Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A neural-based crowd estimation by hybrid global learning algorithm

A neural-based crowd estimation system for surveillance in complex scenes at underground station platform is presented. Estimation is carried out by extracting a set of significant features from sequences of images. Those feature indexes are modeled by a neural network to estimate the crowd density. The learning phase is based on our proposed hybrid of the least-squares and global search algorithms which are capable of providing the global search characteristic and fast convergence speed. Promising experimental results are obtained in terms of accuracy and real-time response capability to alert operators automatically.
Distributed Target Detectors With Capabilities of Mismatched Subspace Signal Rejection

In this paper, we consider the problem of distributed target detection with subspace signal mismatch. Precisely, the echoes reflected by the distributed target all come from the same direction, and the signal steering vector is assumed to lie in a preassigned subspace. However, the actual signal steering vector does not completely belong to the presumed subspace, resulting in subspace signal mismatch. We focus on the design of selective detectors, which have good capabilities of mismatched signal rejection. To this end, we add a fictitious signal under the null hypothesis, which is orthogonal to the nominal signal subspace in the whitened or quasi-whitened subspace. According to the generalized likelihood ratio test criterion, we devise two effective detectors. Compared with the existing ones, the proposed detectors exhibit improved selectivity capabilities for signal mismatch at the price of a little bit performance loss in the case of no signal mismatch. Moreover, for the case of point-like target, which is a special case of distributed target, we derive analytical expressions for the probabilities of detection and false alarm. Simulation results illustrate the superiority of the proposed detectors and confirm our theoretical results.
A framework integrating different relevance feedback scenarios and approaches for spoken term detection

This paper presents a new framework integrating different relevance feedback scenarios (pseudo relevance feedback and user relevance feedback in short- and long-term context) and different approaches (model- and example-based) in a spoken term detection system, and shows the retrieval performance can be improved step by step. It is found that short-term context user relevance feedback can further improve the retrieval performance after pseudo relevance feedback, regardless of whether the acoustic models have been adapted by matched data or long-term context user relevance feedback or not. Moreover, model-based and example-based methods are shown to be additive when integrated in short-term context user relevance feedback scenario.
3.6 AND 4.5 μm PHASE CURVES OF THE HIGHLY IRRADIATED ECCENTRIC HOT JUPITER WASP-14b

We present full-orbit phase curve observations of the eccentric (e ∼ 0.08) transiting hot Jupiter WASP-14b obtained in the 3.6 and 4.5 μm bands using the Spitzer Space Telescope. We use two different methods for removing the intrapixel sensitivity effect and compare their efficacy in decoupling the instrumental noise. Our measured secondary eclipse depths of 0.1882% ± 0.0048% and 0.2247% ± 0.0086% at 3.6 and 4.5 μm, respectively, are both consistent with a blackbody temperature of 2402 ± 35 K. We place a 2σ upper limit on the nightside flux at 3.6 μm and find it to be 9% ± 1% of the dayside flux, corresponding to a brightness temperature of 1079 K. At 4.5 μm, the minimum planet flux is 30% ± 5% of the maximum flux, corresponding to a brightness temperature of 1380 ± 65 K. We compare our measured phase curves to the predictions of one-dimensional radiative transfer and three-dimensional general circulation models. We find that WASP-14b’s measured dayside emission is consistent with a model atmosphere with equilibrium chemistry and a moderate temperature inversion. These same models tend to overpredict the nightside emission at 3.6 μm, while underpredicting the nightside emission at 4.5 μm. We propose that this discrepancy might be explained by an enhanced global C/O ratio. In addition, we find that the phase curves of WASP-14b (7.8 MJup) are consistent with a much lower albedo than those of other Jovian mass planets with thermal phase curve measurements, suggesting that it may be emitting detectable heat from the deep atmosphere or interior processes.
The Value of Scarce Water: Measuring the Inefficiency of Municipal Regulations

Rather than allowing urban water prices to reflect scarcity rents during periods of drought-induced excess demand, policy makers have mandated command-and-control approaches, primarily rationing the use of water outdoors. While such policies are ubiquitous and likely inefficient, economists have not had access to sufficient data to estimate their economic impact. Using unique panel data on residential end-uses of water in 11 North American cities, we examine the welfare implications of urban water rationing in response to drought. Using estimates of expected marginal prices that vary both across and within markets, we estimate price elasticities specific to indoor and outdoor water use. Our results suggest that current policies do target water uses that households, themselves, are most willing to forgo. Nevertheless, we find that rationing outdoor water in cities has costly welfare implications, primarily due to household heterogeneity in willingness-to-pay for scarce water. We find that replacing rationing policies with a market-clearing “drought price” would result in welfare gains of more than 29% of what households in the sample spend each year on water.
Migrationen im Alter

In Deutschland besteht ein jaehrliches Gesamtvolumen von etwa 230.000 Binnenwanderungen aelterer Menschen. Dabei ziehen nicht die besser Situierten und Aktiveren haeufiger um, sondern die Migranten sind vielfach durch potenzielle Einschraenkungen ihrer persoenlichen Resourcen (hohes Alter, Partnerverlust, schlechter Gesundheitszustand) gekennzeichnet. Die Auswertung aller Migrationen nach ihrer Reichweite ergibt, dass etwa zwei Drittel ein Ziel im gleichen Bundesland suchen, lediglich 35 Prozent zogen ueber die Grenzen ihres Bundeslandes. Die Fernwanderungsintensitaet aelterer Menschen hat sich seit den 70er Jahren etwa halbiert. Ausloesende Faktoren fuer Wohnsitzwechsel im hoeheren Alter sind zu einem Grossteil Notwendigkeiten, oft Zwaenge. Die groesste Gruppe verlaesst den vertrauten Wohnort vorsorglich oder aus gegebenem Anlass. Etwa ein Drittel der Ortswechsel laesst sich auf aeussere Beweggruende (meist unzulaengliche Wohn- und Lebensbedingungen) zurueckfuehren. Jeder zehnte aeltere Zuzuegler ist ein Aus- oder Umsiedler. Nicht einmal jeder fuenfte Umzug entspricht der klassischen Ruhesitzwanderung duch die Wahl eines attraktiven Wohnortes in der Wunschwohngegend. Insgesamt lassen die Befunde die bisherigen - und in den 70er Jahren noch gueltigen - Annahmen zur Altenwanderung als korrekturbeduerftig erscheinen, wonach Umzuege im Alter in der Regel Fernwanderungen zu attraktiven Ruhesitzen seien und von aktiven Senioren mit bevorzugten soziooekonomischen und individuellen Resourcen durchgefuehrt wuerden. Beitrag zur Tagung "Mobilitaet und gesellschaftliche Partizipation im Alter" des Lehrstuhls fuer Verkehrspsychologie an der Technischen Universitaet Dresden mit Unterstuetzung des Bundesministeriums fuer Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, 10. und 11. Juli 2001, Dresden. Siehe auch Gesamtaufnahme der Tagung, ITRD-Nummer D351925.
In pursuit of myosin function.

Introduction Myosin, first identified in muscle extracts by Kuehne more than a century ago (Kuehne, 1864), is an actin-based molecular motor that has proven to be a key component of several fundamental forms of movement in nonmuscle cells. This molecule is involved in nearly every aspect of cell regulation, from events involved in cell-cell signaling and chemotaxis to the highly regulated changes in cell shape that occur during cytokinesis. Myosin consists of two heads, each called Subfragment 1 or S-1, connected by an a-helical coiled-coil tail, which is involved in the formation of thick filaments. Highly purified S-1 moves actin filaments in vitro (Toyoshima et al., 1987; Manstein et al., 1989a), and it produces a force in vitro (Kishino and Yanagida, 1988) which is near that expected from force-velocity measurements with intact muscle. Thus S-1 contains all of the domains needed for motor function. Multiple approaches have been used to implicate myosin in a variety of nonmuscle movements such as cytokinesis, karyokinesis, cell migration, capping of surface receptors, and morphogenetic shape changes, associated with development (for reviews, see Warrick and Spudich, 1987; Korn and Hammer, 1988). Recent molecular genetic experiments have aided significantly in the elucidation of the roles of myosin in vivo, and the eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum has proven to be a good meeting ground for cell biologists, physiologists, biochemists, and geneticists interested in the molecular mechanisms of cell and developmental biological events. This organism, although nearly indistinguishable from a leukocyte or other higher eukaryotic cell in many aspects of its behavior, is haploid and has a relatively simple genome. Its virtues for biochemical, molecular genetic, cell biological, and developmental studies have been described in detail (Loomis, 1982; Spudich, 1987; Devreotes and Zigmond, 1988). Minireview
Predictors of Faster Decline of Residual Renal Function in Taiwanese Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

⋄ Objective Loss of residual renal function (RRF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is a powerful predictor of mortality. The present study was conducted to determine the predictors of faster decline of RRF in PD patients in Taiwan. ⋄ Methods The study enrolled 270 patients starting PD between January 1996 and December 2005 in a single hospital in Taiwan. We calculated RRF as the mean of the sum of 24-hour urea and creatinine clearance. The slope of the decline of residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was the main outcome measure. Data on demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment parameters; episodes of peritonitis; and hypotensive events were analyzed by Student t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and chi-square, as appropriate. All variables with statistical significance were included in a multivariate linear regression model to select the best predictors (p < 0.05) for faster decline of residual GFR. ⋄ Results All patients commencing PD during the study period were followed for 39.4 ± 24.0 months (median: 35.5 months). The average annual rate of decline of residual GFR was 1.377 ± 1.47 mL/min/m2. On multivariate analysis, presence of diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), higher baseline residual GFR (p < 0.001), hypotensive events (p = 0.001), use of diuretics (p = 0.002), and episodes of peritonitis (p = 0.043) independently predicted faster decline of residual GFR. Male sex, old age, larger body mass index, and presence of coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure were also risk factors on univariate analysis. ⋄ Conclusions Our results suggested that diabetes mellitus, higher baseline residual GFR, hypotensive events, and use of diuretics are independently associated with faster decline of residual GFR in PD patients in Taiwan.
What significance should we attribute to the detection of MLL fusion transcripts?

TRANSLOCATIONS involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene (also termedALL-1, HRX, HTRX1 ) at chromosome band 11q23 occur in 5% to 10% of acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemias (ALLs and AMLs) and serve as particularly illustrative examples of the clinical, biological, and epidemiological implications of contemporary molecular oncology investigations. 1,2Remarkably, various translocations in ALL and AML fuseMLL to more than two dozen different partner genes, one dozen or more of which have been cloned and identified at the current time. 3,4 MLL also undergoes partial tandem duplication in some patients with AML. 5 In ALL, the t(4;11)(q21;q23), which fuses MLL to AF4 (FEL), occurs most frequently and accounts for about half of all MLL translocations. Cytogenetic data, supported by gene transfer studies and knock-in mouse models, indicate that the critical product is the der(11)-encoded fusion protein that consists of amino terminal,1,200 amino acids of MLL fused to carboxy terminal polypeptides of various sizes specified by the different partner genes. 6-8
Modulation of the Helicase Activity of eIF4A by eIF4B, eIF4H, and eIF4F*

Eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4A is a DEAD box RNA helicase that works in conjunction with eIF4B, eIF4H, or as a subunit of eIF4F to unwind secondary structure in the 5′-untranslated region of mRNA, which facilitates binding of the mRNA to the 40 S ribosomal subunit. This study demonstrates how the helicase activity of eIF4A is modulated by eIF4B, eIF4H, or as a subunit of eIF4F. Results indicate that a linear relationship exists between the initial rate or amplitude of unwinding and duplex stability for all factor combinations tested. eIF4F, like eIF4A, behaves as a non-processive helicase. Either eIF4B or eIF4H stimulated the initial rate and amplitude of eIF4A-dependent duplex unwinding, and the magnitude of stimulation is dependent on duplex stability. Furthermore, eIF4A (or eIF4F) becomes a slightly processive helicase in the presence of eIF4B or eIF4H. All combinations of factors tested indicate that the rate of duplex unwinding is equivalent in the 5′ → 3′ and 3′ → 5′ directions. However, the optimal rate of unwinding was dependent on the length of the single-stranded region of the substrate when different combinations of factors were used. The combinations of eIF4A, eIF4A + eIF4B, eIF4A + eIF4H, and eIF4F showed differences in their ability to unwind chemically modified duplexes. A simple model of how eIF4B or eIF4H affects the duplex unwinding mechanism of eIF4A is proposed.
A passive technique for image forgery detection using contrast context histogram features

The multimedia data such as digital images are essential to expose the evidence. There are numerous, image editing software through which the original images can be intentionally manipulated or forged for mishandling purposes. It is very difficult to discover the forgery by visually analysing it. Specifically, the copy move forgery is extremely challenging to expose the forged region. In this paper, contrast context histogram CCH features are used to effectively detect the copy move forgery and k-means clustering algorithm to segregate the key points of copy move forged regions. The disparity map is created using sum of absolute difference to localise these regions. The comparative study was carried out and the performances reveal that the proposed system is better than the existing methods.
Analysis and simulation of a LLC-VI resonant converter for solar applications

This paper presents the analysis, design and simulation results of a dc-dc LLC resonant converter fed by photovoltaic (PV) panels. In order to achieve MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking), a Variable Inductor is used to control the converter operation. In order to analyze the converter operation a simple dc load (resistor with fixed value) is considered and simulations results are presented considering different irradiance conditions of the PV panels. The system specifications are presented and simulation results were obtained considering different irradiance conditions.
The effect of group psychosocial support on survival in metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Supportive-expressive group therapy has been reported to prolong survival among women with metastatic breast cancer. However, in recent studies, various psychosocial interventions have not prolonged survival. METHODS In a multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 235 women with metastatic breast cancer who were expected to survive at least three months in a 2:1 ratio to an intervention group that participated in weekly supportive-expressive group therapy (158 women) or to a control group that received no such intervention (77 women). All the women received educational materials and any medical or psychosocial care that was deemed necessary. The primary outcome was survival; psychosocial function was assessed by self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS Women assigned to supportive-expressive therapy had greater improvement in psychological symptoms and reported less pain (P=0.04) than women in the control group. A significant interaction of treatment-group assignment with base-line psychological score was found (P</=0.003 for the comparison of mood variables; P=0.04 for the comparison of pain); women who were more distressed benefited, whereas those who were less distressed did not. The psychological intervention did not prolong survival (median survival, 17.9 months in the intervention group and 17.6 months in the control group; hazard ratio for death according to the univariate analysis, 1.06 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.45]; hazard ratio according to the multivariate analysis, 1.23 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.72]). CONCLUSIONS Supportive-expressive group therapy does not prolong survival in women with metastatic breast cancer. It improves mood and the perception of pain, particularly in women who are initially more distressed.
Positron and electron collisions with nitrous oxide: Measured and calculated cross sections

G.G. and F.B. would like to acknowledge the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Productividad (Project FIS2009-10245) and they and M.J.B. would like to acknowledge the European Science Foundation (COST Action MP1002-Nano-IBCT) for financial support.
Vanishing thyroid in patients with renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Poster: "ECR 2011 / B-820 / Vanishing thyroid in patients with renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor" by: "S. Takahashi, K. Kitajima, T. Maeda, T. Yoshikawa, M. Fujii, Y. Ohno, H. Miyake, M. Fujisawa, K. Sugimura; Kobe/JP"
Caspase‐2 activation is redundant during seizure‐induced neuronal death

Seizure‐induced neuronal death may be under the control of the caspase family of cell death proteases. We examined the role of caspase‐2 in a model of focally evoked limbic seizures with continuous EEG recording. Seizures were elicited by microinjection of kainic acid into the amygdala of the rat and terminated after 40 min by diazepam. Caspase‐2 was constitutively present in brain, mostly within neurons, and was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Cleaved caspase‐2 (12 kDa) was detected immediately following seizure termination within injured ipsilateral hippocampus, contiguous with increased Val‐Asp‐Val‐Ala‐Asp (VDVADase) activity, a putative measure of activated caspase‐2. Expression of receptor interacting protein (RIP)‐associated Ich‐1‐homologous protein with death domain (RAIDD) was increased following seizures, whereas expression of RIP and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated protein with death domain (TRADD), other components thought to be linked to the caspase‐2 activation and signaling mechanism, were unchanged. Intracerebroventricular administration of z‐VDVAD‐fluoromethyl ketone blocked seizure‐induced caspase‐2 activity but did not alter caspase‐8 activity and failed to affect DNA fragmentation or neuronal death. These data support activation of caspase‐2 following seizures but suggest that parallel caspase pathways may circumvent deficits in caspase‐2 function to complete the cell death process.
Language Model Adaptation for Difficult to Translate Phrases

This paper investigates the idea of adapting language models for phrases that have poor translation quality. We apply a selective adaptation criterion which uses a classifier to locate the most difficult phrase of each source language sentence. A special adapted language model is constructed for the highlighted phrase. Our adaptation heuristic uses lexical features of the phrase to locate the relevant parts of the parallel corpus for language model training. As we vary the experimental setup by changing the size of the SMT training data, our adaptation method consistently shows strong improvements over the baseline systems.
System-wide automatic extraction of functional signatures in Pseudomonas aeruginosa with eADAGE

1 Abundant public expression data capture gene expression across diverse conditions. These 2 steady state mRNA measurements could reveal the transcriptional consequences of cells’ 3 genetic backgrounds or their responses to the environment. However, public data remain 4 relatively untapped, in part because extracting biological signal as opposed to technical noise 5 remains challenging. Here we introduce a procedure, termed eADAGE, that performs 6 unsupervised integration of public expression data using an ensemble of neural networks as 7 well as heuristics that, given a dataset, help users identify an appropriate level of model 8 complexity. This ensemble modeling approach captures biological pathways more clearly than 9 existing methods, enabling analyses that span entire public gene expression compendia such as 10 that for the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These analyses reveal a previously 11 undiscovered feature of the phosphate starvation response apparent in public data: a sensor 12 kinase, KinB, that is required for full activation of the response to phosphate at intermediate 13 concentrations. Our molecular validation experiments confirm this role of KinB and our screen 14 of a histidine kinase knock out collection confirmed the prediction’s specificity. Public data are 15 captured from a broad range of conditions in diverse organism backgrounds and may provide a 16 unique opportunity to identify these subtle and context-specific regulatory interactions. 17 Algorithms that extract biological signal from these data, such as eADAGE, can highlight 18 opportunities to discover mechanisms that are apparent from but unrealized in public data. 19
The Promiscuous Life of Plant NUCLEAR FACTOR Y Transcription Factors[W]

The CCAAT box is one of the most common cis-elements present in eukaryotic promoters and is bound by the transcription factor NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NF-Y). NF-Y is composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. Unlike animals and fungi, plants have significantly expanded the number of genes encoding NF-Y subunits. We provide a comprehensive classification of NF-Y genes, with a separation of closely related, but distinct, histone fold domain proteins. We additionally review recent experiments that have placed NF-Y at the center of many developmental stress-responsive processes in the plant lineage.