Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of Features for Hand-printed Recognition

— The feature extraction method(s) used to recognize hand-printed characters play an important role in ICR applications. In order to achieve high recognition rate for a recognition system, the choice of a feature that suits for the given script is certainly an important task. Even if a new feature required to be designed for a given script, it is essential to know the recognition ability of the existing features for that script. Devanagari script is being used in various Indian languages besides Hindi the mother tongue of majority of Indians. This research examines a variety of feature extraction approaches, which have been used in various ICR/OCR applications, in context to Devanagari hand-printed script. The study is conducted theoretically and experimentally on more that 10 feature extraction methods. The various feature extraction methods have been evaluated on Devanagari hand-printed database comprising more than 25000 characters belonging to 43 alphabets. The recognition ability of the features have been evaluated using three classifiers i.e. k -NN, MLP and SVM.
The Kinetics of Force-Induced Cell Reorganization Depend on Microtubules and Actin

The cytoskeleton is an important factor in the functional and structural adaption of cells to mechanical forces. In this study we investigated the impact of microtubules and the acto‐myosin machinery on the kinetics of force‐induced reorientation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts. These cells were subjected to uniaxial stretching forces that are known to induce cellular reorientation perpendicular to the stretch direction. We found that disruption of filamentous actin using cytochalasin D and latrunculin B as well as an induction of a massive unpolarized actin polymerization by jasplakinolide, inhibited the stretch‐induced reorientation. Similarly, blocking of myosin II activity abolished the stretch‐induced reorientation of cells but, interestingly, increased their motility under stretching conditions in comparison to myosin‐inhibited nonstretched cells. Investigating the contribution of microtubules to the cellular reorientation, we found that, although not playing a significant role in reorientation itself, microtubule stability had a significant impact on the kinetics of this event. Overall, we conclude that acto‐myosin, together with microtubules, regulate the kinetics of force‐induced cell reorientation. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Coordination of a Group of Construction Vehicles

The problem of coordinating construction vehicles in formations is tackled using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Coordinated multi-vehicles are anticipated to outperform single vehicles in terms of economy and flexibility. A possible approach is to apply control theoretic methods to vehicle coordination but this may require complicated system models to be employed. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm adopted in this work, as an evolutionary computation based methodology, is able to provide a near-optimal solution without the need for a precise system model. The control commands for the vehicles are treated as particles in a swarm and a sequence of controls is derived to achieve the desired formation. With regard to inter-vehicle collision avoidances, behaviour-based control strategies are incorporated into the formation framework. Simulations for multi-vehicle formation in a construction site scenario are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Growth patterns of Tsuga canadensis in managed uneven-aged northern conifer stands

This study reports patterns of regeneration and growth for 100 eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. ) up to 20 inches (50 cm) dbh in two mixed-species selection stands on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in east-central Maine. The study stands are part of a U.S.D.A. Forest Service experiment in which eastern hemlock has remained stable over a 40-year period despite efforts to favor other species. Relative to red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. ), eastern hemlock exhibits different growth patterns and canopy structures in response to frequent light partial disturbances. These characteristics, along with frequent and abundant regeneration, make eastern hemlock very well-suited to the selection system in this forest type.
Canine Lymphoma, More Than a Morphological Diagnosis: What We Have Learned about Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common canine aggressive B-cell lymphoma worldwide, and new recent molecular approaches have shown that DLBCL constitutes a heterogeneous tumor that cannot be unraveled by morphology and immunophenotype. DLBCL behaves aggressively, typically progressing over a short period of time, and the therapy response may be difficult to be predicted. Recently, the rate of bone marrow infiltration by flow cytometry has been demonstrated to be prognostic, but more sensible markers are needed. As the clinical behavior is different, there is vast clinical and basic research devoted to identifying prognostically or biologically distinct DLBCL subgroups. Transcriptomic analysis by gene expression profile, copy number variations by array comparative genomic hybridization and epigenetic perturbations have tentatively described this heterogeneity. Molecular subgroups using oncogenic pathways and target genes have also been correlated to different outcome in a small number of cases. The objectives of this review are to summarize the current knowledge on the biology, clinical, and pathological characteristics of canine DLBCL. To date, DLBCL probably is the most investigated tumor in veterinary medicine, and its relevance as spontaneous model for human DLBCL has been confirmed by these studies. In future, these discoveries will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms, possibly translating into more effective therapeutic strategies.
A far-from-equilibrium fluctuation?dissipation relation for an Ising?Glauber-like model

We derive an exact expression of the response function to an infinitesimal magnetic field for an Ising–Glauber-like model with arbitrary exchange couplings. The result is expressed in terms of thermodynamic averages and does not depend on the initial conditions or on the dimension of the space. The response function is related to time-derivatives of a complicated correlation function and so the expression is a generalization of the equilibrium fluctuation–dissipation theorem in the special case of this model. Correspondence with the Ising–Glauber model is discussed. A discrete-time version of the relation is implemented in Monte Carlo simulations and then used to study the ageing regime of the ferromagnetic two-dimensional Ising–Glauber model quenched from the paramagnetic phase to the ferromagnetic one. Our approach has the originality to give direct access to the response function and the fluctuation–dissipation ratio.
Heuristic Search for Planning with Different Forced Goal-Ordering Constraints

Planning with forced goal-ordering (FGO) constraints has been proposed many times over the years, but there are still major difficulties in realizing these FGOs in plan generation. In certain planning domains, all the FGOs exist in the initial state. No matter which approach is adopted to achieve a subgoal, all the subgoals should be achieved in a given sequence from the initial state. Otherwise, the planning may arrive at a deadlock. For some other planning domains, there is no FGO in the initial state. However, FGO may occur during the planning process if certain subgoal is achieved by an inappropriate approach. This paper contributes to illustrate that it is the excludable constraints among the goal achievement operations (GAO) of different subgoals that introduce the FGOs into the planning problem, and planning with FGO is still a challenge for the heuristic search based planners. Then, a novel multistep forward search algorithm is proposed which can solve the planning problem with different FGOs efficiently.
A cluster number specification-free algorithm in networks intrusion detection

With the crucial problem of specifying cluster number in clustering algorithm, a cluster number specification-free algorithm, F-CMSVM, is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the data set is classified into two clusters by Fuzzy C-means algorithm (FCM). Then the result is tested by Support Vector Machine (SVM) associated with a fuzzy membership function to confirm whether the data set could be classified. Finally, the process is repeated and the clustering result can be obtained. With this unsupervised algorithm, not only does the training data set need no labeling, but also the cluster number needs no specifying. Experiments over networks connection records from KDD CUP 1999 data set were implemented to evaluate the proposed method. To obtain an appropriate training data set and overcome the low efficiency in processing the high dimensional data set, a cross method and a feature selection algorithm based on mutual information were applied respectively in experiments. The result clearly shows the outstanding performance of the proposed method in decision of cluster number and effect of intrusion detection.
Coaching and barriers to weight loss: an integrative review

Introduction Coaching is proposed to raise a patient’s awareness and responsibility for their health behaviour change by transforming the professional–patient relationship. Objective To review the scientific literature on how coaching can assist in weight loss and improve a patient’s state of health. Methodology An integrative literature search was performed using PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, and Scientific Electronic Library Online. We selected articles that were published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish over the last 10 years. Data analysis was performed using a validated data collection instrument. Results Among the 289 articles identified in the search, 276 were excluded because they did not address the leading research question, their full texts were not available on the Internet, or they were duplicate publications. Therefore, for the analysis, we selected 13 articles that we classified as randomized clinical studies (46.15%; n=6), cohort studies (30.76%; n=4), cross-sectional studies (7.69%; n=1), case studies (7.69%; n=1), and review articles (7.69%; n=1). Joint intervention (combined in-person and telecoaching sessions) constituted the majority of session types. The use of technical coaching was superior in reducing anthropometric measurements and increasing the levels of motivation and personal satisfaction compared with formal health education alone. Conclusion Coaching is an efficient, cost-effective method for combining formal education and treatment of health in the weight-loss process. Additional randomized studies are needed to demonstrate its effectiveness with respect to chronic disease indicators.
Sorting by Transpositions

Sequence comparison in computational molecular biology is a powerful tool for deriving evolutionary and functional relationships between genes. However, classical alignment algorithms handle only local mutations (i.e., insertions, deletions, and substitutions of nucleotides) and ignore global rearrangements (i.e., inversions and transpositions of long fragments). As a result, the applications of sequence alignment to analyze highly rearranged genomes (i.e., herpes viruses or plant mitochondrial DNA) are rather limited. The paper addresses the problem of genome comparison versus classical gene comparison and presents algorithms to analyze rearrangements in genomes evolving by transpositions. In the simplest form the problem corresponds to sorting by transpositions, i.e., sorting of an array using transpositions of arbitrary fragments. We derive lower bounds on {\em transposition distance} between permutations and present approximation algorithms for sorting by transpositions. The algorithms also imply a nontrivial upper bound on the transposition diameter of the symmetric group. Finally, we formulate two biological problems in genome rearrangements and describe the first {\em algorithmic} steps toward their solution.
Linguistics for the Use of African History and the Comparative Study of Bantu Pottery Vocabulary

1. Introduction Ever since African historical linguistics emerged in the 19th century, it has served a double purpose. It has not only been practiced with the aim of studying language evolution, its methods have also been put to use for the reconstruction of human history. The promotion of linguistics to one of the key disciplines of African historiography is an inevitable consequence of the lack of ancient written records in sub-Saharan Africa. Scholars of the African past generally fall back on two kinds of linguistic research: linguistic classification and linguistic reconstruction. The aim of this paper is to present a concise application of both disciplines to the field of Bantu linguistics and to offer two interesting comparative case studies in the field of Bantu pottery vocabulary. The diachronic analysis of this lexical domain constitutes a promising field for interdisciplinary historical research. At the same time, the examples presented here urge history scholars to be cautious in the application of words-and-things studies for the use of historical reconstruction. The neglect of diachronic semantic evolutions and the impact of ancient lexical copies may lead to oversimplified and hence false historical conclusions.
High-resolution computed tomography and histopathological findings in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a pictorial essay*

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a diffuse interstitial and granulomatous lung disease caused by the inhalation of any one of a number of antigens. The objective of this study was to illustrate the spectrum of abnormalities in high-resolution computed tomography and histopathological findings related to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We retrospectively evaluated patients who had been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (on the basis of clinical-radiological or clinical-radiological-pathological correlations) and had undergone lung biopsy. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is clinically divided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms; high-resolution computed tomography findings correlate with the time of exposure; and the two occasionally overlap. In the subacute form, centrilobular micronodules, ground-glass opacities, and air trapping are characteristic high-resolution computed tomography findings, whereas histopathology shows lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates, bronchiolitis, variable degrees of organizing pneumonia, and giant cells. In the chronic form, high-resolution computed tomography shows traction bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and lung fibrosis, the last also being seen in the biopsy sample. A definitive diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be made only through a multidisciplinary approach, by correlating clinical findings, exposure history, high-resolution computed tomography findings, and lung biopsy findings.
Assessment of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring for Statin Treatment Strategy according to ACC/AHA Guidelines in Asymptomatic Korean Adults

Purpose The 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) cholesterol management guidelines advocate the use of statin treatment for prevention of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess the usefulness of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for stratifying potential candidates of statin use among asymptomatic Korean individuals. Materials and Methods A total of 31375 subjects who underwent CAC scoring as part of a general health examination were enrolled in the current study. Statin eligibility was categorized as statin recommended (SR), considered (SC), and not recommended (SN) according to ACC/AHA guidelines. Cox regression analysis was employed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidential intervals (CI) after stratifying the subjects according to CAC scores of 0, 1–100, and >100. Number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one mortality event during study follow up was calculated for each group. Results Mean age was 54.4±7.5 years, and 76.3% were male. During a 5-year median follow-up (interquartile range; 3–7), there were 251 (0.8%) deaths from all-causes. A CAC >100 was independently associated with mortality across each statin group after adjusting for cardiac risk factors (e.g., SR: HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07–2.38; SC: HR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.09–8.13, and SN: HR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.08–9.17). Notably, patients with CAC >100 displayed a lower NNT in comparison to the absence of CAC or CAC 1–100 in SC and SN groups. Conclusion In Korean asymptomatic individuals, CAC scoring might prove useful for reclassifying patient eligibility for receiving statin therapy based on updated 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines.
Investigating Software Transactional Memory on Big SMP Machines

Most Software Transactional Memory (STM) research has focused on multi-core processors and small SMP machines; limited research has been aimed at the clusters, leaving the area of big SMP machines unexplored. Big SMP machine usually use Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) to unburden the overloading between CPUs and the memory. In this paper, we evaluate several STM implementations on big SMP machine with cache coherent NUMA (ccNUMA). We found the remote memory access latency is the key factor influencing the STM performance. We also analyze the different design choices of RSTM. Finally, we conclude a specific design to achieve high performance in this domain.
PANCHROMATIC ESTIMATION OF STAR FORMATION RATES IN BzK GALAXIES AT 1 < z < 3

We determine star formation rates (SFRs) in a sample of color-selected, star-forming (sBzK) galaxies (KAB < 21.8) in the Extended Chandra Deep Field-South. To identify and avoid active galactic nuclei, we use X-ray, IRAC color, and IR/radio flux ratio selection methods. Photometric redshift-binned, average flux densities are measured with stacking analyses in Spitzer-MIPS IR, BLAST and APEX/LABOCA submillimeter, VLA and GMRT radio, and Chandra X-ray data. We include averages of aperture fluxes in MUSYC UBVRIz′JHK images to determine UV-through-radio spectral energy distributions. We determine the total IR luminosities and compare SFR calibrations from FIR, 24 μm, UV, radio, and X-ray wavebands. We find consistency with our best estimator, SFRIR + UV, to within errors for the preferred radio SFR calibration. Our results imply that 24 μm only and X-ray SFR estimates should be applied to high-redshift galaxies with caution. Average IR luminosities are consistent with luminous infrared galaxies. We find SFRIR + UV for our stacked sBzKs at median redshifts 1.4, 1.8, and 2.2 to be 55 ± 6 (random error), 74 ± 8, and 154 ± 17 M☉ yr−1, respectively, with additional systematic uncertainty of a factor of ∼2.
The Effect of Angioscotomas on Map Structure in Primary Visual Cortex

When blood vessels occlude the photoreceptor layer in the retina, they cast shadows onto the photoreceptors, creating angioscotomas (regions of the visual field to which that eye is blind). Remarkably, Adams and Horton (2002) have recently shown that it is sometimes possible to observe representations of these angioscotomas anatomically in the primary visual cortices of squirrel monkeys. However, there is substantial variability in the degree and form of these representations. The source of this variability is difficult to determine experimentally, because experimental studies are unavoidably limited by small sample size. In addition, experimental studies cannot compare the map structure that would develop with and without an angioscotoma. Here, we investigate these phenomena computationally using feature-mapping models of visual cortical development, which are not subject to the same limitations. These models suggest that the primary source of variability in angioscotoma representation is the precise timing of the onset of visual experience relative to the time course of ocular dominance column segregation. Furthermore, the models predict that angioscotomas could compete for control of local column layout with other influences such as cortical shape but that they have a small effect on the structure of orientation preference maps.
A Hybrid System for Probability Estimation in Multiclass Problems Combining SVMs and Neural Networks

This paper addresses the problem of probability estimation in multiclass classification tasks combining two well known data mining techniques: support vector machines and neural networks. We present an algorithm which uses both techniques in a two-step procedure. The first step employs support vector machines within a one-vs-all reduction from multiclass to binary approach to obtain the distances between each observation and the support vectors representing the classes. The second step uses these distances as inputs for a neural network, built with an entropy cost function and softmax transfer function for the output layer where class membership is used for training. Consequently, this network estimates probabilities of class membership for new observations. A benchmark using different databases demonstrates that the proposed algorithm is highly competitive with the most recent techniques for multiclass probability estimation.
Adora2b Adenosine Receptor Engagement Enhances Regulatory T Cell Abundance during Endotoxin-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation

Anti-inflammatory signals play an essential role in constraining the magnitude of an inflammatory response. Extracellular adenosine is a critical tissue-protective factor, limiting the extent of inflammation. Given the potent anti-inflammatory effects of extracellular adenosine, we sought to investigate how extracellular adenosine regulates T cell activation and differentiation. Adenosine receptor activation by a pan adenosine-receptor agonist enhanced the abundance of murine regulatory T cells (Tregs), a cell type critical in constraining inflammation. Gene expression studies in both naïve CD4 T cells and Tregs revealed that these cells expressed multiple adenosine receptors. Based on recent studies implicating the Adora2b in endogenous anti-inflammatory responses during acute inflammation, we used a pharmacologic approach to specifically activate Adora2b. Indeed, these studies revealed robust enhancement of Treg differentiation in wild-type mice, but not in Adora2b −/− T cells. Finally, when we subjected Adora2b-deficient mice to endotoxin-induced pulmonary inflammation, we found that these mice experienced more severe inflammation, characterized by increased cell recruitment and increased fluid leakage into the airways. Notably, Adora2b-deficient mice failed to induce Tregs after endotoxin-induced inflammation and instead had an enhanced recruitment of pro-inflammatory effector T cells. In total, these data indicate that the Adora2b adenosine receptor serves a potent anti-inflammatory role, functioning at least in part through the enhancement of Tregs, to limit inflammation.