Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesizing Two‐character Interactions by Merging Captured Interaction Samples with their Spacetime Relationships

Existing synthesis methods for closely interacting virtual characters relied on user‐specified constraints such as the reaching positions and the distance between body parts. In this paper, we present a novel method for synthesizing new interacting motion by composing two existing interacting motion samples without the need to specify the constraints manually. Our method automatically detects the type of interactions contained in the inputs and determines a suitable timing for the interaction composition by analyzing the spacetime relationships of the input characters. To preserve the features of the inputs in the synthesized interaction, the two inputs will be aligned and normalized according to the relative distance and orientation of the characters from the inputs. With a linear optimization method, the output is the optimal solution to preserve the close interaction of two characters and the local details of individual character behavior. The output animations demonstrated that our method is able to create interactions of new styles that combine the characteristics of the original inputs.
Wavefront-based models for inverse electrocardiography

We introduce two wavefront-based methods for the inverse problem of electrocardiography, which we term wavefront-based curve reconstruction (WBCR) and wavefront-based potential reconstruction (WBPR). In the WBCR approach, the epicardial activation wavefront is modeled as a curve evolving on the heart surface, with the evolution governed by factors derived phenomenologically from prior measured data. The body surface potential/wavefront relationship is modeled via an intermediate mapping of wavefront to epicardial potentials, again derived phenomenologically. In the WBPR approach, we iteratively construct an estimate of epicardial potentials from an estimated wavefront curve according to a simplified model and use it as an initial solution in a Tikhonov regularization scheme. Initial simulation results using measured canine epicardial data show considerable improvement in reconstructing activation wavefronts and epicardial potentials with respect to standard Tikhonov solutions. In particular the WBCR method accurately finds the anisotropic propagation early after epicardial pacing, and the WBPR method finds the wavefront (regions of sharp gradient of the potential) both accurately and with minimal smoothing
Effects of glibenclamide, glimepiride, and gliclazide on ischemic preconditioning in rat heart.

OBJECTIVE To compare the influence of different sulfonylureas on the myocardial protection effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in isolated rat hearts, and ATP-sensitive potassium channel current (IK(ATP)) of rat ventricular myocytes. METHODS Isolated Langendorff perfused rat hearts were randomly assigned to five groups: (1) control group, (2) IPC group, (3) IPC + glibenclamide (GLB, 10 micromol/L) group, (4) IPC + glimepiride (GLM, 10 micromol/L) group, (5) IPC + gliclazide (GLC, 50 micromol/L) group. IPC was defined as 3 cycles of 5-minute zero-flow global ischemia followed by 5-minute reperfusion. The haemodynamic parameters and the infarct size of each isolated heart were recorded. And the sarcolemmal IK(ATP) of dissociated ventricular myocytes reperfused with 10 micromol/L GLB, 1 micromol/L GLM, and 1 micromol/L GLC was recorded with single-pipette whole-cell voltage clamp under simulated ischemic condition. RESULTS The infarct sizes of rat hearts in IPC (23.7% +/- 1.3%), IPC + GLM (24.6% +/- 1.0%), and IPC + GLC (33.1% +/- 1.3%) groups were all significantly smaller than that in control group (43.3% +/- 1.8%; P < 0.01, n = 6). The infarct size of rat hearts in IPC + GLB group (40.4% +/- 1.4%) was significantly larger than that in IPC group (P < 0.01, n=6). Under simulated ischemic condition, GLB (10 micromol/L) decreased IK(ATP) from 20.65 +/- 7.80 to 9.09 +/- 0.10 pA/pF (P < 0.01, n=6), GLM (1 micromol/L) did not significantly inhibit IK(ATP) (n=6), and GLC (1 micromol/L) decreased IK(ATP) from 16.73 +/- 0.97 to 11. 18 +/- 3.56 pA/pF (P < 0.05, n=6). CONCLUSIONS GLM has less effect on myocardial protection of IPC than GLB and GLC. Blockage of sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive potassium channels in myocardium might play an important role in diminishing IPC-induced protection of GLM, GLB, and GLC.
Valuers’ receptiveness to the application of artificial intelligence in property valuation

Abstract Studies have shown that the level of valuation inaccuracy in Nigeria is higher than the acceptable international standard. This may be linked to the preference for traditional valuation approaches. This study investigates the readiness of Nigerian valuers to adopt the artificial intelligence (AI) property valuation techniques that have proven to be reliable and accurate in property valuation. A cross-sectional study was conducted via a web-based questionnaire survey to registered estate surveyors and valuers practicing in Nigeria. The collected data were analyzed and presented with descriptive statistics in percentiles and mean score, in addition to the chi-square analysis. The results show that more than half of the respondents are aware of the AI valuation techniques. However, the techniques are not used in practice. The low adoption of the AI techniques is attributed to professional bodies responsible for regulation of real estate practice and tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, who were not proactive enough to promote their know-how and application. It was found that active collaboration between local professional bodies and similar international organizations on member training and development may improve the usage of the AI techniques. The study highlights the need for a paradigm shift in the Nigerian property valuation practice.
Infrastructural development factors of leasing entrepreneurship in real sector of economy

Given paper is aimed at determining factors, which influence leasing infrastructure development. It also examines the possibilities of overcoming infrastructural growth restrictions and barriers to the development of enterprises of industry, and construction sector. The phenomenon of infrastructural changes has been poorly researched economically and institutionally. These are a kind of quantitative and qualitative growth potential for the economy, for short and long-term periods for transportation or energy company and real estate development company.
Phylogeny of the Staphylococcal Major Autolysin and Its Use in Genus and Species Typing

ABSTRACT The major staphylococcal autolysin Atl is an important player in cell separation and daughter cell formation. In this study, we investigated the amino acid sequences of Atl proteins derived from 15 staphylococcal and 1 macrococcal species representatives. The overall organization of the bifunctional precursor protein consisting of the signal peptide, a propeptide (PP), the amidase (AM), six repeat sequences (R1 to R6), and the glucosaminidase (GL) was highly conserved in all of the species. The most-conserved domains were the enzyme domains AM and GL; the least-conserved regions were the PP and R regions. An Atl-based phylogenetic tree for the various species representatives correlated well with the corresponding 16S rRNA-based tree and also perfectly matched the phylogenetic trees based on core genome analysis. The phylogenetic distance analysis of 18 AtlA proteins of various Staphylococcus aureus strains and 15 AtlE proteins of S. epidermidis revealed that both species representatives formed a relatively homogeneous cluster. Two S. epidermidis strains, M23864:W1 and VCU116, were identified by Atl typing that clustered far more distantly and belonged to either S. caprae and S. capitis or a new subspecies. Here we show that Atl typing is a useful tool for staphylococcal genus and species typing by using either the highly conserved AM domain or the less-conserved PP domain.
Pharmacokinetics, Excretion, and Mass Balance of Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) and Amphotericin B Deoxycholate in Humans

ABSTRACT The pharmacokinetics, excretion, and mass balance of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) (liposomal AMB) and the conventional formulation, AMB deoxycholate (AMB-DOC), were compared in a phase IV, open-label, parallel study in healthy volunteers. After a single 2-h infusion of 2 mg of liposomal AMB/kg of body weight or 0.6 mg of AMB-DOC/kg, plasma, urine, and feces were collected for 168 h. The concentrations of AMB were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (plasma, urine, feces) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (plasma). Infusion-related side effects similar to those reported in patients, including nausea and back pain, were observed in both groups. Both formulations had triphasic plasma profiles with long terminal half-lives (liposomal AMB, 152 ± 116 h; AMB-DOC, 127 ± 30 h), but plasma concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) after administration of liposomal AMB (maximum concentration of drug in serum [Cmax], 22.9 ± 10 μg/ml) than those of AMB-DOC (Cmax, 1.4 ± 0.2 μg/ml). Liposomal AMB had a central compartment volume close to that of plasma (50 ± 19 ml/kg) and a volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) (774 ± 550 ml/kg) smaller than the Vss of AMB-DOC (1,807 ± 239 ml/kg) (P < 0.01). Total clearances were similar (approximately 10 ml hr−1 kg−1), but renal and fecal clearances of liposomal AMB were 10-fold lower than those of AMB-DOC (P < 0.01). Two-thirds of the AMB-DOC was excreted unchanged in the urine (20.6%) and feces (42.5%) with >90% accounted for in mass balance calculations at 1 week, suggesting that metabolism plays at most a minor role in AMB elimination. In contrast, <10% of the liposomal AMB was excreted unchanged. No metabolites were observed by HPLC or mass spectrometry. In comparison to AMB-DOC, liposomal AMB produced higher plasma exposures and lower volumes of distribution and markedly decreased the excretion of unchanged drug in urine and feces. Thus, liposomal AMB significantly alters the excretion and mass balance of AMB. The ability of liposomes to sequester drugs in circulating liposomes and within deep tissue compartments may account for these differences.
Reduced Radiation for Adult Thoracic CT: A Practical Approach

Purpose: To determine whether radiation dose to patients can be reduced for clinical thoracic CT scans without loss of diagnostic information. Materials and Methods: One hundred consecutive patients having clinical CT examinations of the thorax were included. The patients were divided into 4 groups, and the mAs setting determined from the patient’s weight as follows (max. 300 and min. 100 mAs): group 1: mAs = weight in lbs. rounded to the next multiple of 10, plus 30 (mAs = wtR + 30); group 2: mAs = weight rounded to the next multiple of 10 (mAs = wtR); group 3: mAs = weight rounded to the next multiple of 10, minus 20 (mAs = wtR − 20); group 4: mAs = weight rounded to the next multiple of 10, minus 30 (mAs = wtR − 30). The neck, mediastinum, lungs, and upper abdomen were assessed for quality on a 4 point scale. Results: Only at the lowest mAs levels did we see some degradation of image quality in the lower neck with an increase in streak artifacts. The other body regions all showed good or excellent image quality. Conclusions: Radiation dosage can be reduced by more than half without loss of diagnostic quality, using this simple formula: mAs = weight in lbs. rounded to the next multiple of 10 minus 30 (mAs = wtR − 30).
Is Business Ethics the âLast Rampartâ Against Tax Aggressiveness

This study examines the relationship between business ethics and tax aggressiveness. Building on the conceptual model of corporate moral development, we hypothesize and find a negative association between the level of business ethics and tax aggressiveness. For our sample of U.S. firms, companies with a higher level of business ethics are less likely to be tax aggressive. Our results are robust to the use of two proxies for tax aggressiveness: the ‘mainstream’ effective-tax-rate measure and the unrecognized tax benefit, which have been identified as capturing the least and the most aggressive tax positions respectively. While we support our business ethics prediction in both our models, we also find a positive relationship between the quality of corporate governance (measured without ethical characteristics generally associated with good corporate governance) and tax aggressiveness. Our interpretation of these results is that, while ethical firms are concerned about paying their fair share of taxes, shareholders’ interest still comes first.
Local and Systemic Effects of Water-Soluble Contrast Media and Barium in Rats with Chronic Small Bowel Obstruction

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES.The local effects on the small intestine and systemic changes produced by different contrast media in small bowel obstruction, with time courses of 4 days, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS.Four groups, each with 10 normal rats and another four groups (also each with 10 rats) that had ligation of the terminal ileum (obstructed rats) for 4 days were given 3 mL of barium, meglumine sodium diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline (control animals). Radiographs were taken immediately, 1 and 4 hours after administration of contrast media. Immediately before sacrifice, blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and serum sodium, and potassium and chloride concentrations. Specimens of small bowel were taken for histologic and morphometric analysis. RESULTS.In obstructed rats, the image quality with iohexol improved on final radiographs despite being diluted in the great intestinal contents. There was an improvement in the serum electrolyte concentrations in the obstructed animals that were given any one of the contrast media, the best improvement being in the iohexol groups. A shortening of the length of epithelial cells when any one of the contrast media was administered was observed, as was an increase in the lymphatic space area in the diatrizoate group in normal rats. In the bowel proximal to the obstruction, the lymphatic space area was increased in the diatrizoate group and the size of the epithelial cells was higher in the diatrizoate and iohexol groups compared to the barium and saline groups. CONCLUSION.Our results suggest that iohexol offers good radiologic efficacy and excellent systemic and local tolerance in small bowel obstruction.
Post Purchase Behavioral Intentions: An Empirical Study of Dissatisfied Retail Consumers in Mexico

US retailers are increasingly interested in entering the consumer market in Mexico. Demographic and purchasing trends are highly favorable. However, there is relatively little information available on post-purchase satisfaction, dissatisfaction and complaining behavior among Mexican consumers. The present study presented four purchasing scenarios to a stratified sample of adults in the centrally-located Mexican state of Queretaro. The four scenarios described an unsatisfactory experience with a convenience good, a shopping good, a durable good, and a service. Respondents were asked to indicate which of six consumer complaining behavior (CCB) responses they were likely to pursue on a five point scale. Results indicated that complaining to friends and family was the most likely result with very little attention given to responses involving third parties. Even complaining to the local store or seller was not a common response. US retailers must teach Mexican consumers that complaining is a useful endeavor. Otherwise, US retailers will not be able to capture information from dissatisfied consumers. Such information is critical in generating customer loyalty; particularly from firms that have a different cultural orientation.
Time-correlation analysis of nonstationary signals with application to speech processing

This paper proposes a new method of displaying and analyzing the evolutionary correlation structure of nonstationary signals. The method, called time-correlation analysis (TCA), is based on a filter-bank approach for stochastic signal characterization known as parametric filtering. Some properties of the TCA method are discussed that can be used to interpret the TCA plot. Examples of an application to speech analysis are given.
Puccinia psidii: a threat to the Australian environment and economy —a review

Puccinia psidii causes a rust disease on a broad range of hosts in the Myrtaceae and Heteropyxidaceae. It is native to South America where it can cause severe disease in eucalypt plantations and other introduced Myrtaceae. The pathogen has recently expanded its geographical range to Hawaii, increasing concerns about the potential for an incursion in Australia. This paper reviews the taxonomy, biology, impact and options for control of P. psidii. It also discusses the probable impact if an incursion were to occur in Australia and the preparations that must be made to mitigate adverse consequences.
Reduction of artifacts in dental cone beam CT images to improve the three dimensional image reconstruction

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scanners are based on volumetric tomography, using a 2D extended digital array providing an area detector [1,2]. Compared to traditional CT, CBCT has many advantages, such as less X-ray beam limitation, and rapid scan time, etc. However, in CBCT images the x-ray beam has lower mean kilovolt (peak) energy, so the metal artifact is more pronounced on. The position of the shadowed region in other views can be tracked by projecting the 3D coordinates of the object. Automatic image segmentation was used to replace the pixels inside the metal object with the boundary pixels. The modified projection data, using synthetically Radon Transformation, were then used to reconstruct a new back projected CBCT image. In this paper, we present a method, based on the morphological, area and pixel operators, which we applied on the Radon transformed image, to reduce the metal artifacts in CBCT, then we built the Radon back project images using the radon invers transformation. The artifacts effects on the 3d-reconstruction is that, the soft tissues appears as bones or teeth. For the preprocessing of the CBCT images, two methods are used to recognize the noisy black areas that the first depends on thresholding and closing algorithm, and the second depends on tracing boundaries after using thresholding algorithm too. The intensity of these areas is the lowest in the image than other tissues, so we profit this property to detect the edges of these areas. These two methods are applied on phantom and patient image data. It deals with reconstructed CBCT dicom images and can effectively reduce such metal artifacts. Due to the data of the constructed images are corrupted by these metal artifacts, qualitative and quantitative analysis of CBCT images is very essential.
Lithium Chloride Stimulates Human Monocytes to Secrete Tumor Necrosis Factor/Cachectin

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lithium chloride (LiCI) on human monocytes. Patients undergoing lithium therapy have elevated white blood cell counts. Since both tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1 (IL‐1), which are secreted by monocytes, can stimulate endothelial cells to produce granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), we determined whether lithium‐stimulated monocytes produced TNFα and/or IL‐1. Normal human monocytes were incubated for 24 h with medium (negative control), lipopolysaccharide (positive control), or LiCI (0.05–50 mM). The supernatants were removed and assayed for IL‐1 and TNFα secretion using the D10.G4. 01 and L929 assays, respectively. Lithium did not stimulate IL‐1 secretion but did stimulate TNFα secretion (5–10 U/ml of TNFα per 2 x 105 monocytes). The increased secretion of TNFα was associated with a fourfold increase in TNFα mRNA. TNFα activity in the supernatants was neutralized by a monoclonal antibody against human TNFα but not by antibody against human albumin. Other alkali metals such as rubidium and cesium did not stimulate monocytes to secrete TNFα. These data indicate that one mechanism by which Li may cause granulocytosis is through a transcriptional enhancement of TNF production and subsequent secretion by monocytes.
The subcellular distribution of free H3-glutamic acid in rat cerebral cortical slices.

The subcellular localization of free H3-glutamic acid, other free H3-amino acids and C14- norepinephrine in rat cerebral cortex has been examined. Slices of rat cerebral cortex were incubated with H3-amino acids, homogenized and subjected to subcellular fractionation. Some putative transmitters (glutamic acid, glycine and norepinephrine), the basic amino acids (arginine, lysine, ornithine and histidine) and the small neutral amino acids (serine, alanine and threonine) were localized in particulate fractions more than others. Differential centrifugation showed that several of these amino acids were in a particulate fraction (P2) enriched with pinched-off nerve endings ("synaptosomes") and mitochondria, and were in osmotically sensitive compartments. When P2 fractions were centrifuged on continuous density gradients, H3-glutamic acid and H3-glycine were localized to the same fractions as C14-norepinephrine, a synaptosomal marker. However, the synaptosomal peak for H3- glutamic acid and H3-glycine was broader than for C14-norepinephrine. In contrast to the synaptosomal localization of H3-glutamic acid, endogenous free glutamic acid was primarily localized in the soluble supernatant fraction. However, the pattern of distribution of exogenous and endogenous glutamic acid in continuous sucrose gradients was identical, implying a mixing of exogenous with endogenous glutamic acid. All of the H3-amino acids examined were found to be mostly unmetabolized in the tissue slices, although the metabolites of H3-glutamic acid accumulated in the incubation medium.
Service Quality of BRAC Bank in Bangladesh: A Case Study

This paper attempts to identify the service quality of BRAC Bank of Bangladesh. It identifies the service quality factors important to the Bank. A survey has been conducted on the clients of BRAC Bank with a structured questionnaire. The respondents’ were selected from the 14 branches of BRAC Bank located at Dhaka city. More than 200 retail customers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. The sample clients were selected randomly at the branches. Factor analysis was conducted to identify the service quality factors of the bank. Results show that the most important perceived service quality factors are satisfaction of the clients’ best interest by the bank and the tangible physical facilities of the bank.
A Unique Preliminary Study on Placental Apoptosis in Mice with Passive Immunization of Anti‐Phosphatidylethanolamine Antibodies and Anti‐Factor XII Antibodies

Citation Velayuthaprabhu S, Matsubayashi H, Sugi T, Nakamura M, Ohnishi Y, Ogura T, Tomiyama T, Archunan G. A unique preliminary study on placental apoptosis in mice with passive immunization of anti‐phosphatidylethanolamine antibodies and anti‐factor XII antibodies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 66: 373–384