Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Buckling behaviour of unstiffened and stiffened steel plates under multiaxial stress states

Modern steel constructions such as long span bridges are characterised by slender plated structures with low material consumption and the optimisation of their fabrication, leading to low dead loads and a high utilisation. Since often several internal forces act at the same time on the cross-section, very complex multiaxial stress states may develop. The aim of this work is to analyse the buckling behaviour of multiaxially loaded plates in order to increase the insight and to allow the enhancement of the current design rules of unstiffened and stiffened plates under several load combinations focusing on the reduced stress method according to Chapter 10, EN 1993-1-5 [36] and especially to analyse the influence of tensile stresses. As in EN 1993-1-5 [36] according to the reduced stress method multiaxial stress states are already considered in the determination of the single plate slenderness, this theoretically allows for taking into account the positive effect of tensile stress on the buckling behaviour. However, only few studies have looked on this effect until now and systematic investigations are missing, so that this work clarifies this open issue. In a first step the elastic buckling of flat plates and the effect of multiaxial stress states are described. The buckling coefficient for unstiffened panels is given as a function of the panel aspect ratio and the stress state resulting in significantly elevated values if tensile stresses are acting. However, the evaluation of the buckling coefficient shows pronounced peaks for certain cases, where it is questionable if they should be taken into account for the design. Therefore, a formulation is presented for ignoring these peaks. For the assessment of the buckling coefficient in case of stiffened plates several possibilities are explained. The complexity in the determination of the buckling coefficient, which involves a variety of parameters, leads to the conclusion that nowadays numerical techniques are the most appropriate approaches. Furthermore, the current rules according to EN 1993-1-5 [36] are explained in detail with a particular look on multiaxially loaded plates showing the impact of the stress state on the plate slenderness and therefore on the interaction curves. The interaction curves according to EN 1993-1-5 [36] allow a systematic utilisation of the favourable effect of tensile stresses on the buckling behaviour, especially compared to the rules according to DIN 18800-3 [22]. However, studies to justify this beneficial effect are missing. Therefore, experimental and numerical investigations are conducted to give an insight in the buckling behaviour of multiaxially loaded plates.
Actor-Critic Algorithms with Online Feature Adaptation

We develop two new online actor-critic control algorithms with adaptive feature tuning for Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). One of our algorithms is proposed for the long-run average cost objective, while the other works for discounted cost MDPs. Our actor-critic architecture incorporates parameterization both in the policy and the value function. A gradient search in the policy parameters is performed to improve the performance of the actor. The computation of the aforementioned gradient, however, requires an estimate of the value function of the policy corresponding to the current actor parameter. The value function, on the other hand, is approximated using linear function approximation and obtained from the critic. The error in approximation of the value function, however, results in suboptimal policies. In our article, we also update the features by performing a gradient descent on the Grassmannian of features to minimize a mean square Bellman error objective in order to find the best features. The aim is to obtain a good approximation of the value function and thereby ensure convergence of the actor to locally optimal policies. In order to estimate the gradient of the objective in the case of the average cost criterion, we utilize the policy gradient theorem, while in the case of the discounted cost objective, we utilize the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) scheme. We prove that our actor-critic algorithms converge to locally optimal policies. Experiments on two different settings show performance improvements resulting from our feature adaptation scheme.
Zebrafish IGF Genes: Gene Duplication, Conservation and Divergence, and Novel Roles in Midline and Notochord Development

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are key regulators of development, growth, and longevity. In most vertebrate species including humans, there is one IGF-1 gene and one IGF-2 gene. Here we report the identification and functional characterization of 4 distinct IGF genes (termed as igf-1a, -1b, -2a, and -2b) in zebrafish. These genes encode 4 structurally distinct and functional IGF peptides. IGF-1a and IGF-2a mRNAs were detected in multiple tissues in adult fish. IGF-1b mRNA was detected only in the gonad and IGF-2b mRNA only in the liver. Functional analysis showed that all 4 IGFs caused similar developmental defects but with different potencies. Many of these embryos had fully or partially duplicated notochords, suggesting that an excess of IGF signaling causes defects in the midline formation and an expansion of the notochord. IGF-2a, the most potent IGF, was analyzed in depth. IGF-2a expression caused defects in the midline formation and expansion of the notochord but it did not alter the anterior neural patterning. These results not only provide new insights into the functional conservation and divergence of the multiple igf genes but also reveal a novel role of IGF signaling in midline formation and notochord development in a vertebrate model.
Packaging and power distribution design considerations for a Sun Microsystems desktop workstation

The power distribution system will become an increasingly important package design consideration for computer systems such as the Sun Microsystems desktop workstation, at least as important as simultaneous switch. Power distribution impedance is controlled by the switching power supply, bulk capacitance, ceramic capacitance and power plane properties at various portions of the frequency spectrum. A major concern with package power is resonance between chip capacitance and package inductance. The key parameters for package power are the core power supply loop inductance and the inductance and resistance used to connect any decoupling capacitors on the package. Decoupling capacitors on the package can be used but they will not be effective unless the connections to them are specially designed using aggressive technologies.
The power classes-quadratic time-frequency representations with scale covariance and dispersive time-shift covariance

We consider scale-covariant quadratic time-frequency representations (QTFRs) specifically suited for the analysis of signals passing through dispersive systems. These QTFRs satisfy a scale covariance property that is equal to the scale covariance property satisfied by the continuous wavelet transform and a covariance property with respect to generalized time shifts. We derive an existence/representation theorem that shows the exceptional role of time shifts corresponding to group delay functions that are proportional to powers of frequency. This motivates the definition of the power classes (PCs) of QTFR's. The PCs contain the affine QTFR class as a special case, and thus, they extend the affine class. We show that the PCs can be defined axiomatically by the two covariance properties they satisfy, or they can be obtained from the affine class through a warping transformation. We discuss signal transformations related to the PCs, the description of the PCs by kernel functions, desirable properties and kernel constraints, and specific PC members. Furthermore, we consider three important PC subclasses, one of which contains the Bertrand (1992) P/sub k/ distributions. Finally, we comment on the discrete-time implementation of PC QTFRs, and we present simulation results that demonstrate the potential advantage of PC QTFRs.
Does cerebral lateralization develop? A study using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound assessing lateralization for language production and visuospatial memory

In the majority of people, language production is lateralized to the left cerebral hemisphere and visuospatial skills to the right. However, questions remain as to when, how, and why humans arrive at this division of labor. In this study, we assessed cerebral lateralization for language production and for visuospatial memory using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound in a group of 60 typically developing children between the ages of six and 16 years. The typical pattern of left‐lateralized activation for language production and right‐lateralized activation for visuospatial memory was found in the majority of the children (58%). No age‐related change in direction or strength of lateralization was found for language production. In contrast, the strength of lateralization (independent of direction) for visuospatial memory function continued to increase with age. In addition, boys showed a trend for stronger right‐hemisphere lateralization for visuospatial memory than girls, but there was no gender effect on language laterality. We tested whether having language and visuospatial functions in the same hemisphere was associated with poor cognitive performance and found no evidence for this “functional crowding” hypothesis. We did, however, find that children with left‐lateralized language production had higher vocabulary and nonword reading age‐adjusted standard scores than other children, regardless of the laterality of visuospatial memory. Thus, a link between language function and left‐hemisphere lateralization exists, and cannot be explained in terms of maturational change.
PaperLens: advanced magic lens interaction above the tabletop

To solve the challenge of exploring large information spaces on interactive surfaces such as tabletops, we developed an optically tracked, lightweight, passive display (magic lens) that provides elegant three-dimensional exploration of rich datasets. This can either be volumetric, layered, zoomable, or temporal information spaces, which are mapped onto the physical volume above a tabletop. By moving the magic lens through the volume, corresponding data is displayed, thus serving as a window into virtuality. Hereby, various interaction techniques are introduced, which especially utilize the lens' height in a novel way, e.g. for zooming or displaying various information layers.
Clinical Features of 8295 Patients With Resistant Hypertension Classified on the Basis of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of resistant hypertension through both office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in a large cohort of treated hypertensive patients from the Spanish Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Registry. In addition, we also compared clinical features of patients with true or white-coat–resistant hypertension. In December 2009, we identified 68 045 treated patients with complete information for this analysis. Among them, 8295 (12.2% of the database) had resistant hypertension (office blood pressure ≥140 and/or 90 mm Hg while being treated with ≥3 antihypertensive drugs, 1 of them being a diuretic). After ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 62.5% of patients were classified as true resistant hypertensives, the remaining 37.5% having white-coat resistance. The former group was younger, more frequently men, with a longer duration of hypertension and a worse cardiovascular risk profile. The group included larger proportions of smokers, diabetics, target organ damage (including left ventricular hypertrophy, impaired renal function, and microalbuminuria), and documented cardiovascular disease. Moreover, true resistant hypertensives exhibited in a greater proportion a riser pattern (22% versus 18%; P<0.001). In conclusion, this study first reports the prevalence of resistant hypertension in a large cohort of patients in usual daily practice. Resistant hypertension is present in 12% of the treated hypertensive population, but among them more than one third have normal ambulatory blood pressure. A worse risk profile is associated with true resistant hypertension, but this association is weak, thus making it necessary to assess ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for a correct diagnosis and management.
Optimal Time-Consistent Monetary, Fiscal and Debt Maturity Policy

We develop a New Keynesian model with government bonds of mixed matu- rity and solve for optimal time-consistent policy using global solution techniques. This reveals several non-linearities absent from LQ analyses with one-period debt. Firstly, the steady-state balances an inflation and debt stabilization bias to gener- ate a small negative debt value with a slight undershooting of the inflation target. This falls far short of first-best (`war chest') asset levels. Secondly, starting from debt levels consistent with currently observed debt to GDP ratios the optimal pol- icy will gradually reduce that debt, but the policy mix changes radically along the transition path. At high debt levels there is a reliance on a relaxation of monetary policy to reduce debt through an expanded tax base and reduced debt service costs, while tax rates are used to moderate the increases in inflation. However, as debt levels fall, the use of monetary policy in this way diminishes and the authority turns to fiscal policy to continue debt reduction. This endogenous switch in the policy mix occurs at higher debt levels, the longer the average debt maturity. Allowing the policymaker to optimally vary debt maturity in response to shocks and across varying levels of debt, we find that variations in maturity are largely used to sup- port changes in the underlying time-consistent policy mix rather than the speed of fiscal correction. Finally, introducing a mild degree of policy maker myopia can re- produce steady-state debt to GDP ratios and inflation rates not dissimilar to those observed empirically, without changing any of the qualitative results presented in the paper.
Jointly Recognizing Object Fluents and Tasks in Egocentric Videos

This paper addresses the problem of jointly recognizing object fluents and tasks in egocentric videos. Fluents are the changeable attributes of objects. Tasks are goal-oriented human activities which interact with objects and aim to change some attributes of the objects. The process of executing a task is a process to change the object fluents over time. We propose a hierarchical model to represent tasks as concurrent and sequential object fluents. In a task, different fluents closely interact with each other both in spatial and temporal domains. Given an egocentric video, a beam search algorithm is applied to jointly recognizing the object fluents in each frame, and the task of the entire video. We collected a large scale egocentric video dataset of tasks and fluents. This dataset contains 14 categories of tasks, 25 object classes, 21 categories of object fluents, 809 video sequences, and approximately 333,000 video frames. The experimental results on this dataset prove the strength of our method.
Combined administration of levetiracetam and valproic acid attenuates age‐related hyperactivity of CA3 place cells, reduces place field area, and increases spatial information content in aged rat hippocampus

Learning and memory deficits associated with age‐related mild cognitive impairment have long been attributed to impaired processing within the hippocampus. Hyperactivity within the hippocampal CA3 region that is associated with aging is mediated in part by a loss of functional inhibitory interneurons and thought to underlie impaired performance in spatial memory tasks, including the abnormal tendency in aged animals to pattern complete spatial representations. Here, we asked whether the spatial firing patterns of simultaneously recorded CA3 and CA1 neurons in young and aged rats could be manipulated pharmacologically to selectively reduce CA3 hyperactivity and thus, according to hypothesis, the associated abnormality in spatial representations. We used chronically implanted high‐density tetrodes to record the spatial firing properties of CA3 and CA1 units during animal exploration for food in familiar and novel environments. Aged CA3 place cells have higher firing rates, larger place fields, less spatial information content, and respond less to a change from a familiar to a novel environment than young CA3 cells. We also find that the combination of levetiracetam (LEV) + valproic acid (VPA), previously shown to act as a cognitive enhancer in tests of spatial memory, attenuate CA3 place cell firing rates, reduce place field area, and increase spatial information content in aged but not young adult rats. This is consistent with drug enhancing the specificity of neuronal firing with respect to spatial location. Contrary to expectation, however, LEV + VPA reduces place cell discrimination between novel and familiar environments, i.e., spatial correlations increase, independent of age even though drug enhances performance in cognitive tasks. The results demonstrate that spatial information content, or the number of bits of information encoded per action potential, may be the key correlate for enhancement of spatial memory by LEV + VPA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lifetime Video Game Consumption, Interpersonal Aggression, Hostile Sexism, and Rape Myth Acceptance

Although previous research has investigated relationships between media consumption, sexism, and rape myth acceptance (RMA), limited research has investigated video games despite their emergence as one of the most popular forms of media entertainment globally. Given that video games typically feature even less diverse and more objectified representations of women than traditional mainstream media, we predicted that there would be relationships between video game consumption and negative beliefs and attitudes about women. In this study, we conducted a survey (N = 351) of male and female adults and used structural equation modeling to analyze relationships among video game consumption, trait interpersonal aggression, ambivalent sexism, and first-order (percentage of false rape accusations) and second-order cultivation effects (RMA). We found support for the hypothesized cultivation model, indicating a relationship between video game consumption and RMA via interpersonal aggression and hostile sexism. Although these findings cannot be interpreted causally, we discuss the implications of these associations and future directions for research.
Benefits and challenges of incorporating citizen science into university education

A common feature of many citizen science projects is the collection of data by unpaid contributors with the expectation that the data will be used in research. Here we report a teaching strategy that combined citizen science with inquiry-based learning to offer first year university students an authentic research experience. A six-year partnership with the Australian phenology citizen science program ClimateWatch has enabled biology students from the University of Western Australia to contribute phenological data on plants and animals, and to conduct the first research on unvalidated species datasets contributed by public and university participants. Students wrote scientific articles on their findings, peer-reviewed each other’s work and the best articles were published online in a student journal. Surveys of more than 1500 students showed that their environmental engagement increased significantly after participating in data collection and data analysis. However, only 31% of students agreed with the statement that “data collected by citizen scientists are reliable” at the end of the project, whereas the rate of agreement was initially 79%. This change in perception was likely due to students discovering erroneous records when they mapped data points and analysed submitted photographs. A positive consequence was that students subsequently reported being more careful to avoid errors in their own data collection, and making greater efforts to contribute records that were useful for future scientific research. Evaluation of our project has shown that by embedding a research process within citizen science participation, university students are given cause to improve their contributions to environmental datasets. If true for citizen scientists in general, enabling participants as well as scientists to analyse data could enhance data quality, and so address a key constraint of broad-scale citizen science programs.
Does Code Decay? Assessing the Evidence from Change Management Data

A central feature of the evolution of large software systems is that change-which is necessary to add new functionality, accommodate new hardware, and repair faults-becomes increasingly difficult over time. We approach this phenomenon, which we term code decay, scientifically and statistically. We define code decay and propose a number of measurements (code decay indices) on software and on the organizations that produce it, that serve as symptoms, risk factors, and predictors of decay. Using an unusually rich data set (the fifteen-plus year change history of the millions of lines of software for a telephone switching system), we find mixed, but on the whole persuasive, statistical evidence of code decay, which is corroborated by developers of the code. Suggestive indications that perfective maintenance can retard code decay are also discussed.
Team Dating Leads to Better Online Ad Hoc Collaborations

Forming work teams involves matching people with complementary skills and personalities, but requires obtaining such data a priori. We introduce team dating, where people interact on brief tasks before working with a dedicated partner for longer, more complex tasks. We studied team dating through two online experiments. In Experiment 1, workers from a crowd platform independently wrote an ad slogan, discussed it with three consecutive people and evaluated their team date interactions. They then selected preferred teammates from a list showing average ratings for people they had dated and not dated. Results show that participants evaluated their dates based on evidence beyond externally judged slogan quality, and relied heavily on their dyad-specific judgments in selecting teammates. In Experiment 2, we replicated the individual and team dating tasks, and formed teams, either i) by honoring pairwise team dating preferences, ii) randomly from their pool of dates, or iii) randomly from those not dated. Results show that teams formed from preferred dates performed better on a final creative task compared to random dates or non-dates. Team dating provides a dynamic technique for forming ad hoc teams accounting for interpersonal dynamics. The initial interactions provided information that helped people select and work with an appropriate teammate.