Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of Tracked Vehicle with Passive Mechanism for Uneven Terrain

This paper describes design of tracked vehicle which can adapt rough terrain using passive link mechanism. The vehicle has two track modules at both sides which have four-bar link mechanism with passive spring elements. The passive spring elements of the link mechanism provide the restoring force which helps the vehicle to be changed to stable configuration when overcoming uneven terrains. The two track modules are connected with rotary joint so that it provides adaptability to laterally located terrain roughness. Simulating under various conditions, we verify our design concept and determine critical design parameter. We manufactured prototype vehicle with determined design parameters from simulation results. The vehicle has size of 295 mmtimes210 mmtimes105 mm, and weight of the vehicle is 1.31 kg. The prototype equips two 2.17 W DC motors as driving motors. We conducted experiments with manufactured prototype under various terrain conditions. The terrain conditions include steps, stairs, trench, and unstructured terrain. In experiments, this vehicle shows good overcoming ability for the tested terrain conditions
Nitric Oxide-Donor SNAP Induces Xenopus Eggs Activation

Nitric oxide (NO) is identified as a signaling molecule involved in many cellular or physiological functions including meiotic maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mammalian oocytes. We observed that nitric oxide donor SNAP was potent to induce parthenogenetic activation in Xenopus eggs. NO-scavenger CPTIO impaired the effects of SNAP, providing evidence for the effects of the latter to be specific upon NO release. In Xenopus eggs, SNAP treatment induced pigment rearrangement, pronucleus formation and exocytosis of cortical granules. At a biochemical level, SNAP exposure lead to MAPK and Rsk inactivation within 30 minutes whereas MPF remained active, in contrast to calcium ionophore control where MPF activity dropped rapidly. MAPK inactivation could be correlated to pronuclear envelope reformation observed. In SNAP-treated eggs, a strong increase in intracellular calcium level was observed. NO effects were impaired in calcium-free or calcium limited medium, suggesting that that parthenogenetic activation of Xenopus oocytes with a NO donor was mainly calcium-dependent.
Architecture Principles Compliance Analysis

The architecture principles play a key role in the enterprise architecture evolution. However, the architecture does not always address the principles intentions, which could result in unplanned deviations. Through the related work is perceptible the nonexistence of an architecture analysis based on architecture principles. Hereupon, this research proposes an architecture analysis to evaluate the architecture compliance with architecture principles. The proposed analysis, based on ArchiMate consists in the principle formalization where the principle expected impact is recognized. This analysis enables to identify the principle compliant elements in an enterprise architecture description. This analysis has been applied in one of the largest Portuguese insurance companies to analyse the compliance of some specific architectures. The analysis feasibility presents this research as a contribution to the architecture principles field.
Scoring and analysis of methylation‐sensitive amplification polymorphisms for epigenetic population studies

DNA methylation is an important, heritable epigenetic modification in most eukaryotic organisms that is connected with numerous biological processes. To study the impact of natural epigenetic variation in an ecological or evolutionary context, epigenetic studies are increasingly using methylation‐sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) for surveys at the population or species level. However, no consensus exists on how to interpret and score the multistate information obtained from the MSAP banding patterns. Here, we review the previously used scoring approaches for population epigenetic studies and develop new alternatives. To assess effects of the different approaches on parameters of epigenetic diversity and differentiation, we applied eight scoring schemes to a case study of three populations of the plant species Viola elatior. For a total number of 168 detected polymorphic MSAP fragments, the number of ultimately scored polymorphic epiloci ranged between 78 and 286 depending on the particular scoring scheme. Both, estimates of epigenetic diversity and differentiation varied strongly between scoring approaches. However, linear regression and PCoA revealed qualitatively similar patterns, suggesting that the scoring approaches are largely consistent. For single‐locus analyses of MSAP data, for example the search for loci under selection, we advocate a new scoring approach that separately takes into account different methylation types and thus seems appropriate for drawing more detailed conclusions in ecological or evolutionary contexts. An R script (MSAP_score.r) for scoring and basic data analysis is provided.
Missense Mutations in Plakophilin-2 Cause Sodium Current Deficit and Associate With a Brugada Syndrome Phenotype

Background— Brugada syndrome (BrS) primarily associates with the loss of sodium channel function. Previous studies showed features consistent with sodium current (INa) deficit in patients carrying desmosomal mutations, diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy). Experimental models showed correlation between the loss of expression of desmosomal protein plakophilin-2 (PKP2) and reduced INa. We hypothesized that PKP2 variants that reduce INa could yield a BrS phenotype, even without overt structural features characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results— We searched for PKP2 variants in the genomic DNA of 200 patients with a BrS diagnosis, no signs of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and no mutations in BrS-related genes SCN5A, CACNa1c, GPD1L, and MOG1. We identified 5 cases of single amino acid substitutions. Mutations were tested in HL-1–derived cells endogenously expressing NaV1.5 but made deficient in PKP2 (PKP2-KD). Loss of PKP2 caused decreased INa and NaV1.5 at the site of cell contact. These deficits were restored by the transfection of wild-type PKP2, but not of BrS-related PKP2 mutants. Human induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes from a patient with a PKP2 deficit showed drastically reduced INa. The deficit was restored by transfection of wild type, but not BrS-related PKP2. Super-resolution microscopy in murine PKP2-deficient cardiomyocytes related INa deficiency to the reduced number of channels at the intercalated disc and increased separation of microtubules from the cell end. Conclusions— This is the first systematic retrospective analysis of a patient group to define the coexistence of sodium channelopathy and genetic PKP2 variations. PKP2 mutations may be a molecular substrate leading to the diagnosis of BrS.
ESPRIT matching pursuit algorithm for DOA estimation with single snapshot

For a uniform linear array, classical DOA estimation methods, such as ESPRIT etc., with a space smoothing preprocessing, can be applied to the case of single snapshot. Due to the spatial sparsity, this DOA estimation problem can be translated into a sparse signal recovery problem. Then we can use some sparse recovery methods to resolve DOAs. As a highly efficient method among those, the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm is considered at first. It has been observed that OMP can offer DOA estimates with smaller mean-square errors than ESPRIT at low SNRs; however, an opposite conclusion will be drawn at high SNRs. Combining the advantages of the both methods, we present a novel ESPRIT matching pursuit (EMP) algorithm, which takes a full utilization of ESPRIT and a maximum correlation method in a process of greedy pursuit. Simulation results indicate that the presented method outperforms both OMP and ESPRIT at different SNRs.
Quantitative Characterization of Defective Virus Emergence by Deep Sequencing

ABSTRACT Populations of RNA viruses can spontaneously produce variants that differ in genome size, sequence, and biological activity. Defective variants that lack essential genes can nevertheless reproduce by coinfecting cells with viable virus, a process that interferes with virus growth. How such defective interfering particles (DIPs) change in abundance and biological activity within a virus population is not known. Here, a prototype RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), was cultured for three passages on BHK host cells, and passages were subjected to Illumina sequencing. Reads from the initial population, when aligned to the full-length viral sequence (11,161 nucleotides [nt]), distributed uniformly across the genome. However, during passages two plateaus in read counts appeared toward the 5′ end of the negative-sense viral genome. Analysis by normalization and a simple sliding-window approach revealed plateau boundaries that suggested the emergence and enrichment of at least two truncated species having medium (∼5,900 nt) and short (∼4,000 nt) genomes. Relative measures of full-length and truncated species based on read counts were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Limit-of-detection analysis suggests that deep sequencing can be more sensitive than complementary measures for detecting and quantifying defective particles in a population. Further, particle counts from transmission electron microscopy, coupled with infectivity assays, linked the rise in smaller genomes with an increase in truncated particles and interference activity. In summary, variation in deep sequencing coverage simultaneously shows the size, location, and relative level of truncated-genome variants, revealing a level of population heterogeneity that is masked by other measures of viral genomes and particles. IMPORTANCE We show how deep sequencing can be used to characterize the emergence, diversity, and relative abundance of truncated virus variants in virus populations. Adaptation of this approach to natural isolates may elucidate factors that influence the stability and persistence of virus populations in nature.
Recursive Array Layouts and Fast Matrix Multiplication

The performance of both serial and parallel implementations of matrix multiplication is highly sensitive to memory system behavior. False sharing and cache conflicts cause traditional column-major or row-major array layouts to incur high variability in memory system performance as matrix size varies. This paper investigates the use of recursive array layouts to improve performance and reduce variability. Previous work on recursive matrix multiplication is extended to examine several recursive array layouts and three recursive algorithms: standard matrix multiplication and the more complex algorithms of Strassen (1969) and Winograd. While recursive layouts significantly outperform traditional layouts (reducing execution times by a factor of 1.2-2.5) for the standard algorithm, they offer little improvement for Strassen's and Winograd's algorithms. For a purely sequential implementation, it is possible to reorder computation to conserve memory space and improve performance between 10 percent and 20 percent. Carrying the recursive layout down to the level of individual matrix elements is shown to be counterproductive; a combination of recursive layouts down to canonically ordered matrix tiles instead yields higher performance. Five recursive layouts with successively increasing complexity of address computation are evaluated and it is shown that addressing overheads can be kept in control even for the most computationally demanding of these layouts.
Velocity Modification of H I Power Spectrum

The distribution of atomic hydrogen in the Galactic plane is usually mapped using the Doppler shift of 21 cm emission line, and this causes the modification of the observed emission spectrum. We calculate the emission spectrum in velocity slices of data (channel maps) and derive its dependence on the statistics of velocity and density fields. We find that, (1) if the density spectrum is steep, i.e., n < -3, the large k asymptotics of the emissivity spectrum are dominated by the velocity fluctuations; and (2) the velocity fluctuations make the emission spectra shallower, provided that the data slices are sufficiently thin. In other words, turbulent velocity creates small-scale structure that can erroneously be identified as clouds. The effect of thermal velocity is very similar to the change of the effective slice thickness, but the difference is that, while an increase of the slice thickness increases the amplitude of the signal, the increase of the turbulent velocity leaves the measured intensities intact while washing out fluctuations. The contribution of fluctuations in warm H I is suppressed relative to those in the cold component when the velocity channels used are narrower than the warm H I thermal velocity and small angular scale fluctuations are measured. We calculate how the spectra vary with the change of velocity slice thickness and show that the observational 21 cm data is consistent with the explanation that the intensity fluctuations within individual channel maps are generated by turbulent velocity fields. As the thickness of velocity slices increases, density fluctuations begin to dominate emissivity. This allows us to disentangle velocity and density statistics. The application of our technique to Galactic and SMC data reveals spectra of density and velocity with power law indexes close to -11/3. This is a Kolmogorov index, but the explanation of the spectrum as due to the Kolmogorov-type cascade faces substantial difficulties. We generalize our treatment for the case of a statistical study of turbulence inside individual clouds. The mathematical machinery developed is applicable to other emission lines.
Modeling of Incentive Interruptible Load Contract for Practical Application

Interruptible load contract is an important means of demand side management, but its existing models cant coordinate practicality with efficiency. Based on the curtailment cost function of consumers, this paper proposes an optional interruptible load contract and builds an optimal curtailment amount and compensation pricing model by introducing information display and incentive mechanism. The model can guide consumers voluntarily disclose the information on their true cost, and achieve the optimal allocation of load interruption. It is better to coordinate the relationship between utility and economic efficiency, which is more efficient than the traditional practical optional contract for interruptible load, and more practical than the theoretical model of interruptible load contract of fully nonlinear pricing. Numerical examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Example‐Based Materials in Laplace–Beltrami Shape Space

We present a novel method for flexible and efficient simulation of example‐based elastic deformation. The geometry of all input shapes is projected into a common shape space spanned by the Laplace–Beltrami eigenfunctions. The eigenfunctions are coupled to be compatible across shapes. Shape representation in the common shape space is scale‐invariant and topology‐independent. The limitation of previous example‐based approaches is circumvented that all examples must have identical topology with the simulated object. Additionally, our method allows examples that are arbitrary in size, similar but not identical in shape with the object. We interpolate the examples via a weighted‐energy minimization to find the target configuration that guides the object to desired deformation. Large deformation between examples is handled by a physically plausible energy metric. This optimization is efficient as the eigenfunctions are pre‐computed and the problem dimension is small. We demonstrate the benefits of our approach with animation results and performance analysis.
Residential Loan Renegotiation: Theory and Evidence

If loan renegotiations are not uncommon, this alternative should be modeled into the contingent claims framework of mortgage pricing. There is no direct evidence on the frequency of loan renegotiation, however. A simple model of default indicates that renegotiation should occur more frequently in conventional loans versus FHA loans and in states with higher foreclosure costs versus those with lower costs. Since empirical tests using delinquency and foreclosure placement rates demonstrate no such behavioral difference, we conclude loan renegotiation does not occur frequently enough to warrant its consideration in mortgage pricing models. The rarity of circumstances under which renegotiation is mutually beneficial may account for this funding.
Nonlinear filtering for continuous-time systems using the linear fractional transformation model

In this paper, we propose Bayesian filtering technique for continuous-time dynamical models with sampled-data measurements using the linear fractional transformation (LFT) model which transforms the nonlinear state space model into an exact equivalent linear model with a simple nonlinear feedback loop. The linear model is amenable to Euler discretization. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed filtering technique gives better approximation and tracking performance than the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) which diverges for highly nonlinear problems.
Properties of Synergies Arising from a Theory of Optimal Motor Behavior

Abstract We consider the properties of motor components, also known as synergies, arising from a computational theory (in the sense of Marr, 1982) of optimal motor behavior. An actor's goals were formalized as cost functions, and the optimal control signals minimizing the cost functions were calculated. Optimal synergies were derived from these optimal control signals using a variant of nonnegative matrix factorization. This was done using two different simulated two-joint arms—an arm controlled directly by torques applied at the joints and an arm in which forces were applied by muscles—and two types of motor tasks—reaching tasks and via-point tasks. Studies of the motor synergies reveal several interesting findings. First, optimal motor actions can be generated by summing a small number of scaled and time-shifted motor synergies, indicating that optimal movements can be planned in a low-dimensional space by using optimal motor synergies as motor primitives or building blocks. Second, some optimal synergies are task independent—they arise regardless of the task context—whereas other synergies are task dependent—they arise in the context of one task but not in the contexts of other tasks. Biological organisms use a combination of task-independent and task-dependent synergies. Our work suggests that this may be an efficient combination for generating optimal motor actions from motor primitives. Third, optimal motor actions can be rapidly acquired by learning new linear combinations of optimal motor synergies. This result provides further evidence that optimal motor synergies are useful motor primitives. Fourth, synergies with similar properties arise regardless if one uses an arm controlled by torques applied at the joints or an arm controlled by muscles, suggesting that synergies, when considered in “movement space,” are more a reflection of task goals and constraints than of fine details of the underlying hardware.
Plasma Treatment of Polyethylene Powder Particles in Hollow Cathode Glow Discharge

Polyethylen (PE) is widely used in the production of foils, insulators, packaging materials, plastic bottles etc. Untreated PE is hydrophobic due to its unpolar surface. Therefore, it is hard to print or glue PE and the surface has to be modified before converting.In the present experiments a hollow cathode glow discharge is used as plasma source which is mounted in a spiral conveyor in order to ensure a combines transport of PE powder particles. With this set‐up a homogeneous surface treatment of the powder is possible while passing the glow discharge. The plasma treatment causes a remarkable enhancement of the hydrophilicity of the PE powder which can be verified by contact angle measurements and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
ICDAR 2011 Robust Reading Competition Challenge 2: Reading Text in Scene Images

Recognition of text in natural scene images is becoming a prominent research area due to the widespread availablity of imaging devices in low-cost consumer products like mobile phones. To evaluate the performance of recent algorithms in detecting and recognizing text from complex images, the ICDAR 2011 Robust Reading Competition was organized. Challenge 2 of the competition dealt specifically with detecting/recognizing text in natural scene images. This paper presents an overview of the approaches that the participants used, the evaluation measure, and the dataset used in the Challenge 2 of the contest. We also report the performance of all participating methods for text localization and word recognition tasks and compare their results using standard methods of area precision/recall and edit distance.
Recursively Accelerated Multilevel Aggregation for Markov Chains

A recursive acceleration method is proposed for multiplicative multilevel aggregation algorithms that calculate the stationary probability vector of large, sparse, and irreducible Markov chains. Pairs of consecutive iterates at all branches and levels of a multigrid W cycle with simple, nonoverlapping aggregation are recombined to produce improved iterates at those levels. This is achieved by solving quadratic programming problems with inequality constraints: the linear combination of the two iterates is sought that has a minimal two-norm residual, under the constraint that all vector components are nonnegative. It is shown how the two-dimensional quadratic programming problems can be solved explicitly in an efficient way. The method is further enhanced by windowed top-level acceleration of the W cycles using the same constrained quadratic programming approach. Recursive acceleration is an attractive alternative to smoothing the restriction and interpolation operators, since the operator complexity is better controlled and the probabilistic interpretation of coarse-level operators is maintained on all levels. Numerical results are presented showing that the resulting recursively accelerated multilevel aggregation cycles for Markov chains, combined with top-level acceleration, converge significantly faster than W cycles and lead to close-to-linear computational complexity for challenging test problems.
Online Learning of Multimedia Event Detection : Multimodality Analysis

Our life is more and more exposed to massive video data and it is harder and harder for users to retrieve the relevant videos. In this paper, we propose an online learning algorithm to learn a version of Markov Network known as Harmonium models to deal with incremental multimedia event detection based on the content of the video. We used TRECVID competition data set, which consists of approximately ten thousand videos extracted from YouTube to evaluate our model. Overall, our online learning algorithm is able to achieve reasonable accuracies with significantly less time spent in learning the model.