Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Anti-Noise Algorithm for Enhancing Global and Local Contrast for Infrared Image

Having performed discrete stationary wavelet transform (DSWT) to an infrared image and employing generalized cross validation (GCV), noise is reduced in high frequency sub-bands. These sub-bands are at finer resolution levels and the local contrast is enhanced by combining the de-noising method with non-linear operator in these sub-bands which are at coarser resolutionn levels. In order to enhance global contrast for an infrared image, the low frequency sub-band image is also enhanced employing non-incomplete Beta transform (IBT), simulated annealing algorithm (SA) and wavelet neural network (WNN). IBT is used to obtain non-linear gray transform curve. Transform parameters are determined by SA so as to obtain optimal non-linear gray transform parameters. Contrast type of an original image is determined by a new criterion. Gray transform parameters space is determined respectively according to different contrast types. A kind of WNN is proposed to approximate the IBT in the whole low frequency sub-band image. The quality of enhanced image is evaluated by an overall cost criterion. Experimental results show that the new algorithm can greatly improve the global and local contrast for an infrared image while efficiently reducing the correlative noise (CN), gauss white noise (GWN) and multiplicative noise (MN) in the infrared image.
The pleasure principle: the power of positive affect in information seeking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how the affective aspect of information seeking is important in understanding information behaviour from a holistic perspective. While researchers have often explored adverse affective responses and coping mechanisms in information behaviour, this paper aims to focus on positive affect and the significant place of pleasure in amateur genealogists' information seeking and skills development.Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted a multi‐case, exploratory approach to learning about amateur genealogists' affective behaviour associated with their information seeking. A total of 24 amateur genealogists from around the world participated in semi‐structured telephone interviews about their hunt for their Irish ancestors. Data were transcribed and analyzed to identify patterns of affective behaviour during genealogical information seeking.Findings – The paper finds that amateur genealogists form a unique group of information seekers. Leisure functions as.
Magnolol protects cortical neuronal cells from chemical hypoxia in rats

THE protective effect of magnolol, a component of Magnolia officinalis, against hypoxia-induced cell injury in cortical neuron-astrocyte mixed cultures was examined. Exposure of the cells to chemical hypoxia (0.5 mM KCN) produced morphological changes in neurons but not in astrocytes. KCN induced dose- and time-dependent increases in release of LDH and decreases in viable cell number. Treatment with magnolol (10 and 100 μM) significantly reduced the KCN-induced LDH release in a concentration-dependent manner. A higher concentration (750 μM) magnolol was toxic. Nuclear condensation was not observed in KCN-treated cells, suggesting that chemical hypoxia-induced cell death was via necrosis, rather than via apoptosis. This is the first report demonstrating that magnolol protects neurons against chemical hypoxic damage or necrotic cell death in cortical neuron-astrocyte mixed cultures.
Avian Influenza Virus H13 Circulating in Ring-Billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) in Southern Ontario, Canada

Abstract Avian influenza virus (AIV) was studied in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) in one breeding colony on Lake Erie in 2000, and two on Lake Ontario in both 2000 and 2004. Antibodies to H13 AIV were detected in 92% of adults in 2000 and 82% in 2004. Antibody prevalence in 3-wk-old chicks was 5%–30% (overall 15%) in 2000 and 21% and 76% (overall 48%) in 2004. In 5-wk-old chicks, antibody prevalence was 23%–75% (overall 53%) in 2000 and 53% and 79% (overall 66%) in 2004. Geometric mean antibody titers at 3 and 5 wk did not differ in 2000, but increased significantly at one colony in 2004. In 2000, overall prevalence of AIV isolation from cloaca in embryonated chicken eggs was 32% (3 wk old), 13% (5 wk old), and 0 (adults), but AIV was also isolated from kidney and lung in a high proportion of tissues cultured from 3-wk-old birds in one colony. Isolates from cloaca were characterized as subtype H13 by serology; all 15 tested for neuraminidase were H13N6. However, three AIV detections considered on the basis of nucleotide sequence to be subtype H16 were among the 28 detected retrospectively by PCR in archived cloacal swabs; the remainder were subtype H13. Outcome of virus isolation was not related to presence of antibody titers in chicks. The presence of antibody to AIV in chicks was associated significantly with inflammation in heart, kidney, pancreas, and liver. AIV was not isolated in 2004. AIV infected chicks annually within the first 3 wk of life, ultimately infecting the majority of birds in most colonies, but did not appear to cause clinical disease.
Poverty and the Daily Lives of Infants

It has been amply demonstrated that poor children suffer disadvantages as compared to their more advantaged peers. This paper examines important aspects of infants’ daily experiences in a southeastern city in the United States in order to illustrate differences between poor and non-poor infants. “Poor” infants were compared to their “non-poor” counterparts on the quality of parenting they received; quality of their home environments; relative health and safety; stability, structure, and predictability of their daily lives; and exposure to diverse experiences in the community. Findings reveal that poor infants are at a consistent disadvantage across all domains when compared to their more affluent counterparts. These daily deficiencies might be conceptualized as the mechanisms through which poverty exerts its negative effects. This paper shifts the focus from macro-level variables such as larger economic and social factors to the cumulative effect of deficiencies at the micro-level. Intervening to ameliorate the micro-level deficits that are most modifiable may lessen the cumulative risk and provide some small avenues toward resilience for the most disadvantaged and at-risk infants.
Barriers to excellent end-of-life care for patients with dementia

While great strides have been made recently in improving end-of-life care in the United States, people with dementia often die with inadequate pain control, with feeding tubes in place, and without the benefits of hospice care. In this paper, we discuss the most important and persistent challenges to providing excellent end-of-life care for patients with dementia, including dementia not being viewed as a terminal illness; the nature of the course and treatment decisions in advanced dementia; assessment and management of symptoms; the caregiver experience and bereavement; and health systems issues. We suggest approaches for overcoming these barriers in the domains of education, clinical practice, and public policy. As the population ages, general internists increasingly will be called upon to provide primary care for a growing number of patients dying with dementia. There are great opportunities to improve end-of-life care for this vulnerable and underserved population.
Differential interaction of β2e with phosphoinositides: A comparative study between β2e and MARCKS

ABSTRACT Voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels are responsible for Ca2+ influx in excitable cells. As one of the auxiliary subunits, the CaV β subunit plays a pivotal role in the membrane expression and receptor modulation of CaV channels. In particular, the subcellular localization of the β subunit is critical for determining the biophysical properties of CaV channels. Recently, we showed that the β2e isotype is tethered to the plasma membrane. Such a feature of β2e is due to the reversible electrostatic interaction with anionic membrane phospholipids. Here, we further explored the membrane interaction property of β2e by comparing it with that of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS). First, the charge neutralization of the inner leaf of the plasma membrane induced the translocation of both β2e and MARCKS to the cytosol, while the transient depletion of poly-phosphoinositides (poly-PIs) by translocatable pseudojanin (PJ) systems induced the cytosolic translocation of β2e but not MARCKS. Second, the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) induced the translocation of MARCKS but not β2e. We also found that after the cytosolic translocation of MARCKS by receptor activation, depletion of poly-PIs slowed the recovery of MARCKS to the plasma membrane. Together, our data demonstrate that both β2e and MARCKS bind to the membrane through electrostatic interaction but with different binding affinity, and thus, they are differentially regulated by enzymatic degradation of membrane PIs.
Semantic graph from free-text

The amount of data still stored in HTML documents or in a semi-structured format is considerably vast even if an alternative, structured data or linked data, exists. The migration of the data to a structured format is not easy and the current search engines can't reach all types of data with one query. This paper introduces a new technique to convert free-text into semantic graphs that can be then translated to any RDF format. The proposed system also generates ontology-based keywords for the text, which are tagged with related ontologies. These keywords could help the search engines to identify semantics of unstructured text.
AACI: The mechanism for approximate authentication and correction of images

Modification of images usually originates from channel noise, image processing operations or adversary's efforts. Image authentication mechanisms protect the authenticity of images by differentiating between the effects of malicious and acceptable alterations in the original image. This paper introduces a mechanism for approximate authentication and correction of images (AACI). The proposed scheme is constructed based on two approximate message authentication code (AMAC) frameworks which use standard cryptographic primitives and error-correcting codes as their building blocks. The AACI tolerates acceptable modifications which are not effective in the image recovery process. The malicious modifications can be detected and the damaged parts can be restored by an AACI mechanism up to a certain limit. In this work, the specification of the AACI mechanism is given, proposed settings, performance and security analysis of the AACI are discussed and simulation results are presented.
A robot with improved absolute positioning accuracy for CT guided stereotactic brain surgery

The use of a Unimation Puma 200 robot, properly interfaced with a computerized tomographic (CT) scanner and with a probe guide mounted at its end effector for CT-guided brain tumor biopsis is discussed. Once the target is identified on the CT picture, a simple command allows the robot to move to a position such that the end-effector probe guide points toward the target. This results in a procedure faster than one using a manually adjustable frame. Probably the most important advantage, as is shown, is the improved accuracy that can be achieved by proper calibration of the robot. <<ETX>>
Routability of twisted common-centroid capacitor array under signal coupling constraints

We address layout generation of on-chip matched capacitors with the high relative accuracy. Our twisted common-centroid pattern of unit capacitors consider the post-placement routability as well as reduce a systematic mismatch induced by process gradient. We apply this algorithm to the layout design of an SAR-ADC circuit. Compared with the common spiral capacitor array, our generation method (1) produces a similar low capacitance ration mismatch, and moreover (2) a 100% routability can be achieved.
A randomized trial of peer-delivered self-management support for hypertension.

BACKGROUND Peer-led interventions to improve chronic disease self-management can improve health outcomes but are not widely used. Therefore, we tested a peer-led hypertension self-management intervention delivered at regular meetings of community veterans' organizations. METHODS We randomized 58 organizational units ("posts") of veterans' organizations in southeast Wisconsin to peer-led vs. professionally delivered self-management education. Volunteer peer leaders at peer-led posts delivered monthly presentations regarding hypertension self-management during regular post meetings. Volunteer post representatives at seminar posts encouraged post members to attend 3 didactic seminars delivered by health professionals at a time separate from the post meeting. Volunteers in both groups encouraged members to self-monitor using blood pressure cuffs, weight scales, and pedometers. Our primary outcome was change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 12 months. RESULTS We measured SBP in 404 participants at baseline and in 379 participants at 12 months. SBP decreased significantly (4.4mm Hg; P < 0.0001) overall; the decrease was similar in peer-led and seminar posts (3.5mm Hg vs. 5.4mm Hg; P = 0.24). Among participants with uncontrolled BP at baseline, SBP decreased by 10.1mm Hg from baseline to 12 months but was again similar in the 2 groups. This pattern was also seen at 6 months and with diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS Our peer-led educational intervention was not more effective than didactic seminars for SBP control. Although peer-led educational programs have had important impacts in a number of studies, we did not find our intervention superior to a similar intervention delivered by healthcare professionals. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00571038.
Transfer Learning: A Paradigm for Dynamic Spectrum and Topology Management in Flexible Architectures

In this paper, we introduce a novel paradigm of transfer learning for spectrum and topology management in a rapidly deployable opportunistic network for the post disaster and temporary event scenarios. The network architecture is designed to be rapidly changing between different disaster phases, and highly flexible during the temporary event period. Transfer learning is developed to learn the dynamic radio environment from network topologies. This also allows previously learnt information in earlier phases of a deployment to be efficiently used to influence the learning process in later phases of a deployment. A Transfer Learning strategy is designed to change the knowledge base from the most recent phase via multi-agent coordination. We evaluate transfer learning paradigm in a small cell Terrestrial eNB architecture, integrated with Q-Learning and Linear Reinforcement Learning. It is demonstrated that transfer learning significantly improves the initial performance, the convergence speed and the steady state QoS, by exchanging topology information for resource prioritization.
The mining of classification rules based on multiple extended concept lattices

Mining classification rules is an important research area in data mining. Distributed data mining is one of the important research fields. So inducing classification rules from multiple data sources and amalgamating rules become the hotspot. The extended concept lattice is the extending of Galois concept lattice, which is effective for mining classification rules. In this paper, mining classification rules based on multiple extended concept lattices is described, the method of amalgamating rules is discussed and proved by theory and experiment.
A Novel Low-Cost High-Throughput CAVLC Decoder for H.264/AVC

This paper presents a novel low-cost high-performance CAVLC decoder for H.264/AVC. The proposed CAVLC decoder generates the length of coeff_token and total_zeros symbols with simple arithmetic operation. So, it can be implemented with reduced look-up table. And we propose multi-symbol run_before decoder which has enhanced throughput. It can decode more than 2.5 symbols in a cycle if there are run_before symbols to be decoded. The hardware cost is about 12K gates when synthesized at 125MHz.
The Efficacy of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) approach in stroke rehabilitation to improve basic activities of daily living and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a widely used rehabilitation concept, although its efficacy has not yet been demonstrated in stroke survivors. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, assess and synthesise the potential benefits of using PNF to improve the activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QoL) of individuals with stroke. Methods and analysis A systematic electronic search will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and PEDro. We will include randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of PNF interventions conducted in stroke survivors up to April 2017. Two review authors will independently select relevant studies and will extract data using the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions approach and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). The methodological quality will be assessed by using the PEDro scale. Finally, with the permitted numeric data, we will carry out a meta-analysis. Ethics and dissemination Ethical considerations will not be required. Results will be disseminated in a peer-review journal. This systematic review aims to examine the effects of PNF (neurophysiological approach) in order to clarify its efficacy in improving ADL and QoL in the rehabilitation process of stroke survivors. PROSPERO registration number CRD42016039135.
A Note on the Game of Life in Hexagonal and Pentagonal Tessellations

Most readers are familiar with cellular automata (CA) utilizing squares as cells, and are also familiar with the most famous automaton, Conway’s Game of Life. This game is played on an infinite grid of squares, and has been thoroughly explored in many publications [1, 2] as well as on numerous websites. In 1994 in this journal the author introduced several games of life in the triangular tessellation [3]. It now appears, not surprisingly, that other tessellations also support games of life. 1.1 Some terminology
“Natural” Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies Found in Nonalloimmunized Healthy Males

Background. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies were normally not found in subjects who have not been immunized by pregnancies, transfusions, or transplants. But with new methodology, we now see that HLA antibodies are often found in nonalloimmunized males. Methods. The sera of 424 healthy male donors were tested with single antigen Luminex beads. Results. Human leukocyte antigen antibodies were detected in 63% of 424 male blood donors when a fluorescent value of more than 1000 was used as the cutoff. Antibodies to class I was found in 42%, class II in 11% and both in 12%. Five males who were tested eight times over a 6-month period consistently had the same specificity at similar strength levels at each testing. The antibodies reacted with specificities that are rare in the general population: 18.9% had antibodies to A*3002; more than 10% had antibodies to A*3101, B76, B*8201, and Cw*1701. About half of the donors with antibodies had one or two specificities; the other half had three or more specificities. Among those with class II specificities, 20.5% had antibodies to DPA1*0201/DPB1*0101, and 10.8% to DQA1*0503/DQB1*0301. Because the above data were obtained by testing sera of 424 Mexican donors, as a check, 29 males in Los Angeles were tested and shown to have similar specificities at roughly similar frequencies. Conclusions. Normal males were found to have HLA antibodies to infrequent HLA specificities. It is likely that these HLA antibodies are produced to cross-reactive epitopes found in microorganisms, ingested proteins and allergens—making them natural antibodies.
A HYBRID RANS-LES METHOD WITH COMPRESSIBLE k-omegaSSTSAS TURBULENCE MODEL FOR HIGH REYNOLDS NUMBER FLOW APPLICATIONS

Original scientific paper Three-dimensional, compressible, viscous and transient transonic turbulent flow over the wing was simulated by a hybrid RANS-LES modelling method, combined with the compressible k-omegaSSTSAS turbulence model. This approach is based on dividing the contribution of the fluctuating and the averaged velocity fields in the subgrid tensor, and modelling each of them with its corresponding turbulent viscosity. The "RANS mode" is used in flow field domains which can be treated with acceptable accuracy as relatively steady, such as in the boundary layer, while the "LES mode" is applied in the dominantly unsteady regions, far from the wing. Discretization of the governing equations is performed by Finite Volume Method on unstructured mesh. The method has been verified on the Onera M6 wing. The parallelization is achieved by decomposing the mesh into sub-domains and using the Open MPI technology. The implementation of turbulence model has been done using OpenFOAM. The flow simulation was also performed using ANSYS Fluent, and the results of the two methods were compared mutually, and with the Onera M6 experiment.
Single Parameter Logarithmic Image Processing for Edge Detection

SUMMARY Considering the non-linear properties of the human visual system, many non-linear operators and models have been developed, particularly the logarithmic image processing (LIP) model proposed by Jourlin and Pinoli, which has been proved to be physically justiﬁed in several laws of the human visual system and has been successfully applied in image processing areas. Recently, several modiﬁcations based on this logarithmic mathematical framework have been presented, such as parameterized logarithmic image processing (PLIP), pseudo-logarithmic image processing, homomorphic logarithmic image processing. In this paper, a new single parameter logarithmic model for image processing with an adaptive parameter-based Sobel edge detection algorithm is presented. On the basis of analyzing the distributive law, the subtractive law, and the isomorphic property of the PLIP model, the ﬁve parameters in PLIP are replaced by a single parameter to ensure the completeness of the model and physical constancy with the nature of an image, and then an adaptive parameter-based Sobel edge detection algorithm is proposed. By using an image noise estimation method to evaluate the noise level of image, the adaptive parameter in the single parameter LIP model is calculated based on the noise level and grayscale value of a corresponding image area, followed by the single-parameter LIP-based Sobel operation to overcome the noise-sensitive problem of classical LIP-based Sobel edge detection methods, especially in the dark area of an image, while retaining edge sensitivity. Compared with the classical LIP and PLIP model, the given single parameter LIP achieves satisfactory results in noise suppression and edge accuracy.
Isolation and basic characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants from Semliki Forest virus;.

Sixteen temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated from N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treated Semliki Forest virus. Seven of the mutants were unable to synthesize virus specific RNA at the nonpermissive temperature (39° C) and were classified as RNA mutants; as evidenced by temperature shift-up experiments they had defects only in early functions. Two mutants, designated RNA ±, made less virus specific RNA than the wild type virus. Six RNA+ mutants synthesized 42 S and 26 S RNA at 39° C in almost the same amounts and ratio as the wild type. Only one of them, ts-3, was unable to form the viral 140 S nucleocapsid at the nonpermissive temperature. One of the RNA+ mutants, ts-1, made a higher proportion of 42 S RNA, presumably at the expense of 26 S RNA, both at 27° C and at 39° C. The synthesis of 42 S RNA and 26 S RNA in the Semliki Forest and Sindbis wild type virus infected cells was temperature dependent. There was an increased synthesis of 42 S RNA compared to 26 S RNA at 39° C, the situation being reversed at 27° C.