Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsically Motivated Reinforcement Learning: A Promising Framework for Developmental Robot Learning

Abstract : One of the primary challenges of developmental robotics is the question of how to learn and represent increasingly complex behavior in a self-motivated, open-ended way Barto, Singh, and Chentanez (Barto, Singh, & Chentanez 2004; Singh, Barto, & Chentanez 2004) have recently presented an algorithm for intrinsically motivated reinforcement learning that strives to achieve broad competence in an environment in a task-nonspecific manner by incorporating internal reward to build a hierarchical collection of skills. This paper suggests that with its emphasis on task-general, self-motivated, and hierarchical learning, intrinsically motivated reinforcement learning is an obvious choice for organizing behavior in developmental robotics. We present additional preliminary results from a gridworld abstraction of a robot environment and advocate a layered learning architecture for applying the algorithm on a physically embodied system.
Resolving the Extragalactic γ-Ray Background above 50 GeV with the Fermi Large Area Telescope.

The Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) Collaboration has recently released a catalog of 360 sources detected above 50 GeV (2FHL). This catalog was obtained using 80 months of data re-processed with Pass 8, the newest event-level analysis, which significantly improves the acceptance and angular resolution of the instrument. Most of the 2FHL sources at high Galactic latitude are blazars. Using detailed Monte Carlo simulations, we measure, for the first time, the source count distribution, dN/dS, of extragalactic γ-ray sources at E>50 GeV and find that it is compatible with a Euclidean distribution down to the lowest measured source flux in the 2FHL (∼8×10^{-12} ph cm^{-2} s^{-1}). We employ a one-point photon fluctuation analysis to constrain the behavior of dN/dS below the source detection threshold. Overall, the source count distribution is constrained over three decades in flux and found compatible with a broken power law with a break flux, S_{b}, in the range [8×10^{-12},1.5×10^{-11}] ph cm^{-2} s^{-1} and power-law indices below and above the break of α_{2}∈[1.60,1.75] and α_{1}=2.49±0.12, respectively. Integration of dN/dS shows that point sources account for at least 86_{-14}^{+16}% of the total extragalactic γ-ray background. The simple form of the derived source count distribution is consistent with a single population (i.e., blazars) dominating the source counts to the minimum flux explored by this analysis. We estimate the density of sources detectable in blind surveys that will be performed in the coming years by the Cherenkov Telescope Array.
At Face Value

And how this book will influence you to do better future? It will relate to how the readers will get the lessons that are coming. As known, commonly many people will believe that reading can be an entrance to enter the new perception. The perception will influence how you step you life. Even that is difficult enough; people with high sprit may not feel bored or give up realizing that concept. It's what at face value will give the thoughts for you.
Experimental Implementation of Frequency Regulation Services Using Commercial Buildings

This paper illustrates the potential of commercial buildings to act as frequency reserves providers through an experimental demonstration conducted in a multi-zone university building. The proposed control methodology is presented in detail, including the control architecture, the controller design, model identification, and hardware description. Finally, the effectiveness of the presented approach is tested by means of simulations and experiments in a controlled environment.
Therapeutic Assessment of a Violent Criminal Offender: Managing the Cultural Narrative of Evil

ABSTRACT Therapeutic Assessment (TA) emphasizes the importance of the clinical relationship and the core values of collaboration, respect, humility, compassion, and curiosity, which guide all aspects of the endeavor (Finn, 2007). Those values are not easy to apply with violent offenders. However, this article explains how TA can significantly contribute to the treatment of those clients by helping the therapist avoid common cultural narratives about evil. We see that these culturally based myths permit us to explain violent behaviors, but also prevent us from treating them because they lead us to a circular countertransference–transference process. Through a clinical case, I show how the TA process can help us to work empathically with violent people while addressing the dangerousness effectively.
The role of pericardial adipose tissue in the heart of obese minipigs

Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume is highly associated with the presence and severity of cardiometabolic diseases, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. We previously demonstrated that a high‐fat diet (HFD) induced metabolic dysregulation, cardiac fibrosis and accumulation of more PAT in minipigs. This study used our obese minipig model to investigate the characteristics of PAT and omental visceral fat (VAT) induced by a HFD, and the potential link between PAT and HFD‐related myocardial fibrosis.
Iatrogenic Errors during Root Canal Instrumentation Performed by Dental Students

Introduction: The present study was set to investigate the training quality and its association with the quality of root canal therapy performed by fifth year dentistry students. Methods and Materials: A total number of 432 records of endodontic treatment performed by fifth year dentistry students were qualified to be further investigated. Radiographs were assessed by two independent endodontists. Apical transportation, apical perforation, gouging, ledge formation, and the quality of temporary restoration were error types investigated in the present study. Results: the prevalence of apical transportation, ledge formation, and apical perforation errors were significantly higher in molars in comparison with other types of teeth. The most prevalent type of error was the apical transportation, which was significantly higher in mandibular teeth. There was no significant differences among teeth in terms of other types of errors. Conclusion: The quality of training provided for dentistry students should be improved and endodontic curriculum should be modified.
Quasi-Random Sequences and Their Discrepancies

Quasi-random (also called low discrepancy) sequences are a deterministic alternative to random sequences for use in Monte Carlo methods, such as integration and particle simulations of transport processes. The error in uniformity for such a sequence of N points in the s-dimensional unit cube is measured by its discrepancy, which is of size $(\log N)^s N^{ - 1} $ for large N, as opposed to discrepancy of size $(\log \log N)^{1/2} N^{ - 1/2} $ for a random sequence (i.e., for almost any randomly chosen sequence). Several types of discrepancies, one of which is new, are defined and analyzed. A critical discussion of the theoretical bounds on these discrepancies is presented. Computations of discrepancies are presented for a wide choice of dimension s, number of points N, and different quasi-random sequences. In particular for moderate or large s, there is an intermediate regime in which the discrepancy of a quasi-random sequence is almost exactly the same as that of a randomly chosen sequence. A simplified p.
A New Narrow Block Mode of Operations for Disk Encryption

In this paper, we present a new narrow block mode of operation, the masked code book (MCB), that can be efficiently deployed in disk encryption applications. MCB is characterized by its high-speed in comparison to current state of the art narrow block modes of operation. It is about 80% faster than XTS (when AES with 128-bits key is the underlying cipher).
Melatonin osteoporosis prevention study (MOPS): a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study examining the effects of melatonin on bone health and quality of life in perimenopausal women

Abstract: The purpose of this double‐blind study was to assess the effects of nightly melatonin supplementation on bone health and quality of life in perimenopausal women. A total of 18 women (ages 45–54) were randomized to receive melatonin (3 mg, p.o., n = 13) or placebo (n = 5) nightly for 6 months. Bone density was measured by calcaneal ultrasound. Bone turnover marker (osteocalcin, OC for bone formation and NTX for bone resorption) levels were measured bimonthly in serum. Participants completed Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life‐Intervention (MENQOL) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires before and after treatment. Subjects also kept daily diaries recording menstrual cycling, well‐being, and sleep patterns. The results from this study showed no significant change (6‐month‐baseline) in bone density, NTX, or OC between groups; however, the ratio of NTX:OC trended downward over time toward a ratio of 1:1 in the melatonin group. Melatonin had no effect on vasomotor, psychosocial, or sexual MENQOL domain scores; however, it did improve physical domain scores compared to placebo (mean change melatonin: −0.6 versus placebo: 0.1, P < 0.05). Menstrual cycling was reduced in women taking melatonin (mean cycles melatonin: 4.3 versus placebo: 6.5, P < 0.05), and days between cycles were longer (mean days melatonin: 51.2 versus placebo: 24.1, P < 0.05). No differences in duration of menses occurred between groups. The overall PSQI score and average number of hours slept were similar between groups. These findings show that melatonin supplementation was well tolerated, improved physical symptoms associated with perimenopause, and may restore imbalances in bone remodeling to prevent bone loss. Further investigation is warranted.
Testing the predictions of sex allocation hypotheses in dimorphic, cooperatively breeding riflemen

Abstract Evolutionary theory predicts that parents should invest equally in the two sexes. If one sex is more costly, a production bias is predicted in favour of the other. Two well‐studied causes of differential costs are size dimorphism, in which the larger sex should be more costly, and sex‐biased helping in cooperative breeders, in which the more helpful sex should be less costly because future helping “repays” some of its parents’ investment. We studied a bird species in which both processes should favor production of males. Female riflemen Acanthisitta chloris are larger than males, and we documented greater provisioning effort in more female‐biased broods indicating they are likely costlier to raise. Riflemen are also cooperative breeders, and males provide more help than females. Contrary to expectations, we observed no male bias in brood sex ratios, which did not differ significantly from parity. We tested whether the lack of a population‐wide pattern was a result of facultative sex allocation by individual females, but this hypothesis was not supported either. Our results show an absence of adaptive patterns despite a clear directional hypothesis derived from theory. This appears to be associated with a suboptimal female‐biased investment ratio. We conclude that predictions of adaptive sex allocation may falter because of mechanistic constraint, unrecognized costs and benefits, or weak selection.
The Striking Case of Tryptophan Provision in the Cedar Aphid Cinara cedri

ABSTRACT Buchnera aphidicola BCc has lost its symbiotic role as the tryptophan supplier to the aphid Cinara cedri. We report the presence of a plasmid in this endosymbiont that contains the trpEG genes. The remaining genes for the pathway (trpDCBA) are located on the chromosome of the secondary endosymbiont “Candidatus Serratia symbiotica. ” Thus, we propose that a symbiotic consortium is necessary to provide tryptophan.
Hidradenitis suppurativa.

suppurativa is a chronic, recurrent, indolent, suppurative and cicatricial disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin. The apocrine sweat-glands are largely confined to the axillae, anogenital area and female breast. Patients with hidradenitis may present to specialists in genitourinary medicine who must therefore be aware of the condition.
Øzone: Efficient execution with zero timing leakage for modern microarchitectures

Time variation during program execution can leak sensitive information. Time variations due to program control flow and hardware resource contention have been used to steal encryption keys in cipher implementations such as AES and RSA. A number of approaches to mitigate timing-based side-channel attacks have been proposed including cache partitioning, control-flow obfuscation and injecting timing noise into the outputs of code. While these techniques make timing-based side-channel attacks more difficult, they do not eliminate the risks. Prior techniques are either too specific or too expensive, and all leave remnants of the original timing side channel for later attackers to attempt to exploit. In this work, we show that the state-of-the-art techniques in timing side-channel protection, which limit timing leakage but do not eliminate it, still have significant vulnerabilities to timing-based side-channel attacks. To provide a means for total protection from timing-based side-channel attacks, we develop Ozone, the first zero timing leakage execution resource for a modern microarchitecture. Code in Ozone execute under a special hardware thread that gains exclusive access to a single cores resources for a fixed (and limited) number of cycles during which it cannot be interrupted. Memory access under Ozone thread execution is limited to a fixed size uncached scratchpad memory, and all Ozone threads begin execution with a known fixed microarchitectural state. We evaluate Ozone using a number of security sensitive kernels that have previously been targets of timing side-channel attacks, and show that Ozone eliminates timing leakage with minimal performance overhead.
Accelerated Approach for the Band Structures Calculation of Phononic Crystals by Finite Element Method

We present here a fast and easily realized computational approach based on the finite element methods with consistent and lumped mass matrices (CM-FEM and LM-FEM, respectively), and the Bloch’s theorem, to calculate the elastic band structures of phononic crystals. Two improvements, the adjustment of the introduction of Bloch’s theorem as well as weighting treatment of consistent and lumped mass matrices, are performed. Numerical simulations show that convergence speed is accelerated obviously. Furthermore, the method is verified by analytical solutions in specified homogeneous cases. It is concluded that compared with CM-FEM or LM-FEM, the present method gives higher precision results with sparser mesh and takes less time.
Pictures Worth a Thousand Words: Reflections on Visualizing Personal Blood Glucose Forecasts for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic condition that requires management of one's lifestyle, including nutrition. Critically, patients often lack a clear understanding of how everyday meals impact their blood glucose. New predictive analytics approaches can provide personalized mealtime blood glucose forecasts. While communicating forecasts can be challenging, effective strategies for doing so remain little explored. In this study, we conducted focus groups with 13 participants to identify approaches to visualizing personalized blood glucose forecasts that can promote diabetes self-management and understand key styles and visual features that resonate with individuals with diabetes. Focus groups demonstrated that individuals rely on simple heuristics and tend to take a reactive approach to their health and nutrition management. Further, the study highlighted the need for simple and explicit, yet information-rich design. Effective visualizations were found to utilize common metaphors alongside words, numbers, and colors to convey a sense of authority and encourage action and learning.
Raloxifene and stroke risks in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis on postmarketing surveillance

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether the risks of stroke and stroke death in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis exposed to raloxifene increased in comparison with those of the general Japanese female population. Methods: Safety data associated with use of raloxifene were collected in observational settings from 6,970 women with a median follow-up period of 366 days on postmarketing surveillance conducted in Japan. The stroke incidences in raloxifene-treated women were compared with population stroke rates derived from epidemiology studies conducted at three distinct locations in Japan, yielding standardized morbidity ratios for stroke for the purpose of stroke risk assessment. Results: Exposure to raloxifene totaled 7,474 patient-years and 23 stroke cases were reported, including 4 fatal cases. Multiple stroke risk factors were present in three of four women with fatal outcome. The standardized stroke morbidity ratios in raloxifene-treated women versus women from the three reference regions, including Akita Prefecture, Takashima town in Shiga Prefecture, and Okinawa Prefecture, were 0.68 (95% CI, 0.45-1.02), 0.54 (95% CI, 0.35-0.83), and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.54-1.24), respectively. Conclusions: In this initial interim analysis, there seems to be no significant increased risk of stroke among Japanese women with 1 year of raloxifene use in comparison to Japanese epidemiological data. An increased risk of fatal stroke in the treatment population was indeterminable because of the small number of observed fatal cases. However, ongoing safety monitoring of stroke risk among raloxifene women will continue.
Cross-lingual similar documents retrieval based on co-occurrence projection

In this paper, an approach to calculating the similarity among cross-lingual documents was researched for multilingual documents including Chinese, English, and Korean. Firstly, document was represented as a vector in the space of other language by co-occurrence projection. And then, taking advantage of the latent semantic analysis, the loss of vector caused by polysemy between different languages was remedied. Finally, the cross-lingual cosine similarity of documents was calculated in the same language space possessing equivalent semantic information. External dictionary and knowledge base were sidestepped by using the translation corpus to establish the lexical correspondence among Chinese, English, and Korean. The results show that co-occurrence projection has a great effect in calculating cross-lingual documents similarity, moreover, the retrieval accuracy of translation can be reached 95%, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Surfactant protein D modulates pulmonary clearance of pollen starch granules

ABSTRACT Pollen starch granules (PSGs) are allergen particles that get into contact with pulmonary surfactant and phagocytes in the terminal airways. In this study, the effects of surfactant protein D (SP-D) on the interaction of PSGs with phagocytes and on the pulmonary clearance of PSGs were determined. Fluorescently labeled PSGs were incubated in vitro with murine lung macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs) ± recombinant rat SP-D (rrSP-D). In addition, the effect of SP-D on uptake of PSGs by lung macrophages and DCs was studied in vivo. Furthermore, PSGs were instilled in Balb/c mice and the effects of SP-D on total lung clearance were assessed by optical imaging. SP-D treatment increased the number of PSG-positive macrophages and DCs in vitro. Furthermore, SP-D accelerated uptake/binding by alveolar macrophages and reduced the number of PSG-positive tissue macrophages and DCs at 24 hours. However, SP-D did not affect total lung clearance of PSGs and it did not enhance the T-cell proliferation induced by PSG-positive DCs. In conclusion, SP-D increased PSG-positive cells in vitro and accelerated PSG binding/uptake in vivo. The observed effects were limited to cellular clearance mechanisms and did not affect the total clearance of PSGs from the lung.
Structural characteristics of the subscapularis muscle in children with medial rotation contracture of the shoulder after obstetric brachial plexus injury

The aim of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the cause of the medial rotation contracture of the shoulder after obstetric brachial plexus lesions by studying the morphology of the shortened subscapularis muscle. Muscle biopsy specimens were harvested from 13 children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy who underwent corrective surgery for the rotation contracture. The majority of the subscapularis muscle biopsy samples had an essentially normal morphology and showed a predominance of type I myosin heavy chain isoform, while one biopsy showed signs of marked fibrosis and a predominance of type II myosin heavy chain isoform. The findings support the assumption that shortening of the subscapularis is caused primarily by the nerve injury, which weakens the antagonistic lateral rotators, but that direct injury to the muscle might be a contributory factor.
HapCube: A Wearable Tactile Device to Provide Tangential and Normal Pseudo-Force Feedback on a Fingertip

Haptic devices allow a more immersive experience with Virtual and Augmented Reality. However, for a wider range of usage they need to be miniaturized while maintaining the quality of haptic feedback. In this study, we used two kinds of human sensory illusion of vibration. The first illusion involves creating a virtual force (pulling sensation) using asymmetric vibration, and the second involves imparting compliances of complex stress-strain curves (i.e. force-displacement curves of mechanical keyboards) to a rigid object by changing the frequency and amplitude of vibration. Using these two illusions, we developed a wearable tactile device named HapCube, consisting of three orthogonal voicecoil actuators. Four measurement tests and four user tests confirmed that 1) a combination of two orthogonal asymmetric vibrations could provide a 2D virtual force in any tangential directions on a finger pad, and 2) a single voicecoil actuator produced pseudo-force feedback of the complex compliance curves in the normal direction.
Traveling waves of selective sweeps

The goal of cancer genome sequencing projects is to determine the genetic alterations that cause common cancers. Many malignancies arise during the clonal expansion of a benign tumor which motivates the study of recurrent selective sweeps in an exponentially growing population. To better understand this process, Beerenwinkel et al. [PLoS Comput. Biol. 3 (2007) 2239--2246] consider a Wright--Fisher model in which cells from an exponentially growing population accumulate advantageous mutations. Simulations show a traveling wave in which the time of the first $k$-fold mutant, $T_k$, is approximately linear in $k$ and heuristics are used to obtain formulas for $ET_k$. Here, we consider the analogous problem for the Moran model and prove that as the mutation rate $\mu\to0$, $T_k\sim c_k\log(1/\mu)$, where the $c_k$ can be computed explicitly. In addition, we derive a limiting result on a log scale for the size of $X_k(t)={}$the number of cells with $k$ mutations at time $t$.