Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formulation of WRWGMM Algorithm for Tracking Humans

 Abstract —Human tracking is the most challenging task in the field of computer vision. As the surveillance cameras are becoming the integrated part of humans, the need for human tracking is increasing for upgrading the existing surveillance systems. In the past decade, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) based human tracking proves to be the commanding because of its unique feature of pixel based background subtraction. The limitations of existing GMM based human tracking algorithm are presented in this work. A novel algorithm named Weighted Running Window based Gaussian Mixture Model to overcome the limitations of GMM is presented. The complete formulation of WRWGMM algorithm is also presented and compared with existing GMM algorithm on some frames of PETS 2009 dataset. Results of modeling of pixel (41,43) in 270 th frame of PETS 2009 dataset shows that the number of iterations required are reduced from 78 to 2 and for pixel (41,184) from 33 to 3.
A comparison among robust estimation methods for structural equations modeling with ordinal categorical variables

Categorical and ordered variables are commonly used in many scientific researches. Researchers often use the ML method, which assumes a multivariate normal distribution, and this is not true with categorical data because the normal state assumption is violated when a Likert scale is used which leads to shaded results. In this research, it has been suggested the robust MLR method with covariance matrix of the sample which deals with the data as it is a continuous data especially when the Likert scale is five or above. It has been suggested a method for reducing the error by linking error measurement, where a link was performed between three standard errors, and through the fit indices, it was obtained a good result in reducing the standard error of capabilities and improving the quality of fit indexes. It has been also used two of the robust methods, WLSMV method which known as RDWLS method, and ULSMV method which known as RULS method, use a polychoric correlation, each two methods deal with the data as it categorical. This research also included a comparison between the robust estimation methods ML , MLR , WLSMV and ULSMV and study its effects on the population corrected robust model fit indexes , and then select the best method for dealing with the categorical ordered data . The results showed a superiority of the robust methods in comparison with other methods, where it showed a robust corrections in the standard errors by using the polychoric correlation coefficient matrix, in addition to robust correction of the chi square. In addition of that, the fit indices is replaced by the robust fit indexes of chisquare robust, TLI, CFI and RMSIA.
Human Evaluation of NMT & Annual Progress Report: A Case Study on Spanish to Korean

This paper proposes the first evaluation of NMT in the Spanish-Korean language pair. Four types of human evaluation —Direct Assessment, Ranking Comparison and MT Post-Editing(MTPE) time/effort— and one semiautomatic methods are applied. The NMT engine is represented by Google Translate in newswire domain. After assessed by six professional translators, the engine demonstrates 78% of performance and 37% productivity gain in MTPE. Additionally, 40.249% of the outputs of the engine are modified with an interval of 15 months, showing 11% of progress rate.
The Impact of Unconventional Monetary Policies on Perceptions of Extreme Events at Times of Crisis

The European Central Bank’s and the Federal Reserve’s announcements of unconventional monetary policies have contributed to significantly reducing market perceptions of the probability of extreme macro-financial events. This phenomenon has arisen in periods of intense market strain, such as the global financial crisis and the current COVID-19 crisis. These measures have served to mitigate the materialisation of extremely unfavourable events through the feedback loop between the financial sector and the real economy and to ensure adequate monetary policy transmission.
Long-term monitoring of European fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra) in the Eifel Mountains (Germany): five years of removal sampling of larvae

The presence of the parasitic amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) in the Eifel Mountains, Germany, was confirmed in 2015. Since then, monitoring of selected populations of the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) has been established. This species is highly sensitive to the pathogen and infection is commonly lethal for individuals within several days, which gave rise to the term ‘salamander plague’. Because of the low detection probability of the terrestrial phase of the salamanders, we assessed the status of populations by monitoring the abundance of aquatic larvae as a proxy. A standardized removal sampling was conducted between 2015 and 2019 in 40 creeks in the Northern Eifel Mountains (21 sites with consistent 5-year data) and in 21 creeks in the Southern Eifel Mountains (17 sites with consistent 5-year data). While in the northern Eifel the pathogen was detected in 2015 and is known to be present since 2004, in the southern Eifel Bsal-sites has been confirmed since 2017. In both regions, the number of pools was the best fitting explanatory variable for abundances and detection probabilities of larvae. Indications for larval decline were observed in some creeks with Bsal presence while in others capture rates and larval abundances did not significantly change or sometimes even increased when Bsal was present. As a result, our data do not indicate an effect of the salamander plague to consistently and immediately causing declines in larval abundance. However, these findings remain tentative, and final conclusions should not be drawn yet. The applied removal sampling method is suggested to represent a timeand cost-effective as well as feasible means to obtain long-term population information on larval abundance in the European fire salamander.
Assessment of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with different levels of α-fetoprotein

[摘要] 目的 探讨术前糖类抗原 19-9(CA19-9)水平对不同甲胎蛋白(AFP)水平肝细胞癌患者术后预后的 影响。 方法 前瞻性收集 2008 年 1 月 4 日至 2010 年 12 月 31 日在我院因肝细胞癌首次接受肝切除术治疗的 3 791 例患者的临床及随访资料。 以 400 ng/mL 为术前 AFP 水平的截断值,32 U/mL 为术前 CA19-9 水平的截断值,将患 者分为双阳性组(DP 组)、CA19-9 单阳性组 [SP(CA19-9)组]、AFP 单阳性组 [SP(AFP)组] 和双阴性组(DN 组),比较各组患者的肿瘤学特征。 采用 Kaplan-Meier 法和 log-rank 检验分析各组患者的总生存(OS)和无瘤生存 (DFS)情况。 采用 Cox 回归模型进行单因素和多因素分析,筛选影响肝细胞癌患者预后的危险因素。 结果 4 组 患者有不同的肿瘤学特征。 与 DN 组相比,SP(AFP)组、DP 组患者的肿瘤最大径更大、病理 EdmondsonSteiner 分级为 III~IV 级的比例和微血管侵犯(MVI)发生率更高(P<0.01),且 DP 组患者的多发肿瘤比例更高 (P<0.05);而 SP(CA19-9)组患者的肿瘤最大径更小(P<0.05),多发肿瘤的比例更高(P<0.01)。 按 DN 组、SP(CA19-9)组、SP(AFP)组与 DP 组的顺序,患者的 1 年、3 年和 5 年 OS 率均依次降低(P 均<0.01); DN 组患者的 1 年、3 年和 5 年 DFS 率最高(P<0.01),DP 组最低(P<0.01),SP(CA19-9)组与 SP(AFP)组 差异无统计学意义。 术前 AFP 水平分层分析结果表明,CA19-9<32 U/mL 组患者的 1 年、3 年和 5 年 OS 率及 DFS 率均高于 CA19-9≥32 U/mL 组患者(P<0.05)。 多因素分析结果显示,AFP≥400 ng/mL、CA19-9≥32 U/mL、术 中出血≥600 mL、肿瘤最大径≥5 cm、肿瘤多发、肿瘤包膜缺如、MVI、Edmondson-Steiner 分级为 III~IV 级是影 响患者 OS 的独立危险因素(P<0.05);乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(+)、AFP≥400 ng/mL、CA19-9≥32 U/mL、肿 瘤最大径≥5 cm、肿瘤多发、肿瘤包膜缺如、MVI 是影响患者 DFS 的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。 结论 术前血清 AFP≥400 ng/mL 和 CA19-9≥32 U/mL 均是影响肝细胞癌患者 OS 和 DFS 的独立危险因素。 对于不同术前 AFP 水平 的肝细胞癌患者,术前 CA19-9 水平是进一步评估预后的重要指标。 [关键词] 肝肿瘤;甲胎蛋白;糖类抗原 19-9;肝细胞癌;预后;肝切除术 [中图分类号] R 735.7 [文献标志码] A [文章编号] 0258-879X(2018)06-0603-07
Endoscopic management of early colorectal cancer

The endoscopic treatment of cancerous and precancerous lesions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has experienced major breakthroughs in the past years. Colonoscopy plays a major role in the prevention and detection of colorectal cancer patients and is used for diagnosis and treatment of early colorectal cancer and its precursors. Improvements in colonoscopy preparation, new techniques of adenoma detection, and recent progress in endoscopic imaging methods are providing higher-quality results and thus reducing the incidence and mortality of the disease. During the past decade, endoscopic resection techniques have evolved, and cancers confined to the mucosal and superficial submucosal layers can now be resected via flexible endoscopes. Therefore, it is important to understand the indications and limitations of endoscopic resection, to determine whether the cancer can be curatively resected, and assess the risk of lymph node metastasis, which precludes endoscopic treatment. The successful removal of an early colorectal cancer requires advanced techniques and expertise. Currently, many options are available such as snare polypectomy, that is the most frequently used, and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), that is an efficient method with low complication rate for the treatment of most benign and advanced lesions in the GI tract, but carries a risk of incomplete resection and recurrence of early cancer. However, with the introduction of precutting EMR or hybrid ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), the scope of lesions eligible for curative endoscopic treatment has been widened significantly. These resection techniques have the potential to spare surgical treatment to a selected population of patients. We will review these different endoscopic techniques. *Correspondence to: Said Farhat, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon, Tel: +961-1-441832, Fax: +961-1-449796, E-mail: saidfarhat@ hotmail.com
Electrochemical Separation and Concentration of <1% Carbon Dioxide from Nitrogen

Low energy separations for <1% CO 2 gases would benefit gas treatment and CO 2 sequestration. Theoretically, electrochemical pumping can separate and concentrate CO 2 from the atmosphere or other gases with < 1% CO 2 at significantly lower energy cost than current systems. Principles of electrochemical pumping for CO 2 separations are discussed and results for both organic solvent and ionic liquid working fluid systems are presented. Due to the large quantities of gases requiring processing during the separation/concentration of < 1% CO 2 gases, this work looked at solvents with negligible vapor pressures, specifically propylene carbonate and the room-temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. Other important parameters, as illustrated by the data and models presented, are low CO 2 solubility in the solvent, high CO 2 carrier solubility, CO 2 binding constants, and the CO 2 carrier's electrochemistry. Reported is the electrochemical pumping of CO 2 from 0.5% (in nitrogen) to 100%, a 200-fold increase in partial pressure, using the CO 2 carrier 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone in a propylene carbonate solution. The ratio of CO 2 moles pumped per electron mole was 0.43. The models determined the optimal CO 2 solubility in the solvent and the required redox swing in the CO 2 binding constants of the carrier.
Effect of molybdenum on growth and nitrate reductase activity of winter wheat seedlings as influenced by temperature and nitrogen treatments

Abstract The effects of molybdenum (Mo) on plant growth, Mo content, sucrose content and nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. “92117") plants as influenced by low temperature and nitrogen (N) levels were studied in pot experiments with an acid soil. Both shoot and root growth were inhibited by low temperature. The effect of Mo application was more obvious at high N level than at normal N treatment. High N treatment increased shoot growth, but decreased slightly root growth. Plant Mo content and NRA were decreased in the Mo deficient soil. Low temperature intensified this effect. In addition, Mo deficiency also resulted in a decreased sucrose content in plants, especially at low temperature and high levels of N. These results indicated that winter wheat was more prone to Mo deficiency under low temperature and high N conditions.
Simulation of in-plane flow imaging

Two methods of simulating the imaging process in magnetic resonance (MR) are explained: namely, the k-space and the isochromat summation methods. The latter method is more closely related to the actual behavior of magnetic spins, and is used in the remainder of this work. The MR image appearance of in-plane fluid flow is simulated using the isochromat summation technique. Flow-related artifacts are demonstrated, together with flow compensation, phase-contrast (PC) velocity encoding, and cine-PC measurement of pulsatile flow. The special considerations necessary for simulating pulsatile flow with a reverse flow component are discussed. Magnetic field inhomogeneities and susceptibility effects are readily incorporated. The computation time required for the simulations is discussed in some detail. Simulations of flow imaging have been found useful in the development and validation of new pulse sequences, and for teaching purposes. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 11: 379–392, 1999
Temperature dependence of chemical-vapor deposition of pure boron layers from diborane

Surface reaction mechanisms are investigated to determine the activation energies of pure boron (PureB) layer deposition at temperatures from 350 °C to 850 °C when using chemical-vapor deposition from diborane in a commercial Si/SiGe epitaxial reactor with either hydrogen or nitrogen as carrier gas. Three distinguishable regions are identified to be related to the dominance of specific chemical reaction mechanisms. Activation energies in H2 are found to be 28 kcal/mol below 400 °C and 6.5 kcal/mol from 400 °C to 700 °C. In N2, the value decreases to 2.1 kcal/mol for all temperatures below 700 °C. The rate of hydrogen desorption is decisive for this behavior.
Processes and Modeling of Non-Exhaust Vehicular Emissions in the Icelandic Capital Region

Non-exhaust particulate matter (PM) emissions from vehicular traffic in Reykjavík is a significant detriment to the air quality of Iceland’s Capital Region and an ongoing hazard to public health for over 230,000 people. This study explores the impacts of non-exhaust vehicular emissions on air quality in Iceland’s Capital Region, investigates the interactions of traffic, road-management, and meteorological processes that contribute to PM generation and suspension in a subpolar, oceanic climate, and recommends the best available mitigation strategies. This project utilizes the Non-Exhaust Road Traffic Induced Particle (NORTRIP) emissions model, a process-based emissions model designed to simulate sources of nonexhaust vehicular emissions, their accumulation on the road surface, and their eventual removal from the road surface through suspension to the atmosphere, as well as by other means such as drainage and spray. The application of NORTRIP to Iceland’s Capital Region demonstrates that non-exhaust emissions are the most significant contributing factor to airborne dust in Reykjavík and the surrounding areas. These emissions are most heavily dependent on the widespread usage of studded tires, and to a lesser extent, asphalt type, traffic volume, speed, and road-management practices such as salting and wetting. Additionally, surface moisture is one of the most significant factors in the generation and suspension of PM, and its dependency on precipitation and relative humidity suggest forecasting meteorological conditions may be useful in predicting episodes of high particulate matter emissions in some subpolar, oceanic climates. Both short and long-term, multi-faceted approaches to dust mitigation are recommended; these include combining temporary reductions in traffic volume and speed with road wetting during dry conditions as short-term dust abatement measures, and aggressive, permanent reductions in studded tire usage coupled with reductions in traffic volume and speed as long-term dust abatement measures.
Expression, Purification and Docking Studies on IMe-AGAP, the First Antitumor-analgesic Like Peptide from Iranian Scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus

Scorpion venom contains different toxins with multiple biological functions. IMe-AGAP is the first Analgesic-Antitumor like Peptide (AGAP) isolated from Iranian scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus. This peptide is similar to AGAP toxin with high analgesic activity, extracted from Chinese scorpion and inhibits NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 voltage-gated sodium channels involved in the pain pathway. In this study, IMe-AGAP was cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector; expression of toxin in Escherichia coli (E. coli) was assayed and then purified. In in-silico studies, peptide sequence was compared with other scorpion analgesic toxins. The structures of IMe-AGAP and sodium channels were modeled using homology modeling. Structural evaluation and stereo-chemical analysis of modeled structures were performed using RAMPAGE web server Ramachandran plots. Hex Server was used to investigate the interactions between IMe-AGAP and S3-S4 and also S5-S6 segments of NaV1.8 and NaV1.9. Binding energies calculation was used for evaluation of protein docking. Soluble expression of IMe-AGAP in bacteria was investigated by SDS-PAGE analysis. Pure recombinant protein was obtained by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The results of three-dimensional structure prediction showed βαββ topology for the toxin that is similar to the conserved structure of α-toxins. Comparison analysis between IMe-AGAP and AGAP toxins exhibited high similarity in homology modeling. Docking analysis demonstrated that IMe-AGAP can interact with NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 domains involved in pain. According to the results of homology studies and docking, IMe-AGAP might be a novel potential drug for pain treatment.
Methyl-a-Maltoside and 5-Thiomaltose : Analogs Transported by the Escherichia coli Maltose Transport System

Neither methyl-a-maltoside nor 5-thiomaltose is utilized by Escherichia coli as a sole carbon source. Both are, however, effective competitive inhibitors of maltose transport into the bacterium (Km for maltose, 0.8 ,uM, Ki for methyl-amaltoside, 5.5 ,uM; Ki for 5-thiomaltose, 0.2 ,M). Both analogs are bound by the periplasmic maltose-binding protein. Methyl-a-["4C]maltoside and 5-[3H]thiomaltose were both accumulated inside E. coli. Methyl-a-maltoside was unchanged after accumulation, but 5-thiomaltose was converted to an unidentified compound that could exit from the bacterium. Both analogs were inhibitory to the growth of E. coli, but only when the bacteria were previously induced for the maltose transport system. The analogs are substrates for but poor inducers of the maltose transport system.
Effect of glucocorticoids on SCN injury and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on spinal cord neuron (SCN) injury and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Methods: In total, 50 Sprague Dawley rats were purchased, of which 10 were randomized into the blank control group (BCG), and the other 40 were modeled for spinal cord injury by rubrospinal tract (RST) cross section method. After which, 10 of these were included into the model control group (MCG) on a random basis, and the other 30 were given dexamethasone, and equally divided into the low dose group (LDG) (n=10) (0.3 mg/kg), medium dose group (MDG) (n=10) (0.5 mg/kg) and high dose group (HDG) (n=10) (0.8 mg/ kg) according to the dose of dexamethasone. The MTT method was used to observe the SCN activity in each group, western blot was used to detect the expression level of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway, qPCR was used to detect the level of autophagy-related (ATG) genes’ mRNA (LC3II and Beclin-1) and apoptosis genes’ mRNA (Caspase-3), AO fluorescent staining was used to detect the autophagy expression of SCN, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to detect the autophagy and apoptosis in each group. Results: SCN in the MDG demonstrated higher activity than that in the HDG and LDG (P<0.05); the expression levels of proteins PI3K, AKT and mTOR, LC3II, Beclin-1 and Caspase-3 mRNA in the MDG were lower than those in the HDG and LDG (P<0.05); the expression of proteins PI3K, AKT and mTOR had no statistical difference in the MDG and BCG (P>0.05). According to the results of fluorescent staining, the HDG and LDG had no clear difference in fluorescence intensity (FI), while the FI of the LDG was slightly lower than that of the HDG and the MDG; according to the results of TEM, with a few number of cells experiencing autophagy and apoptosis, the HDG and the LDG had no clear difference, but both exceeded the MDG in terms of cell autophagy (P<0.05). SPSS Pearson correlation analysis results showed that glucocorticoid use in patients with spinal cord injury was negatively correlated with PI3K protein, AKT protein, mTOR protein and PI3K/AKT/ mTOR signal pathway (P<0.05). Conclusion: Glucocorticoid, at a medium dose, is advantageous to SCN injury by reducing the expression level of ATG genes according to a mechanism related to PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
Labour-augmenting technical change data for alternative elasticities of substitution: growth, slowdown, and distribution dynamics

ABSTRACT The main aim of this paper is to derive data for labour-augmenting technology (LAT) through growth accounting from a CES production function compatible with the stylized facts of growth. We solve a CES function for its LAT term and insert data. This provides LAT levels for alternative elasticities of substitution for 70 countries, 1950-2017. These LAT data then are analysed in relation to topics in the literature. Results are as follows. (i) The percentage growth rates of LAT are shown to fall over time (productivity slowdown) for all elasticity values in a panel data analysis with slope homogeneity. (ii) The standard growth result of a GDP growth rate equal to that of LAT and labour input holds only for LAT data based on low elasticities of substitution indicating that the economies are not in steady states. (iii) Matching the labour/capital share ratios from CES functions with those of PWT9.1 if the MPL-to-wage ratio is 1.6, the elasticities of substitution vary around 0.8. For this value, (iv) 13 of 69 countries have a productivity slowdown; (v) LAT growth rates are negatively related to their levels ten years ago without strongly changing the coefficient of variation or kernel density distribution over time.
Effectiveness of Diabetes Self Management Education intervention with Short Message Service ( SMS ) and Mobile Application on Glycemic Control : A Systematic Review

Introduction: Glycemic control in DM is responsive to the condition of patients who have hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of 5-6%. However, most patients find it difficult to achieve the target of glycemic control. Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME), which integrates the five pillars of DM management, emphasizes intervention behavior independently. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education intervention with short message service (SMS) or mobile application on glycemic control. Methods: This systematic review was conducted by searching five electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link and ProQuest over five years or more with full text in the English language. The search keywords were adjusted according to the medical subject headings and Boolean operators. This study used the PRISMA flow chart to select articles. Fifteen studies were included if they reported on diabetes self-care management education intervention with short message service or mobile application interventions in patients with diabetes. Reviews and editorials were excluded. Results: DSME interventions with SMS and with mobile application have effectiveness to manage and decrease glycemic control (HbA1c and blood glucose level) by health education, diet monitoring, and self-monitoring of blood glucose levels. Conclusion: This systematic review has shown that DSME intervention with SMS and mobile application significantly improves glycemic control despite the heterogeneity across the studies. The recommendation for further research is to analyze the comparison of the effectiveness of online and direct DSME intervention, which can improve glycemic control.