Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Case-based planning for large virtual agent societies

In this paper we discuss building large scale virtual reality reconstructions of historical heritage sites and populating it with crowds of virtual agents. Such agents are capable of performing complex actions, while respecting the cultural and historical accuracy of agent behaviour. In many commercial video games such agents either have very limited range of actions (resulting primitive behaviour) or are manually designed (resulting high development costs). In contrast, we follow the principles of automatic goal generation and automatic planning. Automatic goal generation in our approach is achieved through simulating agent needs and then producing a goal in response to those needs that require satisfaction. Automatic planning refers to techniques that are concerned with producing sequences of actions that can successfully change the state of an agent to the state where its goals are satisfied. Classical planning algorithms are computationally costly and it is difficult to achieve real-time performance for our problem domain with those. We explain how real-time performance can be achieved with Case-Based Planning, where agents build plan libraries and learn how to reuse and combine existing plans to archive their dynamically changing goals. We illustrate the novelty of our approach, its complexity and associated performance gains through a case-study focused on developing a virtual reality reconstruction of an ancient Mesopotamian settlement in 5000 B.C.
Topological patterns in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of DNA knots

Significance Gel electrophoresis is a ubiquitous biophysical technique. It consists of dragging charged biopolymers through a porous gel, by applying an electric field. Because the migration speed depends on topology, this method can be used to classify DNA knots. Currently, electrophoresis relies on empirical observations, and its theoretical understanding is limited. No theory can explain why knot mobility under strong fields depends nonmonotonically on complexity. Our study reveals a possible reason: Although complex knots have a smaller size, and hence move faster through the gel, they can become severely entangled with the gel, causing longer pauses. Our results can improve the design of future electrophoresis experiments. Gel electrophoresis is a powerful experimental method to probe the topology of DNA and other biopolymers. Although there is a large body of experimental work that allows us to accurately separate different topoisomers of a molecule, a full theoretical understanding of these experiments has not yet been achieved. Here we show that the mobility of DNA knots depends crucially and subtly on the physical properties of the gel and, in particular, on the presence of dangling ends. The topological interactions between these and DNA molecules can be described in terms of an “entanglement number” and yield a nonmonotonic mobility at moderate fields. Consequently, in 2D electrophoresis, gel bands display a characteristic arc pattern; this turns into a straight line when the density of dangling ends vanishes. We also provide a novel framework to accurately predict the shape of such arcs as a function of molecule length and topological complexity, which may be used to inform future experiments.
Long‐Term Geochemical and Geodynamic Segmentation of the Paleo‐Pacific Margin of Gondwana: Insight From the Antarctic and Adjacent Sectors

Combined zircon geochemistry and geochronology of Mesozoic volcaniclastic sediments of the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, yield a comprehensive record of both the timing and geochemical evolution of the magmatic arc along the Antarctic sector of the paleo‐Pacific margin of Gondwana. Zircon age populations at 266–183 Ma, 367–328 Ma, and 550–490 Ma correspond to episodic arc activity from the Ediacaran to the Jurassic. Zircon trace element geochemistry indicates a temporal shift from granitoid‐dominated source(s) during Ediacaran to Early Ordovician times to mafic sources in the Devonian through Early Jurassic. Zircon initial εHf shifts to more radiogenic Hf isotope compositions following the Ross Orogeny and is inferred to reflect juvenile crustal growth within an extensional arc system during progressive slab rollback. These new ages and Hf isotopic record are similar to those from the Australian sector, indicating that these regions constituted an ~3,000 km laterally continuous extensional arc from at least the Carboniferous to the Permian. Conversely, the South American sector records enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions and compressional/advancing arc tectonics during the same time period. Our new data constrain the location of this profound along‐arc geochemical and geodynamic “switch” to the vicinity of the Thurston Island block of West Antarctica.
Non-asymptotic equipartition properties for independent and identically distributed sources

Given an independent and identically distributed source X = {X<sub>i</sub>}<sub>i=1</sub><sup>∞</sup> with finite Shannon entropy or differential entropy (as the case may be) H(X), the non-asymptotic equipartition property (NEP) with respect to H(X) is established, which characterizes, for any finite block length n, how close -1/n ln p(X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>.X<sub>n</sub>) is to H(X) by determining the information spectrum of X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>. X<sub>n</sub>, i.e., the distribution of -1/n ln p(X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>.X<sub>n</sub>). Non-asymptotic equipartition properties (with respect to conditional entropy, mutual information, and relative entropy) in a similar nature can also be established [3]. These non-asymptotic equipartition properties are instrumental to the development of non-asymptotic coding (including both source and channel coding) results in information theory in the same way as the asymptotic equipartition property to all asymptotic coding theorems established so far in information theory. As an example, the NEP with respect to H(X) is used to establish a non-asymptotic fixed rate source coding theorem, which reveals, for any finite block length n, a complete picture about the tradeoff between the minimum rate of fixed rate coding of X<sub>1</sub>. X<sub>n</sub> and error probability when the error probability is a constant, or goes to 0 with block length n at a sub-polynomial n<sup>-α</sup>, 0 <; α <; 1, polynomial n<sup>-α</sup>, α ≥ 1, or sub-exponential e<sup>-nα</sup>, 0 <; α <; 1, speed. In particular, it is shown that for any finite block length n, the minimum rate (in nats per symbol) of fixed rate coding of X<sub>1</sub>X<sub>2</sub>. X<sub>n</sub> with error probability Θ(n-α/(√in n)) is H(X) + √(σ<sub>H</sub><sup>2</sup>(X)(2α)) √(ln n/n) + O(ln n/n), where α >; 0 and σ<sub>H</sub><sup>2</sup>(X) = E[-lnp(X<sub>1</sub>)]<sup>2</sup> - H<sup>2</sup>(X) is the information variance of X. With the help of the NEP with respect to other information quantities, non-asymptotic channel coding theorems of similar nature will be established in a separate paper.
Spatial macroscopic models of a bio-inspired robotic swarm algorithm

We present a comparative study of two spatially resolved macroscopic models of an autonomous robotic swarm. In previous experiments, the collective behavior of 15 autonomous swarm robots, driven by a simple bio-inspired control algorithm, was investigated: in two different environmental conditions, the ability of the robots to aggregate below a light source was tested. Distinct approaches to predict the dynamics of the spatial distribution were made by two different modeling approaches: one model was constructed in a compartmental manner (ODEs). In parallel, a space-continuous model (PDEs) was constructed. Both models show a high degree of similarity concerning the modeling of concrete environmental factors (light), but due to their different basic approaches, show also significant differences in their implementation. However, the predictions of both models compare well to the observed behavior of the robotic swarm, thus both models can be used to develop further extensions of the algorithm as well as different experimental setups without the need to run extensive real robotic preliminary experiments.
Development and Validation of the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for Adults

The Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaires were developed to screen for functional gastrointestinal disorders, serve as inclusion criteria in clinical trials, and support epidemiologic surveys. Separate questionnaires were developed for adults, children and adolescents, and infants and toddlers. For the adult questionnaire, we first surveyed 1162 adults without gastrointestinal disorders, and recommended the 90 th percentile symptom frequency as the threshold for defining what is abnormal. Diagnostic questions were formulated and verified with clinical experts using a recursive process. The diagnostic sensitivity of the questionnaire was tested in 843 patients from 9 gastroenterology clinics, with a focus on clinical diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation (FC), and functional dyspepsia (FD). Sensitivity was 62.7% for IBS, 54.7% for FD, and 32.2% for FC. Specificity, assessed in a population sample of 5931 adults, was 97.1% for IBS, 93.3% for FD, and 93.6% for FC. Excess overlap among IBS, FC, and FD was a major contributor to reduced diagnostic sensitivity, and when overlap of IBS with FC was permitted, sensitivity for FC diagnosis increased to 73.2%. All questions were understandable to at least 90% of individuals, and Rome IV diagnoses were reproducible in three-fourths of patients after 1 month. Validation of the pediatric questionnaires is ongoing.
Pediatric epstein-barr virus carriers with or without tonsillar enlargement may substantially contribute to spreading of the virus.

BACKGROUND Human-to-human transmission of the persistent infection establishing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) occurs via saliva. Tonsils act as important portal of entry and exit of EBV. The contagiousness of pediatric EBV carriers and the role played by tonsillar enlargement (TE) are not known. METHODS We compared EBV shedding in mouthwash samples from pediatric EBV carriers with or without TE to that in mouthwash samples from pediatric patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM), the symptomatic form of primary infection if delayed after the age of 5 years. EBV DNA was quantified by polymerase chain reaction, and contagiousness was assessed using the cord lymphocyte transformation assay. RESULTS EBV carriers with TE shed EBV DNA at an almost similar frequency (although in lower amounts) as pediatric patients with acute IM but more frequently (P <.001) and in higher amounts (P = .038) than EBV carriers without TE. EBV DNA levels in mouthwash samples from EBV carriers with TE mirrored levels in tonsils and gradually declined after tonsillectomy. Almost half of the mouthwash samples from pediatric EBV carriers contained infectious EBV. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric EBV carriers--in particular, those with TE-may considerably contribute to the spreading of EBV in industrialized countries.
Children's Resources in Collective Households: Identification, Estimation and an Application to Child Poverty in Malawi

The share of household resources devoted to children is hard to identify because consumption is measured at the household level and goods can be shared. Using semiparametric restrictions on individual preferences within a collective model, we identify how total household resources are divided up among household members by observing how each family member's expenditures on a single private good like clothing vary with income and family size. Using data from Malawi we show how resources devoted to wives and children vary by family size and structure, and we find that standard poverty indices understate the incidence of child poverty. (JEL I31, I32, J12, J13, O12, O15)
Analysis of branch prediction via data compression

Branch prediction is an important mechanism in modern microprocessor design. The focus of research in this area has been on designing new branch prediction schemes. In contrast, very few studies address the theoretical basis behind these prediction schemes. Knowing this theoretical basis helps us to evaluate how good a prediction scheme is and how much we can expect to improve its accuracy.In this paper, we apply techniques from data compression to establish a theoretical basis for branch prediction, and to illustrate alternatives for further improvement. To establish a theoretical basis, we first introduce a conceptual model to characterize each component in a branch prediction process. Then we show that current "two-level" or correlation based predictors are, in fact, simplifications of an optimal predictor in data compression, Prediction by Partial Matching (PPM). If the information provided to the predictor remains the same, it is unlikely that significant improvements can be expected (asymptotically) from two-level predictors, since PPM is optimal. However, there are a rich set of predictors available from data compression, several of which can still yield some improvement in cases where resources are limited. To illustrate this, we conduct trace-driven simulation running the Instruction Benchmark Suite and the SPEC CINT95 benchmarks. The results show that PPM can outperform a two-level predictor for modest sized branch target buffers.
Use and productivity of Egypt's Nile water

In Burns, J. I. ; Anderson, S. S. (Eds.), Contemporary challenges for irrigation and drainage: Proceedings from the USCID 14th Technical Conference on Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control, Phoenix, Arizona, June 3-6, 1998. Denver, CO, USA: USCID
AVOIDIT: A Cyber Attack Taxonomy

Cyber-attacks have greatly increased over the years, and the attackers have progressively improved in devising attacks towards specific targets. To aid in identifying and defending against cyber-attacks we propose a cyber attack taxonomy called AVOIDIT (Attack Vector, Operational Impact, Defense, Information Impact, and Target). We use five major classifiers to characterize the nature of an attack: classification by attack vector, classification by operational impact, classification by defense, classification by informational impact, and classification by attack target. Classification by defense is oriented towards providing information to the network administrator regarding attack mitigation or remediation strategies. Contrary to the existing taxonomies, AVOIDIT efficiently classifies blended attacks. We further propose an efficient cause, action, defense, analysis, and target (CADAT) process used to facilitate attack classification. AVOIDIT and CADAT are used by an issue resolution system (IRS) to educate the defender on possible cyber-attacks and the development of potential security policies. We validate the proposed AVOIDIT taxonomy using cyber-attacks scenarios and highlight future work intended to simulate AVOIDIT's use within the IRS.
Effects of Myocardial Ischemia on Quantitative Ultrasonic Backscatter and Identification of Responsible Determinants

Quantitative characterization of myocardial properties represents a rapidly emerging area of echocardiographic investigation. Because measurement of the ultrasonic integrated backscatter is theoretically applicable to analysis in vivo with reflected ultrasound, this study was performed to develop and evaluate a suitable method for measurement of quantitative backscatter in vivo. In view of the desirability of characterizing ischemic myocardium noninvasively, the study was performed with animal preparations simulating myocardial ischemia in humans. In one series of open-chest dogs, integrated backscatter among 22 ischemic regions was increased by 200% (P< 0.01) compared to values in control rgions within 1 hour after coronary occlusion and by 400% (−45.1 ± 0.7 dB compared to −50.9 ± 0.4 dB) (P < 0.001) within 6 hours. In a second series of open-chest dogs, ischemia was quantified with 141Ce microspheres, and mean integrated backscatter was found to increase (280% of control) {P < 0.01) in regions with flow less than 20% of control 2 hours following coronary occlusion. Additional studies -with perfused hearts revealed two determinants of the increased ultrasonic backscatter observed: (1) an increase in cardiac fluid content reflected by the wet-to-dry weight ratio, and(2) the contributions of formed elements in whole blood. The results indicate that ultrasonic integrated backscatter distinguishes severely ischemic from nonischernic myocardium in vivo in open-chest animnlK. Because it was possible to obtain these results in the reflection mode, potential extension of the approach to clinical applications is promising.
The incidence of depression and its risk factors in Dutch nursing homes and residential care homes.

OBJECTIVE Although it is known that depression is highly prevalent in institutionalized older adults, little is known about its incidence and risk factors in nursing homes and residential care homes. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the incidence and associated risk factors for depression in Dutch nursing homes and residential care homes. DESIGN Data on depression were extracted from the Vrije Universiteit naturalistic cohort on routine care monitoring with the Minimum Data Set of the Resident Assessment Instrument. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1,324 residents in six nursing homes and 1,723 residents in 23 residential care homes with an average follow-up of 1.2 years. MEASUREMENTS Depression was defined as a clinical diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria and the use of antidepressants. Residents with prevalent depression at baseline were excluded. RESULTS The incidence rate was 13.6 per 100 person years in the nursing homes and 10.2 per 100 person years in the residential care homes. The independent risk factors for in-home depression for residents in nursing homes included dementia (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.02-2.95) and a score of 3 or more on the Depression Rating Scale (odds ratio [OR]: 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-3.70). A protective effect was seen on the use of a hearing aid (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.12-0.80). In the residential care homes, being male (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.27-3.30), having cancer (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.64-4.95), and a score of 2 or higher on the Cognitive Performance Scale (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.05-2.22) increased the risk to develop depression. Age greater than 85 years (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.31-0.67) and hearing impairment (OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.60-1.00) appeared to be protective. CONCLUSIONS The incidence rate for depression in residents of Dutch nursing homes and residential care homes was high and the associated risk factors found may have important implications for staff.
Rethinking the cost of healthcare in low-resource settings: the value of time-driven activity-based costing

Low-income and middle-income countries account for over 80% of the world's infectious disease burden, but <20% of global expenditures on health. In this context, judicious resource allocation can mean the difference between life and death, not just for individual patients, but entire patient populations. Understanding the cost of healthcare delivery is a prerequisite for allocating health resources, such as staff and medicines, in a way that is effective, efficient, just and fair. Nevertheless, health costs are often poorly understood, undermining effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. We outline shortcomings, and consequences, of common approaches to estimating the cost of healthcare in low-resource settings, as well as advantages of a newly introduced approach in healthcare known as time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). TDABC is a patient-centred approach to cost analysis, meaning that it begins by studying the flow of individual patients through the health system, and measuring the human, equipment and facility resources used to treat the patients. The benefits of this approach are numerous: fewer assumptions need to be made, heterogeneity in expenditures can be studied, service delivery can be modelled and streamlined and stronger linkages can be established between resource allocation and health outcomes. TDABC has demonstrated significant benefits for improving health service delivery in high-income countries but has yet to be adopted in resource-limited settings. We provide an illustrative case study of its application throughout a network of hospitals in Haiti, as well as a simplified framework for policymakers to apply this approach in low-resource settings around the world.
Localization of DNase I‐hypersensitive regions during rat spermatogenesis: Stage‐dependent patterns and unique sensitivity of elongating spermatids

DNase I‐hypersensitivity of rat spermatogenic cells was analyzed (1) to establish overall patterns of hypersensitivity in individual cell types, (2) to correlate these patterns with known changes in chromatin organization and function, and (3) to provide a foundation for further analyses examining DNase I‐hypersensitivity and the localization of specific genes during spermatogenesis. Parameters for in situ nick translation, using radioactive and fluorescent probes to visualize DNase I‐hypersensitive regions (DHR), were established for fixed and sectioned testicular preparations, permeabilized cells, and isolated germ cell nuclei. As anticipated, the pattern of DHR changed in a cell‐type specific manner during the course of spermatogenesis, reflective of known stage‐dependent alterations in the composition and structure of both the chromatin and the nuclear lamina/matrix as well as changes in gene expression. DHR in preleptotene spermatocytes were primarily peripheral, while in pachytene spermatocytes they were localized along the condensed chromosomes. The pattern of DHR changed from “checkerboard” in steps 7–8 round spermatid nuclei to “lamellar” in steps 10–11 elongating spermatids. In steps 12–13 elongating spermatids, DHR were localized throughout the nuclei or in a graded manner—increasing from anterior to posterior and mirroring the pattern of chromatin condensation. However, unlike the case in other stages, DNA of steps 12–13 elongating spermatids was exquisitely sensitive to nick translation even in the absence of exogenous DNase I. In contrast to the labeling of earlier stages, steps 16–19 spermatids and mature spermatozoa did not demonstrate DNase I‐hypersensitivity under any conditions employed. A variety of agents that interact with topoisomerase II and DNA (teniposide, novobiocin, ethidium bromide, and adenosine triphosphate) were tested to determine the basis for the unique sensitivity to nick translation of steps 12–13 elongating spermatids. None of the agents tested, however, affected this unique labeling. The sensitivity of steps 12–13 elongating spermatids to nick translation in the absence of exogenous nuclease indicates the presence of endogenous nicks, which may relieve torsional stress and aid rearrangement as the chromatin is packaged into a form characteristic of the mature spermatozoon.