Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidential versus Bayesian Estimation for Radar Map Building

This paper discusses the role played by signal detection algorithms in the mobile robot map building problem. Typical mapping techniques make the assumption that the internal signal detection, which is required to produce an (r, rho) point estimate, is ideal. That is, the probability of detecting the signal is unity, and the probabilities of a false alarm or missed detection are zero. In the case of grid mapping, this allows for the occupancy probability to be distributed under the constraint of a unity summation amongst affected cells. In the case of SLAM, this allows for a feature's (x,y) coordinates to be modeled with (Gaussian) probability density functions. This paper shows that typical signal detection algorithms contain all the necessary measurement models to exactly calculate the map occupancy estimates. Furthermore, once restrictive signal assumptions are relaxed, its shown that evidence theory and not Bayesian theory should be used in the combination and updating of the map estimates. The ideas presented in this paper are demonstrated in the field robotics domain using a millimeter wave radar sensor. Target presence and absence beliefs are derived directly from signal likelihood ratios as opposed to a priori assigned constants as is typical for mapping algorithms. Results obtained from outdoor sensing experiments, show the improvement of this new model, given targets of fluctuating radar cross section (RCS)
Mentorship programme criteria and performance outcomes of nurses’ perceptions

Background: Mentoring of new staff nurses is a common practice, and international studies have shown it to be associated with increased retention rates, better acquisition of nursing professional identity and increased job satisfaction. However, the outcomes of mentoring programmes in Malaysia are unclear, and in this study, we aimed to explore them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via convenience sampling at two hospitals. A Mentoring Novice for Medical Surgical Nurse (MNMSN) questionnaire was distributed to recent graduates/full-time nurses. It consisted of 50 items pertaining to the assessment of patient, clinical decision making, cultural competency, commitment to professional nursing standards, positive feeling about nursing at this hospital and willingness to remain in the nursing profession. Results: A total of 61 nurses responded (response rate 100%). Significant differences pre- and post-mentorship programme were observed (patient assessment r = 0.304, p = 0.009; clinical decision-making r = 0.394, p = 0.006; cultural competency r = 0.202, p = 0.01; commitment to professional nursing standards r = 0.423, p = 0; positive feeling about nursing at this hospital r = 0.404, p = 0.001; and willingness to remain in the nursing profession r = 0.312, p = 0.007). Conclusion: The mentorship programme had a positive impact on the clinical component of nursing among hospital-based nurses.
A Pixel-Weighting Method for Discriminating Objects of Different Sizes in an Image Captured from a Single Camera

A novel method of pixel-weighting is proposed to calculate the size of a detected object in an image captured using a single camera. The calculated object size does not vary significantly regardless of the location of the object in an image, which allows it to be effectively utilized in a vision-based surveillance sensing algorithm as a meaningful feature for discriminating human intruders from other objects. Experimental results show the feasibility of the proposed method.
In vivo tumor surveillance by NK cells requires TYK2 but not TYK2 kinase activity

Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a Janus kinase (JAK) that is crucially involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis and defense against infection. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in TYK2-deficient (Tyk2−/−) mice is severely reduced, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using Tyk2−/− mice and mice expressing a kinase-inactive version of TYK2 (Tyk2K923E), we show that NK cell function is partly independent of the enzymatic activity of TYK2. Tyk2−/− and Tyk2K923E NK cells develop normally in the bone marrow, but the maturation of splenic Tyk2−/− NK cells (and to a lesser extent of Tyk2K923E NK cells) is impaired. In contrast, the production of interferon γ (IFNγ) in response to interleukin 12 (IL-12) or to stimulation through NK cell-activating receptors strictly depends on the presence of enzymatically active TYK2. The cytotoxic activity of Tyk2K923E NK cells against a range of target cells in vitro is higher than that of Tyk2−/− NK cells. Consistently, Tyk2K923E mice control the growth of NK cell-targeted tumors significantly better than TYK2-deficient mice, showing the physiological relevance of the finding. Inhibitors of TYK2's kinase activity are being developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers, but their effects on tumor immune surveillance have not been investigated. Our finding that TYK2 has kinase-independent functions in vivo suggests that such inhibitors will leave NK cell mediated tumor surveillance largely intact and that they will be suitable for use in cancer therapy.
Coronavirus infection, ER stress, apoptosis and innate immunity

The replication of coronavirus, a family of important animal and human pathogens, is closely associated with the cellular membrane compartments, especially the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Coronavirus infection of cultured cells was previously shown to cause ER stress and induce the unfolded protein response (UPR), a process that aims to restore the ER homeostasis by global translation shutdown and increasing the ER folding capacity. However, under prolonged ER stress, UPR can also induce apoptotic cell death. Accumulating evidence from recent studies has shown that induction of ER stress and UPR may constitute a major aspect of coronavirus–host interaction. Activation of the three branches of UPR modulates a wide variety of signaling pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation, autophagy, apoptosis, and innate immune response. ER stress and UPR activation may therefore contribute significantly to the viral replication and pathogenesis during coronavirus infection. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on coronavirus-induced ER stress and UPR activation, with emphasis on their cross-talking to apoptotic signaling.
Dll4 Blockade Potentiates the Anti-Tumor Effects of VEGF Inhibition in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patient-Derived Xenografts

Background The Notch ligand Delta-like 4 (Dll4) is highly expressed in vascular endothelium and has been shown to play a pivotal role in regulating tumor angiogenesis. Blockade of the Dll4-Notch pathway in preclinical cancer models has been associated with non-productive angiogenesis and reduced tumor growth. Given the cross-talk between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Delta-Notch pathways in tumor angiogenesis, we examined the activity of a function-blocking Dll4 antibody, REGN1035, alone and in combination with anti-VEGF therapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods and Results Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice bearing patient-derived clear cell RCC xenografts were treated with REGN1035 and in combination with the multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib or the VEGF blocker ziv-aflibercept. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analyses were carried out, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations pre and 24 hours and 2 weeks post treatment. Single agent treatment with REGN1035 resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition (36–62%) that was equivalent to or exceeded the single agent anti-tumor activity of the VEGF pathway inhibitors sunitinib (38–54%) and ziv-aflibercept (46%). Importantly, combination treatments with REGN1035 plus VEGF inhibitors resulted in enhanced anti-tumor effects (72–80% growth inhibition), including some tumor regression. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a marked decrease in tumor perfusion in all treatment groups. Interestingly, anti-tumor efficacy of the combination of REGN1035 and ziv-aflibercept was also observed in a sunitinib resistant ccRCC model. Conclusions Overall, these findings demonstrate the potent anti-tumor activity of Dll4 blockade in RCC patient-derived tumors and a combination benefit for the simultaneous targeting of the Dll4 and VEGF signaling pathways, highlighting the therapeutic potential of this treatment modality in RCC.
Distance Field based Haptic Rendering of Scattered Oriented Points

This work is aimed at rendering of an object described by a scattered, oriented point set data without explicitly finding the bounding surface. We propose a proxy based rendering technique on a distance field based representation of the object in a regular 3D grid of voxels. Our method initially finds a 3D indicator function in the grid of voxels from the available point set data through sphere packing. The indicator function is further used to find the implicit potential function (distance field) in the voxel grid by iteratively moving the bounding surface of the object inward till all the voxels are covered. Our algorithm uses a gradient descent based minimization of the distance between HIP and proxy during the penetration of HIP in the object. The rendering algorithm interpolates the distance at the proxy point from the neighboring voxels in order to find the gradient for the purpose of moving the proxy. We experimented on a large set of scattered point set data and could effectively render them using a three degree of freedom haptic device.
Frames, Sparsity, and Nonlinear InverseProblems

This work is concerned with nonlinear inverse problems where the solution is assumed to have a sparse expansion with respect to several preassigned bases or frames. We develop a scheme which allows to minimize a Tikhonov functional where the usual quadratic regularization term is replaced by one–homogeneous (typically weighted `p, 1 ≤ p ≤ 2) penalties on the coefficients (or isometrically transformed coefficients) of such multi–frame expansions. The computation of the solution amounts in this setting to a system of Landweber–fixed–point iterations with thresholding applied in each fixed–point iteration step.
Multiuser detection for DS-CDMA UWB in the home environment

We demonstrate the effectiveness of multiuser detection for an ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse based direct sequence spread spectrum system using code division multiple access. Extensive simulations were run using channel soundings of the 2-8 GHz band collected in a residential setting and characterized by a high level of multipath fragmentation. We show that the adaptive minimum mean square error (MMSE) multiuser detection (MUD) receivers are able to gather multipath energy and reject intersymbol and interchip interference for these channels to a much greater extent than RAKE receivers with 4 and 8 arms. We also demonstrate the adaptive MMSE is able to reject a narrowband IEEE 802.11a OFDM interferer, even for signal-to-interference ratio as severe as -30 dB. We show the adaptive MMSE exhibits only a 6 dB penalty relative to the single user case for the heavy multi-access interference (number of asynchronous users equal to spreading code length). The practical RAKE receivers were incapable of effectively rejecting either the strong narrowband interference or the heavily loaded wideband interference. Even more moderate levels of interference caused significant degradation in the performance of the practical RAKE receivers.
Breakdown in Postmating Isolation and the Collapse of a Species Pair through Hybridization

Species that evolved through ecological speciation and that lack intrinsic genetic incompatibilities may nonetheless be maintained by extrinsic postmating isolating barriers that impose selection against hybrids. These species, however, may be vulnerable to a breakdown in postmating isolation. Here, we investigate a model system for ecological speciation: sympatric limnetic‐benthic pairs of threespine sticklebacks. Recently, stickleback hybrid abundance in Enos Lake has increased. Given that ecological selection against hybrids was historically an important component of total reproductive isolation, we tested whether ecologically dependent postmating isolation is still functioning. We compared body shape, diet, growth, and survival in present‐day Enos fish with trait data in the undisturbed Paxton Lake species pair and with historical Enos Lake data. In both Paxton and historical Enos data, we found a strong correlation between body shape and diet; however, in present‐day Enos fish, this correlation was absent. Using fitness estimates based on growth rates and survival, we found no evidence of selection against intermediate morphologies. It appears that postmating isolation has broken down, allowing hybrids to persist and contributing to the collapse of the species pair.
UpLink: a Linked Data editor for RDB-to-RDF data

Linked Data builds a machine-processable Web of Data based on a large and growing number of RDF datasets and typed links among them. For the human user, Web-based interfaces were developed to enable browsing and editing Linked Data that is stored as native RDF. However, the majority of data on the current Web is stored in Relational Databases (RDB). This is a challenge for Linked Data browsers and especially for Linked Data editors. In this paper, we present UpLink which is to the best of our knowledge the first Linked Data editor for RDB-to-RDF data, i.e., RDF data that is mapped on demand from a RDB. We further present usage scenarios to demonstrate that UpLink supports the basic CRUD operations for editing Linked Data.
Surprising Discoveries by Recommender Systems

Recommender systems apply data mining techniques to predict users’ interest on information, products and services among a tremendous amount of available items. Key to the success of recommender systems is user satisfaction. That cannot be achieved only by accurate recommendations. Recent work has focused on new measures that are beyond the accuracy of recommender systems. Serendipity is one of these measures. Serendipity occurs when one finds an interesting discovery while searching for something else. This paper is an attempt to provide an overview of the state of the art in new dimension of recommender system research. This paper will present an outlook on the existing research carried out in this area. In the end, the paper will be concluded by listing future trends in this research area.
A Secure Iris Image Encryption Technique Using Bio-Chaotic Algorithm

Due to dramatic enhancement in computers and communications and due to huge use of electronic media, security gains more and more importance especially in those organizations where information is more critical and more important. The older techniques such as conventional cryptography use encryption keys, which are long bit strings and are very hard to memorize such a long random numbers. Also it can be easily attacked by using the brute force attack technique. Instead of using the traditional cryptographic techniques, Biometrics like Iris, fingerprints, voice etc. uniquely identifies a person and a secure method for stream cipher, because Biometric characteristics are ever living and unstable in nature (with respect to recognition). In this paper we used the idea of bio-chaotic stream cipher which encrypts the images over the electronic media and also used to encrypt the images to store it into the databases to make it more secure by using a biometric key and a bio-chaotic function. It enhances the security of the images and it should not be compromised. The idea also gives birth to a new kind of stream cipher named bio-chaotic stream cipher. The paper also describes how to generate an initial key also called initial condition from a biometric string and how to encrypt and decrypt the desired data by using the bio-chaotic function.
A Model of Psychological Disengagement

This paper presents the preliminary findings of research into the disengagement from highly entitative and ideological social groups, such as one percent motorcycle clubs, military special forces and fundamental ideological groups. Using a grounded theory approach, the discourse of 25 former members identified the discrepancy between group membership and the self-concept as the core theme in the disengagement experience. This model presents the process of experiencing a threat, self-concept discrepancy and management, physical disengagement and the post-exit identity. The findings indicate a consistent experience of disengagement and allow further understanding to the factors influencing membership appraisal.
Albuminuria as risk factor for initiation and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in non-diabetic persons: the Tromsø Study.

AIMS High levels of microalbuminuria have been associated with severe atherosclerosis. In this prospective, population-based study, we examined whether urinary albumin-to-creatinine-ratios (ACR) in the lower range were associated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Carotid ultrasonography and measurements of ACR, fibrinogen, monocytes, white cell count, and well-established cardiovascular risk factors were performed in 4037 non-diabetic subjects, 2203 without, and 1834 with pre-existing plaques at baseline. After 7 years new ultrasound measurements were performed. In subjects without pre-existing plaques, 884 had developed at least one plaque during follow-up. Baseline ACR was significantly related to the area of the novel plaques (P for linear trend = 0.009 over the baseline ACR quartiles, after multiple adjustments). The relationship with ACR was clearly modified by fibrinogen (P = 0.001, for the interaction ACR x fibrinogen). Subjects with high levels of both ACR and fibrinogen developed plaques with the largest area. In subjects with pre-existing plaques, ACR was related to plaque-progression (P for linear trend = 0.026, after multiple adjustments). In these individuals, the interaction between fibrinogen and ACR on plaque-growth appeared only in those with minimal atherosclerosis at baseline. CONCLUSION ACR is positively related to plaque-initiation and plaque-growth. This relationship is substantially modified by fibrinogen in previously plaque-free subjects.
Statistical estimators for relational algebra expressions

Present database systems process all the data related to a query before giving out responses. As a result, the size of the data to be processed becomes excessive for real-time/time-constrained environments. A new methodology is needed to cut down systematically the time to process the data involved in processing the query. To this end, we propose to use data samples and construct an approximate synthetic response to a given query. In this paper, we consider only COUNT(E) type queries, where E is an arbitrary relational algebra expression. We make no assumptions about the distribution of attribute values and ordering of tuples in the input relations, and propose consistent and unbiased estimators for arbitrary COUNT(E) type queries. We design a sampling plan based on the cluster sampling method to improve the utilization of sampled data and to reduce the cost of sampling. We also evaluate the performance of the proposed estimators.
Iron deficiency in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a potential therapeutic target

Iron deficiency is known to be common and detrimental in chronic left heart failure, where parenteral iron treatment has been shown to improve exercise capacity, New York Heart Association functional class and patient wellbeing. There is now increasing interest in the role of iron in the natural history of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Iron availability influences the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to hypoxia and accumulating evidence indicates that iron deficiency is prevalent in idiopathic and heritable forms of PAH, iron status being related to exercise capacity, symptoms and poorer survival in patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH). Potential mechanisms behind iron deficiency in IPAH include inhibition of dietary iron uptake by the master iron regulator hepcidin. High hepcidin levels underlie the anaemia of chronic disease. Possible stimuli of the observed high levels of hepcidin in IPAH include dysfunctional bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II signalling and inflammation. Iron status may influence outcomes through modulation of the pulmonary circulation as well as myocardial and skeletal muscle function. Two parallel studies, from our centre (Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK) and others in the UK and Amsterdam (the Netherlands), investigating the safety and potential benefit of iron supplementation in patients with PAH are currently under way.
Supervised Multi-Class Classification of

We present a study of a variety of supervised learning methods used for the problem of Twitter tweet classification. This includes Support Vector Machines (SVM), Neural Networks (NN), Naive Bayes (NB), and Random Forests. We evalutate these methods using their performance on two sources of labeled data: an ‘attitudes’ dataset that classifies tweets with an attitude that the tweeter might have had when composing it, and a ‘topics’ dataset that classifies tweets into one of a (limited-domain) topic set. We find that SVMs out-perform the others in accuracy and when used with feature selection have a reasonable runtime too.
Stereotype Threat in Sport: Recommendations for Applied Practice and Research

Stereotype-threat theory holds that activation of a negative stereotype has a harmful effect on performance in cognitive and motor domains. This paper provides a literature review of stereotype-threat research in the motor domain followed by recommendations for sport psychology practitioners. The review discusses the most widespread stereotypes that exist in sport, the effects of stereotype activation on performance in different sports, and mechanisms that explain why stereotype threat decreases performance. Recommendations for practitioners include individual- and organizational-level approaches, with the former subdivided into interventions aimed at prevention or coping.
The colored revolution of bioimaging

This paper provides an overview of the main aspects of modern fluorescence microscopy. It covers the principles of fluorescence and highlights the key discoveries in the history of fluorescence microscopy. The paper also discusses the optics of fluorescence microscopes and examines the various types of detectors. It also discusses the signal and image processing challenges in fluorescence microscopy and highlights some of the present developments and future trends in the field.
Expression of Pluripotency and Oocyte-Related Genes in Single Putative Stem Cells from Human Adult Ovarian Surface Epithelium Cultured In Vitro in the Presence of Follicular Fluid

The aim of this study was to trigger the expression of genes related to oocytes in putative ovarian stem cells scraped from the ovarian surface epithelium of women with premature ovarian failure and cultured in vitro in the presence of follicular fluid, rich in substances for oocyte growth and maturation. Ovarian surface epithelium was scraped and cell cultures were set up by scrapings in five women with nonfunctional ovaries and with no naturally present mature follicles or oocytes. In the presence of donated follicular fluid putative stem cells grew and developed into primitive oocyte-like cells. A detailed single-cell gene expression profiling was performed to elucidate their genetic status in comparison to human embryonic stem cells, oocytes, and somatic fibroblasts. The ovarian cell cultures depleted/converted reproductive hormones from the culture medium. Estradiol alone or together with other substances may be involved in development of these primitive oocyte-like cells. The majority of primitive oocyte-like cells was mononuclear and expressed several genes related to pluripotency and oocytes, including genes related to meiosis, although they did not express some important oocyte-specific genes. Our work reveals the presence of putative stem cells in the ovarian surface epithelium of women with premature ovarian failure.