Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conditional imitation learning with pyramid perception modules

In this thesis, we train a driving agent to predict waypoints directly from a forwardfacing camera, following the work done in Cheating by Segementation [1], itself inspired by Learning by Cheating [2]. End-to-end learning lets the neural network find its own representation of the environment, without restraining it to human-readable features. It leads to models that are lighter and that could theoretically be closer to the optimal. From traffic lights to vehicles, the model should be able to perceive objects of various sizes in order to construct an accurate representation of the environment. The objective is to change the network architecture in order to reduce the number of infractions made by the agent. We compare two approaches aiming at letting the network build a better representation. (i) Using a Pyramid Pooling Module [3], we bring global context into the feature maps. (ii) Using a Feature Pyramid Network [4], we fuse outputs coming from different layers to obtain semantically strong and spatially accurate features. Both agents demonstrate a lane keeping rate of more than 94% on the NoCrash [5] benchmark. The one relying on the Feature Pyramid Network manages to have a number of traffic light infractions per hour of 10.6 in test conditions, which is in the same range as state-of-the-art implementations Learning by Cheating and Learning to drive from a world on rails [6].
How Does Ethical Leadership Curb Employees’ Unethical Behavior? Evidence from Oil and Gas Sector in Pakistan

This study draws on social identity, social learning, and trait-activation theories to probe that if moral identity has an indirect effect on the relationship between ethical leadership and unethical behavior. The study investigates that how ethical leadership as a predictor and moral identity as a mediator influence the self-reported unethical behavior based on a sample of 297 oil and gas sector employees in Pakistan. Data were analyzed through SPSS and AMOS. Consistent with the leadership, moral identity, and social learning researches, employees, with a higher sense of moral identity and perceptions of their leaders as more ethical in their leadership behaviors, reported lesser incidences of unethical behavior. The findings suggest that moral identity and ethical leadership behaviors are vital in predicting organizational outcomes. This study is valuable for its original contributions to the literature of moral identity as a mediating variable. Implications for theory and practice have also been discussed.
Antibacterial Efficacy of Sonic Versus Ultrasonic Irrigation of the Root Canal System: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Irrigant mechanical agitation has been claimed to enhance the antibacterial efficacy during the root canal treatment. The aim of this study was to systematically review the antibacterial efficacy of ultrasonic compared to sonic agitation of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Materials and methods: Four databases (Cochrane Library, Medline, ScienceDirect and Scopus) were searched to identify systematic reviews, clinical and in vitro trials evaluating biofilm removal following the use of sonic irrigation (SI), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) or both and the conventional syringe and needle irrigation (SNI) on mature permanent teeth or models simulating the root canal. Articles were selected according to the inclusion criteria, data were extracted and the methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers. Results: The electronic and hand search retrieved 1028 studies. Two clinical controlled trials, thirteen in vitro controlled trials and one systematic review were included. The risk of bias and quality of the selected studies were qualified as moderate and high according to the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) checklists. Overall, both sonic and ultrasonic irrigation improved the bacterial reduction over the conventional irrigation method. However, most of the available evidence could not state significant differences between the antibacterial efficacy of the two methods. Conclusion: It may be concluded that sonic and ultrasonic activation of the irrigants are beneficial in bacterial reduction when compared to conventional needle irrigation, yet, the current data could not find significant differences between the two techniques. *Correspondence: Said DHAIMY, DDS, MSc, PhD, Professor of Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Hassan II University, Abou Al Alaa Zahar Street 21100, Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco, Tel: +212662032510, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7846-6228. Received: 21 October 2021; Accepted: 29 November 2021
Multi-Subject Unsupervised Transfer with Weighted Subspace Alignment for Common Spatial Patterns

Motor imagery classification is known to be highly user dependent. Subspace alignment has been somewhat successful in allowing for unsupervised transfer from one training user to a new user. In this paper we develop a method to weight contributions from subspace alignment to multiple training users to give improved unsupervised transfer performance on the new test user. Ablation analyses show that both the subspace alignment and weighting are critical for improved performance. We also discuss how weighting uses the labels of the training users to better interpret subspace alignment.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Aloe Vera and Silver Nanoparticles on Standard Strains of Some Pathogenic Bacteria

Background and objectives: Today, with the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance, treatment of bacterial infections has become challenging. Therefore, it is essential to find suitable alternative antibacterial compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro effects of silver nanoparticles and ethanolic extract of Aloe vera alone and combined on standard strains of some pathogenic bacteria. Methods: After collection and verification of A. vera plants, extraction was performed by the Soxhlet extractor method. Antibacterial effects of ethanolic extract of A. vera and silver nanoparticles on standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated by agar well diffusion and tube dilution methods, respectively. Results: The ethanolic extract of A. vera and silver nanoparticles had antibacterial effects on the tested bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. The ethanolic extract of A. vera was more effective against S. aureus and B. cereus compared to gram-negative bacteria. However, silver nanoparticles were more effective against gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli). The effect of combination of ethanolic extract of A. vera and silver nanoparticles was much greater than the effect of either alone. This combination showed the greatest and lowest effect on P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. Conclusion: For the first time, this study showed that the combination of ethanolic extract of A. vera and silver nanoparticles is effective against potentially pathogenic bacteria. Given the high rate of antibiotic resistance and side effects of conventional antibiotics, it is recommended to identify active compounds of this plant and evaluate the antimicrobial effects of this combination of fungi and other pathogenic bacteria both in vitro and in vivo.
Setting Limits on Screen Time for Children (6-to-12 Years): The Integral Role of Parents and Educators. [version 1; peer review: 1 not approved]

This paper investigates the effects of screen time on child development and cognition and the setting of ‘safe’ screen time limits for young children, specifically children aged 6-to-12 years. Guidelines on screen time vary across constituencies, and the debate around screen time is contentious with many questions yet to be answered. A review of literature was undertaken to compare current screen time recommendations against the evidence from Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics that quantify screen time effects on the children's brain development. Based on this comparison, conclusions are made that can guide education policies around ‘remote learning’ and ‘home schooling’ to align them with the available research on the effects of screen time on children and inform a re-evaluation of the role of parents and educators in the setting of ‘safe’ limits on screen time
Tunnel Progression Effects to the Ground Surface and the Adjacent Pile

Tunnelling close to existing structure in urban area has become unavoidable. The progression tunneling activities induced ground movement and might affect the integrity of existing structure especially the one lies within the tunneling influence zone. It may cause catastrophic failures of structures and can cause losses of human lives. Therefore, considering its risk, this study focuses on the tunnel-soil-pile interaction by performing a physical model testing. By conducting a series of laboratory tests, the ground subsidence and pile behavior is presented herein. For a twice diameter distance of tunnel and pile, the pile axial settlement is 0.04% of the tunnel diameter respectively, while the maximum pile bending moment is 4928. 93kN.m. Maximum ground settlement is 0.56% respectively to tunnel diameter. To sum up, the axial displacement of pile decreases when the pile located further away from the tunneling zone. Similarly, the ground surface subsidence decreases when the pile location is more in distance during the tunneling advancement.
Accurate Ground-based Astrometry of Naked-eye Stars: The United States Naval Observatory Bright-star Astrometric Database

We present the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) Bright-star Astrometric Database (UBAD), a current-epoch high-accuracy astrometric catalog. The catalog consists of 364 bright northern hemisphere stars, including all but five such stars with either V < 3.5 or with I < 3.2 and V < 6, as well as a large fraction of slightly fainter stars; 36 of the brightest catalog stars are not included in Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3). Observations were conducted with the USNO Flagstaff Station Kaj Strand 61 inch Astrometric Reflector. Target stars were imaged through a small 12.5 mag neutral-density spot, while the remainder of the stars in the field of view were unattenuated. This allowed for unsaturated images of the bright target stars to be calibrated directly against much fainter reference stars from Gaia EDR3. The median position errors are 1.9 mas in both R.A. and decl. at the catalog epoch of 2017.0, with 90% of catalog stars having errors less than 2.6 mas; systematic errors are 1–3 mas. Combining UBAD observations with Hipparcos-2 positions yields proper motions with median errors of 0.045 and 0.049 mas yr−1 in R.A. and decl. , respectively, with 90% of stars having errors less than 0.1 mas yr−1; systematic errors are about 0.1 mas yr−1. Single-frame accuracy for positions of the target stars is typically 5–6 mas. Gaia EDR3 astrometry for these bright stars, which are heavily saturated in the Gaia observations, is validated over the magnitude range 2 ≲ G ≲ 6.
Effects of Lime on the Compaction Characteristics of Lateritic Soil in UTM, Johor

Lime has been investigated as a ground improvement material for soils, particularly for road construction, as an alternative to soil cement stabilisation. However, the effect of lime on lateritic soil compaction characteristics is not completely defined. In this article, soil samples from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor were subjected to a variety of engineering tests, including specific gravity, sieve analysis, Atterberg’s limit, and compaction. According to the results of Atterberg’s Limit, lateritic soil has a plasticity index (PI), a plastic limit (PL), and a liquid limit (LL) of 19, 46, and 65, respectively. The obtained specific gravity value is 2.79. Compaction tests were conducted on untreated and lime-treated soils with lime additions of 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, respectively, using an automatic compactor. The OMC and MDD values for untreated laterite are 28% and 1.46 g/cm3, respectively. However, as the lime content increases, the OMC increases slightly while the MDD decreases. The dry density of lime-laterite soil decreases from 1.47 to 1.38 g/cm3, but the moisture content increases slightly from 27% to 31%. The MDD of soil treated with 5% lime is lower than that of lateritic soil in its natural state.
The Carnegie–Chicago Hubble Program. IX. Calibration of the Tip of the Red Giant Branch Method in the Megamaser Host Galaxy, NGC 4258 (M106)

In the nearby galaxy NGC 4258, the well-modeled orbital motion of H2O masers about its supermassive black hole provides the means to measure a precise geometric distance. As a result, NGC 4258 is one of a few “geometric anchors” available to calibrate the true luminosities of stellar distance indicators such as the Tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB) or the Cepheid Leavitt law. In this paper, we present a detailed study of the apparent magnitude of the TRGB within NGC 4258, using publicly available HST observations optimally situated in the unreddened stellar halo along the minor axis, spanning distances ranging from 8 to 22 kpc in projected galactocentric radius, or (13 kpc) to (66 kpc) in distance along the semimajor axis. We undertake a systematic evaluation of the uncertainties associated with measuring the TRGB in this galaxy, based on an analysis of 54 arcmin2 of HST/ACS imaging. After quantifying these uncertainties, we measure the TRGB in NGC 4258 to be F814W0 = 25.347 ± 0.014 (stat) ± 0.042 (sys) mag. Combined with a recent 1.5% megamaser distance to NGC 4258, we determine the absolute luminosity of the TRGB to be (stat) ± 0.048 (sys) mag. This new calibration agrees to better than 1% with an independent calibration presented in Freedman et al. that was based on detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs) located in the LMC.
Clinical Imaging-Derived Metrics of Corticospinal Tract Structural Integrity Are Associated With Post-stroke Motor Outcomes: A Retrospective Study

Objective The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate associations between clinical magnetic resonance imaging-based (MRI) metrics of corticospinal tract (CST) status and paretic upper extremity (PUE) motor recovery in patients that completed acute inpatient rehabilitation (AR) post-stroke. Methods We conducted a longitudinal chart review of patients post-stroke who received care in the Emory University Hospital system during acute hospitalization, AR, and outpatient therapy. We extracted demographic information, stroke characteristics, and longitudinal documentation of post-stroke motor function from institutional electronic medical records. Serial assessments of paretic shoulder abduction and finger extension were estimated (E-SAFE) and an estimated Action Research Arm Test (E-ARAT) score was used to quantify 3-month PUE motor function outcome. Clinically-diagnostic MRI were used to create lesion masks that were spatially normalized and overlaid onto a white matter tract atlas delineating CST contributions emanating from six cortical seed regions to obtain the percentage of CST lesion overlap. Metric associations were investigated with correlation and cluster analyses, Kruskal-Wallis tests, classification and regression tree analysis. Results Thirty-four patients met study eligibility criteria. All CST overlap percentages were correlated with E-ARAT however, ventral premotor tract (PMv) overlap was the only tract that remained significantly correlated after multiple comparisons adjustment. Lesion overlap percentage in CST contributions from all seed regions was significantly different between outcome categories. Using MRI metrics alone, dorsal premotor (PMd) and PMv tracts classified recovery outcome category with 79.4% accuracy. When clinical and MRI metrics were combined, AR E-SAFE, patient age, and overall CST lesion overlap classified patients with 88.2% accuracy. Conclusions Study findings revealed clinical MRI-derived CST lesion overlap was associated with PUE motor outcome post-stroke and that cortical projections within the CST, particularly those emanating from non-M1 cortical areas, prominently ventral premotor (PMv) and dorsal premotor (PMd) cortices, distinguished between PUE outcome groups. Exploratory predictive models using clinical MRI metrics, either alone or in combination with clinical measures, were able to accurately identify recovery outcome category for the study cohort during both the acute and early subacute phases of post-stroke recovery. Prospective studies are recommended to determine the predictive utility of including clinical imaging-based biomarkers of white matter tract structural integrity in predictive models of post-stroke recovery.
Strategic learning towards equilibrium. Exploratory analysis and models

This paper deals with strategic behavior of people, we observed from experiments. The research question, formulated in this work, is how players (mainly children) learn in complex strategic situations which they never faced before. We examine data from different games, played during popular lectures about game theory and present findings about players progress in strategic learning while competing with other players. Four “pick a number” games were investigated, all with similar-looking rules but very different properties. These games were introduced to very different groups of listeners. The data gathered is available in open repository for replication and analysis. In the work we analyse data and propose the agent-based model of beauty contest game, explaining observed behavior. Finally, we discuss the findings propose hypothesis to investigate and formulate open questions for future research.
Individual prevention and containment measures in schools in Catalonia, Spain, and community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 after school re-opening

Background Despite their clear lesser vulnerability to COVID-19, the extent by which children are susceptible to getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 and their capacity to transmit the infection to other people remains inadequately characterized. We aimed to evaluate the role of school reopening and the preventive strategies in place at schools in terms of overall risk for children and community transmission, by comparing transmission rates in children as detected by a COVID-19 surveillance platform in place in Catalonian Schools to the incidence at the community level. Methods and findings Infections detected in Catalan schools during the entire first trimester of classes (September-December 2020) were analysed and compared with the ongoing community transmission and with the modelled predicted number of infections. There were 30.486 infections (2.12%) documented among the circa 1.5M pupils, with cases detected in 54.0% and 97.5% of the primary and secondary centres, respectively. During the entire first term, the proportion of “bubble groups” (stable groups of children doing activities together) that were forced to undergo confinement ranged between 1 and 5%, with scarce evidence of substantial intraschool transmission in the form of chains of infections, and with ~75% of all detected infections not leading to secondary cases. Mathematical models were also used to evaluate the effect of different parameters related to the defined preventive strategies (size of the bubble group, number of days of confinement required by contacts of an index case). The effective reproduction number inside the bubble groups in schools (R*), defined as the average number of schoolmates infected by each primary case within the bubble, was calculated, yielding a value of 0.35 for primary schools and 0.55 for secondary schools, and compared with the outcomes of the mathematical model, implying decreased transmissibility for children in the context of the applied measures. Relative homogenized monthly cumulative incidence (rCIhom,j) was assessed to compare the epidemiological dynamics among different age groups and this analysis suggested the limited impact of infections in school-aged children in the context of the overall community incidence. Conclusions During the fall of 2020, SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases detected in Catalan schools closely mirrored the underlying community transmission from the neighbourhoods where they were set and maintaining schools open appeared to be safe irrespective of underlying community transmission. Preventive measures in place in those schools appeared to be working for the early detection and rapid containment of transmission and should be maintained for the adequate and safe functioning of normal academic and face-to-face school activities.
Ethics in healthcare: Knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

Background Nursing is a profession that care for personal and private aspects of people’s lives. Therefore, nurses need to know the basic ethical aspects of nursing which is integral in nursing practices. The purpose of the study was to describe the ethical knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Method A cross-section design was used to collect data from 264 nurses in three selected healthcare facilities in the Metropolis. A structured questionnaire was administered to all the categories of these nurses in the selected facilities. Frequency counts and multiple regression statistics were used to analyze the data. Results The results show 78% of nurses possess good ethical knowledge, 84% had a positive attitude, while 98% had good ethical practices. The results further show that nurses’ professional rank [F (1, 259), 2.35, p = . 02] and academic qualification [F (1, 259), 2.67, p = . 008] were significant predictors of their ethical knowledge and attitude, respectively. Conclusion Inadequate resources, poor set up of working areas and understaffing are the major barriers limiting the practice of good ethical standards among the nurses. The Regional Health Directorate, the Ministry of Health and the Managers in charge of the health facilities need to work together to eliminate these barriers as they have the potential to negatively impact quality healthcare delivery in the Metropolis.