Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Orbital Tumors Excision without Bony Marginotomy under Local and General Anesthesia

To present our experience of removing middle to deep orbital tumors using a combination of minimally invasive soft tissue approaches, sometimes under local anesthesia. Methods. In this retrospective case series, 30 patients (13 males and 17 females) underwent tumor removal through eyelid crease (17 eyes), conjunctival (nine eyes), lateral canthal (two eyes), and transcaruncular (two eyes) approaches. All tumors were located in the posterior half of the orbit. Six cases were removed under monitored anesthesia care with local block, and 24 were under general anesthesia. Results. The median (range) age and follow-up duration were 48.5 (31–87) years old and 24.5 (4–375) weeks, respectively. Visual acuity and ocular motility showed improvement or no significant change in all but one patient at the latest followup. Confirmed pathologies revealed cavernous hemangioma (15 cases), pleomorphic adenoma (5 cases), solitary fibrous tumor (4 cases), neurofibroma (2 cases), schwannoma (2 cases), and orbital varix (1 case). None of the patients experienced recurrence. Conclusions. Creating a bony marginotomy increases intraoperative exposure of the deep orbit but adds substantial time and morbidity. Benign orbital tumors can often be removed safely through small soft-tissue incisions, without bone removal and under local anesthesia.
Random graphons and a weak Positivstellensatz for graphs

In an earlier article, the authors proved that limits of convergent graph sequences can be described by various structures, including certain 2‐variable real functions called graphons, random graph models satisfying certain consistency conditions, and normalized, multiplicative and reflection positive graph parameters. In this article we show that each of these structures has a related, relaxed version, which are also equivalent. Using this, we describe a further structure equivalent to graph limits, namely probability measures on countable graphs that are ergodic with respect to the group of permutations of the nodes. As an application, we prove an analogue of the Positivstellensatz for graphs: we show that every linear inequality between subgraph densities that holds asymptotically for all graphs has a formal proof in the following sense: it can be approximated arbitrarily well by another valid inequality that is a “sum of squares” in the algebra of partially labeled graphs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory
Conjugate descent formulation of backpropagation error in feedforward neural networks

The feedforward neural network architecture uses backpropagation learning to determine optimal weights between different interconnected layers. This learning procedure uses a gradient descent technique applied to a sum-of-squares error function for the given input-output pattern. It employs an iterative procedure to minimise the error function for a given set of patterns, by adjusting the weights of the network. The first derivates of the error with respect to the weights identify the local error surface in the descent direction. Hence the network exhibits a different local error surface for every different pattern presented to it, and weights are iteratively modified in order to minimise the current local error. The determination of an optimal weight vector is possible only when the total minimum error (mean of the minimum local errors) for all patterns from the training set may be minimised. In this paper, we present a general mathematical formulation for the second derivative of the error function with respect to the weights (which represents a conjugate descent) for arbitrary feedforward neural network topologies, and we use this derivative information to obtain the optimal weight vector. The local error is backpropagated among the units of hidden layers via the second order derivative of the error with respect to the weights of the hidden and output layers independently and also in combination. The new total minimum error point may be evaluated with the help of the current total minimum error and the current minimised local error. The weight modification processes is performed twice: once with respect to the present local error and once more with respect to the current total or mean error. We present some numerical evidence that our proposed method yields better network weights than those determined via a conventional gradient descent approach.
The Information-Seeking Funnel

We introduce a new conceptual framework for information seeking called the information-seeking funnel, inspired by a common model of how people are attracted to products they end up buying. By using this model, we are able to better understand why current search tools are inadequate for several stages of the information-seeking process. At the same time, we explore what characteristics tools that are designed for these neglected stages might have, and how we might evaluate them.
Invariant features for automatic coarse registration of point-based surfaces

Automatic coarse alignment, or registration, of partially overlapping three dimensional (3D) shapes is a fundamental problem of the shape acquisition and modelling pipeline. This paper describes a new approach to automatic coarse pair-wise registration of partially overlapping 3D point sets which are commonly generated by laser scanners, structured light systems or stereo. The approach is based on the characterization of the two 3D point clouds by sparse feature points invariant to Euclidean transformations, which are robustly extracted from the data by a multiscale procedure. The feature points are grouped in sets of triplets and the triplets are then characterized by signatures, which are vectors of parameters with the same invariance properties of the feature points. A matching procedure selects probable corresponding triplets in the signature space according to their signature distance. The alignment transformation able to register the two scan pairs is estimated from the matched triplets. A verification process asses the quality of match, which is defined as the number of feature points put in correct correspondence by the estimated transformation associated to a matched pair. This number of features must be greater than a prescribed threshold, defined by the expected percentage of overlapping of the two data sets. The proposed approach to registration has been evaluated on standard scan sets available on the web, and some preliminary results, presented and discussed in the paper, confirm its validity. Other work has to be done to analyze the robustness of the approach to noisy data and to optimize the computational time.
Extract list data from semi-structured document using clustering

This paper is concerned with list data extraction from semi-structured documents. By list data extraction, we mean extracting data from lists and grouping it by rows and columns. List, which has structured characteristics, is used to store highly structured and database-like information in many semi-structured documents, such as business annual reports, online airport listings, catalogs, hotel directories, etc. List data extraction is of benefit to text mining applications on semi-structured documents. Several research efforts have been done on structured data extraction from semi-structured documents by utilizing the word layout and arrangement information. However, as far as we know, few studies have been sufficiently investigated on list data extraction making use of the semantic information previously. In this paper, we propose a clustering based method making use of not only the layout and arrangement information but also the semantic information of words for this extraction task. We show experimental results on plain-text annual reports from Shanghai Stock Exchange, in which 73.49% of the lists were extracted correctly.
Structural and Functional Characterization of RecG Helicase under Dilute and Molecular Crowding Conditions

In an ATP-dependent reaction, the Escherichia coli RecG helicase unwinds DNA junctions in vitro. We present evidence of a unique protein conformational change in the RecG helicase from an α-helix to a β-strand upon an ATP binding under dilute conditions using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. In contrast, under molecular crowding conditions, the α-helical conformation was stable even upon an ATP binding. These distinct conformational behaviors were observed to be independent of Na+ and Mg2+. Interestingly, CD measurements demonstrated that the spectra of a frayed duplex decreased with increasing of the RecG concentration both under dilute and molecular crowding conditions in the presence of ATP, suggesting that RecG unwound the frayed duplex. Our findings raise the possibility that the α-helix and β-strand forms of RecG are a preactive and an active structure with the helicase activity, respectively.
Life situations and the care burden for stroke patients and their informal caregivers in a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether the parallel life situation between stroke patients and their informal caregivers (dyads) shown in cross-sectional studies prevails also in a longitudinal perspective. Methods. A total of 377 Swedish stroke patients, aged ≥65 years, and their 268 informal caregivers were followed from hospital admission and one year on. Analyses were based on patient interviews, functional ability (MMSE) score, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) score, self-rated health score, and the Gothenburg Quality of Life (GQL) activity score. Similar information was obtained by postal questionnaires from informal caregivers, also including information on the nature and amount of assistance provided and on Caregiver Burden (CB) score. Results. Before index admission informal caregivers provided care on average 5 h per week and after discharge 11 h per week (P < 0.0001). Support volume was associated with patient sex (more for men), low patient’s functional ability, low received municipal social service support, closeness of patient–caregiver relation, and short distance to patient’s home. Significant positive associations within the dyads were found for HAD anxiety score (P < 0.0001), total NHP score (P < 0.0001), and GQL activity score (P < 0.0001) after adjustment for patient’s age, sex, functional ability, and patient–caregiver relationship. CB score increased with amount of informal caregiver support, patient’s age, and with low functional ability and low amount of municipal social service support. All these associations were constant across time. Conclusions. There was an association within the dyads regarding anxiety score, NHP score, and activity score. CB score was generally high.
Out of the dark: transitional subsurface-to-surface microbial diversity in a terrestrial serpentinizing seep (Manleluag, Pangasinan, the Philippines)

In the Zambales ophiolite range, terrestrial serpentinizing fluid seeps host diverse microbial assemblages. The fluids fall within the profile of Ca2+-OH−-type waters, indicative of active serpentinization, and are low in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (<0.5 ppm). Influx of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) affects the solubility of calcium carbonate as distance from the source increases, triggering the formation of meter-scale travertine terraces. Samples were collected at the source and along the outflow channel to determine subsurface microbial community response to surface exposure. DNA was extracted and submitted for high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Taxonomic assignment of the sequence data indicates that 8.1% of the total sequence reads at the source of the seep affiliate with the genus Methanobacterium. Other major classes detected at the source include anaerobic taxa such as Bacteroidetes (40.7% of total sequence reads) and Firmicutes (19.1% of total reads). Hydrogenophaga spp. increase in relative abundance as redox potential increases. At the carbonate terrace, 45% of sequence reads affiliate with Meiothermus spp. Taxonomic observations and geochemical data suggest that several putative metabolisms may be favorable, including hydrogen oxidation, H2-associated sulfur cycling, methanogenesis, methanotrophy, nitrogen fixation, ammonia oxidation, denitrification, nitrate respiration, methylotrophy, carbon monoxide respiration, and ferrous iron oxidation, based on capabilities of nearest known neighbors. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggest that microbial activity produces chemical and physical traces in the precipitated carbonates forming downstream of the seep's source. These data provide context for future serpentinizing seep ecosystem studies, particularly with regards to tropical biomes.
University of South Africa staff’s learning experiences in online coursework master’s of education

This study explored the experiences of University of South Africa (UNISA) staff who did an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) based Master’s of Education (MEd) programme between the years 2012 and 2015. This is an online programme that was initiated jointly by UNISA and University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Only academics who UNISA employs were targeted in this study due to UNISA’s rationale for engaging in this dual university initiative. A cohort of these academics had already qualified with doctoral and professional master’s degrees in various focus areas. We were interested in these academics’ varied experiences with respect to their views, understandings and needs in this online programme. What are the staff’s experiences of learning online in the UNISA-UMUC MEd programme? This question triggered research into the experiences of the academics concerned. This qualitative phenomenographic study was framed in the variation theory. Seven purposively selected staff members were interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. Three main themes emerged from the data namely, experiences of staff pertaining to learning online, subject matter and student learning, and the learning tools related to social media. The study’s findings revealed that participants varied in their experiences of online learning in the dual university initiative. The findings were important for this dual university initiative in so far as improvements that may be necessitated by the findings are concerned.
Comparative Genomics of Plant-Associated Pseudomonas spp.: Insights into Diversity and Inheritance of Traits Involved in Multitrophic Interactions

We provide here a comparative genome analysis of ten strains within the Pseudomonas fluorescens group including seven new genomic sequences. These strains exhibit a diverse spectrum of traits involved in biological control and other multitrophic interactions with plants, microbes, and insects. Multilocus sequence analysis placed the strains in three sub-clades, which was reinforced by high levels of synteny, size of core genomes, and relatedness of orthologous genes between strains within a sub-clade. The heterogeneity of the P. fluorescens group was reflected in the large size of its pan-genome, which makes up approximately 54% of the pan-genome of the genus as a whole, and a core genome representing only 45–52% of the genome of any individual strain. We discovered genes for traits that were not known previously in the strains, including genes for the biosynthesis of the siderophores achromobactin and pseudomonine and the antibiotic 2-hexyl-5-propyl-alkylresorcinol; novel bacteriocins; type II, III, and VI secretion systems; and insect toxins. Certain gene clusters, such as those for two type III secretion systems, are present only in specific sub-clades, suggesting vertical inheritance. Almost all of the genes associated with multitrophic interactions map to genomic regions present in only a subset of the strains or unique to a specific strain. To explore the evolutionary origin of these genes, we mapped their distributions relative to the locations of mobile genetic elements and repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) elements in each genome. The mobile genetic elements and many strain-specific genes fall into regions devoid of REP elements (i.e., REP deserts) and regions displaying atypical tri-nucleotide composition, possibly indicating relatively recent acquisition of these loci. Collectively, the results of this study highlight the enormous heterogeneity of the P. fluorescens group and the importance of the variable genome in tailoring individual strains to their specific lifestyles and functional repertoire.
On the steady-state probability of delay and large negative deviations for the $GI/GI/n$ queue in the Halfin-Whitt regime

We consider the FCFS $GI/GI/n$ queue in the Halfin-Whitt heavy traffic regime, and prove bounds for the steady-state probability of delay (s.s.p.d.) for generally distributed processing times. We prove that there exist $\epsilon_1, \epsilon_2 > 0$, depending on the first three moments of the inter-arrival and processing time distributions, such that the s.s. p.d. is bounded from above by $\exp\big(-\epsilon_1 B^2\big)$ as the associated excess parameter $B \rightarrow \infty$; and by $1 - \epsilon_2 B$ as $B \rightarrow 0$. We also prove that the tail of the steady-state number of idle servers has a Gaussian decay. We provide explicit bounds in all cases, in terms of the first three moments of the inter-arrival and service distributions, and use known results to show that our bounds correctly capture various qualitative scalings. \\\indent Our main proof technique is the derivation of new stochastic comparison bounds for the FCFS $GI/GI/n$ queue, which are of a structural nature, hold for all $n$ and times $t$, and significantly generalize the work of \citet{GG.10c} (e.g. by providing bounds for the queue length to exceed any given level, as opposed to any given level strictly greater than the number of servers as acheived in \citet{GG.10c}). Our results do not follow from simple comparison arguments to e.g. infinite-server systems or loss models, which would in all cases provide bounds in the opposite direction.
Analysis System for Correlative Fluctuation in Futures Market

This paper studied the correlative fluctuation between two different futures markets, and developed an analysis system on . net platform to realize the prediction of price fluctuation. In this system, we explored the computing technology with mathematical programming language R, and integrated it with . net platform, thereof making the calculation precise and convenient. Test by this system has shown the accurate prediction of price fluctuation in the guided market.
The Wasserstein metric in Factor Analysis

We consider the problem of approximating a (nonnegative definite) covariance matrix by the sum of two structured covariances –one which is diagonal and one which has low-rank. Such an additive decomposition follows the dictum of factor analysis where linear relations are sought between variables corrupted by independent measurement noise. We use as distance the Wasserstein metric between their respective distributions (assumed Gaussian) which induces a metric between nonnegative definite matrices, in general. The rank-constraint renders the optimization non-convex. We propose alternating between optimization with respect to each of the two summands. Properties of these optimization problems and the performance of the approach are being analyzed.
Multiple Object Tracking Using SIFT Features and Location Matching

In recent, object recognition and tracking systems have been developed that use local invariant features from Shift Invariant Feature Transform algorithm. Most of them are implemented by distance matching of descriptor features between the reference and the next consecutive frame image. Among the matched keypoints generated from SIFT descriptor matching, there are some mismatched keypoints when keypoint location information is considered. These location-mismatched keypoints could be affected to object tracking perfomance. To achieve a stable tracking it is necessary that these are detected and discarded in tracking action. In this paper a robust object tracking system is presented that strengthen stability in tracking by eleminating location-mismatched keypoints. Experimental results show that a stable and robust tracking can be achieved in a test video sequence includes multiple objects.
Nanotubular surface modification of metallic implants via electrochemical anodization technique

Due to increased awareness and interest in the biomedical implant field as a result of an aging population, research in the field of implantable devices has grown rapidly in the last few decades. Among the biomedical implants, metallic implant materials have been widely used to replace disordered bony tissues in orthopedic and orthodontic surgeries. The clinical success of implants is closely related to their early osseointegration (ie, the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant), which relies heavily on the surface condition of the implant. Electrochemical techniques for modifying biomedical implants are relatively simple, cost-effective, and appropriate for implants with complex shapes. Recently, metal oxide nanotubular arrays via electrochemical anodization have become an attractive technique to build up on metallic implants to enhance the biocompatibility and bioactivity. This article will thoroughly review the relevance of electrochemical anodization techniques for the modification of metallic implant surfaces in nanoscale, and cover the electrochemical anodization techniques used in the development of the types of nanotubular/nanoporous modification achievable via electrochemical approaches, which hold tremendous potential for bio-implant applications. In vitro and in vivo studies using metallic oxide nanotubes are also presented, revealing the potential of nanotubes in biomedical applications. Finally, an outlook of future growth of research in metallic oxide nanotubular arrays is provided. This article will therefore provide researchers with an in-depth understanding of electrochemical anodization modification and provide guidance regarding the design and tuning of new materials to achieve a desired performance and reliable biocompatibility.
A Decomposition Algorithm for Feedback Min-Max Model Predictive Control

An algorithm for solving feedback min-max model predictive control for discrete time uncertain linear systems with constraints is presented in the paper. The algorithm solves the corresponding multi-stage min-max linear optimization problem. It is based on applying recursively a decomposition technique to solve the min-max problem via a sequence of low complexity linear programs. It is proved that the algorithm converges to the optimal solution in finite time. Simulation results are provided to compare the proposed algorithm with other approaches.
Distance measure with computer vision and neural networks for underwater applications

This document describes a distance measurement system for underwater applications with computer vision and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The developed system is installed in the observation class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Visor3, to be used in experimental testing. An integrated camera with two laser pointers are used to obtain input data to a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) ANN, trained with a resilient backpropagation algorithm (RPROP). The solution described in this paper is an alternative to other methods found in the literature. Experimental results are presented.