Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
µ-Law Based HDR Coding and Its Error Analysis

In this paper, we propose a coding algorithm for High Dynamic Range Images (HDRI). Our encoder applies a tone mapping model based on scaled µ-Law encoding, followed by a conventional Low Dynamic Range Image (LDRI) encoder. The tone mapping model is designed to minimize the difference between the tone-mapped HDRI and its LDR version. By virtue of the nature of the µ-Law model, not only the quality of the HDRI but also the one of the LDRI is improved, compared with a state of the art in conventional HDRI coding methods. Furthermore the error limit caused by our encoding is theoretically analyzed.
Analysis of Pattern Formation in Chain of Coupled Bistable Elements

One of the most complex problems of nonlinear dynamics is the investigation of collective dynamics of ensembles consisting of a large number of coupled elements. A number of investigations were carried out for linear coupling of diffusion (difference) type. Recently, based on successful investigations of neurobiological objects [Abarbanel et al., 1996], an interest has grown in the study of dynamics of ensembles with nonlinear, nondiffusion type of coupling. In this paper we address pattern formation in a chain of bistable elements so coupled [Kuznetsov & Shalfeev, 2000].
The Effect of Hemin and Deferoxamine on Selenium, Zinc, and Iron Levels of K562 Cells

This study investigated contents of trace elements selenium, zinc and iron both in control K562 cells, human leukemia cell line, and cells treated with hemin or the iron chelator deferoxamine cells. K562 cell line was grown in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, 25 μg/mL amphotericin B and 2 mM L-glutamine at 37? C in humidified air containing 5% CO2. K562 cells were treated with hemin and deferoxamine from the first day to the fifth day. The trace element levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Treatment of K562 cells with hemin resulted in an increase in the levels of selenium on fifth day compared with first day. No differences were observed in selenium levels of the control group compared with the hemin-induced group. Also there were no significant differences observed in the zinc levels of control cells compared with deferoxamine- and hemin-induced cells. Iron levels of hemin-induced cells were decreased on the fourth day com-pared with the third day. On the third day, iron levels of hemin-induced cells were significantly increased compared to the control group. Our observations suggest that alterations of selenium and zinc levels may play a role in hemin-induction and deferoxamine-inhibition, respectively. On the other hand, iron levels may influence both in hemin-induction and deferoxamine-inhibition of K562 human leukemia cell line
Análisis de la Productividad en la Construcción de Vivienda basada en Rendimientos de Mano de Obra Analysis of Productivity in Housing Construction Based on Labor Performance

Resumen-El presente trabajo se basa en la identificacion y eliminacion de perdidas dentro del proceso constructivo de edificaciones en la ciudad de Bogota con el fin de aumentar la productividad. La metodologia para recoleccion de informacion fue el muestreo de campo con el apoyo de imagenes digitales. Esto permitio identificar los principales factores causantes de perdidas, entre los que se encuentran: esperas de material, desplazamientos, reprocesos, clima, entre otros. Tambien se realizaron encuestas al personal de obra para identificar aspectos de percepcion motivacional de los trabajadores y otros aspectos generales de la obra que afectaban la productividad, como condiciones de salario, clima laboral, estado de animo, entre otros. Finalmente, se llevo a cabo una simulacion digital para plantear escenarios de mejoramiento donde se identificaban impactos de acciones de mejora que fueron disenadas de acuerdo con los resultados encontrados en la etapa inicial.
AÇÃO POLÍTICA E PENSAMENTO DAS MULHERES NEGRAS NAS AMÉRICAS: UMA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE A DIÁSPORA AFRICANA

Resumo: O presente artigo reflete sobre uma perspectiva da historia intelectual da diaspora negra a partir da acao politica e do pensamento das mulheres negras nas Americas, frente as distintas dinâmicas sociais que tem marcada as experiencias de opressao deste grupo. E procura, ainda, apresentar diferentes experiencias de enfrentamento dos processos de subordinacao e exploracao destes grupos. E uma historia marcada por genealogias, acoes politicas, e a producao de conhecimentos. Com o objetivo de refletir sobre as questoes apresentadas o artigo esta dividido em duas partes. A primeira busca apresentar o que a historia da Diaspora Africana nas Americas revela sobre as condicoes sociais das mulheres negras. Na segunda parte procuramos refletir sobre a perspectiva racial de genero das mulheres negras nas Americas. E nas consideracoes finais, tecemos breve reflexao sobre a relevância da presenca e acao das mulheres afrodescendentes no continente, atraves de suas acoes politicas e producao de conhecimentos, e como estas questoes devem influenciar nossas agendas de pesquisa.
Neuropathological Findings in the Very Old: Results from the First 101 Brains of a Population‐based Longitudinal Study of Dementing Disorders

Abstract: We report a unique longitudinal epidemiological study of cognitive decline in the elderly population of the city of Cambridge, UK. A population sample of people aged 75 and over was surveyed between 1984–1996 (n= 2,616) and followed 2.4, 6, and 9 years later. CAMDEX diagnostic criteria were used for clinical assessment, and the neuropathological protocol (in 101 cases) was based on the CERAD method, with additional features to allow Braak staging of neurofibrillary pathology. The main findings are of the heterogeneity of lesions to be found in very old populations, and the existence of considerable overlap in the pathologies found in the demented and nondemented. It seems that white matter (ischemic) pallor an amyloid angiopathy, as well as neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy body formation are all lesions that increase the likelihood of dementia.
Factors associated with stillborn and mummified piglets in high-prolific sows

Stillbirth concerns about 2.5 million piglets each year in France and is expected to worsen in the coming years, due to hyperprolific sows. The present study was performed to determine the risk factors of the presence of stillborn piglets or mummies in the litter using data from three ex- perimental herds. From June 1999 until June 2000, sow, stillborn and mummy characteristics were closely recorded around farrowing. Information was recorded on 455 litters, from 308 sows. After se- lection, a total of 447 litters, originating from 302 crossbred (Large White × Landrace) sows were used. Two hundred and fifty-five litters had no stillborn. Neither individual piglet body weight nor variability of piglet body weight within litters were found to influence stillbirth. A reduction in the av- erage litter or sow live weights increased the probability of having a stillbirth. When a full litter was born with a human presence, the proportion of litters without a stillborn was higher than in cases of partial supervision (65.7 vs. 4.5 to 45.6%). At the same time, the number of litters with two or more stillborn piglets was lower (11.2 vs. 23.6 to 30.9%). Only 46% of the litters had no stillborn when no supervision was performed. These results indicate that good supervision (more than 75% of births with a human presence) decreased stillbirth in pigs, while individual piglet weight did not alter it. A reduction in litter live weight decreased the risk of having mummies, whereas an increased litter size had the opposite effect. sow / parturition / stillbirth / mummies / risk factors / supervision
The PTPase YopH inhibits uptake of Yersinia, tyrosine phosphorylation of p130Cas and FAK, and the associated accumulation of these proteins in peripheral focal adhesions

Pathogenic Yersinia resist uptake by eukaryotic cells by a mechanism involving the virulence protein YopH, a protein tyrosine phosphatase. We show that p130Cas and FAK are phosphorylated and recruited to peripheral focal complexes during bacterial uptake in HeLa cells. The inactive form of YopH interacts with the tyrosine phosphorylated forms of FAK and p130Cas and co‐localizes with these proteins in focal adhesions. On the other hand, the presence of active YopH results in inhibition of uptake, dephosphorylation of p130Cas and FAK, and disruption of peripheral focal complexes. We suggest that p130Cas and FAK are substrates for YopH and that the dephosphorylation of these proteins impairs the uptake of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis into HeLa cells.
Minimizing organizational risks of technology change

The focus of this tutorial is the organizational factors which need to be considered in the design and implementation of technology. There are a number of common stumbling blocks which make technology less likely to succeed in an organizational setting. This tutorial focuses on how to identify and avoid these stumbling blocks, with an emphasis on practical steps for the designer to take.
New frontiers in cell competition †

Cellular communication is at the heart of animal development, and guides the specification of cell fates, the movement of cells within and between tissues, and the coordinated arrangement of different body parts. During organ and tissue growth, cell–cell communication plays a critical role in decisions that determine whether cells survive to contribute to the organism. In this review, we discuss recent insights into cell competition, a social cellular phenomenon that selects the fittest cells in a tissue, and as such potentially contributes to the regulation of its growth and final size. The field of cell competition has seen a huge explosion in its study in the last several years, facilitated by the increasingly sophisticated genetic and molecular technology available in Drosophila and driven by its relevance to stem cell biology and human cancer. Developmental Dynamics 241:831–841, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
[Factors Associated With Immediate Results of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease in the Presence of Type 2 Diabetes].

OBJECTIVE to elucidate factors associated with cardiovascular events (CVE) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) depending on the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical records of 667 patients who underwent CABG during the period from 2006 to 2009 (317 patients with and 350 patients without DM2 and other disorders of glucose metabolism with comparable by sex, age and CABG characteristics) were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship of registered possible predictors with incidence of CVE was evaluated in a logistic regression model. Predictors of CVE after CABG were different depending on the presence of DM2. The presence of left ventricular aneurysm, mitral regurgitation, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and elevated level of glycated hemoglobin were independent predictors of CVE in diabetic patients. The increase in the age of patients, on-pump CABG, combined operations, presence of mitral regurgitation, decrease in LVEF were predictors of CVE in non-diabetic patients. CONCLUSION Predictors of CVE after CABG were different depending on the presence of DM2. Data obtained emphasize the importance of control of glycaemia in patients with DM2 for improvement of immediate results of CABG.
Optic neuritis treatment trial. One-year follow-up results.

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of corticosteroids as treatment for acute demyelinative optic neuritis after completion of 1 year of patient follow-up in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial. DESIGN Randomized placebo controlled multicenter clinical trial. SETTING Fifteen university or hospital-based centers throughout the United States. PATIENTS Four hundred fifty-seven patients with acute demyelinative optic neuritis between 18 and 46 years of age. INTERVENTION Either intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate (250 mg every 6 hours) for 3 days followed by oral prednisone (1 mg/kg per day) for 11 days, oral prednisone (1 mg/kg per day) for 14 days, or oral placebo for 14 days. The first two regimens were followed by a short taper of corticosteroid therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity, visual field, contrast sensitivity, and color vision. RESULTS Visual acuity at 1 year was 20/40 or better in 95% of the placebo group, 94% of the intravenous group, and 91% of the oral prednisone group. Comparing each corticosteroid group with the placebo group, there were no statistically significant differences in the distributions of any of the four measures of visual function. Patients in the oral prednisone group suffered a higher rate of new attacks of optic neuritis than patients in either of the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS The visual benefit from treating acute optic neuritis with intravenous followed by oral corticosteroids is short term, limited to an accelerated rate of recovery. The decision whether to prescribe this regimen for optic neuritis, or to prescribe no treatment, must be made for each patient on an individual basis. Oral prednisone alone, in the dose range used in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial, should not be prescribed.
Reinventing Albanian Identities in Eduart and Mirupafshim

Abstract:The journeys and travails of Albanian immigrants in Greece have featured prominently in contemporary Greek films from 1993 onward. The identity-based strategies of representation we find in these films contest the xenophobic logic of the Greek media, which has reproduced criminality as a mainstay of Albanian identity. At the same time, Greek migration films have failed to radically reassert the terms of belonging, since filmmakers project victimhood in their efforts to portray the hostility of the Greek host. This article addresses two case studies from this corpus, Mirupafshim (See You, 1997) and Eduart (2006), which envision Albanian identities beyond the constraints of otherness, affording genuine humanity and individuality to their migrant protagonists. Analysis of the films’ screenplays, editing, and cinematography provides the basis for an understanding of their challenging evocation of identity, inviting further debate regarding Greek migration cinema and filmic portrayals of Albanian immigrants and Albania.
Dynamic capabilities in the software process

Software development is an important dynamic capability of a software-developing organisation. This paper explores product development in general and software development in particular from the viewpoint of the dynamic capabilities research stream that is associated with the Resource-based View (RBV) of the firm. We discuss software development from a process viewpoint, assessing each phase separately. The main results of the paper are twofold: first, via a dynamic capabilities-based analysis of the software process, we formulate by inductive reasoning a general product development resource transformation typology that supports the analysis of developing and managing industrial product innovation activities through a dynamic capabilities approach. Second, we present a research agenda that incorporates a synthesis of recent scholarly discourse about dynamic capabilities into product development and especially software development research.
Glutathione Transferases

The 55 Arabidopsis glutathione transferases (GSTs) are, with one microsomal exception, a monophyletic group of soluble enzymes that can be divided into phi, tau, theta, zeta, lambda, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and TCHQD classes. The populous phi and tau classes are often highly stress inducible and regularly crop up in proteomic and transcriptomic studies. Despite much study on their xenobiotic-detoxifying activities their natural roles are unclear, although roles in defence-related secondary metabolism are likely. The smaller DHAR and lambda classes are likely glutathione-dependent reductases, the zeta class functions in tyrosine catabolism and the theta class has a putative role in detoxifying oxidised lipids. This review describes the evidence for the functional roles of GSTs and the potential for these enzymes to perform diverse functions that in many cases are not “glutathione transferase” activities. As well as biochemical data, expression data from proteomic and transcriptomic studies are included, along with subcellular localisation experiments and the results of functional genomic studies.
Development of the cone ERG in infants.

PURPOSE To assess cone photoreceptor and cone-mediated postreceptoral retinal function in infants. METHODS ERG responses to a 1.8-log unit range of long-wavelength flashes on a white, rod-saturating background were recorded in 4-week-old (n = 22) and 10-week-old (n = 28) infants and control adults and children, 8 to 40 years of age (n = 13). A model of the activation of cone phototransduction was fit to the a-waves. Sensitivity (S(CONE)) and saturated-response amplitude (R(CONE)) were calculated. The amplitude and implicit time of the b-wave were examined as a function of stimulus intensity. The cone photoresponse parameters were compared to the rod photoresponse parameters (S(ROD) and R(ROD)) in the same subjects. RESULTS S(CONE) and R(CONE) in infants were significantly smaller than in the mature control subjects. The mean S(CONE) was 64% and 68%, and the mean R(CONE) was 63% and 72% in 4- and 10-week-olds, respectively. The mean rod photoresponse parameters were considerably less mature, as the mean S(ROD) was 35% and 46%, and the mean R(ROD) was 39% and 43% of mature values at 4 and 10 weeks. The b-wave stimulus-response functions in the 4- and 10-week-old infants did not show the photopic hill that was characteristic of the children's and adults' photopic b-waves. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral cone function is relatively more mature than rod function in young infants. The lack of a photopic hill is hypothesized to result from immaturity in the relative contributions of ON and OFF bipolar cell responses.
Tyrosine phosphorylation and cadherin/catenin function

Cadherin‐mediated cell‐cell adhesion is perturbed in protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)‐transformed cells. While cadherins themselves appear to be poor PTK substrates, their cytoplasmic binding partners, the Arm catenins, are excellent PTK substrates and therefore good candidates for mediating PTK‐induced changes in cadherin behavior. These proteins, p120ctn, β‐catenin and plakoglobin, bind to the cytoplasmic region of classical cadherins and function to modulate adhesion and/or bridge cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, as demonstrated recently for β‐catenin, these proteins also have crucial signaling roles that may or may not be related to their effects on cell‐cell adhesion. Tyrosine phosphorylation of cadherin complexes is well documented and widely believed to modulate cell adhesiveness. The data to date, however, is largely correlative and the mechanism of action remains unresolved. In this review, we discuss the current literature and suggest models whereby tyrosine phosphorylation of Arm catenins contribute to regulation or perturbation of cadherin function.
Fault-Tolerant Control Using ℌ∞ Sliding Mode Observer

A fault-tolerant control scheme for a class of nonlinear systems subject to actuator faults and system disturbances is proposed and analyzed. Fault and state estimates are generated by an H∞ sliding mode observer, making them more robust to disturbances. They are used to form an output feedback controller that suppresses the effects of faults and disturbances, resulting in an integrated fault tolerant control design. Stability of the closed loop system is proved using Lyapunov analysis. The integrated fault tolerant control design is applied to a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Simulation results demonstrate that with the enhanced robustness of the state and fault estimates to disturbances, the proposed controller produces significantly improved closed loop performance.
Physical Parameters of Northern Eclipsing Binaries in the Catalina Sky Survey

We present the physical properties for 2281 northern eclipsing binary (EB) stars with eclipsing Algol (EA)-type light-curve (LC) morphology, based on data extracted from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS). Our study is based on the analysis of the Eclipsing Binary via Artificial Intelligence (EBAI) artificial neural network (ANN) tool. An intensive search for the optimal ANN topology was performed. In order to feed the ANN with LCs that are representative of the CSS observations, two independent methods, based on template fitting and on the Two-Gaussian Model, were applied. As a result, five principal physical parameters were determined using only the CSS LCs, namely the temperature ratio, ; the sum of relative radii, ρ2 + ρ1; ; ; and , where e is the eccentricity, ω is the argument of periastron, and i is the orbital inclination. Parameter uncertainties were estimated based on a Monte Carlo approach. When the ANN predictions were out of its training limits (1540 EBs), the parameters of the systems are based on the matching templates technique only. The results are fully in agreement with the expected parameter values for detached EB systems and can be used as initial inputs for advanced and dedicated EB models and/or for statistical purposes.
Comment on "Confinement of slave particles in U(1) gauge theories of strongly interacting electrons".

In a recent Letter, Nayak argued that slave partices are always confined in gauge theories of strongly-correlated electron systems like the t-J model. The argument mostly relies on Elitzur's theorem and the fact that the effective gauge theory under discussion is at infinite coupling. On the other hand, in the previous papers we studied dynamics of the gauge theory of the t-J model showing that the slave particles are in the Coulomb phase below certain critical temperature T{CSS} that depends on hole doping. We comment on the discrepancy between the results in two papers.
Group actions on the complex projective plane

0. Introduction. In this paper we consider homologically trivial, locally smooth actions of finite and compact Lie groups on topological 4-manifolds having the same homology as CP2, the complex projective plane. Our main result states that all such actions are lowally complex linear and that the acting groups can also act linearly on CP2. In particular, we obtain the classification of groups acting on both manifolds homotopy equivalent to CP2: G acts on the complex projective plane (resp. on the Chern manifold) if and only if G is isomorphic to a subgroup (resp. a pseudofree subgroup) of PU(3). The paper is organized as follows. In §1 a precise statement of the main result is given. §2 examines tangent representations of some cyclic groups; the main tool being the G-signature theorem. The relevant number theoretic computations are carried out in Appendix 1. §§3 and 4 discuss abelian and nonabelian groups in terms of the numbers of fixed points (Euler characteristic of the fixed point set). §5 proves that all tangent representations are complex. §§6-9 discuss several classes of groups acting without fixed points. The terminology that we use to distinguish among different classes of fixed point free groups is adopted from the linear case. §10 contains the proof of our main theorem and, finally, §11 is devoted to group actions on the Chern manifold. For completeness, a list of fixed point free linear groups is included in Appendix 2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I would like to thank Professor John Ewing for suggesting this problem to me and also for his support and encouragement. I have been informed that I. Hambleton and R. Lee have independently obtained results similar to those presented here.