Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Curvature based localization of nose tip point for processing 3D-face from range images

Unconstrained acquisition of data from arbitrary subjects results in facial scans with significant pose variations. The challenges in 3D face recognition are into two main stages, namely preprocessing range scans for detection of fiducial detection while identifying/filling missing parts due to occlusions along with outlier noise reduction and during post-processing where actual match is done with stored models. In this work, an algorithm using HK curvature for localization of nose tip fiducial point on 3D-face image is proposed at preprocessing stage. Curvature is evaluated on 3D data following the normalization step. HK curvature classification results potential region segmentation on face and operated further with morphological enhancements. Four types of curvatures- elliptical convex, elliptical concave, hyperbolic convex and hyperbolic concave enhanced curvature profiles are being processed separately. Coarse-to-fine scale space using integral images technique is applied on the curvature images. Localization is boosted using a heuristic driven bag of templates rule. The proposed technique achieved up to 90% accurate nose-tip localization on Gavabdb and FRAV3D face database.
On the Necessity of Term Dependence in a Query Space for Weighted Retrieval

In recent years, in the context of the vector space model, the view, held by many researchers, that documents, queries, terms, etc., are all elements of a common space has been challenged (Bollmann-Sdorra & Raghavan, 1993). In particular, it was noted that term independence has to be investigated in the context of user preferences and it was shown, through counterexamples, that term independence can hold in the document space, but not in the query space and vice versa. In this article, we continue the investigation of query and document spaces with respect to the property of term independence. We prove, under realistic assumptions, that requiring term independence to hold in the query space is inconsistent with the goal of achieving better performance by means of weighted retrieval. The result that term independence in the query space is undesirable is obtained without making any assumption about whether or not the property of term independence holds in the document space. The results of this article reinforce our position that the properties of document and query spaces must be investigated separately, since the document and query spaces do not necessarily have the same properties.
Statistical Analysis of Real XML Data Collections

Recently XML has achieved the leading role among languages for data representation and thus we can witness a massive boom of corresponding techniques for managing XML data. Most of the processing techniques however sufier from various bottlenecks worsening their time and/or space e‐ciency. We assume that the main reason is they consider XML collections too globally, involving all their possible features, although real data are often much simpler. Even though some techniques do restrict the input data, the restrictions are often unnatural. In this paper we analyze existing XML data, their structure, and real complexity in particular. We have gathered more than 20GB of real XML collections and implemented a robust automatic analyzer. The analysis considers existing papers on similar topics, trying to conflrm or refute their observations as well as to bring new flndings. It focuses on frequent, but often ignored XML items (such as mixed content or recursion) and relationship between schemes and their instances.
Soft-output MIMO MMSE OSIC detector under MMSE channel estimation

In practical wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems, the channel estimation must be imperfect. Unfortunately, the channel estimation errors have not been taken into account by existing soft-output MIMO minimum mean square error (MMSE) ordering successive interference cancellation (OSIC) detectors when calculating the log-likelihood ratio of each coded bit, i.e., the soft information. As a result, the system performance can be degraded. In this paper, we propose a novel soft-output MIMO MMSE OSIC detector when MMSE MIMO channel estimation is applied. Based on the basic statistic properties of MMSE MIMO channel estimation, this proposed detector takes the channel estimation error into account in the computation of the MMSE filter and LLR of each coded bit. When compared with existing MIMO MMSE OSIC detectors, our simulation results show that the proposed novel detector can obtain considerable performance gain at the cost of negligible increase of complexity.
Functional Encryption Algorithm for Communication in Cloud Computing based on Attribute Based Encryption (ABE)

Functional encryption ensures that user can access encrypted data stored over cloud in which the first step is to encrypt the data files {P1, P2,. ,Pn) by the data owner using Cipher text policy ABE that result in {C1, C2,. , Cn}. Then upload the encrypted files on a cloud based storage server or on a public cloud. Once the files are uploaded on the cloud the data owner list the prospective users and send all of them an email which contains two links. The first link is to send request to the Server a key as trapdoor to retrieve the encrypted data from the storage server. On the server side the third party which is a trusted party use this email to identify that this is an authorized user and then fetch the encrypted data file. Using the email id as an attribute it decrypt the file and get a function f(Ci) of the encrypted file.
Distribution-Confidentiality : Public Code : SMEPP – WP 4 . 1 Threat Models

Disclaimer This document contains material, which is the copyright of certain SMEPP contractors, and may not be reproduced or copied without permission. All SMEPP consortium partners have agreed to the full publication of this document. The commercial use of any information contained in this document may require a license from the proprietor of that information. 5 Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus VTT Finland 6 Università di Pisa UPI Italy 7 Telefónica I+D TID Spain 8 Institute for Infocomm Research I2R Singapore The information in this document is provided " as is " and no guarantee or warranty is given that the information is fit for any particular purpose. The user thereof uses the information at its sole risk and liability.
On rational maps from a general surface in to surfaces of general type

We study the dominant rational maps from a general surface in P^{3} to surfaces of general type. We prove restrictions on the target surfaces, and special properties of the rational maps. We show that for a small degree the general surface has no such map. Moreover a slight improvement of a result of Catanese, on the number of moduli of a surface of general type, is also obtained.
C-Reactive Protein Polarizes Human Macrophages to an M1 Phenotype and Inhibits Transformation to the M2 Phenotype

Objective—Inflammation is pivotal in atherosclerosis. Monocyte-macrophages are crucial in atherosclerosis. Monocytes can develop into subsets: classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated cells. Several studies point to a proinflammatory role for C-reactive protein (CRP). Because there is a paucity of data on the effects of CRP on macrophage phenotype, we tested effects of CRP on macrophage polarization. Methods and Results—Monocytes were incubated with CRP (0 to 50 &mgr;g/mL) and differentiated into macrophages for 7 days. Phenotypic characterization of M1 and M2 macrophages was performed using flow cytometry. CRP treatment resulted in increased population of M1 macrophages (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]/interleukin [IL]-12/C-C chemokine receptor 2, TNF/IL-12/monocyte chemotactic protein-1, or TNF/IL-1/IL-12). These effects were not abrogated by polymixin B or small interfering RNA to Toll-like receptor-4, but they were abrogated by boiled CRP. Administration of human CRP to rats in vivo increased polarization of macrophages to M1 phenotype compared with human serum albumin. When macrophages were primed to the M2 phenotype with IL-4, addition of CRP resulted in significantly increased secretion of TNF-&agr;, MCP-1, and IL-1 and conversion of macrophages from the M2 to the M1 phenotype. CRP failed to prime macrophages to the M1 phenotype in presence of CD32/CD64 small interfering RNA or dominant-negative nuclear factor kappa B. Conclusion—Collectively, these results further support a role for CRP in promoting differentiation of human monocytes toward a proinflammatory M1 phenotype.
Application of Word Embeddings in Biomedical Named Entity Recognition Tasks

Biomedical named entity recognition (BioNER) is the fundamental task of biomedical text mining. Machine-learning-based approaches, such as conditional random fields (CRFs), have been widely applied in this area, but the accuracy of these systems is limited because of the finite annotated corpus. In this study, word embedding features are generated from an unlabeled corpus, which as extra word features are induced into the CRFs system for Bio-NER. To further improved performance, a post-processing algorithm is employed after the named entity recognition task. Experimental results show that the word embedding features generated from a larger unlabeled corpus achieves higher performance, and the use of word embedding features increases F-measure on INLPBA04 data from 71.50% to 71.77%. After applying the post-processing algorithm, the F-measure reaches 71.85%, which is superior to the results in most existing systems. Subject Categories and Descriptors I.2. 7 [Artificial Intelligence]: Natural Language Processing Text Analysis; H.3. 1 [Information Storage And Retrieval]: Content Analysis and Indexing Linguistic processing General Terms Algorithm, Biomedical Text Mining
Human Vision System Aware Exhaustive Block-Matching Algorithm

In this work, homomorphic image modeling is used to make the exhaustive block-matching algorithm (EBMA) more human vision system (HVS) aware, thus yielding visually pleasing sequences. Homomorphic signal processing is used to separate the luminous and the structural components of each frame; EBMA is then applied to both components to capture the luminous and the structural changes. The combination of these two techniques is utilized to simulate the structure preserving nature of HVS. Temporal irrelevancies are reduced by removing the excess motion fields from both components. The homomorphic EBMA (H-EBMA) processed sequences have superior visual quality despite mean PSNR values that are comparable to sequences produced by traditional EBMA
The design and implementation of Berkeley Lab's linux checkpoint/restart

Author(s): Duell, Jason | Abstract: This paper describes Berkeley Linux Checkpoint/Restart(BLCR), a linux kernel module that allows system-level checkpoints on a variety of Linux systems. BLCR can be used either as a stand alone system for checkpointing applications on a single machine, or as a component by a scheduling system or parallel communication library for checkpointing and restoring parallel jobs running on multiple machines. Integration with Message Passing Interface (MPI) and other parallel systems is described.
Syntheses, Spectral Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies on the Coordination Compounds of Metal Ions with Schiff Base Containing Both Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrazide Moieties

An EtOH solution of 3-ketobutanehydrazide and salicylhydrazide on refluxing in equimolar ratio forms the corresponding Schiff base, LH3 (1). The latter reacts with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Zr(OH)2(IV), MoO2(VI), and UO2(VI) ions in equimolar ratio and forms the corresponding coordination compounds, [M(LH)(MeOH)3] (2, M = Mn, Co, Ni), [Cu(LH)]2 (3), [M′(LH)(MeOH)] (4, M′ = Zn, Cd), [Zr(OH)2(LH)(MeOH)2] (5), [MoO2(LH)(MeOH)] (6), and [UO2(LH)(MeOH)] (7). The coordination compounds have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductance, spectral (IR, reflectance, 1H NMR, ESR) studies, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. They are nonelectrolytes in DMSO. The coordination compounds, except 3, are monomers in diphenyl. They are active against gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, B. subtilis), gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa), and yeast (S. cerevisiae, C. albicans). 1 acts as a dibasic tridentate ONO donor ligand in 2–7 coordinating through its both enolic O and azomethine N atoms. The coordination compounds 2 and 3 are paramagnetic, while rest of the compounds are diamagnetic. A square-planar structure to 3, a tetrahedral structure to 4, an octahedral structure to 2, 6, and 7, and a pentagonal bipyramidal structure to 5 are proposed.
Target color and shape can control contextual saccadic adaptation

Saccade adaptation is a form of motor learning that maintains saccade accuracy when facing new sensorimotor contingencies. Researchers have shown that distinct saccade gain states can be adapted simultaneously in a double-step paradigm depending on contexts acting on the motor command (e.g. velocity or direction of target motion, head tilt, orbital eccentricity, or vergence). However, purely visual cues such as target color or shape consistently failed to drive different gain states during saccadic adaptation. Since Deubel's work in 1995, this question has remained unsolved despite extensive research in both human and non-human participants. The present work investigates whether this lack of contextual control might be due to a lack of relevance of the contextual cue to the saccadic system. We modified the conventional intrasaccadic step paradigm by displaying a distractor at the back-stepped location when the target stepped forward and vice-versa. In a first experiment the pre-saccadic target color (red or green) indicated its intra-saccadic step (backward or forward) and a distractor (green or red) was displayed after the saccade landed (at the forward-stepped or back-stepped location). We observed contextual control of saccade adaptation, which did not occur when the distractor was not displayed. In two other experiments we found the same effect using shape or shape and color as contextual features. We conclude that feature-based selection of the target promotes contextual adaptation. Three additional experiments further confirmed that i) when two features of the context cues are conflicting, contextual adaptation is blocked, ii) the spatial reference provided by the distractor is not responsible for our contextual adaptation and iii) removing the distractor during the adaptation phase induces a progressive decrease in adaptation. These results indicate that any context could potentially control contextual saccadic adaptation provided that the relation between the context cue and the saccadic response is made relevant. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2016
Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Gamma-Ray Blazars: Comparing Jet Emission at Small and Large Scales

We present new Chandra and HST data for four gamma-ray blazars selected on the basis of radio morphology with the aim of revealing X-ray and optical emission from their jets at large scales. All the sources have been detected. Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the large-scale jets are obtained as well as new X-ray spectra for the blazar cores. Modeling for each object the core (subparsec scale) and large-scale (≳100 kpc) jet SEDs, we derive the properties of the same jet at the two scales. The comparison of speeds and powers at different scales supports a simple scenario for the dynamics and propagation of high-power relativistic jets.
Kasuserwerb bilingual deutsch-italienischer Kinder: vorübergehend verzögernder Spracheneinfluss 

In recent research on cross-linguistic influence in German-Romance language combinations, it has been argued that there is temporary influence from the less complex language on the more complex one within a bilingual individual. This influence can be of a positive or a negative sort. First evidence for negative influence in the domain of case acquisition comes from longitudinal studies in Schmitz (2006). The present study adds a cross-sectional investigation of monolingual German (n=18) and bilingual German-Italian (n=14) children (4 and 7 years of age) with respect to accusative and dative case marking in German. Results confirm former findings by detecting a statistically significant delay in the acquisition of dative case marking in bilingual children at age 4. Contrary to that, bilingual children at age 7 do not show differences to monolingual acquisition of dative case. The delayed acquisition found in 4-year old bilinguals therefore can be claimed as cross-linguistic influence of a temporary nature only.
Probabilistic neural network based text summarization

This work proposes an approach to address the problem of improving content selection in automatic text summarization by using probabilistic neural network (PNN). This approach is a trainable summarizer, which takes into account several features, including sentence position, positive keyword, negative keyword, sentence centrality, sentence resemblance to the title, sentence inclusion of name entity, sentence inclusion of numerical data, sentence relative length, Bushy path of the sentence and aggregated similarity for each sentence to generate summaries. First we investigate the effect of each sentence feature on the summarization task. Then we use all features in combination to train the probabilistic neural network (PNN) in order to construct a text summarizer model.
Adaptively ParameterisedHyperheuristics for Sales Summit Scheduling

The concept of a hyperheuristic was recently proposed by the authors as an approach that operates at a higher level of abstraction than current metaheuristic approaches. The hyperheuristic chooses which low-level heuristic to apply depending upon the characteristics of the part of the search space being explored and the performance history of each low-level heuristic. In this paper we present various hyperheuristic and heuristic methods and demonstrate their effectiveness by way of a real-world case-study problem of scheduling. In particular, we describe a self-adaptive hyperheuristic which uses a choice function to rank the low-level heuristics. Results produced by the choice function hyperheuristic appear to be not only superior to those produced by other heuristic methods, but also of much higher quality than those obtained from the greedy heuristic currently used by the problem owner.
Cross-species analysis of genetically engineered mouse models of MAPK-driven colorectal cancer identifies hallmarks of the human disease

Effective treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited, survival rates are poor and this disease continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite being a highly heterogeneous disease, a large subset of individuals with sporadic CRC typically harbor relatively few established ‘driver’ lesions. Here, we describe a collection of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of sporadic CRC that combine lesions frequently altered in human patients, including well-characterized tumor suppressors and activators of MAPK signaling. Primary tumors from these models were profiled, and individual GEMM tumors segregated into groups based on their genotypes. Unique allelic and genotypic expression signatures were generated from these GEMMs and applied to clinically annotated human CRC patient samples. We provide evidence that a Kras signature derived from these GEMMs is capable of distinguishing human tumors harboring KRAS mutation, and tracks with poor prognosis in two independent human patient cohorts. Furthermore, the analysis of a panel of human CRC cell lines suggests that high expression of the GEMM Kras signature correlates with sensitivity to targeted pathway inhibitors. Together, these findings implicate GEMMs as powerful preclinical tools with the capacity to recapitulate relevant human disease biology, and support the use of genetic signatures generated in these models to facilitate future drug discovery and validation efforts.
RNA Interference-Guided Targeting of Hepatitis C Virus Replication with Antisense Locked Nucleic Acid-Based Oligonucleotides Containing 8-oxo-dG Modifications

The inhibitory potency of an antisense oligonucleotide depends critically on its design and the accessibility of its target site. Here, we used an RNA interference-guided approach to select antisense oligonucleotide target sites in the coding region of the highly structured hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome. We modified the conventional design of an antisense oligonucleotide containing locked nucleic acid (LNA) residues at its termini (LNA/DNA gapmer) by inserting 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) residues into the central DNA region. Obtained compounds, designed with the aim to analyze the effects of 8-oxo-dG modifications on the antisense oligonucleotides, displayed a unique set of properties. Compared to conventional LNA/DNA gapmers, the melting temperatures of the duplexes formed by modified LNA/DNA gapmers and DNA or RNA targets were reduced by approximately 1.6-3.3°C per modification. Comparative transfection studies showed that small interfering RNA was the most potent HCV RNA replication inhibitor (effective concentration 50 (EC50): 0.13 nM), whereas isosequential standard and modified LNA/DNA gapmers were approximately 50-fold less efficient (EC50: 5.5 and 7.1 nM, respectively). However, the presence of 8-oxo-dG residues led to a more complete suppression of HCV replication in transfected cells. These modifications did not affect the efficiency of RNase H cleavage of antisense oligonucleotide:RNA duplexes but did alter specificity, triggering the appearance of multiple cleavage products. Moreover, the incorporation of 8-oxo-dG residues increased the stability of antisense oligonucleotides of different configurations in human serum.
Efficient algorithms for Next Best View evaluation

A Next Best View estimate may guide processes of 3D reconstruction and exploration to completeness within reasonable time. For the evaluation to be useful, the Next Best View computation itself must be effective in terms of time and accuracy. It needs to be model-free to hold for any geometry of the 3D scene. In this work, we compare the effectiveness of different approaches to Next Best View evaluation. A 3D occupancy grid map, allowing for fast lookup and ray casting, serves as a foundation for our evaluation. We tested naive, state-of-the-art and novel algorithms on data acquired from both indoor and outdoor environments. We demonstrate that the most effective volumetric algorithm is a novel one that exploits spatial hierarchy, utilizes frontiers, and avoids redundant ray casting.
A symbolic description of punning riddles and its computer implementation

Riddles based on simple puns can be classified according to the patterns of word, syllable or phrase similarity they depend upon. We have devised a formal model of the semantic and syntactic regularities underlying some of the simpler types of punning riddle. We have also implemented this preliminary theory in a computer program which can generate riddles from a lexicon containing general data about words and phrases; that is, the lexicon content is not customised to produce jokes. Informal evaluation of the program's results by a set of human judges suggest that the riddles produced by this program are of comparable quality to those in general circulation among school children.