Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural Network Driven Locomotion of General Bodies Using Reinforcement Learning and Evolutionary Algorithms

Producing locomotion controllers for general bodies has multiple applications, foremost in robotics. Most robot controllers are today developed through the use of autonomous control, trying to deviated as little as possible from some target gait. This target is usually supplied in the form of motion capture data or determined by a human. This work attempts to instead use machine learning methods to allow simulated agents to learn locomotive behaviour. The environment is void of any preconceived notions regarding what the resulting gait should look like, and simply encourages the agents to maintain forward velocity. The controllers are represented in the form of neural networks mapping sensory inputs to actuator outputs. Three machine learning methods are explored for training these networks; evolutionary algorithms with niches, the reinforcement learning algorithm Proximal Policy Optimization, and a novel algorithm combining the two previous methods. The hybrid algorithm out-performs the rest. It works well on simpler problems such as a 2-dimensional biped, but struggles on the difficult unstable 3-dimensional problem of a full humanoid robot. The results are not competitive with traditional autonomous control results when controlling well understood bodies like humanoids. However the algorithm does succeed in finding creative gaits for less structured problems and odd bodies, something that a human might find difficult.
Title Dynamic localisation of mature microRNAs in Human nucleoli isinfluenced by exogenous genetic materials

Although microRNAs are commonly known to function as a component of RNA-induced silencing complexes in the cytoplasm, they have been detected in other organelles, notably the nucleus and the nucleolus, of mammalian cells. We have conducted a systematic search for miRNAs in HeLa cell nucleoli, and identified 11 abundant miRNAs with a high level of nucleolar accumulation. Through in situ hybridisation, we have localised these miRNAs, including miR-191 and miR-484, in the nucleolus of a diversity of human and rodent cell lines. The nucleolar association of these miRNAs is resistant to various cellular stresses, but highly sensitive to the presence of exogenous nucleic acids. Introduction of both singleand double-stranded DNA as well as double stranded RNA rapidly induce the redistribution of nucleolar miRNAs to the cytoplasm. A similar change in subcellular distribution is also observed in cells infected with the influenza A virus. The partition of miRNAs between the nucleolus and the cytoplasm is affected by Leptomycin B, suggesting a role of Exportin-1 in the intracellular shuttling of miRNAs. This study reveals a previously unknown aspect of miRNA biology, and suggests a possible link between these small noncoding RNAs and the cellular management of foreign genetic materials. Citation: Li ZF, Liang YM, Lau PN, Shen W, Wang DK, et al. (2013) Dynamic Localisation of Mature MicroRNAs in Human Nucleoli is Influenced by Exogenous Genetic Materials. PLoS ONE 8(8): e70869. doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0070869 Editor: Sebastien Pfeffer, French National Center for Scientific Research Institut de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire, France Received May 27, 2012; Accepted June 26, 2013; Published August 6, 2013 Copyright: 2013 Li et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by a General Research Fund (project number 9041520) provided by the Research Grant Council, Hong Kong. Influenza work was partially supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIAID contract HHSN266200700005C) and the Area of Excellence Scheme of the University Grants Committee Hong Kong (AoE/M-12/06). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: yunwlam@cityu.edu. hk
A 17 year climatology of the macrophysical properties of convection in Darwin

Abstract. The validation of convective processes in global climate models (GCMs) could benefit from the use of large datasets that provide long-term climatologies of the spatial statistics of convection. To that regard, echo top heights (ETHs), convective areas, and frequencies of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) from 17 years of data from a C-band polarization (CPOL) radar are analyzed in varying phases of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) and northern Australian monsoon in order to provide ample validation statistics for GCM validation. The ETHs calculated using velocity texture and reflectivity provide similar results, showing that the ETHs are insensitive to various techniques that can be used. Retrieved ETHs are correlated with those from cloud top heights retrieved by Multifunctional Transport Satellites (MTSATs), showing that the ETHs capture the relative variability in cloud top heights over seasonal scales. Bimodal distributions of ETH, likely attributable to the cumulus congestus clouds and mature stages of convection, are more commonly observed when the active phase of the MJO is over Australia due to greater mid-level moisture during the active phase of the MJO. The presence of a convectively stable layer at around 5 km altitude over Darwin inhibiting convection past this level can explain the position of the modes at around 2–4 km and 7–9 km. Larger cells were observed during break conditions compared to monsoon conditions, but only during the inactive phase of the MJO. The spatial distributions show that Hector, a deep convective system that occurs almost daily during the wet season over the Tiwi Islands, and sea-breeze convergence lines are likely more common in break conditions. Oceanic MCSs are more common during the night over Darwin. Convective areas were generally smaller and MCSs more frequent during active monsoon conditions. In general, the MJO is a greater control on the ETHs in the deep convective mode observed over Darwin, with higher distributions of ETH when the MJO is active over Darwin.
Habitat use and home range traits of resident and relocated hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas)

The aim of the study was to identify the habitat preferences and home range of resident and relocated brown hares during the nohunting period. The trial was carried out in a protected area and in a free-hunting territory (FHT), both located in the Florence province. During the captures, 21 hares were equipped with a necklace radio-tag: seven hares (resident group) were released in the same area of capture and 14 hares (relocated group) were relocated in six different locations within the FHT. The effect of the place of release was analysed by ANOVA and/or nonparametric methods. Results showed that the home ranges of the resident group were characterized by a greater amount of fallow land and shrub land than of the relocated group (P<0.05). Home range sizes and maximum distances from the releasing sites were greater in the relocated group. Resident hares preferred landscape characterized by a higher density of patches (152 vs. 70 n/100 ha), patch richness (43 vs. 12 n/100 ha), and patch area (4703 vs. 8142 m2) than the relocated hares (P<0.01). The landscape structure indices, the home range sizes and the maximum distance from the releasing sites suggest that the relocated hares, even if released in suitable habitats, will move from their releasing point to look for better habitats. The landscape with the most complexity is preferred by the resident hares. This result should be considered when a project is programmed to reintroduce this lagomorph into a territory, or when it is necessary to improve the dynamics of a natural population.
Effect of Irrigation Levels on Yield Performance of Black Cumin

An experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Horticulture Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Salna, Gazipur during the period from 20 November, 2012 to 12 April, 2013 to determine the optimum level of irrigation for better yield and quality of black cumin. There were six different irrigation levels (I1 - no irrigation, I2 - three irrigation, I3 - four irrigation, I4 - six irrigation, I5 - eight irrigation and I6 - ten irrigation). Results revealed that the number of primary branches (6.33), secondary branches (11.84), tertiary branches (6.29), number of capsule per plant (18.64), capsule length (1.89 cm), diameter of capsule( 1.05 cm), number of seed per capsule (107.8), fresh seed yield per plant (3.84g), dry seed yield per plant (3.26g), 1000 seed weight (2.40g) and seed yield (1.77 t/ha) were observed maximum in I6(ten irrigation).
Closed-Loop VR-Based Interaction to Improve Walking in Parkinson's Disease

Visual cueing have been reported to help improve walking in people with Parkinson’s disease. However, many of these studies incorporate instructions and familiarization/practice, making it unclear whether the visual cues themselves were really effective or what parameters of walking are mutable. Here we used a closed-loop virtual visual cueing system to probe the automatic locomotor structures in subjects with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and no freezing episodes. The cues moved in synchrony to the velocity of each subject’s walking but in the opposite direction, thereby giving rise to the perception of walking across a stationary landscape. In the absence of explicit instructions and practice, the virtual visual cues induced spontaneous changes among various walking kinematics in moderate-severe but not early-stage subjects. The largest effect was seen in the decrease in time to execute the first step (step initiation). Subjects completed the first step faster in the presence of the visual cues. Step length and walking speed on the other hand, decreased with exposure to the cues, i.e. subjects started out fast but then slowed down in the remainder of the walk. We conclude that the novel effects of the closed-loop visual cues produce mixed outcomes in walking performance. While step initiation improved spontaneously, the normalization of speed and step length would require cognitive strategies and practice as indicated in previous studie
TIME-EFFICIENT ECO-INNOVATION WORKSHOP PROCESS IN COMPLEX SYSTEM INDUSTRIES

Industrial companies increasingly want to eco-innovate in their project but have to deal with strict constraints in time and resources. Thus, a time-efficient eco-innovation workshop process for complex system industries is proposed. From the selection of a relevant multidisciplinary working group (before the workshop) to the follow-up of environmental projects (after the workshop) through eco-ideation and eco-selection (during the workshop), all stages are considered. The proposed workshop lasts in all three hours and is experienced on an industrial complex system at Liebherr.
A comparison of techniques for size measurement of nanoparticles in cell culture medium

Plain and aminated silica nanoparticles dispersed in purified water, in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer and in cell culture medium were measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS), centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and particle tracking analysis (PTA). The test samples were measured by all methods immediately after dispersion and after incubation at room temperature for 24 h. The effect of the biological dispersion medium on the modal value of the particle size distribution was compared for each method taking into account the estimated uncertainty. For the methods based on light scattering, DLS and PTA, the size distributions obtained were significantly altered due to the formation of a protein corona and induced agglomeration effects. With SAXS and CLS, the measured size of the primary particles was mostly unchanged. While SAXS offers excellent precision and traceability to the SI unit system if the model fitting approach is used for data analysis, CLS provides detailed size distributions from which additional information on the agglomeration state can be deduced.
A Conceptual Model for Knowledge Sharing Among Small Groups Using Discussion Cases

Discussion cases are commonly used at business schools because of their pedagogical values as they expose students to real-life situations through a comprehensive interaction and collaboration among students and their instructors as well as enabling students to be proficient in communication, self-management, decision making, and problem-solving skills. In this research, discussion cases were developed by instructors in collaboration with the industry as educational supports to expose students to real-life business situations and challenges. The paper focuses on the knowledge capture, sharing, and retention during the students' group work in a semester-long project where they use these pedagogical discussion cases to solve problems, which had already been solved in real life. The paper introduces a conceptual framework for knowledge sharing behavior and its potential effects on the students' learning experience during a semester long project. The framework provides the infrastructure for the capture/sharing of knowledge during the students' quest of find solutions to the discussion cases as well as showing the effect of knowledge sharing on the students' intension to share what they know. It also examines the effects of the involvement of the instructors as well as representatives from local industry on improving the students' knowledge sharing. The paper also discusses the hypotheses which have been developed to test the validity of the framework. Little prior research has carried out with such an integrated analysis, especially in the educational context. This paper will have significant value in designing higher education class settings to involve students' teamwork and industry engagement to enhance knowledge sharing.
RELIGIOSITY, CORRUPTION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The World Bank (2013b) views reducing corruption as a method to decrease poverty and promote economic growth around the world. This study considers religiosity as a factor that could reduce corruption and in turn promote economic growth. There are a large number studies that have looked at the relationship between corruption and economic growth and others that have considered the influence of religion on corruption. However, few have considered their combined influence, and those that did only considered the type of religion and not the influence of the level of religiosity on corruption and economic growth. This study attempts to fill the void in the literature by combining these factors to consider the impact of religiosity on corruption and in turn its influence on economic growth within a nation. The basic premise is that the more a nation’s citizens practice their religion, the more they will incorporate their beliefs in their personal and business lives and be less corrupt, hence promoting economic growth. The results suggest that the negative impact of higher levels of religiosity dominated the possible positive impact it had on corruption and did not lead to an increase in economic growth.
The life and death of Webfuse: principles for learning and leading into the future

Drawing on the 14-year life and death of an integrated online learning environment used by tens of thousands of people, this paper argues that many of the principles and practices underpinning industrial e-learning – the current dominant institutional model – are inappropriate. The paper illustrates how industrial e-learning can limit outcomes of tertiary e-learning and limits the abilities of universities to respond to uncertainty and effectively explore the future of learning. It limits their ability to learn. The paper proposes one alternate set of successfully implemented principles and practices as being more appropriate for institutions seeking to learn for the future and lead in a climate of change.
Marine resources of islands: status and approaches for sustainable exploitation/conservation with special emphasis to Andaman and Nicobar

Island ecosystem is unique but with a great diversity. Marine resource potential of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) is underutilized. The sensitive ecosystems of corals and Mangroves are facing threats as a result of changing climate. Potential fishery resources need to be exploited in sustainable manner for income and employment generation of islanders. Primary data on resources of Bay Islands are collected resorting to standard survey methods and secondary data are used as supporting data for analyzing the trend and potential of fisheries in ANI. The paper is depicting in details the major marine resources and their status in Bay Islands and approaches for their sustainable exploitation and conservation.
Crop Technology Adoption Among Rural Farmers in Some Selected Regions of Mali

Enhancing farm production through an application of modern crop technologies to the extant farm system is relevant to improving the lives of farmers in rural areas. The Ecofarm crop technologies are some of the technologies that have been introduced with the aim of improving the lives of rural farmers in Mali. The study was carried out to examine the elements that influenced the adoption decisions of Ecofarm technologies among rural farmers in three selected regions of Mali. It contributes to the present knowledge on the socioeconomic factors that influence farmers in their adoption decisions of crop technologies in dry-land crop growing areas. Through the application of a multi-stage sampling technique, data were collected from 120 rural farmers from the three study regions. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Cost-Benefit analyses were employed to analyze the data. It was evident that household size positively determined the adoption decisions of rural farmers in these regions. Also, the distance to these Ecofarm technologies had influence on the adoption decisions in that, the proximity of these technologies to the farms induced the rural farmers to adopt them. Interestingly, it was also found out that the larger the land holding of the farmers, the less likely it was for them to adopt the Ecofarm technologies. It was concluded that the regions with greater net benefits after the adoption were adopting more of Ecofarm crop technologies than those with less net benefit.
Welfare Impacts of Rural Electrification: Evidence from Vietnam

Access to electricity is crucial for economic development and there is a growing body of literature on the impact of rural electrification on development. However, most studies have so far relied on cross-sectional surveys comparing households with and without electricity, which have well known causal attribution problems. This paper is one of the first studies to examine the welfare impacts of households rural electrification based on panel surveys conducted in 2002 and 2005 for some 1,100 households in rural Vietnam,. The findings indicate that grid electrification has been both extensive (connecting all surveyed communes by 2005) and intensive (connecting almost 80 percent of the surveyed households by 2005). Vietnam is unusual in that once electricity is locally available, both rich and poor households are equally likely to get the connection. The econometric estimations suggest that grid electrification has significant positive impacts on households cash income, expenditure, and educational outcomes. The benefits, however, reach a saturation point after prolonged exposure to electricity. Finally, this study recommends investigating the long-term benefits of rural electrification - not just for households, but for the rural economy as a whole.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND DETERMINANTS OF BRANDS LOYALTY ACROSS HOTEL BRAND ORIGIN DWI SUHARTANTO

This study reports an assessment of brand loyalty across the origin of the brand in the hotel industry. This study endeavours to extend recent advances in services marketing theory on brand loyalty to the international and domestic brand level of analysis. Brand loyalty is proposed to consist of three dimensions (attitudinal loyalty, conative loyalty and behavioural loyalty) with service quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction, and brand image as its determinants. The results, drawn from sample of four-star hotels, support the proposed brand loyalty model across international and domestic hotels. Service quality, perceived value, and customer satisfaction are important antecedents of brand loyalty though brand image has a strengthening role in these three loyalty determinants in both international and domestic hotels. Overall, the effects of these determinants on brand loyalty differ between international and domestic hotels.
Conversations and Campaign Dynamics in a Hybrid Media Environment: Use of Twitter by Members of the German Bundestag

This article examines how Members of the German Bundestag (MdBs) used Twitter in the context of the country’s 2013 federal elections. In particular, we explore the dynamics in the MdBs’ use of Twitter during different periods of the electoral term: How do the tweeting habits of MdBs differ by party before and during the election campaign in (a) public versus personal communication and (b) campaign versus policy messages? How are the selection of interaction partners, centralization on leading actors, and reciprocity of the MdBs’ Twitter networks affected by election campaigning? We address these questions by conducting a content analysis combined with a network analysis of interaction patterns. The comparative application of both methods explains the differences of MdBs’ networks. The comparison clearly exhibits election campaign-driven changes related to the amount of activity and the character of tweeted messages. During the campaign period, MdBs’ tweets clearly discussed specific policies less than before. Tweeting about one’s personal life occurred also less frequently in the final campaign stage. Instead, the MdBs mainly complement other forms of election campaigning through a vivid metacommunication on campaign developments. Network relations reflect these variations and were less often reciprocated in proximity to the election and showed a higher degree of group homophily. We also found a substantial representation of print and broadcast media actors in the examined @reply networks. It is likely that these interactions and conversations with journalists are part of an MdB’s individual performance of “news management. ”
Aerobic and anaerobic sewage biodegradable processes: the gap analysis

Wastewaterhas become a significant risk and danger to both physical environment and human/animal life due to inefficient management processes. There are many technologies applied in wastewater management. Among them biological treatment methods are widely used as they are cost effective, highly efficient, simple in application, less in chemical usage,less energy consuming and environment friendly.This review covers many aspects of biological wastewater treatment through aerobic and anaerobic methods with special attention on study on Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), the Expanded Granular Sludge Blanket (EGSB) and Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket-aerobic digester (UASBaerobic digester). We provide a comprehensive account onthe literature on aerobic and anaerobic systems of sewage treatment with UASB, EGSB and UASB-aerobic digester reactors,a comparative analysis on the treatment efficiency of each method, outlining the merits, demerits and constraints.An appraisal tothe combination of aerobic and anaerobic systems, specifically the UASB-Aerobic digester has also been given.