Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enriched manipulation action semantics for robot execution of time constrained tasks

This paper contributes to semantic representation of human demonstrated actions for robot execution of time constrained tasks. We propose a semantic action encoding method based on interactions between the subject and objects in the scene. Our semantic framework is enriched with a descriptive spatial reasoning method which leads to accurate segmentation and recognition of unique action primitives. The proposed framework can classify the segmented action primitives as periodic or discrete to allow robots to autonomously decide how to imitate observed actions at different temporal scales. We evaluated our framework on our new large manipulation action dataset which involves in total 70 demonstrations from 8 different action types. We conducted various experiments with our humanoid robot to evaluate the proposed framework.
A Web Application for Managing Data of Cardiovascular Risk Patients

In the last years the development of home based e-health applications, which use information, telecommunication and videoconferencing technologies, is increased because of their characteristics that allow reducing hospitalization costs and managing and monitoring patient health in real time. However, the development of a home based e-health monitoring system requires the contribution of different expertise, from medicine to engineering, and technologies, from electronics to medical informatics and telemedicine. Here we illustrate a home based e-health project that has been developed with the cooperation of several different research groups of the Bioengineer Department of the "Politecnico di Milano". They provided and integrated all required knowledge and background, including biomedical electronics and biosensors, biosignal processing, medical informatics and telemedicine, and information and communication technologies. The aim of the discussed work was to design and implement a Web application that enables different healthcare actors to insert and browse healthcare data, bio-signals, and biomedical images of patients enrolled in a program of cardiovascular risk prevention. Such application is intended to be part of a home monitoring system to be used during the home physical training program of cardiovascular risk patients
Examining the Utility of the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) among Children in the Nigeria Context

An estimated 6 million children under the age of five in Nigeria (out of nearly 31 million) risk not reaching their full developmental potential. The dearth of context-relevant measures poses a challenge to the planning and implementation of effective interventions. This study assesses the utility of the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) in Nigeria. We used the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys to track progress among 3- to 4-year-old children (n = 11,073); 3-year-old, 51%; female, 49%. Using random calibration samples, the results from psychometric tests indicate that while over half of the children were on track in their development based on the ECDI, the instrument had low to average internal consistency and weak face validity, suggesting an inadequacy in capturing ECD information of value. At the outset of the launch of the new ECDI2030, the results of this study point to the need for continued discourse and advocacy for the use of culturally appropriate measures of child development, and a child-centered community engagement approach. This is essential in ensuring accountability and responsive interventions for the children served and their families.
The potential of C4 grasses for cellulosic biofuel production

With the advent of biorefinery technologies enabling plant biomass to be processed into biofuel, many researchers set out to study and improve candidate biomass crops. Many of these candidates are C4 grasses, characterized by a high productivity and resource use efficiency. In this review the potential of five C4 grasses as lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuel production is discussed. These include three important field crops—maize, sugarcane and sorghum—and two undomesticated perennial energy grasses—miscanthus and switchgrass. Although all these grasses are high yielding, they produce different products. While miscanthus and switchgrass are exploited exclusively for lignocellulosic biomass, maize, sorghum, and sugarcane are dual-purpose crops. It is unlikely that all the prerequisites for the sustainable and economic production of biomass for a global cellulosic biofuel industry will be fulfilled by a single crop. High and stable yields of lignocellulose are required in diverse environments worldwide, to sustain a year-round production of biofuel. A high resource use efficiency is indispensable to allow cultivation with minimal inputs of nutrients and water and the exploitation of marginal soils for biomass production. Finally, the lignocellulose composition of the feedstock should be optimized to allow its efficient conversion into biofuel and other by-products. Breeding for these objectives should encompass diverse crops, to meet the demands of local biorefineries and provide adaptability to different environments. Collectively, these C4 grasses are likely to play a central role in the supply of lignocellulose for the cellulosic ethanol industry. Moreover, as these species are evolutionary closely related, advances in each of these crops will expedite improvements in the other crops. This review aims to provide an overview of their potential, prospects and research needs as lignocellulose feedstocks for the commercial production of biofuel.
Phytoremediation: Halophytes as Promising Heavy Metal Hyperaccumulators

The continued accumulation of trace and heavy metals in the environment presents a significant danger to biota health, including humans, which is undoubtedly undermining global environmental sustainability initiatives. Consequently, the need for efficient reme- diation technologies becomes imperative. Phytoremediation is one of the most viable options in this regard. Hundreds of plants in laboratory experiments demonstrate the potential to remediate varying concentrations of heavy metals; however, the remediation capacity of most of these plants proved unsatisfactory under field conditions. The identi- fication and selection of plants with higher metal uptake capacity or hyperaccumulators are one of the limitations of this technology. Additionally, the mechanism of heavy metal uptake by plants remains to be sufficiently documented. The halophyte plants are famous for their adaptation to harsh environmental conditions, and hence could be the most suitable candidates for heavy metal hyperaccumulation. The state of Qatar in the Gulf region encompasses rich resources of halophytes that have the potential for future invest- ment toward human and environmental health. This chapter, therefore, gives an overview of phytoremediation, with emphasis on halophytes as suitable heavy metal hyperaccu- mulators for improved remediation of heavy metal – contaminated areas.
Clinical application of C-reactive protein for cardiovascular disease detection and prevention.

In an attempt to improve global cardiovascular risk prediction, considerable interest has focused on C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation that has been shown in multiple prospective epidemiological studies to predict incident myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and sudden cardiac death. CRP levels have also been shown to predict risk of both recurrent ischemia and death among those with stable and unstable angina, those undergoing percutaneous angioplasty, and those presenting to emergency rooms with acute coronary syndromes. These highly consistent clinical data are supported by abundant laboratory and experimental evidence that demonstrate that atherothrombosis, in addition to being a disease of lipid accumulation, also represents a chronic inflammatory process. In terms of clinical application, CRP seems to be a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than LDL cholesterol, and it adds prognostic information at all levels of calculated Framingham Risk and at all levels of the metabolic syndrome. Using widely available high-sensitivity assays, CRP levels of 3 mg/L correspond to low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups for future cardiovascular events. Individuals with LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dL who have CRP levels >3 mg/L represent a high-risk group often missed in clinical practice. The addition of CRP to standard cholesterol evaluation may thus provide a simple and inexpensive method to improve global risk prediction and compliance with preventive approaches. Composed of five 23 kDa subunits, C-reactive protein (CRP) is an hepatically derived pentraxin that plays a key role in the innate immune response. CRP has a long plasma half-life and is now understood to be a mediator as well as a marker of atherothrombotic disease. To date, over a dozen prospective epidemiological studies carried out among individuals with no prior history of cardiovascular disease demonstrate that a single, non-fasting measure of CRP is a strong predictor …
Interaction Between the oxa1 and rmp1 Genes Modulates Respiratory Complex Assembly and Life Span in Podospora anserina

A causal link between deficiency of the cytochrome respiratory pathway and life span was previously shown in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina. To gain more insight into the relationship between mitochondrial function and life span, we have constructed a strain carrying a thermosensitive mutation of the gene oxa1. OXA1 is a membrane protein conserved from bacteria to human. The mitochondrial OXA1 protein is involved in the assembly/insertion of several respiratory complexes. We show here that oxa1 is an essential gene in P. anserina. The oxa1ts mutant exhibits severe defects in the respiratory complexes I and IV, which are correlated with an increased life span, a strong induction of the alternative oxidase, and a reduction in ROS production. However, there is no causal link between alternative oxidase level and life span. We also show that in the oxa1ts mutant, the extent of the defects in complexes I and IV and the life-span increase depends on the essential gene rmp1. The RMP1 protein, whose function is still unknown, can be localized in the mitochondria and/or the cytosolic compartment, depending on the developmental stage. We propose that the RMP1 protein could be involved in the process of OXA1-dependent protein insertion.
Isolation of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae haemolysin gene and the activation and secretion of the prohaemolysin by the HlyC, HlyB and HlyD proteins of Escherichia coli

The gene encoding the c. 105 kD secreted haemolysin protein of the porcine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 has been isolated by screening a lambda gt11 expression library in Escherichia coli with antiserum raised against the wild‐type protein. A derivative recombinant DNA pJFF702 expressed the hlylA haemolysin gene from the pUC19 lac promoter but the resulting haemolysin I protein remained within the E. coli cell and was haemolytically inactive. Export of the intracellular A. pleuropneumoniae prohaemolysin out into the medium was achieved by the presence in trans of the E. coli haemolysin secretion genes hlyB and hlyD, and high levels of intracellular haemotytic activity were attained similarly by the E. coli post‐translational haemolysin activator gene, hlyC. Southern hybridization of A. pleuropneumoniae parental DNA nevertheless indicated only a low degree of nucleotide sequence identity to the haemolysin structural and secretion genes hlyA and hlyB of E. coli. The data show that despite substantial nucleotide sequence divergence the A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 haemolysin determinant is closely related to that which is dispersed throughout other Gram‐negative human and animal pathogens.
Characterization of adhesive wafer bonded CMUTs realized from BCB based sealed cavity

This paper presents the characterization results of a CMUT array fabricated using a Bisbenzocyclobutene (BCB) based adhesive wafer bonding technology. A resonant frequency of 17.3 MHz has been measured using an Agilent ENA5061B Vector Network Analyzer that is in good agreement with the results from 3-D FEA using IntelliSuite™. The extracted coupling coefficient from the electrical impedance measurement shows 40% higher transduction efficiency as compared to another research work published elsewhere. Optical measurements of the membrane deflection using a Polytec™ laser Doppler vibrometer and pitch catch mode experimental results validate the CMUT operation in both transmit and receive mode.
Lack of association between cystatin C and different coronary atherosclerotic manifestations

Abstract Cystatin C (CysC) is known to be related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), including the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and future clinical events. In this study, the association between CysC levels and (1) coronary artery calcification (CAC) in asymptomatic individuals from the general population as well as (2) different subgroups of patients with suspected or definite acute myocardial infarction (MI) was investigated. CysC levels were measured in serum from asymptomatic individuals as part of a screening study for CAC using non-contrast cardiac CT scan (N = 1039) as well as in subgroups of hospitalized patients with a suspected MI (N = 769). CysC was not associated with CAC in asymptomatic individuals after adjusting for relevant risk factors. No difference in CysC levels was observed between patients with type 1 MI (1.07 mg/L) and patients with normal troponin (with or without prior CAD: 1.14 and 1.01 mg/L, respectively). However, patients with type 2 MI and patient subgroups with elevated troponin but without MI had significantly higher CysC levels (1.24, 1.23 and 1.31 mg/L), even after adjusting for other risk factors. CysC was not associated with CAC in middle-aged asymptomatic individuals from the general population. Furthermore, CysC levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with type 1 MI compared to patients with type 2 MI and patients with elevated troponins but without MI. Thus, in two independent and clinically different populations, no association between CysC and coronary atherosclerotic manifestations could be demonstrated.
Asynchronous Iterative Waterfilling for Gaussian Frequency-Selective Interference Channels: A Unified Framework

In this paper we give an overview of recent results on the rate maximization game in the Gaussian frequency- selective interference channel. We focus on the competitive maximization of information rates, subject to global power and spectral mask constraints. To achieve the so-called Nash equilibrium points of the game Yu, Ginis and Cioffi proposed the sequential Iterative Waterfilling Algorithm (IWFA), where, at each iteration, the users choose, one after the other, their power allocation to maximize their own information rate, treating the interference generated by the others as additive colored Gaussian noise. To overcome the potential slow convergence of the sequential update, specially when the number of users is large, the simultaneous IWFA was proposed by the authors, where, at each iteration, all the users update their power allocations simultaneously, rather than sequentially. Recently, the authors showed that both the sequential and the simultaneous IWFAs are just special cases of a more general unified framework, given by the totally asynchronous IWFA. In this more general algorithm, the users update their power spectral density in a completely distributed and asynchronous way. Furthermore, the asynchronous setup includes another form of lack of synchronism where the transmission by the different users contains time and frequency synchronization offsets. A unified set of convergence conditions were provided for the whole class of algorithms obtained from the asynchronous IWFA. Interestingly, there is a key result used in the proof of convergence of the algorithms: an alternative interpretation of the waterfilling operator as a projector.
Uncovering space-independent communities in spatial networks

Many complex systems are organized in the form of a network embedded in space. Important examples include the physical Internet infrastucture, road networks, flight connections, brain functional networks, and social networks. The effect of space on network topology has recently come under the spotlight because of the emergence of pervasive technologies based on geolocalization, which constantly fill databases with people’s movements and thus reveal their trajectories and spatial behavior. Extracting patterns and regularities from the resulting massive amount of human mobility data requires the development of appropriate tools for uncovering information in spatially embedded networks. In contrast with most works that tend to apply standard network metrics to any type of network, we argue in this paper for a careful treatment of the constraints imposed by space on network topology. In particular, we focus on the problem of community detection and propose a modularity function adapted to spatial networks. We show that it is possible to factor out the effect of space in order to reveal more clearly hidden structural similarities between the nodes. Methods are tested on a large mobile phone network and computer-generated benchmarks where the effect of space has been incorporated.
Influence of heterogeneity on the interpretation of pumping test data in leaky aquifers

Pumping tests are routinely interpreted from the analysis of drawdown data and their derivatives. These interpretations result in a small number of apparent parameter values which lump the underlying heterogeneous structure of the aquifer. Key questions in such interpretations are (1) what is the physical meaning of those lumped parameters and (2) whether it is possible to infer some information about the spatial variability of the hydraulic parameters. The system analyzed in this paper consists of an aquifer separated from a second recharging aquifer by means of an aquitard. The natural log transforms of the transmissivity, ln T, and the vertical conductance of the aquitard, ln C, are modeled as two independent second‐order stationary spatial random functions (SRFs). The Monte Carlo approach is used to simulate the time‐dependent drawdown at a suite of observation points for different values of the statistical parameters defining the SRFs. Drawdown data at each observation point are independently used to estimate hydraulic parameters using three existing methods: (1) the inflection‐point method, (2) curve‐fitting, and (3) the double inflection‐point method. The resulting estimated parameters are shown to be space dependent and vary with the interpretation method since each method gives different emphasis to different parts of the time‐drawdown data. Moreover, the heterogeneity in the pumped aquifer or the aquitard influences the estimates in distinct manners. Finally, we show that, by combining the parameter estimates obtained from the different analysis procedures, information about the heterogeneity of the leaky aquifer system may be inferred.
Study on Fuzzy DTCC Method for River Main-Stream Interpretation from Remote Sensing Image

Yellow River is well known as sediment-laden river in the world with main-stream quickly change in its lower channel, so main-stream should be understood timely at flood season. Remote sensing is a primary approach to get main-stream information timely, however it has still some difficulties in interpreting it on image. DTCC (Dynamic Transmission Cross-Correlation) algorithm has been successfully described river flows with direction and continuity, as well as its surface phenomena having similarity alone flow direction. However, with water flow uncertainty similarity and the suboptimal path in flow direction, the DTCC interpretation results have some errors in some reaches. In this paper, a Fuzzy Dynamic Transmission Cross-correlation (FDTC) algorithm was proposed to interpret the river main-stream information based on fuzzy evaluation to flow similarity and fuzzy comprehensive selection in flow direction. The algorithm was applied on TM image in the lower of Yellow River and the results show that the FDTC method has an obviously improvement on main-stream interpretation.
Breast diseases in children: the spectrum of radiologic findings in a cohort study.

PURPOSE We aimed to investigate the spectrum of radiologic findings and referral reasons for breast diseases in children considering age-appropriate presentation. METHODS Our retrospective cohort study included 348 consecutive pediatric patients aged <19 years (median, 13 years) referred to radiology with a clinical presentation between 2005 and 2016. Radiologic findings were reviewed in four age ranges (0-2 years, 2-8 years, 8-15 years, >15 years). RESULTS Of 348 patients, 257 had a referral reason. The most frequent referral reason was a palpable mass (35%). Developmental abnormalities accounted for 48% of all radiologic findings in 348 patients. We did not detect any breast malignancy. According to age groups, the most common radiologic findings were neonatal hypertrophy (0-2 years), early breast development (2-8 years), developmental abnormalities by a majority of gynecomastia (8-15 years), and normal findings or developmental abnormalities (>15 years). Interestingly, the frequency of gynecomastia was only 4% in neonatal period or early childhood. Fibroadenomas and fibroadenoma-like solid masses were seen after 8 years and constituted the majority of solid masses (65%). Cysts were seen at a rate of 7% and majority of them were of simple type, which tends to resolve in time. CONCLUSION In our study, the most common referral reason to radiology was a palpable breast mass. Neonatal hypertrophy and early breast development in younger children, and developmental abnormalities in older children may be kept in mind as the most common radiologic findings. Our study confirms the substantial absence of malignancies in children as well as a widely different disease spectrum in comparison with the adult population.
Applications of Plotkin-terms: partitions and morphisms for closed terms

This theoretical pearl is about the closed term model of pure untyped lambda-terms modulo β-convertibility. A consequence of one of the results is that for arbitrary distinct combinators (closed lambda terms) M, M′, N, N′ there is a combinator H such that formula here The general result, which comes from Statman (1998), is that uniformly r.e. partitions of the combinators, such that each ‘block’ is closed under β-conversion, are of the form {H−1{M}}M∈ΛΦ. This is proved by making use of the idea behind the so-called Plotkin-terms, originally devised to exhibit some global but non-uniform applicative behaviour. For expository reasons we present the proof below. The following consequences are derived: a characterization of morphisms and a counter-example to the perpendicular lines lemma for β-conversion.
Internal Capital Markets and Corporate Politics in a Banking Group

This study looks inside a large retail-banking group to understand how influence within the group affects internal capital allocations and lending behavior at the member bank level. The group consists of 181 member banks that jointly own a headquarters. Influence is measured by the divergence from one-share-one-vote. The authors find that more influential member banks are allocated more capital from headquarters. They are less likely to decrease lending after negative deposit growth or to increase lending following positive deposit growth. These effects are stronger in situations in which information asymmetry between banks and the headquarters seems greater. The evidence suggests that influence can be useful in overcoming information asymmetry.