Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep Frame Interpolation

This work presents a supervised learning based approach to the computer vision problem of frame interpolation. The presented technique could also be used in the cartoon animations since drawing each individual frame consumes a noticeable amount of time. The most existing solutions to this problem use unsupervised methods and focus only on real life videos with already high frame rate. However, the experiments show that such methods do not work as well when the frame rate becomes low and object displacements between frames becomes large. This is due to the fact that interpolation of the large displacement motion requires knowledge of the motion structure thus the simple techniques such as frame averaging start to fail. In this work the deep convolutional neural network is used to solve the frame interpolation problem. In addition, it is shown that incorporating the prior information such as optical flow improves the interpolation quality significantly.
Is Greater Self-Neglect Severity Associated With Lower Levels of Physical Function?

Objective: This study examined the association between severity of self-neglect and physical function in a population of community-dwelling older adults. Method: Participants were older adults (N = 1,094) reported to the Chicago Department on Aging for suspected self-neglect from 1993 to 2005, who also participated in the Chicago Health Aging Project. The primary outcome of physical function was assessed using physical performance tests. Secondary outcomes were assessed using the Katz, Nagi, and Rosow-Breslau scales. Multiple regression models were used to assess these associations. Results: After adjusting for confounders, higher self-neglect severity scores were associated with lower physical performance testing (coefficient = —.062, p = .001). Greater self-neglect severity was also correlated with the reported number of impairments on the Katz, Nagi, and Rosow-Breslau scales (coefficients = .024, .024, and .016, respectively, p = .001). Discussion: Higher self-neglect severity is associated with lower levels of physical function among older adults.
Progress in Laser-Crystallized Thin-Film Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells: Intermediate Layers, Light Trapping, and Metallization

Diode laser crystallization of thin silicon films on the glass has been used to form polycrystalline silicon layers for solar cells. Properties of an intermediate layer stack of sputtered SiOx/SiNx/SiOx between the glass and the silicon have been improved by reactively sputtering the SiNx layer, which result in enhanced optical and electrical performance. Light trapping is further enhanced by texturing the rear surface of the silicon prior to metallization. An initial efficiency of 11.7% with VOC of 585 mV has been achieved using this technique, which are the highest values reported for poly-Si solar cells on glass substrates. Cells suffer a short term, recoverable degradation of VOC, and fill factor. The magnitude of the degradation is reduced via the repeated thermal treatment. A selective p+ metallization scheme has been developed which eliminates the degradation altogether.
Electron Cryo‐Microscopy of TPPS4⋅2HCl Tubes Reveals a Helical Organisation Explaining the Origin of their Chirality

A widely studied achiral porphyrin, which is highly soluble in aqueous solutions (TPPS4), is shown to self‐assemble into helical nanotubes. These were imaged by electron cryo‐microscopy and a state‐of‐the‐art image analysis allows building a map at ∼5 Å resolution, one of the highest obtained so far for molecular materials. The authors were able to trace the apparent symmetry breaking to existing nuclei in the “as received samples”, while carefully purified samples show that both handnesses occur in equal amounts.magnified image
Uma contribuição empírica para geração de métodos de planejamento e gestão

En el conocimiento en administracion, no es tarea sencilla encontrar la discusion sobre como sistematizar una investigacion academica para crear metodos de gestion (frameworks). Como planificar un estudio exploratorio, cualitativo e interdisciplinario para generar metodos de planificacion y gestion es el foco en este trabajo. La investigacion de la literatura (desk research), el analisis documental, la teoria fundamentada y el estudio de caso son metodos que se pueden utilizar en los estudios que producen secuencias de etapas de gestion, a pesar de la importancia de muchos otros en la investigacion cualitativa. La contribucion empirica de este trabajo empieza con la presentacion de los diferentes metodos de gestion, aprobados recientemente en publicaciones y congresos academicos, y que fueron construidos con base en un metodo (proceso) comun de pensamiento. Posteriormente, ademas de la discusion sobre como estructurar una investigacion cientifica para generar metodos de gestion, se presentan los procesos para publicacion (y reconocimiento) de esta linea de trabajo.
Identification of BlaR, the signal transducer for beta-lactamase production in Bacillus licheniformis, as a penicillin-binding protein with strong homology to the OXA-2 beta-lactamase (class D) of Salmonella typhimurium

The blaR gene of Bacillus licheniformis encodes the signal transducer for induction of the class A beta-lactamase. The protein product, BlaR, has a hydrophilic carboxy region that binds beta-lactams and shows high sequence homology to the class D beta-lactamases, particularly the OXA-2 beta-lactamase of Salmonella typhimurium. The BlaR-beta-lactam complex is stable and may provide the continuing stimulus needed for the prolonged production of the enzyme.
Predictors of Acute Postoperative Pain After Elective Surgery

ObjectivesObjectives:Despite efforts to improve acute postoperative pain management, a substantial number of patients still experience moderate to severe pain during the immediate postoperative days. The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of moderate to severe acute postoperative pain. MethodsMethods: A total of 1490 patients undergoing heterogeneous surgical procedures recorded their pain 3 times a day on a 100-mm visual analog scale from the day before the operation until 5 days postoperation. For each postoperative day, pain intensity was classified as moderate when the mean pain score was 41 to 74mm and as “severe when the mean pain score was 75 to 100 mm. Using logistic regression analyses, we examined the predictive value of a comprehensive set of preoperative and perioperative variables for moderate to severe pain. ResultsResults: The most important predictors seemed to be; preoperative pain, expected pain, surgical fear, and pain catastrophizing. DiscussionDiscussion: Several predictive factors of postoperative pain were identified in this study. These factors could be taken into account in postoperative pain management.
Population analysis of Culex pipiens fatigans Wied. (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory conditions.

A laboratory experiment using 4 cohorts of Culex pipiens fatigans was set up to obtain age-specific mortality and fecundity information, and to derive statistical estimates of some population parameters. Figures for developmental times, survival, reproduction and sex ratio are provided. Life expectancy is calculated for both males and females. The following population parameters were estimated: intrinsic rate of natural increase (r = 0.01), instantaneous birth and death rates, net replacement rate (Ro = 161.4), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.17), generation time (T = 44.7 days), reproductive value and stable age distribution. The colonizing features of Cx. p. fatigans are compared with the ones of Aedes aegypti as the result of applying 2 colonization models, and it is concluded that although Ae. aegypti is a better colonizer, Cx. p. fatigans is an excellent r-strategist that can be classified as an opportunistic species.
Neuropsychological and psychiatric differences between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric differences between patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia. METHODS: Thirty three patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and 33 patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia were matched for age, sex, and mini mental state examination scores and given a battery of neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric tests. RESULTS: Patients with Parkinson's disease with dementia had a significantly higher prevalence of major depression than patients with Alzheimer's disease; patients with Alzheimer's disease showed more severe anosognosia and disinhibition than patients with Parkinson's disease. Whereas no significant between group differences were found on tests of memory and language, demented patients with Parkinson's disease had a significantly greater impairment on a test of visual reasoning than patients with Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSION: There were significant psychiatric differences between patients with Alzheimer's disease and demented patients with Parkinson's disease, but neuropsychological differences were restricted to a single cognitive domain.
Phylogenetic relationships of sorghum taxa inferred from mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment analysis.

To elucidate the evolutionary history and affinity of sorghum species, 41 sorghum taxa were analyzed using variability in mitochondrial DNA. Analysis of species relationships at the molecular level can provide additional data to supplement the existing classification based on morphological characters and may also furnish unexpected but useful information. Total DNA extracted from each of the sorghum accessions was digested with each of five restriction enzymes, BamHI, HindIII, EcoRI, EcoRV, and XbaI, and probed with five mitochondrial DNAs cloned from Sorghumbicolor. A total of 180 restriction fragments was detected by the 25 probe-enzyme combinations. Forty-three fragment bands were phylogenetically informative. Multiple correspondence analysis was performed to visualize associations among the accessions and suggested that section Eusorghum species may be divided into four groups, with Sorghumlaxiflorum (section Heterosorghum) and Sorghumnitidum (section Parasorghum) appearing as outliers. A phylogenetic tree was assembled from mitochondrial restriction fragment data. The taxa analyzed formed three major groups comprising section Heterosorghum (group I), section Parasorghum (group II), and all accessions in section Eusorghum (group III). Group III is further divided into four groups: (i) two sweet sorghums and shattercane; (ii) Sorghumhalepense, Sorghummiliaceum, Sorghumhewisonii, Sorghumaethiopicum, Sorghumverticilliflorum, and S. bicolor, including Sorghumsudanense (sudangrass), the Chinese Kaoliangs, and a number of commercial sorghum inbreds from the U.S.A. ; (iii) Sorghumpropinquum; and (iv) Sorghumarundinaceum, Sorghumniloticum, Sorghumalmum, Sorghumcontroversum, and the Chinese material C-401 and 5-27. Results indicate that the analysis of fragmented mitochondrial DNA was diagnostic and useful in sorghum phylogenetic and taxonomic research at the species, subspecies, and race levels, and can complement results from those analyses using nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA that effectively distinguish taxa at species and genus levels. Key words : Sorghum, mitochondrial DNA, phylogeny, restriction fragment.
A clinical study of adult human parvovirus B19 infection.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the clinical aspects of adult human parvovirus (HPV) B19 infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 21 consecutive patients [4 males, aged 32 to 43 years (average 38.0 years), and 17 females, aged 15 to 43 (average 34.2)] with adult HPV B19 infection who visited our outpatient department between July 1997 and June 1998. All diagnoses of adult HPV B19 infection were based on positive anti-HPV B19 IgM antibody in serum and/or positive HPV B19 DNA in peripheral blood. RESULTS The predominant signs and symptoms of the patients were: fever (81.0%), arthralgia/myalgia (61.9%), skin rash (47.6%), general fatigue (42.9%), lymph node swelling (38.1%) and edema (38.1%). Six patients had the following underlying diseases or complications: pregnancy, myoma uteri, cervical cancer of the uterus, lupus diathesis/ endometriosis, hereditary spherocytosis, and multiple sclerosis. The following abnormal laboratory findings (more or less than normal limits) were observed: anemia (81.0%), leukopenia (33.3%), elevated transaminases (28.6%), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (57.1%). Six patients were considered to have persistent infection. CONCLUSION HPV B19 can infect healthy adults and causes more predominant signs and symptoms (arthralgia, myalgia and fever) than in children, and adult HPV B19 infection can be suspected from the familial history and clinical findings. Accordingly, more attention must be paid to adult HPV B19 infection, particularly when erythema infectiosum is prevalent in children.
A low complexity two-stage precoding and user grouping scheme for full-dimension MIMO systems

Multiuser precoding is studied for full-dimension MIMO (FD-MIMO) systems, where a new dual precoding scheme is proposed to reduce the complexity of computing the precoding matrix's. In the proposed algorithm, the precoding matrix design is decomposed as outer-beamforming matrix (OBM) design and inner-beamforming vector desgn follow the dual precoding idea. And a vertical beamforming based OBM design is proposed which transforms the complex OBM design into vertical beam-former design for each column of antennas, through which the complexity can be apparently reduced. Besides, an iterative SLNR based algorithm is developed to obtain the vertical beamformers. A simple vertical channel correlation based user grouping scheme is also proposed to enhance the virtue of the proposed scheme. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can well exploit the advances of FD-MIMO and improve the spectrum efficiency with reduced complexity.
Trends in perinatal mortality attributed to congenital malformations in England and Wales during 1974–81: a study of the variations among regional Health Authority areas

Summary Analysis of perinatal mortality attributed to congenital malformations in England and Wales, using data from birth and death registration over the years 1974–81 showed significant declines in England and Wales as a whole and in the individual Regional Health Authority (RHA) areas. A greater decrease in death rate from congenital malformations, particularly central nervous system malformations, was seen among stillbirths than among early neonatal deaths. There were marked regional differences in perinatal mortality due to central nervous system malformations over the period but not in cardiovascular system malformations or in other malformations. The highest mortality rates due to central nervous system malformations occurred in the North, North-West, West and South-West of England and in Wales, and the lowest rates in the South and South-East. The larger percentage reductions in the mortality rates were found in most of the regions which had had the highest rates. Possible explanations for the decline in regional rates are suggested.
The Na+‐Ca2+ exchange system in rat glial cells in culture: Activation by external monovalent cations

Cultured rat glial cells display a Na+‐Ca2+ exchange system located at the plasma membrane levels. This was evidenced by the Na+ (i)‐dependency of a Na+ (o)‐inhibitable influx of Ca2+, or reversal exchange mode. This antiporter has an external site where monovalent cations (K+, Li+, and Na+ were investigated) stimulate the exchange by a chemical action. The monovalent cation is not transported during the exchange cycle. The mechanism of that stimulation agrees with an increase in the apparent affinity of the carrier for Ca2+ (o) without effect on the maximal translocation rate. Two models can equally well account for the data: i) the formation of ECa(o) is essential for the binding of the monovalent cation, or ii) the activating cation can bind even when the carrier is free of Ca2+(o). The cations K+ and Li+ produced only stimulation, although that of K+ seem to require actions other than the chemical effect. The response to Na+ was biphasic; this can be fully explained considering that at low concentrations, Na+(o) binds preferentially to the activating monovalent site while at high concentrations it displaces Ca2+ from its external transporting site. Pure type I astrocytes displayed the same Na+‐Ca2+ exchange mechanism. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Discussion of the Use of Virtual Reality in Dementia

Dementia is a multifaceted disorder that impairs cognitive functions such as memory, language, and executive functions necessary to plan, organize, and prioritize tasks required for goal-directed behaviours. Ninety percent of persons with dementia present with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, vascular dementia, diffuse Lewy body dementia, or frontotemporal dementia [1]. All of these conditions affect the neurological functioning of the brain with different pathologies resulting in different clinical presentations [1]. In most, if not all cases, individuals with dementia experience difficulties interacting with their physical and social environments. The current chapter supports the use of virtual reality to explore the nature of these interactions.
Modulation of the Association between the PEPD Variant and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by n-3 Fatty Acids in Chinese Hans

Background/Aims: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is modulated by the interactions between genetic and dietary factors. This study sought to examine whether the associations of genome-wide association study (GWAS)-identified genetic variants with T2D risk were modulated by n-3 fatty acids in Chinese Hans. Methods: Six hundred and twenty-two T2D patients and 293 healthy controls were recruited. Erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acids were measured by standard methods. Nine GWAS-identified T2D-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. These SNPs were all identified in GWAS of Asian populations with a high minor allele frequency (>0.2). Results: Among the 9 SNPs, only rs3786897 at PEPD (peptidase D) showed a significant interaction with n-3 fatty acids (pinteraction after Bonferroni correction = 0.027). The rs3786897 A allele was associated with a higher risk of T2D [GA+AA vs. GG: odds ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-3.55] when n-3 fatty acids were lower than the population median, but no significant association (GA+AA vs. GG: OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.35-1.12) was observed when n-3 fatty acids were higher than the median. Conclusions: The association between the PEPD genetic variant and the risk of T2D was modulated by n-3 fatty acids. Higher n-3 fatty acids may abolish the adverse effect of the risk allele at PEPD for T2D.
The discovery of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 and its role in acute lung injury in mice

During several months of 2002, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS‐coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) spread rapidly from China throughout the world, causing more than 800 deaths due to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the severe form of acute lung injury (ALI). Interestingly, a novel homologue of angiotensin‐converting enzyme, termed angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), has been identified as a receptor for SARS‐CoV. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme and ACE2 share homology in their catalytic domain and provide different key functions in the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensin‐converting enzyme cleaves angiotensin I to generate angiotensin II, which is a key effector peptide of the system and exerts multiple biological functions, whereas ACE2 reduces angiotensin II levels. Importantly, our recent studies using ACE2 knockout mice have demonstrated that ACE2 protects murine lungs from ARDS. Furthermore, SARS‐CoV infections and the Spike protein of the SARS‐CoV reduce ACE2 expression. Notably, injection of SARS‐CoV Spike into mice worsens acute lung failure in vivo, which can be attenuated by blocking the renin–angiotensin pathway, suggesting that the activation of the pulmonary RAS influences the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS and SARS.
A Study of Gaps in Attack Analysis

Abstract : The ability of the defender to detect and identify cyber attacks reflects the arms race nature of the cyber domain. While defenders develop new and improved techniques to detect known attacks, attackers resort to more sophisticated and stealthy techniques to perform their intrusions and evade detection. In this study, we identify the major gaps that exist in todays attack detection systems and infrastructures that impede more efficient and effective attack analysis. Attack analysis in this study refers to activities related to identification and understanding of attack methods and techniques, the capability to detect such attacks in USG, DoD, and general enterprise systems, the ability to attribute such attacks to adversaries, and the ability to predict them before they happen. Since the latter two capabilities are significantly underdeveloped, most of the focus of this study is on the identification and detection of attacks. We have reviewed recent literature to identify major gaps in attack analysis. We have then ranked these gaps based on their likelihood of impacting current systems, the extent of their impact, and the cost of developing new and improved techniques to enhance current attack analysis capabilities.
The transcriptome of syncytia induced by the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in Arabidopsis roots

Arabidopsis thaliana is a host for the sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. Juvenile nematodes invade the roots and induce the development of a syncytium, which functions as a feeding site for the nematode. Here, we report on the transcriptome of syncytia induced in the roots of Arabidopsis. Microaspiration was employed to harvest pure syncytium material, which was then used to prepare RNA for hybridization to Affymetrix GeneChips. Initial data analysis showed that the gene expression in syncytia at 5 and 15 days post-infection did not differ greatly, and so both time points were compared together with control roots. Out of a total of 21 138 genes, 18.4% (3893) had a higher expression level and 15.8% (3338) had a lower expression level in syncytia, as compared with control roots, using a multiple-testing corrected false discovery rate of below 5%. A gene ontology (GO) analysis of up- and downregulated genes showed that categories related to high metabolic activity were preferentially upregulated. A principal component analysis was applied to compare the transcriptome of syncytia with the transcriptome of different Arabidopsis organs (obtained by the AtGenExpress project), and with specific root tissues. This analysis revealed that syncytia are transcriptionally clearly different from roots (and all other organs), as well as from other root tissues.
Vascular Renin-Angiotensin System: The Unanswered Questions

Study of the vascular renin-angiotensin system can be approached in a number of ways. The capacity of the blood vessel to generate angiotensin II, when exposed to angiotensinogen, immunocytochemical demonstration of renin, the presence of renin mRNA and functional changes attributable to local generation of angiotensin have all been used. Although each of these techniques requires careful and critical examination from the standpoint of specificity and sensitivity, there is now strong evidence for a functionally important system in the arterial wall. The relative importance of uptake and local synthesis and the physiological role of this system, as distinct from the renal renin system, still remains to be elucidated.