Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive visualization for missing values, time series, and areal data

Visualization is widely used to explore data, examine variation, reveal trends, and diagnose models. Furthermore, interactive plots can re-focus the view to features of interest, drill down into a fine resolution, query or lookup elements, look at data from various directions, and connect plots with model analysis. However, for specific data types and specific exploratory purposes, the general interactions like brushing, panning, zooming, and querying can be insufficient. The lack of a grammar for interactive graphics makes differences between the user interactions on data and on the view of data difficult to delineate. This thesis partially addresses these issues and fills gaps in methodology from three application areas: missing values, temporal/longitudinal data, and areal data. Interactive graphics plays different roles in three areas. In missing data analysis, many imputation methods have been developed but little has been done for exploring the missing value structure to determine the missingness pattern, or to evaluate the imputations. This research addresses this gap, focusing on an interactive tool to explore missings, check the missingness assumptions, and compare imputation methods. For temporal and longitudinal data, using static plots is inadequate for exploring the trends, seasonality or unusual individuals, especially when the data set is large. This research develops special interactions and discusses the elements and pipeline in the interactivity construction. It is implemented in the R package, cranvastime, with details on how to use for a number of datasets. For the areal data, cartograms are widely used but there is no universally good algorithm for cartogram construction or evaluation. This research proposes an evaluation criterion and utilizes an interactive interface to optimize the visualization between the original shape-reserved map and area-reserved cartogram.
Stitching Images with Arbitrary Lens Distortions

In this paper, we propose a new method to compensate for lens distortions in image stitching. Lens distortions that arise from the nonlinearity of a lens are the main cause for mismatches in stitching images. We estimate the distortion factors for each image using the Division Model and linearize the projected relationships between matching distorted feature points. Because our method works at the RANSAC stage, the estimated distortion factors are further refined during the bundle adjustment phase and thus accurate distortion factors are obtained. Applications based on estimated lens distortion factors show that our method is more efficient and that the stitched results are more accurate than other previous methods.
Effects of Methionine on the Immune Function in Animals

Nutrition and immunity are the hot topics in animal’s production, and the effects of methionine on the immunity are already confirmed as the deep research on the nutrition of amino acid and immune function. However, the relationship of the methionine and immunity has not been elucidated clearly, this review aims to clarify the effects of methionine on immune function in the aspects of growth and development immune organs, the histological structure of the immune organs, non-specific immunity, humoral immunity, cellular immunity and cytokines, and to provide foundations for further studies on the relationship between methionine and immune function.
A Methodology for Multi-Camera Surface-Shape Estimation of Deformable Unknown Objects

A novel methodology is proposed herein to estimate the three-dimensional (3D) surface shape of unknown, markerless deforming objects through a modular multi-camera vision system. The methodology is a generalized formal approach to shape estimation for a priori unknown objects. Accurate shape estimation is accomplished through a robust, adaptive particle filtering process. The estimation process yields a set of surface meshes representing the expected deformation of the target object. The methodology is based on the use of a multi-camera system, with a variable number of cameras, and range of object motions. The numerous simulations and experiments presented herein demonstrate the proposed methodology’s ability to accurately estimate the surface deformation of unknown objects, as well as its robustness to object loss under self-occlusion, and varying motion dynamics.
Motion Planning and Reactive Control Algorithms for Object Manipulation in Uncertain Conditions

This work proposes the application of several smart strategies for object manipulation tasks. A real-time flexible motion planning method was developed to be adapted to typical in-store logistics scenarios. The solution combines and optimizes some state-of-the-art techniques to solve object recognition and localization problems with a new hybrid pipeline. The algorithm guarantees good robustness and accuracy for object detection through depth images. A standard planner plans collision-free trajectories throughout the whole task while a proposed reactive motion control is active. Distributed proximity sensors were adopted to locally modify the planned trajectory when unexpected or misplaced obstacles intervene in the scene. To implement a robust grasping phase, a novel slipping control algorithm was used. It dynamically computes the grasp force by adapting it to the actual object physical properties so as to prevent slipping. Experimental results carried out in a typical supermarket scenario demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented methods.
Research on Optimization and Application of LOD Algorithm in Virtual Reality Visualization of Terrain

With the development of computer graphics, real-time rendering-based VF: technology has been applied in more and more fields. LOD is the key technology in large-scale terrain rendering. In this paper, the basic concept of LOD is introduced briefly and some algorithms of LOD in use are mentioned and analyzed; secondly as one of algorithms of LOD, View-Dependent Progressive Mesh algorithm is studied and improved, the result of implementing the large-scale terrain’s LOD by using VDPM is presented. There are key technologies in LOD Large-scale terrain real-time rendering are researched. Relative technologies are presented such as: LOD of the terrain, visibility culling, and cracks eliminate, view-dependent refine, LOD error, technologies of texture etc. Using LOD technology, VR system can greatly reduce the; number of polygons produced in real-time rendering procedure. Finally, we do experimental design work based on the methods and techniques presented by this paper.
Récupération d’énergie mécanique pour vêtements connectés autonomes

La fonctionnalisation « intelligente » des vetements et accessoires portes par la personne est un phenomene a croissance rapide. L’installation des smartphones dans le quotidien des personnes en une decennie a peine en temoigne. L’autonomie energetique de ces systemes est un enjeu important, tant en termes d’ergonomie que de ressources : l’usage de piles ou batteries electrochimiques a l’echelle de milliards d’objets connectes est difficilement envisageable. La recuperation d’energie se pose en alternative pour complementer ou remplacer ces unites de stockages. Cette these explore plusieurs approches pour utiliser l’energie mecanique de la personne afin d’alimenter un vetement intelligent en energie electrique.Apres avoir identifie le besoin energetique d’un vetement connecte typique, et compare les possibilites des recuperateurs d’energie de la litterature, trois formats de recuperateurs d’energie sont etudies. Le premier est un generateur inertiel a induction resonant non lineaire, de la taille d’une pile AA et permettant l’exploitation des impacts des pas de la personne. L’etude porte essentiellement sur la modelisation et l’optimisation du systeme pour l’activite humaine. Le prototype associe presente une densite de puissance superieure a 500µW/cm3 lors de la course a pied. Le second recuperateur etudie est aussi un generateur inertiel a induction. D’une forme « toroidale », il exploite le balancier des membres de la personne, et est capable de produire des puissances superieures au milliwatt lorsqu’il est fixe au niveau du pied ou du bras. Enfin, le troisieme concept de recuperateur d’energie propose s’appuie sur la transduction electrostatique a capacite variable pour exploiter des deformations dans les vetements. Le systeme associe la triboelectricite avec un circuit d’auto-polarisation passif, le doubleur de Bennet. Cette combinaison permet de polariser une capacite variable de facon importante, sans source de tension externe, et ainsi de maximiser l’energie electrostatique generee. Le dispositif realise pour faire la preuve du concept produit ainsi plus de 150µJ par cycle. Cette architecture electrostatique ouvre d’interessantes possibilites en matiere d’ergonomie et d’integration dans les vetements. En effet, elle laisse entrevoir le developpement de structures etirables et flexibles s’adaptant bien aux contraintes de cette application.La comparaison de ces trois approches est instructive quant aux perspectives de developpement du domaine de la conversion de l’energie mecanique de la personne.
Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Febrile Neutropenia After Chemotherapy in Patients With Cancer: The FENCE Score

Abstract Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) after chemotherapy causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict FN in the first cycle of chemotherapy. Methods We included patients with solid cancers and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2010-2016. Predictors of FN were analyzed using Poisson regression and random split-sampling. Results Among 6294 patients in the derivation cohort, 360 developed FN. Female sex, older age, cancer type, disease stage, low albumin, elevated bilirubin, low creatinine clearance, infection before chemotherapy, and number of and type of chemotherapy drugs predicted FN. Compared with those at low risk (n = 2520, 40.0%), the incidence rate ratio of developing FN was 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9 to 8.1), 8.7 (95% CI = 5.3 to 14.1) and 24.0 (95% CI = 15.2 to 38.0) in the intermediate (n = 1294, 20.6%), high (n = 1249, 19.8%) and very high (n = 1231, 19.6%) risk groups, respectively, corresponding to a number needed to treat with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors to avoid one FN event in the first cycle of 284, 60, 34 and 14. The discriminatory ability (Harrell’s C-statistic = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.78 to 0.82) was similar in the validation cohort (n = 3163) (0.79, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.82). Conclusion We developed and internally validated a risk score for FN in the first cycle of chemotherapy. The FENCE score is available online and provides good differentiation of risk groups.
Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control

Background Mosquito-borne viruses—such as Zika, chikungunya, dengue fever, and yellow fever, among others—are of global importance. Although vaccine development for prevention of mosquito-borne arbovirus infections has been a focus, mitigation strategies continue to rely on vector control. However, vector control has failed to prevent recent epidemics and arrest expanding geographic distribution of key arboviruses, such as dengue. As a consequence, there has been increasing necessity to further optimize current strategies within integrated approaches and advance development of alternative, innovative strategies for the control of mosquito-borne arboviruses. Methods and findings This review, intended as a general overview, is one of a series being generated by the Worldwide Insecticide resistance Network (WIN). The alternative strategies discussed reflect those that are currently under evaluation for public health value by the World Health Organization (WHO) and represent strategies of focus by globally recognized public health stakeholders as potential insecticide resistance (IR)-mitigating strategies. Conditions where these alternative strategies could offer greatest public health value in consideration of mitigating IR will be dependent on the anticipated mechanism of action. Arguably, the most pressing need for endorsement of the strategies described here will be the epidemiological evidence of a public health impact. Conclusions As the burden of mosquito-borne arboviruses, predominately those transmitted by Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus, continues to grow at a global scale, new vector-control tools and integrated strategies will be required to meet public health demands. Decisions regarding implementation of alternative strategies will depend on key ecoepidemiological parameters that each is intended to optimally impact toward driving down arbovirus transmission.
Crowdfunding scientific research: Descriptive insights and correlates of funding success

Crowdfunding has gained traction as a mechanism to raise resources for entrepreneurial and artistic projects, yet there is little systematic evidence on the potential of crowdfunding for scientific research. We first briefly review prior research on crowdfunding and give an overview of dedicated platforms for crowdfunding research. We then analyze data from over 700 campaigns on the largest dedicated platform, Experiment.com. Our descriptive analysis provides insights regarding the creators seeking funding, the projects they are seeking funding for, and the campaigns themselves. We then examine how these characteristics relate to fundraising success. The findings highlight important differences between crowdfunding and traditional funding mechanisms for research, including high use by students and other junior investigators but also relatively small project size. Students and junior investigators are more likely to succeed than senior scientists, and women have higher success rates than men. Conventional signals of quality–including scientists’ prior publications–have little relationship with funding success, suggesting that the crowd may apply different decision criteria than traditional funding agencies. Our results highlight significant opportunities for crowdfunding in the context of science while also pointing towards unique challenges. We relate our findings to research on the economics of science and on crowdfunding, and we discuss connections with other emerging mechanisms to involve the public in scientific research.
Genetic exchanges are more frequent in bacteria encoding capsules

Capsules allow bacteria to colonize novel environments, to withstand numerous stresses, and to resist antibiotics. Yet, even though genetic exchanges with other cells should be adaptive under such circumstances, it has been suggested that capsules lower the rates of homologous recombination and horizontal gene transfer. We analysed over one hundred pan-genomes and thousands of bacterial genomes for the evidence of an association between genetic exchanges (or lack thereof) and the presence of a capsule system. We found that bacteria encoding capsules have larger pan-genomes, higher rates of horizontal gene transfer, and higher rates of homologous recombination in their core genomes. Accordingly, genomes encoding capsules have more plasmids, conjugative elements, transposases, prophages, and integrons. Furthermore, capsular loci are frequent in plasmids, and can be found in prophages. These results are valid for Bacteria, independently of their ability to be naturally transformable. Since we have shown previously that capsules are commonly present in nosocomial pathogens, we analysed their co-occurrence with antibiotic resistance genes. Genomes encoding capsules have more antibiotic resistance genes, especially those encoding efflux pumps, and they constitute the majority of the most worrisome nosocomial bacteria. We conclude that bacteria with capsule systems are more genetically diverse and have fast-evolving gene repertoires, which may further contribute to their success in colonizing novel niches such as humans under antibiotic therapy.
Measurement of trihydroxy-linoleic acids in stratum corneum by tape-stripping: Possible biomarker of barrier function in atopic dermatitis

Epidermal ceramides are indispensable lipids that maintain the functions of the stratum corneum. Esterified omega-hydroxyacyl-sphingosine (EOS) ceramide with a linoleate moiety is one of the most important ceramide species for forming cornified lipid envelopes. This linoleate moiety is eventually metabolized to trihydroxy-linoleic acid (triol, 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11E-octadecenoic acid). Thus, we assumed that a decrease of triols might reflect skin barrier dysfunction. Against this background, the purposes of this study were to measure the triols by a simple tape-stripping method and to determine the correlation between the amount of triols and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as an indicator of barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis patients. Twenty Japanese subjects with normal skin and 20 atopic dermatitis patients were enrolled in this study. TEWL was measured and triols of the stratum corneum were analyzed by tape-stripping. The results showed for the first time that triols in the stratum corneum could be simply measured using the tape-stripping method. The triol levels in atopic dermatitis patients were much higher than those in healthy subjects. Moreover, the triol levels correlated with TEWL of non-lesional forearm skin in patients with atopic dermatitis. The results suggest that the assaying of triol levels via non-invasive tape-stripping could be beneficial for monitoring barrier function in atopic dermatitis.
Adherence to iron with folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care follow up at Debre Tabor General Hospital, Ethiopia, 2017

Introduction Nutritional anemia is a major public health problem throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. Iron with folic acid supplementation (IFAS) is recommended to mitigate anemia and its resulting complications during pregnancy. There has been limited study on IFAS adherence of pregnant women in the study area. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to IFAS and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care service in Debre Tabor General Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 9 to April 8, 2017, at Debre Tabor General Hospital. A total of 262 study participants were included and selected by systematic random sampling. The entire interviewed questionnaire was checked and entered into EpiData version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for windows for analysis. IFAS adherence status was defined as, if pregnant mothers took 65% or more of the IFAS which is equivalent to taking IFAS at least 4 days a week during the 1-month period preceding the study. Regressions were fitted to identify independent predictors of IFAS adherence. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results A total of 241 pregnant women were included (92% response rate), of which 107 (44%) were adherent to IFAS. Only 39% received IFAS counseling, and 52% had some knowledge of IFAS. Gravidity (AOR = 2.92 95% CI (1.61, 5.30)), gestational age at first ANC visit (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI (1.94, 6.97)), pregnant women who got advice about IFAS (AOR = 2.04, 95%CI (1.12, 3.75)), current anemia (AOR = 2.22, 95%CI (1.45, 4.29)), and had knowledge about IFAS (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI (1.80, 5.95)) were statistically associated with adherence to IFAS among pregnant women. Conclusion Overall, IFAS adherence among pregnant women was low. The associated factors with adherence of IFAS were counseling and knowledge, early ANC attendance, pregnancy history, and current anemia diagnosis. IFAS counseling by health workers was low but, when given, was associated with improved IFAS adherence. Health workers and health extension workers should consistently counsel on IFAS benefits during ANC visit, to improve IFAS adherence during the current and subsequent pregnancies.
Differential regulation of Pleurotus ostreatus dye peroxidases gene expression in response to dyes and potential application of recombinant Pleos-DyP1 in decolorization

Dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP) from the white rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus is a heme peroxidase able to oxidize diverse substrates, including recalcitrant phenols and dyes. This study analyzed the effect of chemical dyes on P. ostreatus growth, DyP activity and the expression of four Pleos-dyp genes during the time-course of Pleurotus ostreatus cultures containing either Acetyl Yellow G (AYG), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) or Acid Blue 129 (AB129) dyes. Additionally, Pleos DyP1 was heterologously expressed in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride in order to explore the potential of a secreted recombinant enzyme for decolorizing different dyes in cultures and plate assays. The addition of dyes had an induction effect on the enzymatic activity, with the fermentations undertaken using RBBR and AYG dyes presenting the highest total DyP activity. DyP gene expression profiles displayed up/down regulation during the culture of three Pleos-dyp genes (Pleos-dyp1, Pleos-dyp2 and Pleos-dyp4), while Pleos-dyp3 transcript was not detected under any of the culture conditions studied. A 14-fold relative induction level (log2) increase for Pleos-dyp2 and Pleos-dyp4 in AB129 and AYG, respectively, was also found. The presence of AB129 resulted in the highest Pleos-dyp1 gene induction and repression level, corresponding to 11.83 and -14.6-fold relative expression and repression levels, respectively. The lowest expression level of all genes was observed in RBBR, a response which is associated with the growth phase. The filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride was successfully transformed for the heterologous expression of Pleos-dyp1. The modified strains (TaDyP) were able to decolorize mono-azo, di-azo, anthraquinone and anthracenedione dyes with extracellular DyP1 activity found in the culture supernatant. After 96 h of culture, the recombinant TaDyP strains were able to degrade (decolorize) 77 and 34% of 0.05mM AB129 and 0.25mM AYG, respectively.
This shoe, that tiger: Semantic properties reflecting manual affordances of the referent modulate demonstrative use

Demonstrative reference is central to human communication. But what influences our choice of demonstrative forms such as “this” and “that” in discourse? Previous literature has mapped the use of such “proximal” and “distal” demonstratives onto spatial properties of referents, such as their distance from the speaker. We investigated whether object semantics, and specifically functional properties of referents, also influence speakers’ choices of either demonstrative form. Over two experiments, we presented English, Danish and Italian speakers with words denoting animate and inanimate objects, differing in size and harmfulness, and asked them to match them with a proximal or a distal demonstrative. Objects that offer more affordances for manipulation (smaller and harmless) elicited significantly more proximal demonstratives. These effects were stronger for inanimate referents, in line with the predictions of sensory-functional views on object semantics. These results suggest that demonstrative use may be partly grounded on manual affordances, and hints at the possibility of using demonstratives as a proxy to investigate the organization of semantic knowledge.