Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive background modeling from an image sequence by using K-Means clustering

Background subtraction is an essential technique in vision systems including foreground segmentation, object tracking and video surveillance system. Mixture of Gaussian (MOG) is a popular method for modeling adaptive background in many researches. However, the clustering technique and the number of clusters are different depending on their applications. In this paper, we proposed a novel method for constructing adaptive background from image sequences by using the Gaussian Mixture Model and K-Means clustering technique. Intensities of each pixel in the same coordinate from sequential image are collected. Distribution of intensity is analyzed by the Gaussian Mixture Model. Based on the intensity of background cluster and foreground cluster, the Gaussian distribution is divided into two clusters by K-Means clustering technique. The intensities in the cluster which has maximum member are averaged. The average intensity is used for background model. Nineteen image sequences were done in the experiments. The results show the feasibility of the proposed method.
Synchronization of Switch Dynamical Systems

The well known synchronization method of Fujisaka and Yamada is adapted to a particular class of piecewise continuous dynamical systems. We give sufficient conditions for the underlying initial value problems, in order to define dynamical systems. For this purpose the Filippov regularization is used, the discontinuous initial value problem being switched into a differential inclusion. A generalized derivative for the considered class of functions is introduced.
Multiple media based face recognition in unconstrained environments using eigenfaces

Face recognition is a challenging problem in computer vision and image processing domain and it is because of its numerous applications including video surveillance, Remote System logon, and Passport verification and so on. Among them face recognition is most important in Law Enforcement and Security area because of its unconstrained nature. Unconstrained Face Recognition differs from normal face recognition by the way it deals with the images and it uses images that are captured without target's co-operation. In a city crime including robbery, murder etc. the available sources to find the suspect are images or videos taken by the common people using their cell phones, Surveillance video frames at the public places or some sort of verbal descriptions provided by the eye witness. Using these verbal descriptions a photo sketch can be developed and can be used as a source of information regarding the suspect. So, the survey on Unconstrained Face Recognition reveals that all the available image sources can contribute a better identity to the target suspect. Thus this paper aims to train an automatic face recognition system that takes multiple media sources as inputs to recognize a person of interest from gallery of images using Principle Component Analysis.
The bisphosphonate tiludronate is a potent inhibitor of the osteoclast vacuolar H+‐ATPase

Although bisphosphonates have been shown to be potent inhibitors of osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption in vivo and in vitro and are used as therapeutic agents in hyper‐resorptive bone diseases such as Paget disease or hypercalcemia of malignancy, their exact biochemical target(s) and mode(s) of action are for the most part still unknown. The resorption of bone requires solubilization of the mineral component of the matrix, achieved by acidification of the resorbing compartment by a vacuolar‐type proton ATPase (V‐ATPase) present in the ruffled border membrane of osteoclasts. Since we have shown that the V‐ATPase is inhibited by both ADP and phosphate, which share structural characteristics with bisphosphonates, we hypothesized that inhibition of the osteoclast V‐ATPase could be one of the mechanism(s) by which bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption. Pyrophosphate and the bisphosphonates etidronate, alendronate, and YM‐175 inhibited proton transport in membrane vesicles derived from chicken kidney and osteoclasts but with very low potency (IC50 ⩾ 5 mM). In contrast, the ability of tiludronate to inhibit proton transport was 5‐fold higher in kidney‐derived vesicles (IC50 = 1.1 mM) and 10,000‐fold higher in vesicles derived from osteoclasts (IC50 = 466 nM). Tiludronate also potently inhibited proton transport in yeast microsomal preparations (IC50 = 3.5 μM) and inhibited the activity of purified yeast V‐ATPase. The inhibition of the osteoclast V‐ATPase‐mediated proton transport by tiludronate was rapid, pH‐dependent, and reversible. No change in membrane vesicle permeability to protons was detected. The inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to ATP, and tiludronate did not protect the pump from inactivation by N‐ethylmaleimide, strongly suggesting that tiludronate does not bind to the catalytic site of the enzyme. It is concluded that tiludronate is a significantly more potent inhibitor of V‐ATPases than other bisphosphonates and that it has a significant degree of selectivity for the avian osteoclast V‐ATPase relative to the avian kidney V‐ATPase.
A new plastic model of endoscopic technique training for endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

BACKGROUND Endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a minimally invasive surgical technique for the removal of sellar and parasellar lesions, which has been progressively accepted by neurosurgeons. However, frustration is often expressed by neurosurgeons when first attempting endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery. To overcome the learning curve from microscope to endoscope in a smooth way, a new human nasal model has been developed. The present study assessed this new model of the human paranasal sinuses for endonasal surgery training, particularly for endonasal pituitary surgery training. METHODS The procedure for endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopy was performed using this model. Three approaches were used to observe the endonasal structures and sphenoidal sinus: paraseptal; middle turbinectomy; and middle meatal. Attempts were made to identify anatomical landmarks in the nasal cavity and sphenoidal sinus. Model landmarks were compared with those in a cadaver and a real patient. RESULTS This model precisely reproduced nasal bone structure. Compared with cadavers and living bodies, intranasal structures displayed very good color and texture, providing a close facsimile of the operative environment, and good morphology, with similar hardness and tactile feel on resection. All intranasal anatomical landmarks were easily identified, including choanae, inferior, middle and superior turbinates, and even the natural ostium of the sphenoidal sinus. CONCLUSION This human nasal model is very useful for training neurosurgeons in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, but typical anatomical landmarks in the posterior wall of the sphenoidal sinus in this model should be improved.
Neurocognitive and electrophysiological evidence of altered face processing in parents of children with autism: Implications for a model of abnormal development of social brain circuitry in autism

Neuroimaging and behavioral studies have shown that children and adults with autism have impaired face recognition. Individuals with autism also exhibit atypical event-related brain potentials to faces, characterized by a failure to show a negative component (N170) latency advantage to face compared to nonface stimuli and a bilateral, rather than right lateralized, pattern of N170 distribution. In this report, performance by 143 parents of children with autism on standardized verbal, visual–spatial, and face recognition tasks was examined. It was found that parents of children with autism exhibited a significant decrement in face recognition ability relative to their verbal and visual spatial abilities. Event-related brain potentials to face and nonface stimuli were examined in 21 parents of children with autism and 21 control adults. Parents of children with autism showed an atypical event-related potential response to faces, which mirrored the pattern shown by children and adults with autism. These results raise the possibility that face processing might be a functional trait marker of genetic susceptibility to autism. Discussion focuses on hypotheses regarding the neurodevelopmental and genetic basis of altered face processing in autism. A general model of the normal emergence of social brain circuitry in the first year of life is proposed, followed by a discussion of how the trajectory of normal development of social brain circuitry, including cortical specialization for face processing, is altered in individuals with autism. The hypothesis that genetic-mediated dysfunction of the dopamine reward system, especially its functioning in social contexts, might account for altered face processing in individuals with autism and their relatives is discussed.The writing of this paper and the studies reported herein were funded by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD Grant U19HD34565), which is part of the NICHD Collaborative Program of Excellence in Autism, and a center grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH Grant U54MH066399), which is part of the NIH STAART Centers Program.
EKLF/KLF1 Controls Cell Cycle Entry via Direct Regulation of E2f2*

Differentiation of erythroid cells requires precise control over the cell cycle to regulate the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. The zinc finger transcription factor, erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF/KLF1), is essential for proper erythroid cell differentiation and regulates many erythroid genes. Here we show that loss of EKLF leads to aberrant entry into S-phase of the cell cycle during both primitive and definitive erythropoiesis. This cell cycle defect was associated with a significant reduction in the expression levels of E2f2 and E2f4, key factors necessary for the induction of S-phase gene expression and erythropoiesis. We found and validated novel intronic enhancers in both the E2f2 and E2f4 genes, which contain conserved CACC, GATA, and E-BOX elements. The E2f2 enhancer was occupied by EKLF in vivo. Furthermore, we were able to partially restore cell cycle dynamics in EKLF−/− fetal liver upon additional genetic depletion of Rb, establishing a genetic causal link between reduced E2f2 and the EKLF cell cycle defect. Finally, we propose direct regulation of the E2f2 enhancer is a generic mechanism by which many KLFs regulate proliferation and differentiation.
Structure, Function and Expression on Blood and Bone Marrow Cells of the Urokinase‐Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor, uPAR

Several important functions have been assigned to the receptor for urokinase‐type plasminogen activator, uPAR. As implied by the name, uPAR was first identified as a high affinity cellular receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). It mediates the binding of the zymogen, pro‐uPA, to the plasma membrane where trace amounts of plasmin will initiate a series of events referred to as “reciprocal zymogen activation” where plasmin converts pro‐uPA to the active enzyme, uPA, which in turn converts plasma membrane‐associated plasminogen to plasmin. This is an efficient machinery to generate broad‐spectrum proteolytic activity which is spatially restricted to the plasma membrane, since plasmin that diffuses away from the plasma membrane is rapidly inactivated by circulating inhibitors (i.e., α2‐antiplasmin). The system is controlled by a series of plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs), most importantly PAI‐1 and PAI‐2, providing means of temporally restricting the process of plasminogen activation.
A smart card CMOS circuit with magnetic power and communication interface

On-chip magnetic interface provides power supply and communication for a chip dedicated to contactless smart card applications. Smart cards equipped with a chip, instead of a magnetic ribbon, are becoming widely used due to the reliability at system level. Contactless solutions present advantages: reduced card cost (no bonding), and improved system reliability due to the absence of electrical contacts between card and terminal. Implementing an on-chip coil to eliminate pads results in increased chip area. Economic estimates show an area less than 4mm2 seems to represent a good challenge for this approach. To achieve good power transfer between terminal antenna and on-chip coil, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the two antennas (typically a few mm), not difficult in a smart card environment. For economic reasons, the work uses a standard industrial CMOS process, with no additional process steps.
Cyclooxygenase-2 is instrumental in Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of uncertain pathogenesis characterized by the loss of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, which can be modeled by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Increased expression of cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) and production of prostaglandin E2 have been implicated in neurodegeneration in several pathological settings. Here we show that COX-2, the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin E2 synthesis, is up-regulated in brain dopaminergic neurons of both PD and MPTP mice. COX-2 induction occurs through a JNK/c-Jun-dependent mechanism after MPTP administration. We demonstrate that targeting COX-2 does not protect against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration by mitigating inflammation. Instead, we provide evidence that COX-2 inhibition prevents the formation of the oxidant species dopamine-quinone, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. This study supports a critical role for COX-2 in both the pathogenesis and selectivity of the PD neurodegenerative process. Because of the safety record of the COX-2 inhibitors, and their ability to penetrate the blood–brain barrier, these drugs may be therapies for PD.
Pilot-Scale Lactic Acid Production via Batch Culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 Using Corn Steep Liquor As a Nitrogen Source

Summary In this study, the determination of the efficiency of a pilot-scale fermentation process using corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source was attempted in order to produce lactic acid via batch culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2. Using pure glucose, fermentation efficiency characteristics, such as final lactic acid, cell growth, yield, and productivity were not substantially influenced by the scale-up of the laboratory-scale fermentation from 2.5- to 30and 300-litre scale fermentations. In all experiments, the content of lactic acid produced increased in a linear fashion with increases in the initial glucose concentration. In the experiments using wood hydrolyzate, both lactic acid productivity and cell growth were decreased as a result of the scaling-up of the fermentation. This might be attributed to the toxic chemicals contained in the wood hydrolyzates. However, in all experiments, lactic acid yields remained higher than 90 % with regard to the amount of glucose consumed. Therefore, lactic acid was successfully produced by the pilot-scale bioreactor scheme adopted in this study.
Pandemic Swine H1N1 Influenza Viruses with Almost Undetectable Neuraminidase Activity Are Not Transmitted via Aerosols in Ferrets and Are Inhibited by Human Mucus but Not Swine Mucus

ABSTRACT A balance between the functions of the influenza virus surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) is thought to be important for the transmission of viruses between humans. Here we describe two pandemic H1N1 viruses, A/swine/Virginia/1814-1/2012 and A/swine/Virginia/1814-2/2012 (pH1N1low-1 and -2, respectively), that were isolated from swine symptomatic for influenza. The enzymatic activity of the NA of these viruses was almost undetectable, while the HA binding affinity for α2,6 sialic acids was greater than that of the highly homologous pH1N1 viruses A/swine/Pennsylvania/2436/2012 and A/swine/Minnesota/2499/2012 (pH1N1-1 and -2), which exhibited better-balanced HA and NA activities. The in vitro growth kinetics of pH1N1low and pH1N1 viruses were similar, but aerosol transmission of pH1N1low-1 was abrogated and transmission via direct contact in ferrets was significantly impaired compared to pH1N1-1, which transmitted by direct and aerosol contact. In normal human bronchial epithelial cells, pH1N1low-1 was significantly inhibited by mucus but pH1N1-1 was not. In Madin-Darby canine kidney cell cultures overlaid with human or swine mucus, human mucus inhibited pH1N1low-1 but swine mucus did not. These data show that the interaction between viruses and mucus may be an important factor in viral transmissibility and could be a barrier for interspecies transmission between humans and swine for influenza viruses. IMPORTANCE A balance between the functions of the influenza virus surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) is thought to be important for transmission of viruses from swine to humans. Here we show that a swine virus with extremely functionally mismatched HA and NAs (pH1N1low-1) cannot transmit via aerosol in ferrets, while another highly homologous virus with HA and NAs that are better matched functionally (pH1N1-1) can transmit via aerosol. These viruses show similar growth kinetics in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, but pH1N1low-1 is significantly inhibited by mucus in normal human bronchial epithelial cells whereas pH1N1-1 is not. Further, human mucus could inhibit these viruses, but swine mucus could not. These data show that the interaction between viruses and mucus may be an important factor in viral transmissibility and could be a species barrier between humans and swine for influenza viruses.
Differentiation of Glioblastomas from Metastatic Brain Tumors by Tryptophan Uptake and Kinetic Analysis: A Positron Emission Tomographic Study with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Comparison

Differentiating high-grade gliomas from solitary brain metastases is often difficult by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); molecular imaging may facilitate such discrimination. We tested the accuracy of α[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan (AMT)–positron emission tomography (PET) to differentiate newly diagnosed glioblastomas from brain metastases. AMT-PET was performed in 36 adults with suspected brain malignancy. Tumoral AMT accumulation was measured by standardized uptake values (SUVs). Tracer kinetic analysis was also performed to separate tumoral net tryptophan transport (by AMT volume of distribution [VD]) from unidirectional uptake rates using dynamic PET and blood input function. Differentiating the accuracy of these PET variables was evaluated and compared to conventional MRI. For glioblastoma/metastasis differentiation, tumoral AMT SUV showed the highest accuracy (74%) and the tumor/cortex VD ratio had the highest positive predictive value (82%). The combined accuracy of MRI (size of contrast-enhancing lesion) and AMT-PET reached up to 93%. For ring-enhancing lesions, tumor/cortex SUV ratios were higher in glioblastomas than in metastatic tumors and could differentiate these two tumor types with > 90% accuracy. These results demonstrate that evaluation of tryptophan accumulation by PET can enhance pretreatment differentiation of glioblastomas and metastatic brain tumors. This approach may be particularly useful in patients with a newly diagnosed solitary ring-enhancing mass.
CASEIN KINASE1-LIKE PROTEIN2 Regulates Actin Filament Stability and Stomatal Closure via Phosphorylation of Actin Depolymerizing Factor

Arabidopsis CASEIN KINASE1-LIKE PROTEIN2 associates with actin filaments and phosphorylates actin depolymerizing factors, and this is required for actin filament reorganization and stomatal closure. The opening and closing of stomata are crucial for plant photosynthesis and transpiration. Actin filaments undergo dynamic reorganization during stomatal closure, but the underlying mechanism for this cytoskeletal reorganization remains largely unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized Arabidopsis thaliana casein kinase 1-like protein 2 (CKL2), which responds to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment and participates in ABA- and drought-induced stomatal closure. Although CKL2 does not bind to actin filaments directly and has no effect on actin assembly in vitro, it colocalizes with and stabilizes actin filaments in guard cells. Further investigation revealed that CKL2 physically interacts with and phosphorylates actin depolymerizing factor 4 (ADF4) and inhibits its activity in actin filament disassembly. During ABA-induced stomatal closure, deletion of CKL2 in Arabidopsis alters actin reorganization in stomata and renders stomatal closure less sensitive to ABA, whereas deletion of ADF4 impairs the disassembly of actin filaments and causes stomatal closure to be more sensitive to ABA. Deletion of ADF4 in the ckl2 mutant partially recues its ABA-insensitive stomatal closure phenotype. Moreover, Arabidopsis ADFs from subclass I are targets of CKL2 in vitro. Thus, our results suggest that CKL2 regulates actin filament reorganization and stomatal closure mainly through phosphorylation of ADF.
Importance sampling based decision trees for security assessment and the corresponding preventive control schemes: The Danish case study

Decision Trees (DT) based security assessment helps Power System Operators (PSO) by providing them with the most significant system attributes and guiding them in implementing the corresponding emergency control actions to prevent system insecurity and blackouts. DT is obtained offline from time-domain simulation and the process of data mining, which is then implemented online as guidelines for preventive control schemes. An algorithm named Classification and Regression Trees (CART) is used to train the DT and key to this approach lies on the accuracy of DT. This paper proposes contingency oriented DT and adopts a methodology of importance sampling to maximize the information contained in the database so as to increase the accuracy of DT. Further, this paper also studies the effectiveness of DT by implementing its corresponding preventive control schemes. These approaches are tested on the detailed model of western Danish power system which is characterized by its large scale wind energy penetration and high proportion of distributed generation (DG). DIgSILENT/PowerFactory is adopted for the power system simulation and Salford Predictive Modeler (SPM) is used for data mining.