maintained their body weight at ~75% of the sated rats’ body weight. On day 14, rats were administered a selective CRF1 receptor antagonist (R121919; 0.0, 20.0 mg/kg; IP), non-selective CRF receptor antagonist (α-helical CRF; 0.0, 10.0, 25.0 μg/μl; ICV) or a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (RU486; 0.0, 30.0 mg/kg; IP), and underwent a 1 h drug seeking test under extinction conditions. Rats in the FDR group showed a statistically significant increase in heroin seeking compared to the sated group. No statistically significant effects for treatment with R121919, α-helical CRF or RU486 were observed. These findings suggest that stress may not be a critical factor in our paradigm. In an exploratory study to identify brain sites involved in this effect rats were sacrificed post-test and the expression of the immediate early gene, c-fos, an indicator of neuronal activity, was measured using immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, a statistically significant decrease in Fos immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens shell was observed for the FDR compared to sated rats. Although stress may not be a critical factor in our effect, prolonged exposure to food restriction does cause alterations in reward-related brain sites. The identification of specific neuron types affected in these regions should drive future studies.
A novel approach for delineation and feature extraction in QRS complex of ECG signal

This paper reports the development of a software suite to be accessed in future with any General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enabled mobile phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for the extraction and analysis of disease-related features from the images of paper based ECG records. In India and other developing countries, the cheaper paper based ECG machines are mainly used. Also in rural areas of these countries - where there is acute dearth of qualified cardiologists, the cardiac diseases are still the major silent killers. One way of addressing this problem is cellular medicine which necessitates an intelligent cardiac parameter extraction algorithm. In our bid to address exactly this requirement, a software is developed with the help of few image processing techniques. At first, the background noises i.e. the gridlines are removed by thresholding technique. Binarization and thinning has been done for extraction of digital time data and then Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and water reservoir based pattern recognition technique are subsequently used to delineate other important ECG parameters for ECG interpretation.
Contributions of external forcings to Southern Annular Mode trends

Abstract An observed trend in the Southern Hemisphere annular mode (SAM) during recent decades has involved an intensification of the polar vortex. The source of this trend is a matter of scientific debate with stratospheric ozone losses, greenhouse gas increases, and natural variability all being possible contenders. Because it is difficult to separate the contribution of various external forcings to the observed trend, a state-of-the-art global coupled model is utilized here. Ensembles of twentieth-century simulations forced with the observed time series of greenhouse gases, tropospheric and stratospheric ozone, sulfate aerosols, volcanic aerosols, solar variability, and various combinations of these are used to examine the annular mode trends in comparison to observations, in an attempt to isolate the response of the climate system to each individual forcing. It is found that ozone changes are the biggest contributor to the observed summertime intensification of the southern polar vortex in the second .
Binding of Plasmodium merozoite proteins RON2 and AMA1 triggers commitment to invasion

The commitment of Plasmodium merozoites to invade red blood cells (RBCs) is marked by the formation of a junction between the merozoite and the RBC and the coordinated induction of the parasitophorous vacuole. Despite its importance, the molecular events underlying the parasite’s commitment to invasion are not well understood. Here we show that the interaction of two parasite proteins, RON2 and AMA1, known to be critical for invasion, is essential to trigger junction formation. Using antibodies (Abs) that bind near the hydrophobic pocket of AMA1 and AMA1 mutated in the pocket, we identified RON2’s binding site on AMA1. Abs specific for the AMA1 pocket blocked junction formation and the induction of the parasitophorous vacuole. We also identified the critical residues in the RON2 peptide (previously shown to bind AMA1) that are required for binding to the AMA1 pocket, namely, two conserved, disulfide-linked cysteines. The RON2 peptide blocked junction formation but, unlike the AMA1-specific Ab, did not block formation of the parasitophorous vacuole, indicating that formation of the junction and parasitophorous vacuole are molecularly distinct steps in the invasion process. Collectively, these results identify the binding of RON2 to the hydrophobic pocket of AMA1 as the step that commits Plasmodium merozoites to RBC invasion and point to RON2 as a potential vaccine candidate.
Prospective International Cohort Study Demonstrates Inability of Interim PET to Predict Treatment Failure in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

The International Atomic Energy Agency sponsored a large, multinational, prospective study to further define PET for risk stratification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and to test the hypothesis that international biological diversity or diversity of healthcare systems may influence the kinetics of treatment response as assessed by interim PET (I-PET). Methods: Cancer centers in Brazil, Chile, Hungary, India, Italy, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand followed a common protocol based on treatment with R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxyadriamycin, vincristine, prednisolone with rituximab), with I-PET after 2–3 cycles of chemotherapy and at the end of chemotherapy scored visually. Results: Two-year survivals for all 327 patients (median follow-up, 35 mo) were 79% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74%–83%) for event-free survival (EFS) and 86% (95% CI, 81%–89%) for overall survival (OS). Two hundred ten patients (64%) were I-PET–negative, and 117 (36%) were I-PET–positive. Two-year EFS was 90% (95% CI, 85%–93%) for I-PET–negative and 58% (95% CI, 48%–66%) for I-PET–positive, with a hazard ratio of 5.31 (95% CI, 3.29–8.56). Two-year OS was 93% (95% CI, 88%–96%) for I-PET–negative and 72% (95% CI, 63%–80%) for I-PET–positive, with a hazard ratio of 3.86 (95% CI, 2.12–7.03). On sequential monitoring, 192 of 312 (62%) patients had complete response at both I-PET and end-of-chemotherapy PET, with an EFS of 97% (95% CI, 92%–98%); 110 of these with favorable clinical indicators had an EFS of 98% (95% CI, 92%–100%). In contrast, the 107 I-PET–positive cases segregated into 2 groups: 58 (54%) achieved PET-negative complete remission at the end of chemotherapy (EFS, 86%; 95% CI, 73%–93%); 46% remained PET-positive (EFS, 35%; 95% CI, 22%–48%). Heterogeneity analysis found no significant difference between countries for outcomes stratified by I-PET. Conclusion: This large international cohort delivers 3 novel findings: treatment response assessed by I-PET is comparable across disparate healthcare systems, secondly a negative I-PET findings together with good clinical status identifies a group with an EFS of 98%, and thirdly a single I-PET scan does not differentiate chemoresistant lymphoma from complete response and cannot be used to guide risk-adapted therapy.
How scaffolding nurtures the development of young children's literacy repertoire: Insiders’ and outsiders’ collaborative understandings

Abstract This collaborative inquiry involved four educators in the analysis of how children, ages three, four, and five, created meaning from the experiences in their preschool classroom. Drawing on our insider and outsider perspectives as teachers and researchers, we examined the social interactions in this context and focused specifically on the teacher's use of scaffolding. Through literacy scaffolding with an academic focus, an intellectual focus, and an emotional focus, the teacher was able to build bridges from the unknown and not understood to the known and understood. The purpose of our naturalistic inquiry, therefore, was to explore how the teacher used scaffolding to nurture the development of young children's literacy repertoire.
Finite automata for Schreier graphs of virtually free groups

Abstract The Stallings construction for f.g. subgroups of free groups is generalized by introducing the concept of Stallings section, which allows efficient computation of the core of a Schreier graph based on edge folding. It is proved that the groups that admit Stallings sections are precisely the f.g. virtually free groups, this is proved through a constructive approach based on Bass–Serre theory. Complexity issues and applications are also discussed.
Adjuvant Pelvic Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Cancer: The Pro Argument

Adjuvant external beam pelvic radiation therapy for stage I endometrial cancer has become increasingly confusing and controversial. Despite repeated studies showing a disease-free survival benefit to the therapy, its role is being questioned because overall survival has not been demonstrated. By using evidence from the literature, including the most recent randomized data, an argument is made for the use of external beam pelvic radiotherapy for a 63-year-old woman who has undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for a grade 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus with 9 of 12 mm of invasion and the presence of lymphovascular space involvement. Her risk of relapse is approximately 25%, and adjuvant external beam radiation can improve her disease-free survival and even possibly improve her chances of cure.