Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) in Image Processing: A Review on Different Techniques

For any object in an image, interesting points on the object can be extracted to provide a "feature description" f the object. This description, extracted from a training image, can then be used to identify the object when attempting to locate the object in a test image containing many other objects. To perform reliable recognition, it is important that the features extracted from the training image be detectable even under changes in image scale, noise and illumination. Such points usually lie on high-contrast regions of the image, such as object edges. Another important characteristic of these features is that the relative positions between them in the original scene shouldn't change from one image to another. Similarly, features located in articulated or flexible objects would typically not work if any change in their internal geometry happens between two images in the set being processed. However, in practice SIFT detects and uses a much larger number of features from the images, which reduces the contribution of the errors caused by these local variations in the average error of all feature matching errors. The review gives a wide scope of such SIFT applications. Keywords-SIFT, Image processing, Descriptor, Ordinal description, Real Time Description, 3D applications
MICRO Contracting for Tacit Knowledge - A study of contractual arrangements in international technology transfer

To protect their tacit knowledge in international technology transfers, transferors generally selected ownership-based hierarchical control. Related research also argued that hierarchical contracting helped to economize transaction costs in tacit knowledge transformation. However, the interests of transferees and the nature of tacit knowledge transformation were not adequately considered in the control-oriented hierarchical contracting. This paper explores how transferees in China used innovative contractual arrangements to acquire tacit knowledge while they have to succumb to the dominant strategy of hierarchical control by transferors. Our research results challenge the rigid application of hierarchical contracting in tacit knowledge transformation. By synchronizing transaction cost economics and knowledge management in the study of tacit knowledge transformation, our research also provides empirical support to the call by Williamsons to push beyond generic governance to address strategy issues faced by particular firms, and include dynamic transaction costs and learning (Williamson 1999).
Crustal structure beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its tectonic implications

[1] Two crustal cross sections through the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau are jointly determined from deep seismic sounding. The E–W trending line AA’ passes through the western Sichuan plateau (including the Songpan-Garze terrane and the Longmenshan fault belt) and ends in the Sichuan basin (a part of the Yangtze craton). Line BB’ has a trend of NNE and crosses the Songpan-Garze terrane. Two-dimensional crustal structures along the profiles were jointly determined by the additional use of existing deep seismic sounding data. Our seismic velocity models indicate that the western Sichuan plateau and the Sichuan basin have crustal thicknesses of 62 and 43 km, average crustal P wave velocities of 6.27 and 6.45 km/s and lower crustal (Vp > 6.5 km/s) thicknesses of 27 and 15 km, respectively. Density models constructed from the seismic velocity models are consistent with observed Bouguer gravity anomalies. We infer that collision between the Tibetan Plateau and the Yangtze craton has caused thickening of the lower crust and uplift of the western Sichuan plateau. We detect a low-velocity layer in the upper crust of the western Sichuan plateau but observe no equivalence in the Sichuan basin; west dipping thrusts may detach into this low-velocity layer. The seismic phase PmP in the western Sichuan plateau has low amplitude, suggesting high attenuation in the lower crust (Qp of 100–300). We suggest that the high attenuation is a consequence of lower crustal flow caused by the large lower crustal thickness beneath the western Sichuan plateau.
Soil phosphorus dynamics on terrestrial natural ecosystems

Abstract. Soil organic and inorganic phosphorus (P) compounds can be modified by distinctive ecosystems properties. This study aims to analyze soil P dynamics on terrestrial natural ecosystems, relating its organic (monoesters, diesters, and phosphonate) and inorganic (orthophosphate, polyphosphate and pyrophosphate) functional groups with important temporal, edaphic and climatic characteristics. A dataset including 88 sites was assembled from published papers that have determined soil P composition by liquid state one-dimensional 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance of soils extracted with NaOH EDTA. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to enable a comprehensive understanding of soil P dynamics at an unprecedented geographical scale. In bivariate relationships, soil P compounds had overall similar behaviors on mineral and organic layers but with different slopes. Temporal (weathering), edaphic and climatic properties of ecosystems, together explain up to 78 % (diester) and 57 % (orthophosphate) of the variation of organic and inorganic P forms across ecosystems. Soil, particularly pH, total carbon, and carbon-to-phosphorus ratio, over climate and weathering, were the predominant drivers to explain P variation. Only, the diester-to-monoester ratio was controlled by independent and combined effects of soil weathering and soil properties, likely deriving from parent material differences. We conclude that soil organic and inorganic P pools as well as their functional groups composition are determined by distinctive drivers that regulate key ecological processes governing their presence, transformation and persistence on terrestrial natural ecosystems.
Effects of swimming on the testicular histomorphology of alcoholized rats

The objective of this study was to examine whether the practice of long-duration, low- intensity physical exercise helped reverse changes observed in the testes of rats subjected to alcohol dependence induced by semi-voluntary intake. Forty male rats were distributed into four groups: alcohol no exercise (ANE); alcohol with exercise (AWE); no alcohol no exercise (NANE); no alcohol with exercise (NAWE). The cachaca ("51" brand) was offered in the following dilutions: 10% (10 days), 15% (11 days), 20% (12 days), 25% (12 days), 30% from the 45 th to 120 th day, when the alcohol was replaced by drinking water. On the 120 th day, the groups NAWE and AWE were assigned to swim in individual tanks with water temperature around 30oC for 20 minutes, 5 days week -1 for 8 weeks. In the ANE group there was a depletion of the seminiferous epithelium, while in AWE rats the majority of seminiferous tubules were unaltered. Compared to the AWE group, there were reductions in tubular diameter and the height of the seminiferous epithelium in the ANE group. The results showed lesser testicular atrophy in animals that exercised than in sedentary ones. Physical exercise after the discontinuation of alcohol seems to accelerate the process of recovery of damaged tissue.
Integrated Design of a Compact and Lightweight S-Band Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier for a New Class of Microwave Power Module

A new class of compact and lightweight S-band 1 kW traveling-wave tube (TWT) is being developed for a microwave power module (MPM) that will be used for phased antenna array radar applications. The proposed S-band MPM provides a tenfold peak power increase compared to state-of-the-art S-band MPMs. In this paper, the design of the vacuum power booster TWT part of the MPM is presented. The compact and lightweight S-band TWT is driven by a 6 kV, 0.9 A electron beam. The amplifier is predicted by large-signal simulations to generate over 1 kW at S-band with 25 dB saturated gain and over 40% efficiency. The stability from unwanted oscillations has been investigated. To suppress the oscillations, the helix circuit has been coated with carbon composite material. The coaxial input and output antennas have been fabricated. For efficiency enhancement, a multi-stage depressed collector (MDC) has been designed using a 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulator, VORPAL. The collector design makes use of a current loop based on a feedback mechanism for effective design process. The integrated designs of a helix circuit, an electron gun, a periodic permanent magnet (PPM), antennas, and a collector are presented.
Psychophysiological Effects of Sideritis and Bacopa Extract and Three Combinations Thereof-A Quantitative EEG Study in Subjects Suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as a transitional stage during the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosis of MCI can be obtained by the questionnaire “DemTect” in German speaking countries. Quantitative assessment has been successfully performed using psychometric testing concomitantly with quantitative EEG recording. The present investigation aimed at the possible treatment of MCI with two botanicals, namely extracts from Sideritis scardica (500 mg) or Bacopa monnieri (320 mg) and three combinations thereof using this method in order to find a new treatment. The performance of the d2-test, an arithmetic calculation test (CPT) and a memory-test revealed better performance for the d2-test only in the presence of Sideritis extract or the combinations with Bacopa extract. Quantitative EEG assessment during the different experimental conditions showed massive differences between both extracts. Whereas Sideritis extract and its combination with a low amount of Bacopa extract (160 mg) induced increases of spectral power in fronto-temporal brain areas, Bacopa and the combination of Sideritis with high amounts of Bacopa extract produced attenuation of all waves except for delta in fronto-temporal brain areas. These differences were also documented by quantitative EEG maps in comparison to Placebo. A different action of both extracts was confirmed by discriminant analysis, where Sideritis extract and its combination with low Bacopa grouped together quite at distance to Bacopa and the combination of Sideritis with high Bacopa. A combination of Sideritis extract with a low amount of Bacopa should be tested with daily repetitive dosing for at least 4 weeks as a consequence.
A systematic analysis of the broad iron Kα line in neutron-star LMXBs with XMM-Newton

We analysed the XMM-Newton archival observations of 16 neutron star (NS), low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) to study the Fe K emission in these objects. The sample includes all the observations of NS LMXBs performed in EPIC pn timing mode with XMM-Newton publicly available until September 30, 2009. We performed a detailed data analysis considering pile-up and background effects. The properties of the Fe lines differed from previous published analyses because of either incorrect pile-up corrections or different continuum parameterisation. Eighty percent of the observations for which a spectrum can be extracted showed significant Fe line emission. We found an average line centroid of 6.67 ± 0.02 keV and a finite width, σ, of 0.33 ± 0.02 keV. The equivalent width of the lines varied between 17 and 189 eV, with an average weighted value of 42 ± 3 eV. For sources where several observations were available, the Fe line parameters changed between observations whenever the continuum changed significantly. The line parameters did not show any correlation with luminosity. Most important, we could fit the Fe line with a simple Gaussian component for all the sources. The lines did not show the asymmetric profiles that were interpreted as indicating relativistic effects in previous analyses of these LMXBs.
Measurement of the ( Gd , La ) 2 O 2 S : Tb phosphor e ciency for x-ray imaging applications

(Gd,La)2O2S:Tb phosphor performance was tested under x-ray excitation for medical imaging applications with tube voltages from 70 to 180 kVp and phosphor coating weights from 20 to 240 mg/cm. The emission spectrum of (Gd,La)2O2S:Tb was also measured and it was centered at 549 nm. (Gd,La)2O2S:Tb was found ecient in a wide range of x-ray tube voltages and adequately compatible with photocathodes, photodiodes, and orthochromatic ®lms currently used in x-ray medical imaging. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Modeling the consequences of tongue surgery on tongue mobility

This paper presents the current achievements of a long term project aiming at predicting and assessing the impact of tongue and mouth floor surgery on tongue mobility. The ultimate objective of this project is the design of a software with which surgeons should be able (1) to design a 3D biomechanical model of the tongue and of the mouth floor that matches the anatomical characteristics of each patient specific oral cavity, (2) to simulate the anatomical changes induced by the surgery and the possible reconstruction, and (3) to quantitatively predict and assess the consequences of these anatomical changes on tongue mobility and speech production after surgery.
Implications of basic research in clinical practice: toward a personalizedmedicine in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL)

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children and one of the main causes of death among childhood blood disorders. There are two subtypes according to the affected lymphoid progenitor: B-ALL and T-ALL. The T-ALL is the less common and historically was associated with poor prognosis in both adults and children, although at present, treatment outcomes do not differ significantly between the two types of ALL. The T-ALL subtype is the most complex and heterogeneous at the genetic level and currently the one with less new therapeutic alternatives available. This trend is changing thanks to the remarkable progress that is being made in understanding the biology involved. Advances in genomic research during last decade have largely contributed to this progress. Moreover many efforts are being made to identify which of this new basic data is relevant for clinical practice. This will allow us to better define the risk and take decisions on the best treatment to apply to each patient. Therefore we are moving towards a personalized patient management that ultimately will result in an increase in survival and progress to T-ALL cure. This review summarizes the most relevant and applicable biological findings in T-ALL made in recent years and their therapeutic implications that will influence the clinical practice in the future.
A Taxonomy of Challenges in Information Security Risk Management

Risk Management is viewed by many as the cornerstone of information security and is used to determine what to protect and how. How to approach risk management for information security is an ongoing debate as there are several difficulties in existing approaches. The problems and challenges within the discipline are not easily visible being dispersed throughout literature. There is therefore a need for an overview for both industry and researchers to obtain a holistic picture of the research area and to contribute in making progress. In this paper, we present a taxonomy of identified problems from literature within information security risk management, and highlight some of the important prevailing issues that are contributing to lack of progress within the research field.
Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships for Predicting the Bioaccumulation of POPs in Terrestrial Food‐Webs

KOW based QSARs are used to assess the bioaccumulation potential of thousands of commercial chemicals in Canada and internationally. The QSARs, which are based on information from aquatic organisms, identify chemicals with a log KOW 5 to have a potential to biomagnify in food-chains. This study investigates whether KOW based QSARs are also effective in identifying biomagnifying chemicals in terrestrial food-chains. First, a terrestrial bioaccumulation model is developed and used to hypothesize the general relationship between the chemical×s octanol-air and octanol-water partition and its biomagnification potential. Secondly, field observations of the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in wolves are used to test the hypothesis and explore the fundamental differences between QSARs for bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial food-chains. The results indicate that (i) QSARs for bioaccumulation in terrestrial foodchains should include both octanol-air (KOA) and octanol water partition coefficients (KOW); (ii) chemicals with a log KOA approximately 5 can biomagnify in terrestrial foodchains if log KOW 2 and the rate chemical transformation or metabolism is low; (iii) biomagnification factors in terrestrial food-chains are much greater than those in aquatic food-chains; (iv) biomagnification factors of very hydrophobic substances (log KOW 7) in terrestrial biota do not drop off with increasing KOW as has been observed in aquatic biota. The relevance of these findings is that current regulations and protocols may misidentify (i) low KOW but high KOA chemicals as having no bioaccumulation potential and (ii) very hydrophobic (log KOW 8.5) which appear not to biomagnify in aquatic organisms but have the potential to biomagnify in terrestrial food-chains. Considering that 67.9% of the approximately 12 000 organic chemicals on Canada×s Domestic Substances List exhibit high KOA but low KOW, this represents a major gap in our methods for screening bioaccumulative substances.
Rubber Tree Distribution Mapping in Northeast Thailand

In many parts of mainland Southeast Asia rubber plantations are expanding rapidly in areas where the crop was not historically found. Monitoring and mapping the distribution of rubber trees in the region is necessary for developing a better understanding of the consequences of land-cover and land-use change on carbon and water cycles. In this study, we conducted rubber tree growth mapping in Northeast Thailand using Landsat 5 TM data. A Mahalanobis typicality method was used to identify different age rubber trees. Landsat 5 TM 30 m non-thermal reflective bands, NDVI and tasseled cap transformation components were selected as the model input metrics. The validation was carried out using provincial level agricultural statistical data on the rubber tree growth area. At regional (Northeast Thailand) and provincial scales, the estimates of mature and middle-age rubber stands produced from 30 m Landsat 5 TM data compared well (high statistical significance) with the provincial rubber tree growth statistical data.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dietary Antioxidants in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Atherosclerosis, with its major manifestation, Coronary Artery Disease [CAD] is a chronic inflammatory disease. Dietary antioxidant intakes favorably effect on inflammatory responses. Objective: This study was conducted to examine the association between dietary antioxidants including vitamin E and vitamin C with inflammatory markers, IL-6 [Interleukin 6] and hs-CRP [high sensitivity C-reactive protein], in CAD patients among Iranian population. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sina Heart Hospital, Isfahan, Iran in 2012. This study included 150 men Patients aged ≥45 years with first ever symptomatic CAD that had been confirmed by angiography. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual intakes of dietary vitamin E and C. Results: The mean intake of vitamin E and C in our study population was 0/018 ± 0/0018 g/d and 0/081 ± 0/0049 g/d, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, vitamin E was inversely significantly related to hs-CRP [P=0.004] and IL-6 [P=0.022] concentrations. Intake of vitamin C was inversely significantly related to plasma IL-6 concentration [P=0.042], but not hs-CRP [P=0.17]. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that these dietary antioxidants, vitamin E and C, were significantly related to plasma inflammatory markers in CAD patients.
Intracolonial patterns of reproduction in the queen-size dimorphic ant Leptothorax rugatulus

Animals that live in genetically heterogeneous groups are faced with a combination of cooperation and conflict. Reproductive skew theory aims to provide a unified theory of the partitioning of reproduction in animal societies by combining genetic, demographic, and environmental factors. Although theoretical elaborations abound, empirical data are rare. Specifically, explicit intraspecific tests are scarce and have provided conflicting results. We present data on reproductive partitioning among queens in the ant Leptothorax rugatulus with special emphasis on relatedness and body size. Relatedness was negatively correlated to skew in sexual offspring and uncorrelated to skew in total offspring. Body size was not correlated to a queen's reproductive share. Thus, we did not find any support for the classic optimal skew models that are based on concessions. In artificial colonies, composed of randomly selected, unrelated workers and queens, reproductive skew was higher than in natural colonies, which suggested that unequal reproduction among queens could arise without nepotism by workers. Again, a queen's body size was not a good indicator of her reproductive share, but egg laying rate was. In colonies that contained large and small queens, small queens produced proportionally more sexual offspring. Although this result is in accordance with the kin conflict over caste determination hypothesis, it is more plausibly explained by an adaptation of the caste ratios to alternative dispersal tactics. Copyright 2002.
Precursor B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Presenting as a Solitary Bone Tumor Mimicking Osteomyelitis on MRI

We describe a 22 year-old man with the rare diagnosis of precursor b-lymphoblastic lymphoma involving only the proximal tibia without evidence of leukemia. He presented with right knee pain and swelling of approximately three months duration and nonspecific radiologic findings and was initially treated for osteomyelitis of unknown etiology. Following histologic diagnosis, the patient received surgical excision of the lesion followed by chemotherapy and radiation. The patient was alive without evidence of disease at nine months follow-up.
Areawide Suppression of Fire Ant Populations in Pastures: Project Update 1,2

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an invasive species that creates serious medical and agricul- tural problems, damaging many crops and cattle production. Its annual eco- nomic impact to the US economy is approximately $6 billion. The integration of chemical bait insecticides and biological control agents is used in an area- wide management program for fire ants coordinated by USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida. Control sites, where no biological control agents were released, and biocontrol treatment sites, where both decapitating flies and the microsporidium Thelo- hania solenopsae were released, have been established in five states (Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Carolina). All sites received chemi- cal bait applications of a 1:1 mixture of hydramethylnon and methoprene baits applied at a rate of 1.7 kg per ha. To evaluate the effect of the treatments on the arthropod biodiversity, pitfall traps were used twice a year. Decreases in fire ant populations have been observed at the different demonstration sites. The decapitating fly Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) has been estab- lished at demonstration sites in three states (Florida, Texas, and South Caro- lina); P. curvatus was established in Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. The disease T. solenopsae has been established in four states (Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma), and continues to spread. This new approach to fire ant control may have a significant impact on the future management of fire ant populations.