Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loop closure detection in simultaneous localization and mapping using descriptor from generative adversarial network

Abstract. The loop closure detection (LCD) problem in simultaneous localization and mapping has been an important research topic to reconstruct three-dimensional environments and estimate a camera trajectory accurately. Although the bag-of-visual-word (BoVW) scheme has been used widely and has shown good results, it has several problems in some aspects, such as occlusion, deformation, illumination change, and viewpoint change. In order to tackle the challenges, we propose an LCD method using the BoVW method with a local patch descriptor obtained from the learning-based approach. We have trained a neural network model with a place-oriented dataset and extract the descriptors for the local patches from the trained neural network model. In addition, we have constructed the ground-truth label for the evaluation. Our experiment shows promising results, compared to the state-of-the-art LCD method. The implementation of the proposed deep convolutional generative adversarial network descriptor, as well as the evaluation toolbox, can be found online at https://github.com/JustWon/DCGAN_Descriptor.
Effects of bark beetle outbreaks on avian biodiversity in the British Columbia interior: Implications for critical habitat management

The health of coniferous and mixed forests in western Canada is a critical forest management issue with implications for the forest industry, biodiversity conservation, and regional land use planning. The mixed forests of interior British Columbia have high biodiversity and species abundance, and support rich communities of over 185 wildlife vertebrate species, about 24% of which are cavity-nesters. These cavity-nesting birds and mammals live in complex, strongly structured wildlife communities (Nest Webs) that consist of an array of excavators and consumers of tree holes, many of which have strong preferences for large, old and decayed trees, especially deciduous trees, for nesting.Mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) and fire are the two major natural disturbance types structuring mature conifer stands in the interior of the province. The temporal changes in value and availability of dead and dying trees and their associated insect fauna are expected to result in stand-level variation in wildlife populations. Our research in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region showed that insect outbreaks can initially result in improved conditions for cavity-users and many other birds that feed on insects in dead and dying trees, but as the epidemic proceeds, these enhanced conditions deteriorate for many species as the supply of forest insects and old trees decline. The cumulative effects of habitat and environmental changes on the working landscape have the potential to negatively affect the stability of wildlife populations. This paper summarizes field observations regarding changes in forest stand conditions and avian biodiversity and evaluates the patterns of habitat change, beetle salvage, and wildlife responses as the mpb epidemic runs its course. It also discusses some of the issues that forest managers face when considering the maintenance of critical habitat for cavity-nesting species.
A modified Latin hypercube sampling based on prior information

Latin hypercube sampling is widely used in industrial engineering. In the traditional Latin square sampling, engineers often arrange sample points in the feasible domain uniformly. However, in practice, engineers may have some prior information about the sub-domains where the response volatility is relatively large, named the interesting sub-domains. In order to make full use of these information, this paper employed the D-S evidence theory to fuse prior information from different sources/fields. Then we divide the feasible domain into different sub-domains and indicate the interesting sub-domains. For the sample placement, we put more points in these interesting sub-domains and less points in other sub-domains. Finally, we construct the model with the proposed sample points placement approach based on prior information. A case study was conducted to illustrate the proposed method. The case study shows that the proposed method performs better than the traditional model in MSE, MaxE and StdE.
Preeclampsia and pre term low birth weight babies: Possible role of periodontal infections: A comprehensive review

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease affecting supportive tissues of the teeth, leading to progressive destruction of connective tissue attachment and the alveolar bone. This destruction is characterized by the formation of a periodontal pocket. Because of its chronic inflammatory infectious nature, periodontitis has been considered a systemic exposure implicated with causative agent in variety of systemic diseases and condition. Recent findings have suggested that periodontal diseases are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight and preeclampsia. Keywords: Periodotitis, Preelampsia, Preterm low birth weight babies.
The Determinant On Earnings Persistence In Automotive Companies In Indonesia

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the variable Current Ratio, Total Debt To Total Assets, Total Assets Turnover, Return On Assets, on earnings persistence. This study uses secondary data, namely the annual financial statements of automotive companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2014-2018 period. The sample selection uses a purposive sampling method. The data source is the financial ratios of automotive companies listed on the IDX. Methods of data analysis using the classic assumption test, multiple linear regression, T-test, F-test and the coefficient of determination. The results showed that partial earnings persistence expressed in financial ratios consisting of the Return On Assets (ROA) variable significantly affected earnings persistence, while the Current Ratio (CR), Total Debt To Total Asset (TDTA) and Total Assets Turnover (TATO) has no significant effect on earnings persistence. While the results of the study simultaneously stated in financial ratios consisting of CR, TDTA, TATO, and ROA independent variables stated that together the independent variables had no significant effect on earnings persistence. R Square value of 0.028 can be interpreted that CR, TDTA, TATO and ROA of 2,8% while the remaining 97,2% is influenced by other variables not examined. Keywords: Current Ratio, Total Debt To Total Assets, Total Assets Turnover, Return On Assets, Earnings Persistence
Class-E2 DC-DC Converter With Basic Class-E Inverter and Class-E ZCS Rectifier for Capacitive Power Transfer

A Class-E2 dc-dc converter with basic Class-E inverter and Class-E ZCS rectifier for capacitive power transfer (CPT) is proposed. The proposed circuit partially absorbs the secondary-side compensation resonance inductance into the equivalent inductance of the Class-E ZCS rectifier. The ZVS operation of the inverter is maintained in wide range of the plates distance without any control owing to the ${{\pi }}1\text{a}$ impedance matching topology. The observed waveforms in circuit experiment were agreed well with the theoretical waveforms. The dc-dc power conversion efficiency was maintained about the same level of the maximum efficiency in wide range of the plates distance by keeping soft-switching on both the inverter and the rectifier stages.
Salmon Intake Intervention in the Vulnerable Group of Young Polish Women to Maintain Vitamin D Status during the Autumn Season

Fish products are the main dietary source of vitamin D, but due to a low fish intake in the majority of European countries, an inadequate vitamin D intake is common, especially in the vulnerable group of young women for whom it is essential for the osteoporosis prevention. The aim of the presented study was to assess the possibility of applying salmon intake intervention for maintaining vitamin D status in young Polish women during the autumn season, in which in Poland there is not enough sunshine exposure to generate skin synthesis. The dietary intervention within VISA Study (Vitamin D In Salmon) comprised eight weeks of daily consumption of 50 g of Atlantic salmon and was conducted in a group of 47 women aged 20–30 years. Within the study, their changes of total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were analyzed and the effectiveness of the intervention depending on age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline 25(OH)D were assessed. Until the 4th week, 25(OH)D in the studied group decreased from 57.1 nmol/L to 39.9 nmol/L (p < 0.0001), but afterward it increased until the 8th week to 54.1 nmol/L (p = 0.0005), contributing to results not differing from the baseline (p = 0.7964). At the same time, the share of respondents characterized by an inadequate vitamin D status increased until the 4th week, but afterward, it decreased until the 8th week (p = 0.0002). Neither the age (in the assessed range), nor the BMI influenced 25(OH)D during the study, but only the baseline 25(OH)D was correlated with the BMI (p = 0.0419; R = −0.2980). The baseline 25(OH)D was associated with its levels during the intervention, as well as with 25(OH)D change from the baseline values (p < 0.0001). It may be concluded that, in spite of the initial decline of the 25(OH)D observed (probably connected to the starting time of the study), afterward the salmon intake intervention contributed to its increase, while the baseline 25(OH)D status was an important determinant of the intervention effectiveness during the autumn season.
Association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana

In Botswana, an estimated 350 000 people live with HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS testing rates are low, suggesting that many other people remain undiagnosed. Stigma related to HIV/AIDS is prevalent and contributes to low testing rates and under-diagnosis of the virus. Identifying factors that contribute to stigma, such as insufficient or inaccurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS, may be critical in increasing early identification and treatment. This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the 2013 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS) IV to examine the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigmatising attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The mean (standard error) for stigma towards PLWHA score and HIV/AIDS knowledge score were 0.99 (0.02) and 5.90 (0.03) respectively. HIV/AIDS knowledge score and stigma towards PLWHA score were strongly positively correlated r (4,4045) = 0.415, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, HIV/AIDS knowledge score significantly predicted stigma towards PLWHA score [coefficient β (95% CI)] [−0.25 (−0.29, −0.20), p < 0.001]. These findings imply that programmes and interventions that increase HIV/AIDS knowledge may reduce the pervasive apprehension, blame, and stigmatising attitude held towards PLWHA in Botswana.
Pesticide use and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoid malignancies in agricultural cohorts from France, Norway and the USA: a pooled analysis from the AGRICOH consortium

Abstract Background Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture, and previous studies endorsed the need to further investigate the possible association between their use and risk of lymphoid malignancies in agricultural workers. Methods We investigated the relationship of ever use of 14 selected pesticide chemical groups and 33 individual active chemical ingredients with non-Hodgkin lymphoid malignancies (NHL) overall or major subtypes, in a pooled analysis of three large agricultural worker cohorts. Pesticide use was derived from self-reported history of crops cultivated combined with crop-exposure matrices (France and Norway) or self-reported lifetime use of active ingredients (USA). Cox regression models were used to estimate cohort-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were combined using random effects meta-analysis to calculate meta-HRs. Results During follow-up, 2430 NHL cases were diagnosed in 316 270 farmers accruing 3 574 815 person-years under risk. Most meta-HRs suggested no association. Moderately elevated meta-HRs were seen for: NHL and ever use of terbufos (meta-HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00–1.39); chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and deltamethrin (1.48, 1.06–2.07); and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and glyphosate (1.36, 1.00–1.85); as well as inverse associations of NHL with the broader groups of organochlorine insecticides (0.86, 0.74–0.99) and phenoxy herbicides (0.81, 0.67–0.98), but not with active ingredients within these groups, after adjusting for exposure to other pesticides. Conclusions Associations of pesticides with NHL appear to be subtype- and chemical-specific. Non-differential exposure misclassification was an important limitation, showing the need for refinement of exposure estimates and exposure–response analyses.
Investigating lymphocyte populations in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia Correspondence to: Nicolas Dzamko. Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. Email: nicolas.dzamko@sydney.edu. au. Provenance and Peer Review: This article was commissioned by the Editorial Office, Annals of Translational Medicine. The article did not undergo external peer review. Comment on: Sun C, Zhao Z, Yu W, et al. Abnormal subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes are involved in Parkinson's disease. Ann Transl Med 2019;7:637.
Diverse plant viruses: a toolbox for dissection of cellular pathways

Research in virology has usually focused on one selected host-virus pathosystem to examine the mechanisms underlying a particular disease. However, as exemplified by the mechanistically versatile suppression of antiviral RNA silencing by plant viruses, there may be functionally convergent evolution. Assuming this is a widespread feature, we propose that effector proteins from diverse plant viruses can be a powerful resource for discovering new regulatory mechanisms of distinct cellular pathways. The efficiency of this approach will depend on how deeply and widely the studied pathway is integrated into viral infections. Beyond this, comparative studies using broad virus diversity should increase our global understanding of plant-virus interactions.
Association between Lifestyle and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: Menopause is a physiological occurrence characterized by a series of bothersome symptoms. Given that lifestyle affects people’s health in general and many menopausal symptoms are influenced by changes in lifestyle, this study aimed to determine the relationship between lifestyle and severity of menopausal symptoms in women referred to health centers in Yazd city. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed using stratified random sampling where 343 postmenopausal women who had experienced natural menopause for 1-5 years, and did not have any chronic or debilitating disease were selected. The study was conducted in 2017 in Yazd city, Iran. The data collection tools were Walker’s Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP2) and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaires. A multiple hierarchical linear regression was used to investigate the association between lifestyle and severity of menopausal symptoms. Results: The total mean ± (SD) score of menopausal symptoms severity and women’s lifestyle were 10.21 ± 6.55 and 126.44 ± 79.27, respectively. The results of multiple hierarchical linear regression showed a significantly negative association between lifestyle score and the mean score of menopausal symptoms severity in all three models (P-value <0.001). Conclusion: Our study concluded that healthier lifestyle reduces the severity of menopausal symptoms. These findings warrant that policy makers in the design of postmenopausal care plans and programs ought to pay special attention to the role of healthy lifestyles, including physical activity and healthy diet in enhancing menopausal symptoms. By preventing aggravation of menopausal symptoms; it is possible to economize on referrals to physicians and medicinal and therapeutic costs. Longitudinal and intervention studies with larger sample size may be required to confirm these findings.
Lateral Root Primordium Morphogenesis in Angiosperms

Morphogenetic processes are the basis of new organ formation. Lateral roots (LRs) are the building blocks of the root system. After LR initiation and before LR emergence, a new lateral root primordium (LRP) forms. During this period, the organization and functionality of the prospective LR is defined. Thus, proper LRP morphogenesis is a decisive process during root system formation. Most current studies on LRP morphogenesis have been performed in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana; little is known about this process in other angiosperms. To understand LRP morphogenesis from a wider perspective, we review both contemporary and earlier studies. The latter are largely forgotten, and we attempted to integrate them into present-day research. In particular, we consider in detail the participation of parent root tissue in LRP formation, cell proliferation and timing during LRP morphogenesis, and the hormonal and genetic regulation of LRP morphogenesis. Cell type identity acquisition and new stem cell establishement during LRP morphogenesis are also considered. Within each of these facets, unanswered or poorly understood questions are identified to help define future research in the field. Finally, we discuss emerging research avenues and new technologies that could be used to answer the remaining questions in studies of LRP morphogenesis.
A Low-cost Artificial Neural Network Model for Raspberry Pi

In this paper, a ternary neural network with complementary binary arrays is proposed for representing the signed synaptic weights. The proposed ternary neural network is deployed on a low-cost Raspberry Pi board embedded system for the application of speech and image recognition. In conventional neural networks, the signed synaptic weights of –1, 0, and 1 are represented by 8-bit integers. To reduce the amount of required memory for signed synaptic weights, the signed values were represented by a complementary binary array. For the binary inputs, the multiplication of two binary numbers is replaced by the bit-wise AND operation to speed up the performance of the neural network. Regarding image recognition, the MINST dataset was used for training and testing of the proposed neural network. The recognition rate was as high as 94%. The proposed ternary neural network was applied to real-time object recognition. The recognition rate for recognizing 10 simple objects captured from the camera was 89%. The proposed ternary neural network with the complementary binary array for representing the signed synaptic weights can reduce the required memory for storing the model’s parameters and internal parameters by 75%. The proposed ternary neural network is 4.2, 2.7, and 2.4 times faster than the conventional ternary neural network for MNIST image recognition, speech commands recognition, and real-time object recognition respectively.
Serial and large investors in initial coin offerings

This study is the first to provide systematic evidence regarding investor behaviour in initial coin offerings (ICOs), their investment patterns and their role in the success of campaigns. Using hand-collected data on 472 public token sales over the period of 2013–2017, we advance the ICO literature by demonstrating that some contributors often invest in more than one campaign, and such serial investors contribute earlier. However, they are not more informed and fail to pick better-quality ICOs. Only large serial investors invest more in campaigns that raise more funds, attract more contributors, are more likely to reach their hard caps, and distribute tokens that are listed on crypto exchange. Our findings raise the question of whether regulatory or industry self-regulation agreements on information provision measures are needed to protect smaller retail ICO investors that exhibit naïve reinforcement learning behaviour.
Age-dependent overall survival benefit of androgen deprivation therapy for metastatic prostate cancer

Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a standard of care in metastatic prostate cancer. Recent prospective trials have explored addition of chemotherapy to ADT. We retrospectively examined overall survival in metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with ADT, chemotherapy plus ADT (C + ADT), or observation from 2004 to 2010 using National Cancer Database data. Methods Using the National Cancer Database, 21,977 patients with metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed from 2004 to 2010 were identified. Multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression modeling were implemented, with overall survival as the primary endpoint. Results Five-year overall survival was 13.6% in patients aged ≥ 75 years vs. 30.1% (age 65–74) and 34.5% (age 18–64). Subgroup analysis of age-based cohorts (<65 and ≥65 years) showed poor overall survival for C + ADT vs. ADT alone, both in younger (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.21–1.50; p < 0.0001) as well as older (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.08–1.34; p = 0.0006) populations. Younger patients had no significant difference in overall survival for observation vs. ADT (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.92–1.08; p = 0.9121). Besides age, other factors impacting overall survival included race, rural/urban settings, comorbidity score, income, PSA and radiation. Discussion Younger patients had no significant difference in overall survival between observation or ADT. This implies a group of younger patients in whom ADT does not confer any overall survival benefit. Future clinical trials with genetic and biologic markers are needed to delineate which subgroups would not benefit from C + ADT or ADT alone. This is of utmost clinical importance given the negative impact of ADT on quality of life and comorbidities.
DNA data and archidaceae systematics: A new phylogenetic classification

Orchidaceae are rapidly becoming one of the best-studied families of the angiosperms in terms of infra-familial phylogenetic relationships. These studies demonstrate that several previous concepts about phylogenetic patterns were incorrect, which make all previous classifications in need of review. Therefore, in this paper we describe the emerging patterns and propose a new phylogenetic classification of Orchidaceae that accords with these newly discovered relationships. We recognise five subfamilies: Apostasioideae, Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae, Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae, the last containing the bulk of the taxa in the family. Apostasioideae are sister to all the rest, followed successively by Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae and the remainder of the monandrous orchids, Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae. Although only an interim classification, it should help to focus other areas of orchid research and stimulate the creation of new hypotheses that will direct orchid researchers to new questions.