Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isometry invariant shape priors for variational image segmentation

Variational methods play a fundamental role in mathematical image analysis as a bridge between models and algorithms. A major challenge is to formulate a given model as a feasible optimization problem. There has been a huge leap in that respect concerning local data models in the framework of convex relaxation. But non-local concepts such as the shape of a sought-after object are still difficult to implement. In this thesis we study mathematical representations for shapes and develop shape prior functionals for object segmentation based thereon. A particular focus is set on the isometry invariance of the functionals and the compatibility with existing convex functionals for image labelling. Optimal transport is used as a central modelling and computational tool to compute registrations between different shapes as a basis for a shape similarity measure. This point of view leads to a link between the two somewhat dual representations of a shape by the region it occupies and its outline, allowing to combine their respective strengths. Naively the computational complexity implied by the derived functionals is unfeasible. Therefore suitable hierarchical optimization methods are developed.
Regional difference in sulcal infolding progression correlated with cerebral cortical expansion in cynomolgus monkey fetuses

The present study aimed to specify the cerebral sulci developed by cortical expansion in cynomolgus monkey fetuses. The degree of sulcal infolding was evaluated by the gyrification index (GI), which was quantified using ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging. The correlation of cortical volume with the sulcal GI was most frequent during embryonic days (EDs) 100 to 120. Interestingly, the high correlation was marked during EDs 140 to 150 in restricted primary sulci in prefrontal, parietotemporal and medial temporal regions. The present results suggest that cortical expansion is involved in gyral demarcation by sulcal infolding, followed by the sulcal infolding progression in phylogenetically‐newer cortices.
[Effect of Kruppel like factor 4 gene silencing on apoptosis and phagocytosis of murine RAW264.7 macrophages].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of down-regulation of Kruppel like factor 4 (KLF4) by RNA interference on proliferation, apoptosis and phagocytosis in murine RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. METHODS Stable KLF4 silencing in RAW264.7 cells was achieved by recombinant shRNA plasmid targeting murine KLF4 gene via liposome mediated transfection, followed by G418 selection. The efficacy of KLF4 silencing in G418 resistant cells was verified by fluorescent microcopy and Western blotting, respectively. Proliferative activity was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis and phagocytosis were evaluated by annexinV-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry with assistant use of fluorescein-labeled E.coli K-12 particles, respectively. RESULTS KLF4 protein expression was significantly down-regulated by the recombinant shRNA plasmid as compared with negative control (NC) plasmid transfection, inhibition rate being over 76%. From the third day, KLF4-silencing cells exhibited lower proliferative activity as compared with NC RAW264.7 cells (P<0.05). In resting state, apoptosis rate in wide type, NC and KLF4-silencing cells were 1.73%, 6.85% and 12.76%, respectively, and KLF4-silencing resulted in a statistical difference in apoptosis as compared with NC cells (P<0.05). Finally, phagocytic capability in wide type, NC and KLF4-silencing cells revealed by the mean fluorescence intensity of engulfed FITC-labeled E.coli particles were 122.0 ± 2.80, 48.97 ± 5.69 and 80.10 ± 4.61, respectively, and compared with NC cells, KLF4-silencing cells had a significant increase in phagocytosis (P<0.05). CONCLUSION KLF4 gene silencing inhibits RAW264.7 macrophage proliferation, increase apoptosis and enhance phagocytic function in resting state, which provides a novel tool for revealing the role of KLF4 in macrophage immunity.
A shocking episode: care of electrical injuries.

> While making a speedy getaway from her new husband who tried to strangle her, Edie Britt, Nicollette Sheridan’s character on the ABC television program Desperate Housewives, crashed her car into a telephone pole on Wisteria Lane. When Edie stepped out of the car and onto the wet road, the pole
Approximating Curves via Alpha Shapes

We present a method of approximating a nonsingular curve C in the plane or in space with the use of alpha shapes. The procedure is based on sampling the curve C with a finite set S and then construct the alpha shape, Sα, of S. Then, Sα is shown to be a piecewise linear curve that is ambiently homeomorphic to, and within a prescribed tolerance from, C.
Análise de abordagens populacionais para meta-alinhamento de ontologias

A interoperabilidade e um requisito importante em um ambiente de sistemas de informacao, destacando-se a interoperabilidade semântica. Ontologias tem sido utilizadas para promover a interoperabilidade semântica, mas num ambiente onde coexistem mais de uma ontologia, e necessaria a utilizacao de tecnicas que permitam alinhar as diferentes ontologias para permitir a troca de informacao entre os sistemas. Dentre as tecnicas de alinhamento mais atuais, esta o meta-alinhamento de ontologias, o qual permite a agregacao e autoconfiguracao de alinhadores. A escolha por uma abordagem de meta-alinhamento nao e trivial e faz-se necessario analisar diferentes caracteristicas das solucoes. Esse trabalho apresenta e compara as abordagens de atuais meta-alinhamento de ontologias, apontando suas qualidades e deficiencias.
Characteristics of adult speech which predict children's language development

ABSTRACT Samples of the speech addressed by adults to a socially representative sample of 2-year-olds in naturally occurring contexts of interaction were analysed with respect to syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and discourse features to determine which features were most strongly associated with gain by the children on a variety of measures of language development over the ensuing 9 months. Following a principal components analysis of the adult speech variables, the most highly loading variables on the first six components were correlated with children's gain scores. Polar interrogatives, directives and extending utterances were all found to be associated with at least one measure of development. The results are if interpreted as evidence of reciprocal, rather than one-way facilitation.
Aqueous extract from different medicinal plants as anticoccidial, growth promotive and immunostimulant in broilers.

A study was planned to investigate the role of aqueous extract from Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Berberry (Berberis lycium) fed in-mix for their effect upon growth performance, immunomostimulant and anticoccidial in broilers. Two hundred and fourty chicks were randomly allocated in to four groups A, B, C and D, and further into two subgroups, each consisted of three replicates of 10 chicks per replicate. All the birds were raised in individual pens beneath the same house operating under conventional deep litter, open sided housing system. Group A was treated as control, whereas group B, C and D were watered with the corresponding recipe: a mixture of aqueous extract from Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Berberry (Berberis lycium). Recipe B consisted of aqueous extract of 2, 4, 1, 8; recipe C of 3, 5, 2, and 9 and recipe D of 4, 6, 3, and 10 g of Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Berberry (Berberis lycium) respectively, mixed per liter drinking water. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Growth rate, immune performance against Newcastle disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious bursal disease and Coccidiosis were response parameters. At the end of research trail, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were non-significantly varied. Better Immune performance (P<0.05) was found in recipe-D treatment against ND, IB and IBD. A significant decrease in coccidial oocysts per gram of feaces was registered in recipe-D. Mean gross return was non significantly varied. Present findings suggest that aqueous mixed extract of medicinal plants is better for immunomodulatory response against ND, IB, and IBD and to reduce coccidial oocysts burden, without affecting growth of the broilers.
Prostaglandins Mediate the Endotoxin-Induced Suppression of Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in the Ewe.

Five experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that PGs mediate the endotoxin-induced inhibition of pulsatile GnRH and LH secretion in the ewe. Our approach was to test whether the PG synthesis inhibitor, flurbiprofen, could reverse the inhibitory effects of endotoxin on pulsatile LH and GnRH secretion in ovariectomized ewes. Exp 1–4 were cross-over experiments in which ewes received either flurbiprofen or vehicle 2 weeks apart. Jugular blood samples were taken for LH analysis throughout a 9-h experimental period. Depending on the specific purpose of the experiment, flurbiprofen or vehicle was administered after 3.5 h, followed by endotoxin, vehicle, or ovarian steroids (estradiol plus progesterone) at 4 h. In Exp 1, flurbiprofen reversed the endotoxin-induced suppression of mean serum LH concentrations and the elevation of body temperature. In Exp 2, flurbiprofen prevented the endotoxin-induced inhibition of pulsatile LH secretion and stimulation of fever, reduced the stimulation of plasma cortis.
Quasi-synchronous code-division multiple access with high-order modulation

Code-division multiple access (CDMA) is a multiplexing technique where a number of users simultaneously access a transmission channel by modulating and spreading their signals with preassigned codewords. This paper studies the performance of CDMA signals with orthogonal (Walsh-Hadamard) codewords and synchronization errors smaller than the chip time. Two high-order modulation techniques, M-level quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) and M-level phase-shift keying (M-PSK) are compared with respect to bit-error rate (BER). The results are especially important for the return channel of cable TV networks and summarized as follows: 1) Synchronization errors between transmitters lead to interference noise, whereas synchronization errors between the transmitter and the receiver lead to a decreased amplitude of the received user signal. Both effects have significant impact on the system performance. 2) Closed expressions are obtained for the BER of a CDMA signal with M-PSK and M-QAM with a given maximum synchronization error. 3) The higher the modulation order, the more sensitive the system gets for synchronization errors. 4) The BER is highly dependent on the assigned codewords out of the Walsh-Hadamard code set. 5) The BER performance of M-QAM outperforms that of M-PSK.
Psychiatrie and Pain Characteristics of Prescription Drug Abusers Entering Drug Rehabilitation

There has been intense interest in the problem of prescription drug abuse on the parts of health professionals, law enforcement, the media, and the general public. Clinicians not only need to know how to assess risk but also what drugs are being diverted most in their region. We conducted a prospective survey of prescription drug abusers entering a treatment facility in central Kentucky. Participants (n = 109) were enrolled and completed a structured clinical interview and prescription drug abuse survey. The prescription drug abusers assessed in the study had a mean age of 30.95 years (SD = 10.21), were comprised of 75 men (69%) and 34 women (31%), and were mostly Caucasian (98%). The majority (84%) stated that they had legitimately been given a prescription for opioids for pain at some point from a physician and 61% reported chronic pain concerns. The most commonly abused drugs were hydrocodone-containing formulations (78%) and oxycodone-containing products (69%), while products containing methadone (23%) or fentanyl (7%) were abused much less frequently. Most respondents (91%) stated that they had purchased prescription opioids from a street dealer at least once and the majority (80%) had altered the delivery system of the prescription drug by chewing, snorting, or using IV administration. Implications for pain management are discussed, focusing on the need for clinicians treating chronic pain to more thoroughly assess patients for their risk of abuse and addiction before starting an opioid regimen.
Short-term performance peaking in an elite cross-country mountain biker

ABSTRACT Endurance athletes usually achieve performance peaks with 2–4 weeks of overload training followed by 1–3weeks of tapering. With a tight competition schedule, this may not be appropriate. This case investigates the effect of a 7-day overload period including daily high-intensity aerobic training followed by a 5-day step taper between two competitions in an elite cross-country mountain biker. Pre-test peak oxygen consumption was 89 ml·kg−1·min−1, peak aerobic power 6.8 W·kg−1, power output at 2 mmol·L−1 blood lactate concentration 3.9 W·kg−1, maximal isometric force 180 Nm and squat jump 21 cm. During overload, perceived leg well-being went from normal to very heavy. On day 1 after overload, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis EMGmean activity was reduced by 3% and 7%, respectively. Other baseline measurements were reduced by 3–7%. On day 4 of the taper, he felt that his legs were good and all measurements were 3–7% higher than before overload. On day 6 after the taper, his legs felt very good. This case shows that an elite mountain biker (11th in UCI World Cup one week prior to the pre-test) could achieve a rather large supercompensation by using a 12-day performance peaking protocol.
Interaction of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters 1 – 3 (EAAT1, EAAT2, EAAT3) with N-Carbamoylglutamate and N-Acetylglutamate

Background/Aims: Inborn deficiency of the N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) impairs the urea cycle and causes neurotoxic hyperammonemia. Oral administration of N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG), a synthetic analog of N-acetylglutamate (NAG), successfully decreases plasma ammonia levels in the affected children. Due to structural similarities to glutamate, NCG may be absorbed in the intestine and taken up into the liver by excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs). Methods: Using Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing either human EAAT1, 2, or 3, or human sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter 3 (NaDC3), transport-associated currents of NAG, NCG, and related dicarboxylates were assayed. Results: L-aspartate and L-glutamate produced saturable inward currents with Km values below 30 µM. Whereas NCG induced a small inward current only in EAAT3 expressing oocytes, NAG was accepted by all EAATs. With EAAT3, the NAG-induced current was sodium-dependent and saturable (Km 409 µM). Oxaloacetate was found as an additional substrate of EAAT3. In NaDC3-expressing oocytes, all dicarboxylates induced much larger inward currents than did L-aspartate and L-glutamate. Conclusion: EAAT3 may contribute to intestinal absorption and hepatic uptake of NCG. With respect to transport of amino acids and dicarboxylates, EAAT3 and NaDC3 can complement each other.
Monitored Execution of Robot Plans Producted by STRIPS

Abstract : We describe PLANEXl, a plan executor for the Stanford Research Institute robot system. The problem-solving program STRIPS creates a plan consisting of a sequence of actions, and the PLANEXI program carries out the plan by executing the actions. PLANEXI is designed so that it executes only that portion of the plan necessary for completing the task, reexecutes any portion of the plan that has failed to achieve the desired results, and initiates replanning in situations where the plan can no longer be effective in completing the task. The scenario for an example plan execution is given.
Harmonic resonance assessment in low voltage distribution system

In a power system, due to proliferation of power electronic equipments that produce harmonic current, harmonic resonance can occur when the system natural frequency closes or corresponds to the frequency of harmonic current source. This paper presents a power system simulation of medium/low voltage system, which contains 22 kV/400 V transformer, harmonic load (6 pulse converter), and low voltage fixed capacitor. By using DIgSILENT PowerFactory Program, the harmonic component of capacitor current, system response and harmonic impedance are presented. Assessment of harmonic resonance effect on low voltage capacitor are considered with IEEE Std. 1036-1992 guide for application of shunt power capacitor which provides limitations of capacitor on voltage, current and reactive power for determination of the maximum allowable harmonic levels. Moreover, the assessments of harmonic distortions are also compared with IEEE Std. 519-1992.
A Digital Phase-locked Loop Based on MAP in PLC

The conventional DPLLs (digital phase-locked loops) are designed for Gaussian noise environment, and play important roles in carrier and clock recoveries. However, in power line communication (PLC), the power line noise is often impulsive, and then its statistical feature is different from Gaussian one. Therefore, we introduced class A noise model in PLC first, and then proposed an optimum DPLL for such class A noise environment using the techniques based on MAP (maximum a posteriori) estimating. The simulated results show the proposed DPLL has the smaller steady state phase errors than the conventional DPLL under class A noise environment.
A Case of Molluscum Contagiosum in an Adult Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis , Following Combination Therapy with Adalimumab , Methotrexate and Prednisolone

A 46-years old female was referred from the rheumatology department with diffuse skin lesions. She had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2006 and initially underwent treatment with a combined regimen of methotrexate (MTX, 12.5 mg per week), prednisolone (2.5 mg per day) and leflunomide (10 mg per day). Due to the poor response, leflunomide was substituted to adalimumab (40 mg every other week) in September 2014 after negative screening for viral hepatitis and tuberculosis. 6 months into the combined therapy of adalimumab, prednisolone and methotrexate, the patient developed multiple, tiny erythematous to skin-colored papules and referred to the department of dermatology. On close examination, she presented with tender and pruritic, multiple, 0.1-0.2 cm-sized, slightly erythematous papules on the mons pubis and the Lt. lower leg (Figure 1). The patient was HIV negative and her laboratory assessment was normal. Molluscum contagiosum infection was suspected after curettage but a punch biopsy was performed from the the mons pubis and the left lower leg for confirmation. The histopathologic examination showed circumscribed multilobular epithelial proliferation with central keratinization. Diffuse lymphocytic infiltration and intracytoplasmic inclusions were also observed (Figure 2). Based on clinical and pathologic findings, diagnosis of diffuse molluscum contagiosum was made. To prevent further spread of the molluscum, adalimumab was withdrawn from the regimen. Although we explained the possibility of persistence and spread of the molluscum lesions, the patient refused to undergo extraction of the lesions. No recurrence of molluscum from the biopsy site or further spreading was observed at 8 months follow-up.
CloudRobotics – Distributed Robotics using Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing is a paradigm shift in computation that has been gaining traction over the recent years, which is supported by the increasing availability and ubiquity of a reliable wireless connection to the Internet. Cloud Computing enables the access to seemingly unlimited computer resources that are located on an external computer cluster (the Cloud). In contrast, some robots, e.g. drones, have mobility requirements such as maximum size/weight or minimum autonomy, and carrying more onboard computer resources usually means hindering these requirements. This principle can be brought to the field of Robotics hence the name Cloud Robotics. In this case, the goal is to allow robots to perform tasks they would not be able to under normal circumstances and/or to free onboard resources so that more tasks or more complex tasks can be executed at the same time by a mobile robot. There are many existing robotic tasks that can take advantage of massive processing power and storage, such as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), navigation and trajectory planning, image processing, pattern recognition, human-robot interaction and machine learning to name a few. All of these can quickly drain the robot out of its computer resources, especially if some of these tasks are running at the same time. However, in order to access and export data to the Cloud some bandwidth is needed, thus making the system a tradeoff: on the one hand, computation load and storage space is being freed, while on the other hand more strain is being put on the wireless network usage. As wireless connection protocols become more and more powerful, a Cloud-based solution becomes more interesting. This dissertation aims to analyse this tradeoff by adapting two existing multi-robot tasks, working on the Robotic Operating System (ROS), and compare the Cloud-based approach to the traditional one. To validate the capabilities of Cloud-based robotic systems, both simulations and experiments with real robots were conducted. Simulation results show a clear gain in CPU time, while the latter confirms the outcome of the tasks remains the same. Despite the Cloudbased systems, requiring considerably more bandwidth, a modern off-the-shelf Wi-Fi router can provide with enough to support any realistic team of robots.
Heterobeltiosis and combining ability for earliness in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

The presentjnvestigation was carried out to study heterosis and combining ability of six earliness related traits viz., node at which the first flower appears, days to first picking, plant height, internodal length, number of primary branches per plant and marketable yield per plant in okra with 12 parents and 66 F1s during rainy season of 2004. Significant heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis was observed for all the traits and the magnitude of economic heterosis was higher than heterobeltiosis. Most of the cross combinations had significant heterobeltiosis out of 66; forty-five crosses had significant heterobeltiosis for marketable yield per plant. The analysis of variance for combining ability exhibited the significance of both gca and sea effects for all the characters indicating that both additive and non-additive gene effects involved in the inheritance of these characters. The parents HRB-107-4, S-2, NDO-10, PP, PA-4 and PB-1 were good general combiners for earliness and yield related traits. The cross combinations IIVR-11 X PA-4, HRB-107-4 x VRO-4 and PA-4 x NDO-10 recorded significant sca effects for yield and earliness related traits, thus suggesting the commercial exploitation of these hybrids by use of intermating in heterosis breeding.