Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perception, Planning, and Control for Autonomous Walking With the Ambler Planetary Rover

Producing a robotic system that can operate autonomously on other planets is a challenging task: The robot must be ex tremely self-reliant; it must be able to operate on a limited power budget; and it must be able to traverse a wide range of rugged terrain features. This article describes an integrated software system that combines perception, planning, real-time control, and task-level control to navigate autonomously the Ambler, a six-legged rover. The overall approach to walking is highly deliberative: Where actions are goal-directed, steps are planned out in detail using explicit models of the terrain and the vehicle, and moves are checked for safety prior to execution. We believe that this approach is well-suited to meet ing the challenges of reliability, efficiency, and terrainability faced by autonomous planetary rovers. The Ambler system has been extensively tested, both indoors and outdoors, and the results confirm our expectations regarding the degree of system capability and performance afforded by our approach.
Are Investors Ethics Agnostic

In this paper we ask if the perception investors have regarding ethical nature of the management per se influences their action. In order to check for rent seeking behaviour that could arise when there is negative perception regarding ethics, we look a single company’s management whose actions – though not related to the performance of the company – have led to doubts regarding its ethical nature. Using event study mechanism, we find that when the action leads to a positive outcome for the company, the investors’ reaction is statistically insignificant. However, when another action did not lead to any potential positive outcome, the abnormal returns associated with the company’s stock are negative and significant. Therefore, it is possible that unethical practices, even if unrelated to company’s performance, lead to lesser trust regarding the company, thereby reducing the stock prices, which suggests rent seeking behaviour.
Bleomycin iontophoretic therapy for verrucous carcinoma.

An 80-year-old Japanese man was evaluated for an asymptomatic, firm, rapidly growing tumor on his lower lip of about 3 months' duration. Findings from the physical examination showed a nontender, irregularly elevated keratotic lesion involving the left half of the lower lip and measuring 2.5 cm in length and 1.3 cm in width, with a moderate amount of induration in the center of the lesion (Fig 1). Slightly elevated whitish patches were noted around the keratotic lesion. Cervical adenopathy was not noted. Histologic sections from the lesion showed marked hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, and massive irregular acanthosis. The downward extension of the epithelium penetrated deeply into the underlying connective tissue. Keratin-filled crypts and cysts, often admixed with polymorphonuclear leukocytes, were seen. Nuclear atypia was absent in the deep portions of the tumor. A pronounced mixed inflammatory response was noted within the dermis. DIAGNOSIS Verrucous carcinoma of the lower lip. THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE Surgical excision is the preferred method in most cases for verrucous carcinoma, and the cure rate with this tech
Preservation of Scalarization Optimal Points in the Embedding Technique for Continuous Time Mean Variance Optimization

A continuous time mean variance (MV) problem optimizes the biobjective criteria $(\mathcal V,\mathcal E)$, representing variance $\mathcal V$ and expected value $\mathcal E$, respectively, of a random variable at the end of a time horizon $T$. This problem is computationally challenging since the dynamic programming principle cannot be directly applied to the variance criterion. An embedding technique has been proposed in [D. Li and W. L. Ng, Math. Finance, 10 (2000), pp. 387--406; X. Y. Zhou and D. Li, Appl. Math. Optim. , 42 (2000), pp. 19--33] to generate the set of MV scalarization optimal points, which is in general a subset of the MV Pareto optimal points. However, there are a number of complications when we apply the embedding technique in the context of a numerical algorithm. In particular, the frontier generated by the embedding technique may contain spurious points which are not MV optimal. In this paper, we propose a method to eliminate such points, when they exist. We show that the original MV .
Modified Pyrolytic Carbon Black from Scrap Tires and Its Reinforcement Performance in Natural Rubber

Carbon blacks are the most widely used reinforcing fillers. The raw material of carbon black manufacture depends on petroleum industry to a great extent. Reclamation of used tires is to be enormously significant as oil will be used up in the near future. Pyrolytic carbon black (PCB) is one of the most important products from the pyrolysis of scrap tires. One of the most essential applications for modified PCB is to reinforce the rubber matrix to obtain extra values. High inorganic ash content and a large amount of carbonaceous deposits on the surface of PCB confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM)are the two main barriers for PCB further application. Adsorption layer with an adequately thick could not be formed on the surface of PCB because of the lack of effective active sites. Techniques for PCB modification have been developed. The rubber vulcanization and reinforcement properties of pyrolytic and modified carbon black were investigated and compared with those of commercial carbon black. The crosslink structure, relaxation and self-diffusion properties were investigated by solid-state high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance respectively. Demineralization and modification with NDZ- 105 titan ate coupling agent not only intensify the interactions between carbon black and the neighboring polyisoprene chains, but also increase the chemical cross-link density of the vulcanized rubber with TWPC. TWPC could be used to replace the commercial semi-reinforcing carbon black.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and outcomes in persons with acute coronary syndromes: insights from the GRACE-ALT analysis

Objective Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but no data exist about the relation between NAFLD and adverse outcomes in persons with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a marker of NAFLD, in association adverse outcomes following ACS. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of participants enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) admitted for ACS to St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, between 1999 and 2007. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the change in maximum measured cardiac troponin I (cTnI) per each 1 IU/l increase in serum ALT concentration. The association between an elevated ALT >90th centile, and adverse outcomes in-hospital and at 6 months were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, serum creatinine, glucose, triglycerides and LDL-C, as well as chronic statin or other lipid-lowering agent use. Results 528 participants were included. Each 1 IU/l increase in ALT was associated with an increase in maximum measured cTnI of 0.16 µg/l (95% CI 0.10 to 0.22). An elevated ALT concentration >90th percentile was associated with a maximum measured cTnI in the highest quartile (adjusted OR 7.07, 95% CI 1.83 to 27.37). An elevated ALT >90th percentile was also significantly associated with all-cause mortality in-hospital, and up to 6 months after discharge (adjusted OR 8.96, 95% CI 3.28 to 24.49). Conclusions NAFLD, determined by an elevated serum ALT, is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in persons with ACS. Whether ALT is a valid and independent prognostic marker in ACS remains to be determined.
Outdoor Enthusiasts' Perceptions of Hunting and Animal Welfare

Researchers in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University conducted an online survey of 872 outdoor enthusiasts from across the United States with regard to their outdoor activities, views on animal welfare, and perceptions of food safety for a variety of domestic and wild animals. Outdoor enthusiasts are individuals who regularly fish, hunt or participate in other outdoor activities such as hiking and/or camping. Of those surveyed, 63 percent regularly fished, 27 percent regularly hunted and 79 percent regularly participated in other outdoor activities. Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated they had altered their meat consumption in response to food safety concerns, while 32 percent indicated they had done so in response to animal welfare concerns. Most respondents, 93 percent, agreed with hunting to obtain food, and 95 percent agreed with fishing to obtain food. More than half of respondents reported being concerned for the welfare of bison, beef cattle and dairy cattle. Meanwhile, one quarter or more of respondents were unconcerned with the welfare of deer, feral pigs, farmed pigs, chickens, wild turkey and catfish.
Methods Used in Economic Evaluations of Testing and Diagnosis for Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review

Objective There are multiple tests available that can help diagnose ovarian cancer, and the cost-effective analysis of these diagnostic interventions is essential for making well-informed decisions regarding resource allocation. There are multiple factors that can impact on the conclusions drawn from economic evaluations including test accuracy, the impact of the testing pathway on patient costs and outcomes, and delays along the ovarian cancer test-treat pathway. The objective of this study was to evaluate how test accuracy, the choice of perspective, and delays along the testing and diagnostic pathway have been incorporated in economic evaluations of testing for ovarian cancer. Methods A systematic review of published literature was undertaken to identify economic evaluations (eg, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility analysis) focused on testing and diagnosis for ovarian cancer. Results Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies incorporated test accuracy and its impact on patients to some extent. Four studies adopted a societal perspective, but only one considered the costs incurred by patients on the testing and diagnosis pathway. Where delays on the testing pathway were incorporated into the analysis, these were frequently due to false-negative test results leading to delays in patients accessing treatment. Any anxiety that patients might experience as a result of a positive test was not considered in these studies. Conclusions The impact on patients of receiving a positive test in terms of anxiety and the costs incurred by patients having to attend for testing and diagnosis are rarely considered. Delays along the testing and diagnosis pathway can have a major effect on patient outcomes, and it is important that these are acknowledged in economic evaluations focused on testing. Future economic analysis should incorporate these key determinants in order that diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer can be robustly evaluated.
Design of a sinusoidal signal generator with calibrated harmonic cancellation for mixed-signal BIST in a 28 nm FDSOI technology

This work presents the design of a high-frequency on-chip sinusoidal signal generator based on a calibrated harmonic cancellation strategy. The proposed generator employs a digital shift-register to provide a set of phase-shifted digital square-wave signals. These square-wave signals are scaled and combined using a harmonic cancellation strategy in a simplified current-steering DAC with only five branches. The proposed architecture allows the cancellation of all harmonic components up to the eleventh. Additionally, a simple calibration strategy has been devised to compensate the impact of process variations and mismatch on the effectiveness of the harmonic cancellation. The simplicity of the circuitry makes this approach suitable for mixed-signal BIST applications. Electrical simulations of a 28 nm FDSOI design are provided to validate the functionality of the proposed signal generator. Obtained results show a calibrated performance around 70 dB of SFDR for a generated sinusoidal signal at 166 MHz.
Tissue‐specific expression of Cre recombinase from the Tgfb3 locus

Tgfb3, a member of the TGF‐β superfamily, is tightly regulated, both spatially and temporally, during embryogenesis. Previous mouse knockout studies have demonstrated that Tgfb3 is absolutely required for normal palatal fusion and pulmonary development. We have generated a novel tool to ablate genes in Tgfb3‐expressing cells by targeting the promoterless Cre‐pgk‐Neo cassette into exon 1 of the mouse Tgfb3 gene, which generates a functionally null Tgfb3 allele. Using the Rosa26 reporter assay, we demonstrate that Cre‐induced recombination was already induced at embryonal day 10 (E10) in the ventricular myocardium, limb buds, and otic vesicles. At E14, robust recombination was detected in the prefusion palatal epithelium. Deletion of the TGF‐β type I receptor Alk5 (Tgfbr1) specifically in Tgfb3 expressing cells using the Tgfb3‐Cre driver line lead to a cleft palate phenotype similar to that seen in conventional Tgfb3 null mutants. In addition, Alk5/ Tgfb3‐Cre mice displayed hydrocephalus, and severe intracranial bleeding due to germinal matrix hemorrhage. genesis 46:112–118, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RHD alleles and D antigen density among serologically D− C+ Brazilian blood donors

Dear Sir, The D-negative phenotype may be caused by the lack of functional RhD protein or by the presence of aberrant forms of RhD not expressing the D antigen. Numerous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) changes in the RHD gene are currently known. The weak D has been shown to be caused by SNPs in most cases, leading to amino acid changes in the transmembraneous, or intracellular, parts of the D protein, consequently showing reduced D antigen density (Wagner et al., 1999; Wagner et al., 2000). Very weakly expressed weak D, or D only detectable by adsorption-elution techniques, named DELs, were frequently unidentified by routine serologic procedures, and large groups of completely unexpressed RHD alleles only became evident by DNA-typing methods (Gassner et al., 2005). Several studies have confirmed unexpressed RHD alleles in association with D − Ce or cE phenotypes (Gassner et al., 2005; Christiansen et al., 2010). The frequency of phenotypes dCcee and dccEe in the Brazilian population is approximately 0·6 and 0·2%, respectively (Cruz et al., 2012). At our Blood Centre, we consider C/E+ and D− blood donors as RhD-negative and therefore their blood is transfused into RhD-negative patients. Thus, in the present study we decided to investigate the molecular background in Brazilian blood donors phenotyped as D−C/E+. In addition, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the D antigen expressed by RBCs of D variants were performed. We investigated 520 blood donors from Southeast (São Paulo, SP) Brazil labelled D−C/E+ confirmed by the commercial anti-D Immunoglobulin G (IgG) (MS-26) + IgM (TH-28) and polyclonal antibodies against C, c, E and e (DiaMed, Latino América S.A., Brazil). The samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with sequence-specific primers for the presence of RHD in two genomic regions, intron 4 (primers RHI41 and RHI42) and exon 10 (primers EX10F, RHD3′-UTR and RHCE 3′-UTR). Samples identified as RHD gene-positive were sequenced in full length for all 10 RHD exons (Legler et al., 2001; Qun et al., 2005). The sequences were analysed using a sequencing Kit (Big Dye Terminator v1.1, applied Biosystems, Weiterstadt, Germany) and a genetic analyser (ABI 3100, Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The samples that have demonstrated the RHD variants by the molecular methods were further analysed with different antiD MoAbs, by gel cards using anti-D MoAbs IgG (clone ESD1) (DiaMed, Latino América S.A., Brazil) and by haemagglutination
Product Experience and Stock Price Efficiency

We show that product using experience can improve stock price efficiency. Based on U.S consumer expenditure data from 1998 to 2015, we construct a consumption-based proxy for product experience at firm level. We find that investors incorporate both industry and firm specific information into stock price more quickly when they have more experience with relevant firm’s products. This effect is stronger if more individual investors are present. Analyst coverage only enhances price efficiency for non-consumer-goods firms. These results suggest that product experience can help unsophisticated investors to develop recognition and knowledge about firms’ business and to process information more efficiently. With product experience, people may not diligently read analyst reports.
Retail Therapy: The Impact of Therapeutic Motivation, Therapeutic Value, and Retail Environment, on Customer’s Purchase Intention: SCBTII Proceeding Book The 7th Smart Collaboration for Business in Tehcnology and Information Industries

As the number of people experiencing anxiety and stress increases, retail therapy might be use to reduce the stress level. Retailers may benefit from this situation by differentiating their marketi ng strategy, especially their physical evidence. Previous research has concluded retail therapy as the mood - alleviative consumption behavio u r. Furthermore, previous research also identified various therapeutic values and motivations that might lead to mood - alleviative consumption behavio u r. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how retail therapy, both the therapeutic values and motivations, and the physical surrounding, as part of a marketing strategy, may influence customer's purchase intention. The writer will conduct a survey and distribute the questionnaire to collect data from 400 shoppers in Bandung. Then, d ata will be tested using descriptive analysis and path analysis . The important finding to emerge was that retail environments do have an imp act on customer purchase intention especially in the ambiance and signage and have effect in therapeutic way. The r esult would be beneficial for both academic and managers since it will investigate the direct impact of therapeutic values and motivations an d physical evidence on customer's purchase intention. Moreover, managers would have a new knowledge about parts of physical evidence which have significant impact to customer’s purchase intention.
Structure-aware Content Creation

Nowadays, access to digital information has become ubiquitous, while threedimensional visual representation is becoming indispensable to knowledge understanding and information retrieval. Three-dimensional digitization plays a natural role in bridging connections between the real and virtual world, which prompt the huge demand for massive three-dimensional digital content. But reducing the effort required for three-dimensional modeling has been a practical problem, and long standing challenge in compute graphics and related fields. In this thesis, we propose several techniques for lightening up the content creation process, which have the common theme of being structure-aware, i. e. , maintaining global relations among the parts of shape. We are especially interested in formulating our algorithms such that they make use of symmetry structures, because of their concise yet highly abstract principles are universally applicable to most regular patterns. We introduce our work from three different aspects in this thesis. First, we characterized spaces of symmetry preserving deformations, and developed a method to explore this space in real-time, which significantly simplified the generation of symmetry preserving shape variants. Second, we empirically studied three-dimensional offset statistics, and developed a fully automatic retargeting application, which is based on verified sparsity. Finally, we made step forward in solving the approximate three-dimensional partial symmetry detection problem, using a novel co-occurrence analysis method, which could serve as the foundation to high-level applications.
The Impact of Intellectual Capital on Organizational Effectiveness: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Sectors in India

Due to significant global market opportunities and challenges, organizations are seeking to become strategy-focused, encouraging the management researchers globally to study strategically progressive and fruitful management practices that could maximize overall organizational effectiveness. Intellectual capital is widely considered as a dynamic value concept which positively affects the organizational performance (Bontis, 1998). Since organizational effectiveness is considered as a wholesome and a comprehensive measure to gauge organizational performance (Lee and Choi, 2003), this study attempts to explore the impact of intellectual capital and its components on organizational effectiveness of public and private sectors in India. Collective sample response of 420 respondents, from both the sectors, was collected through standardized questionnaires and subjected to regression analysis through SPSS v20. The findings reveal that the impact of intellectual capital on organizational effectiveness is higher in public sector organizations than in private sector organizations. Human capital and structural capital, and not customer capital, impact the organizational effectiveness in public sector organizations, whereas all the three components of intellectual capital impact organizational effectiveness in private sector organizations.
Estimates of Duck Breeding Populations in the Nebraska Sandhills using Double Observer Methodology

Abstract. The Nebraska Sandhills are an important area for breeding ducks in the Great Plains, but reliable estimates of breeding populations are unavailable. Double-observer methodology was used to estimate abundance of breeding duck populations in the Nebraska Sandhills. Aerial transect surveys were conducted using methodology similar to the cooperative Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service. Observations by two front-seat observers and one rear-seat observer were used to account for incomplete detectability. Transect-specific population size and detection probabilities were estimated using program SURVIV; estimates were species-specific by type of social grouping. Regional population sizes were obtained by extrapolating transects' estimates to the Sandhills. Detection probabilities were high (>0.75) for all species, but highest for Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) and Gadwall (A. strepera). Detection probabilities generally followed increases or decreases with duck densities. Uncorrected population estimates, on average, were <7% the population estimates obtained by correcting for detectability. Double-observer methodology should be considered for adjusting duck counts that cannot be corrected using additional aerial or ground surveys, particularly where water and ducks are well dispersed.
Evaluation of repeatability for the automatic estimation of endothelial cell density in donor corneas

Background/Aims: The repeatability of an automatic system for estimation of endothelial cell density (ECD) from microscopy images in donor corneas was assessed. Methods: A computer program for the automatic ECD estimation from frequency analysis was previously presented. An evaluation of its repeatability was performed on a data set containing 200 corneas by assessing the accuracy and precision of automatic versus manual values. For each cornea, 2–21 images (1536 total) at 100× for automatic ECD and one image at 200× for manual ECD were available. Results: Accuracy of automatic ECDs was −45 (SD 99) cells/mm2 (−2% (4%)). Precision of repeated automatic ECDs on the same cornea was 62 (30) cells/mm2 (3% (1%)). The algorithm was also capable of identifying all non-processable images. Conclusion: The proposed automatic technique proved to be reliable for its routine use in a typical eye bank setting like the one considered here.