Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
User behavior transformation through dynamic input mappings

Games increasingly use input devices – such as Kinect, Leap, and Move – that map the location of the player’s body into a virtual space. Designers are often faced with two options: an intuitive, direct mapping that is initially easier to learn but not suited for all tasks, or an advanced mapping that is better suited to carrying out tasks but harder to learn. In this paper we propose a method for achieving the best of both worlds: user behavior transformation. Rather than a single static mapping, our method uses a dynamic input mapping that starts out with a direct mapping but changes over time to a more advanced mapping that is more suited to the types of tasks the player needs to perform. As the mapping changes, the player automatically transforms their behavior to take advantage of the new input space. In this way the mapping can allow for more advanced interactions the designer would like, while still being intuitive. We validate this approach with a Kinect based interface for a game with a complex task: protein folding in Foldit. The initial direct mapping from the player’s hand position changes to a mapping that reduces occlusions caused by overlapping hands. In a user study, the dynamic mapping compares favorably to two static mappings with respect to task completion times.
Olecranon Bursitis Caused by Candida parapsilosis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Septic bursitis is usually caused by bacterial organisms. However, infectious bursitis caused by fungi is very rare. Herein, we present a 68-year-old woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis who developed pain, erythema, and swelling of the right olecranon bursa. Aspiration of the olecranon bursa showed a white blood cell count of 3.1 × 103/μL (41% neutrophils, 30% lymphocytes, and 29% monocytes). Fluid culture was positive for Candida parapsilosis. She was treated with caspofungin 50 mg intravenously daily for 13 days followed by fluconazole 200 mg orally daily for one week. She responded well to this treatment but had recurrent swelling of the bursa. Bursectomy was recommended but she declined this option. This case, together with other reports, suggests that the awareness of uncommon pathogens, their presentation, and predisposing risk factors are important to establish an early diagnosis and prevent long-term complications.
Variation in Resistance Mechanisms to the Green Peach Aphid Among Different Prunus persica Commercial Cultivars

ABSTRACT Peaches and nectarines are frequently attacked by the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer), with significant negative impacts on fruit production. The genetic variability of resistance to this aphid among commercial cultivars of Prunus persica (L) Batsch and Prunus persica variety nectarina was evaluated in this study. In total, 16 cultivars of P. persica were selected to evaluate the occurrence and population growth rate of M. persicae in commercial orchards, as well as in no-choice and probing behavior laboratory assays. The results showed variability between cultivars in resistance and susceptibility to M. persicae, with three cultivars exhibiting different signatures of resistance. The peach cultivar ‘Elegant Lady’ exhibited a low occurrence of aphids in the orchard, a low rate of growth, moderate leaf-rejection in a no-choice test and a higher number and longer period of salivation into sieve elements, suggesting resistance at the phloematic level. The nectarine cultivar ‘August Red’ also exhibited low aphid occurrence in the orchard, a low rate of growth, and resistance at the prephloem and phloem levels. Finally, the nectarine ‘July Red-NS92’ exhibited a low occurrence of aphids in the orchard, a higher number of rejections in no-choice assays and no ingestion of phloem during the probing behavior experiments, suggesting prephloematic resistance. The rest of the cultivars studied exhibited clear susceptibility. Hence, different resistance mechanisms are apparent among the studied cultivars. The information gathered in this study regarding the resistance to M. persicae may assist breeding programs aimed at increasing aphid resistance to peaches and nectarines.
Dietary n-3 fatty acids affect mRNA level of brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1, and white adipose tissue leptin and glucose transporter 4 in the rat

We examined the effect of dietary fats rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on mRNA levels in white and brown adipose tissues in rats. Four groups of rats were fed on a low-fat diet (20 g safflower oil/kg) or a high-fat diet (200 g/kg) containing safflower oil, which is rich in n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid), or perilla (α-linolenic acid) or fish oil (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids), both of which are rich in n-3 PUFA, for 21 d. Energy intake was higher in rats fed on a high-safflower-oil diet than in those fed on low-fat or high-fish-oil diet, but no other significant differences were detected among the groups. Perirenal white adipose tissue weight was higher and epididymal white adipose tissue weight tended to be higher in rats fed on a high-safflower-oil diet than in those fed on a low-fat diet. However, high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA, compared to a low-fat diet, did not increase the white adipose tissue mass. High-fat diets relative to a low-fat diet increased brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1 mRNA level. The increases were greater with fats rich in n-3 PUFA than with n-6 PUFA. A high-safflower-oil diet, compared to a low-fat diet, doubled the leptin mRNA level in white adipose tissue. However, high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA failed to increase it. Compared to a low-fat diet, high-fat diets down-regulated the glucose transporter 4 mRNA level in white adipose tissue. However, the decreases were attenuated with high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA. It is suggested that the alterations in gene expression in adipose tissue contribute to the physiological activities of n-3 PUFA in preventing body fat accumulation and in regulating glucose metabolism in rats.
AxNN: Energy-efficient neuromorphic systems using approximate computing

Neuromorphic algorithms, which are comprised of highly complex, large-scale networks of artificial neurons, are increasingly used for a variety of recognition, classification, search and vision tasks. However, their computational and energy requirements can be quite high, and hence their energy-efficient implementation is of great interest. We propose a new approach to design energy-efficient hardware implementations of large-scale neural networks (NNs) using approximate computing. Our work is motivated by the observations that (i) NNs are used in applications where less-than-perfect results are acceptable, and often inevitable, and (ii) they are highly resilient to inexactness in many (but not all) of their constituent computations. We make two key contributions. First, we propose a method to transform any given NN into an Approximate Neural Network (AxNN). This is performed by (i) adapting the backpropagation technique, which is commonly used to train these networks, to quantify the impact of approximating each neuron to the overall network quality (e.g., classification accuracy), and (ii) selectively approximating those neurons that impact network quality the least. Further, we make the key observation that training is a naturally error-healing process that can be used to mitigate the impact of approximations to neurons. Therefore, we incrementally retrain the network with the approximations in-place, reclaiming a significant portion of the quality ceded by approximations. As a second contribution, we propose a programmable and quality-configurable neuromorphic processing engine (qcNPE), which utilizes arrays of specialized processing elements that execute neuron computations with dynamically configurable accuracies and can be used to execute AxNNs from diverse applications. We evaluated the proposed approach by constructing AXNNs for 6 recognition applications (ranging in complexity from 12-47,818 neurons and 160-3,155,968 connections) and executing them on two different platforms - qcNPE implementation containing 272 processing elements in 45nm technology and a commodity Intel Xeon server. Our results demonstrate 1.14X-1.92X energy benefits for virtually no loss (<; 0.5%) in output quality, and even higher improvements (upto 2.3X) when some loss (upto 7.5%) in output quality is acceptable.
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

In the current scenario, investing in the stock markets poses a significant challenge even for seasoned professionals. Not surprisingly, many students find the subject Security Analysis and Portfolio Management difficult. This book offers conceptual clarity and in-depth coverage with a student-friendly approach. Targeted at the postgraduate students of management and commerce, it is an attempt to demystify the difficult subject. The book is divided into three parts. Part I explains the Indian stock market; Part II exclusively deals with the different aspects of security analysis; Part III is devoted to portfolio analysis.
The Evolution of Inequality Aversion in a Simplified Game of Life

This paper applies the indirect evolutionary approach to study the evolution of inequality aversion in a simplified game of life. The game comprises a dilemma, a problem of coordination, and a problem of distribution as a general framework for the evolution of preferences. In singlegame environments, there emerges a global advantage for inequality-averse individuals in the dilemma and a global disadvantage for inequality-averse players who are favoured by the problem of distribution. The simplified game of life puts these strong predictions into perspective. In particular, selfish and inequality-averse individuals may coexist in the subpopulation, favoured in the problem of distribution.
12 Angry Men: An Analysis of How Law, Science, and Individual Persistence Saved DNA Profiling

The following analysis stemmed from a broad inquiry regarding the current state of forensic science. After examining some recent problems concerning traditional forensic techniques, including problems with established fingerprint, hair follicle, and bite mark analysis, it became evident that forensic science has shifted toward a new scientific paradigm. The concurrent rise of DNA profiling technology may be partially responsible for this shift. Hence, the purpose of this analysis is to determine the various aspects of forensic DNA profiling that have allowed it to become such a successful tool in the criminal justice system. While in pursuit of this information, I uncovered a number of individual stories and cases that help trace the rise of forensic DNA analysis. Certainly some of these stories are tragic and painful, told by victims or victim's families hurt by violent crime. However, some of these stories, those told by lawyers and scientists, help chronicle the trials, tribulations, and controversies surrounding the introduction of a budding science into the courtroom. In tracing these unique stories I
Zonal organization of the climbing fiber projection to the flocculus and nodulus of the rabbit: A combined axonal tracing and acetylcholinesterase histochemical study

The localization and termination of olivocerebellar fibers in the flocculus and nodulus of the rabbit were studied with anterograde axonal transport methods [wheatgerm agglutinin‐horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) and tritiated leucine] and correlated with the compartments in the white matter of these lobules delineated with acetylcholinesterase histochemistry (Tan et al. J. Comp. Neurol., 1995, this issue). Olivocerebellar fibers originating from the caudal dorsal cap travel through floccular compartments FC2 and FC4 to terminate as climbing fibers in floccular zones FZII and FZIV. Fibers from the rostral dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth traverse compartments FC1 and FC3, which are interleaved with compartments FC2 and FC4, and terminate in zones FZI and FZIII. Fibers from the rostral pole of the medial accessory olive traverse the C2 compartment and terminate in the C2 zone. FZI ‐III extend into the adjoining folium (folium p) of the ventral paraflocculus. The C2 zone continues across folium p into other folia of the ventral paraflocculus and into the dorsal paraflocculus. Four compartments and five zones were distinguished in the nodulus. Medial compartment XC1 contains olivocerebellar fibers from the caudal dorsal cap and subnucleus β that terminate in the XZI zone. Olivocerebellar fibers from the rostral dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth occupy XC2 and terminate in XZII. The XC4 compartment contains fibers from both the caudal dorsal cap and from the rostral dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth. The latter terminate in a central portion of the XZIV zone. The dorsomedial cell column projects to the XZIII zone, which is present only in the dorsal part of the nodulus, The rostral, medial accessory olive projects to the XZV zone, which occupies the lateral border of the nodulus. These results confirm and extend the conclusions of Katayama and Nisimaru ([1988] Neurosci. Res. 5:424–438) on the zonal pattern in the olivo‐nodular projection in the rabbit. Additional observations were made on the presence of a lateral A zone (Buisseret‐Delmas [1988] Neurosci. Res. 5:475–493) in the hemisphere of lobules VI and VII. Retrograde labeling of the nucleo‐olivary tract of Legendre and Courville ([1987] Neuroscience 21:877–891) was observed after WGA‐HRP injections into the inferior olive including the rostral dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth. The anatomical and functional implications of these observations are discussed. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The correlation between academic self-concept, student-faculty interactions, and class status among African American and Caucasian students at Humboldt State University

THE CORRELATION AMONG ACADEMIC SELF-CONCEPT, STUDENTFACULTY INTERACTIONS, AND CLASS STATUS AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AT HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY Autumn Fannin African American college students continue to experience challenges both academically and personally at predominantly White colleges and universities. Predominantly White Colleges and Historically Black Colleges and have been the focus of prior research to examine various factors relating to academic self-concept. However, results consistently elucidate that African American college students have a lower academic self-concept when compared with their White counterparts (Cokley, 2000). Using a sample of African American and Caucasian college students at Humboldt State University, the current study will examine academic self-concept, student-faculty interactions, and class status among these students. Students will complete the Academic Self-Concept Scale (Reynolds, 1988), Campus Connectedness Scale (Lee & Davis, 2000), and specific questions relating to the quality and frequency of student-faculty interactions. The results of this study may provide information for predominantly White universities to reform their approaches to education and personal development in order to effectively assist African American students and other minority students with achieving academic success.
Modulation of the global atmospheric circulation by combined activity in the Madden-Julian oscillation and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation during boreal winter.

Abstract Composite global patterns associated with the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) are frequently applied to help make predictions of weather around the globe at lead times beyond a few days. However, ENSO modulates the background states through which the MJO and its global response patterns propagate. This paper explores the possibility that nonlinear variations confound the combined use of composites based on the MJO and ENSO separately. Results indicate that when both modes are active at the same time, the associated patterns in the global flow are poorly represented by simple linear combinations of composites based on the MJO and ENSO individually. Composites calculated by averaging data over periods when both modes are present at the same time more effectively describe the associated weather patterns. Results reveal that the high-latitude response to the MJO varies with ENSO over all longitudes, but especially across the North Pacific Rim, North America.
Pest management and food production

The supply of food—especially grains—in developing countries will have to rise by around 70 percent by 2020 if the 6.5 billion people who are expected to be living there are going to be food secure. Nearly all of this increase in food supply is expected to come from developing countries themselves. Meeting this projected increase will require both a sustained rise in yields of the major grains and legumes and reduction in crop losses due to pests. Because opportunities for expanding irrigation and productive arable land are limited, future strategies will have to focus on raising the productivity of available land and water resources. There could hardly be a less efficient use of these resources than to invest time, money, and effort in producing food only to have it totally or partially destroyed by pests (see table). Depending on the levels of losses and costs involved, improved pest management would seem to be an important strategic component for increasing available supplies of food in developing countries. Policymakers interested in effective crop protection have to balance the social benefits and costs of pesticide use, and to do this, better knowledge about pest losses is required. Options for improving pest management include the development of pesticides that are more benign than current products. IPM promises to be the most pragmatic approach. Governments not only need to support IPM but also regulate hazardous pesticide use. Genetically engineered crops offer great promise but need to be monitored. Developing countries will have to invest in their own technological capacities or enter into sharing arrangements with corporations. Finally, ways to encourage corporate responsibility will have to be addressed.
DNA methylation analysis of murine hematopoietic side population cells during aging

Stem cells have been found in most tissues/organs. These somatic stem cells produce replacements for lost and damaged cells, and it is not completely understood how this regenerative capacity becomes diminished during aging. To study the possible involvement of epigenetic changes in somatic stem cell aging, we used murine hematopoiesis as a model system. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were enriched for via Hoechst exclusion activity (SP-HSC) from young, medium-aged and old mice and subjected to comprehensive, global methylome (MeDIP-seq) analysis. With age, we observed a global loss of DNA methylation of approximately 5%, but an increase in methylation at some CpG islands. Just over 100 significant (FDR < 0.2) aging-specific differentially methylated regions (aDMRs) were identified, which are surprisingly few considering the profound age-based changes that occur in HSC biology. Interestingly, the polycomb repressive complex -2 (PCRC2) target genes Kiss1r, Nav2 and Hsf4 were hypermethylated with age. The promoter for the Sdpr gene was determined to be progressively hypomethylated with age. This occurred concurrently with an increase in gene expression with age. To explore this relationship further, we cultured isolated SP-HSC in the presence of 5-aza-deoxycytdine and demonstrated a negative correlation between Sdpr promoter methylation and gene expression. We report that DNA methylation patterns are well preserved during hematopoietic stem cell aging, confirm that PCRC2 targets are increasingly methylated with age, and suggest that SDPR expression changes with age in HSCs may be regulated via age-based alterations in DNA methylation.
Testing for Spatial Neglect with Line Bisection and Target Cancellation: Are Both Tasks Really Unrelated?

Damage to the parietal lobe can induce a condition known as spatial neglect, characterized by a lack of awareness of the personal and/or extrapersonal space opposite the damaged brain region. Spatial neglect is commonly assessed clinically using either the line bisection or the target cancellation task. However, it is unclear whether poor performance on each of these two tasks is associated with the same or different lesion locations. To date, methodological limitations and differences have prevented a definitive link between task performance and lesion location to be made. Here we report findings from a voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM) analysis of an unbiased selection of 44 patients with a recent unifocal stroke. Patients performed both the line bisection and target cancellation task. For each of the two tasks a continuous score was incorporated into the VLSM analysis. Both tasks correlated highly with each other (r = .76) and VLSM analyses indicated that the angular gyrus was the critical lesion site for both tasks. The results suggest that both tasks probe the same underlying cortical deficits and although the cancellation task was more sensitive than the line bisection task, both can be used in a clinical setting to test for spatial neglect.
Players' Patience and Equilibrium Payoffs in the Baron-Ferejohn Model

This paper investigates a generalized Baron-Ferejohn model with different discount factors, different recognition probabilities and q-majority rule. In the paper, it is shown that if players are sufficiently patient, recognition probabilities are similar and the voting rule is not unanimous, each player's equilibrium payoff is inversely proportional to the ratio of the player''s discount factor to the harmonic mean of all players'' discount factors. This result implies the followings: (i) A less patient player obtains a greater payoff (ii) As a player slightly becomes more patient, her payoff becomes smaller (iii) The equilibrium payoffs do not depend on recognition probabilities and (iv) They do not also depend on q.
The Deuterium, Oxygen, and Nitrogen Abundance toward LSE 44

We present measurements of the column densities of interstellar D I, O I, N I, and H2 made with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and of H I made with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) toward the sdO star LSE 44 [(l, b) = (313.°37, + 13.°49); d = 554 ± 66 pc; z = +129 ± 15 pc]. This target is among the seven most distant Galactic sight lines for which these abundance ratios have been measured. The H I column density was estimated by fitting the damping wings of interstellar Lyα. The column densities of the remaining species were determined with profile fitting analyses and supplemented with curve-of-growth analyses for O I and H2. We find log N(D ) = 15.87 ± 0.08, log N(O ) = 17.57, log N(N ) = 16.43 ± 0.14, and log N(H ) = 20.52 (all errors 2 σ). This implies that D/H = (2.24) × 10-5, D/O = (1.99) × 10-2, D/N = (2.75) × 10-1, and O/H = (1.13) × 10-3. Of the most distant Galactic sight lines for which the deuterium abundance has been measured, LSE 44 is one of the few with D/H higher than the Local Bubble value, but D/O toward all these targets is below the Local Bubble value and more uniform than the D/H distribution.