Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Heuristic Strategy for Learning in Partially Observable and Non-Markovian Domains

Robotic applications are characterized by highly dynamic domains, where the agent has neither full control of the environment nor full observability. In those cases a Markovian model of the domain, able to capture all the aspects that the agent might need to predict, is generally not available or excessively complex. Moreover, robots pose relevant constraints on the amount of experience they can afford, moving the focus of learning their behavior from reaching optimality in the limit, to making the best use of the little information available. We consider the problem of finding the best deterministic policy in a Non-Markovian Decision Process, with a special attention to the sample complexity and the transitional behavior before such a policy is reached. We would like robotic agents to learn in real time while being deployed in the environment, and their behavior to be acceptable even while learning.
DroidLogger: Reveal suspicious behavior of Android applications via instrumentation

As the mobile devices increased rapidly in recent years, mobile malware is becoming a severe threat to users. Traditional malware detection uses signature-based methods, but these methods can be evaded by obfuscation or polymorphism. So the behavior-based detection techniques were proposed recently. To capture the apps' behavior, previous works either use OS level tool such as strace to capture system call, or intercept high level API by modifying the virtual machine. However, the information retrieved from the former method is too difficult to understand the program's behavior, and the technique used in latter method requires to modify the emulator, which it is not compatible when the Android version upgrade. In this paper, we proposed a new light-weight method to understand the applications' behavior by logging program's API and corresponding arguments. We build the logging system DroidLogger, which instruments the logging code into the application binary, and prints out the API usage information at run time. We analyzed several malware and show DroidLogger can reveal the malicious behavior effectively.
Metaphoric Perception of Coach Candidates towards Swimming Discipline: A Qualitative, Cognitive Research.

This research evinces the value of the multidimensional perceptions of the metaphors towards swimming discipline and its relevant certain contexts according to swimming coach candidates. In this article, we used qualitative research paradigm away from positivist approaches to describe and interpret stories and personal experiences of the participants. Fifty-five undergraduate senior students who studied in the department of coaching education in a large South-eastern university were secured homogenously (aged between 21 and 29). Using a semi-structured interview form, data were generated based on six predetermined contexts: swimming, swimming coach, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Each context focused participants’ metaphor generation processes. As data generation continued, we also intended to be participant-observer to gain epistemological privilege by participating in and experiencing what is going on. Within the predetermined contexts, thematic analysis conducted through a software package of NVivo 11 Plus emerged seventeen conditions (sub-themes). In the portrait gallery of metaphoric perceptions of coach candidates towards swimming discipline, we found variety in the mental images of each context.
DEVOE AND PISANO : MODELING AND DESIGN OF PIEZOELECTRIC CANTILEVER MICROACTUATORS

A novel model is described for predicting the static behavior of a piezoelectric cantilever actuator with an arbitrary configuration of elastic and piezoelectric layers. The model is compared to deflection measurements obtained from 500m-long ZnO cantilever actuators fabricated by surface micromachining. Modeled and experimental results demonstrate the utility of the model for optimizing device design. A discussion of design considerations and optimization of device performance is presented. [233]
Data curation standards and the messy world of social science occupational information resources

This is a pre-print version of a paper from 2nd International Digital Curation Conference, 21-22 Nov 2006 published by Digital Curation Centre. http://www.dcc. ac.uk/events/conferences/2nd-international-digital-curation-conference-digital-data-curation-practice.
Metabolome Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster during Embryogenesis

The Drosophila melanogaster embryo has been widely utilized as a model for genetics and developmental biology due to its small size, short generation time, and large brood size. Information on embryonic metabolism during developmental progression is important for further understanding the mechanisms of Drosophila embryogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the changes in embryos’ metabolome that occur at different stages of the Drosophila embryonic development. Time course samples of Drosophila embryos were subjected to GC/MS-based metabolome analysis for profiling of low molecular weight hydrophilic metabolites, including sugars, amino acids, and organic acids. The results showed that the metabolic profiles of Drosophila embryo varied during the course of development and there was a strong correlation between the metabolome and different embryonic stages. Using the metabolome information, we were able to establish a prediction model for developmental stages of embryos starting from their high-resolution quantitative metabolite composition. Among the important metabolites revealed from our model, we suggest that different amino acids appear to play distinct roles in different developmental stages and an appropriate balance in trehalose-glucose ratio is crucial to supply the carbohydrate source for the development of Drosophila embryo.
A Comprehensive Empirical Study on Linear Subspace Methods for Facial Expression Analysis

Automatic facial expression analysis is a vital component of intelligent Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). In this paper, we present a extensive empirical study on linear subspace methods for facial expression analysis. Locality Preserving Projections (LPP) and Orthogonal Neighborhood Preserving Projections (ONPP) are first time applied to facial expression analysis. We systematically examine a number of linear subspace methods, and show that, in our comparative studies, the Supervised LPP (SLPP) is superior in supervised methods, while ONPP performs best in unsupervised learning.
(cid:1) 1 -Adrenergic receptor activation induces mouse cardiac myocyte death through both L-type calcium channel-dependent and -independent pathways

1 -Adrenergic receptor activation induces mouse cardiac myocyte death through both L-type calcium channel-dependent and -independent pathways. diseases persistently increase the contractility demands of cardiac myocytes, which require activation of the sympathetic nervous system and subsequent increases in myocyte Ca 2 (cid:2) transients. Persistent exposure to sympathetic and/or Ca 2 (cid:2) stress is associated with myocyte death. This study examined the respective roles of persistent (cid:1) -adrenergic receptor ( (cid:1) -AR) agonist exposure and high Ca 2 (cid:2) concentration in myocyte death. Ventricular myocytes (VMs) were isolated from transgenic (TG) mice with cardiac-speciﬁc and inducible expression of the (cid:1) 2a -subunit of the L-type Ca 2 (cid:2) channel (LTCC). VMs were cultured, and the rate of myocyte death was measured in the presence of isoproterenol (ISO), other modulators of Ca 2 (cid:2) handling and the (cid:1) -adrenergic system, and inhibitors of caspases and reactive oxygen species generation. The rate of myocyte death was greater in TG vs. wild-type myocytes and accelerated by ISO in both groups, although ISO did not increase LTCC current ( I Ca-L ) in TG-VMs. Nifedipine, an LTCC antagonist, only partially prevented myocyte death. These results suggest both LTCC-dependent and -independent mechanisms in ISO induced myocyte death. ISO increased the contractility of wild type and TG-VMs by enhancing sarcoplasmic reticulum function and inhibiting sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca 2 (cid:2) -ATPase, Na (cid:2) /Ca 2 (cid:2) exchanger, and CaMKII partially protected myocyte from death induced by both Ca 2 (cid:2) and ISO. Caspase and reactive oxygen species inhibitors did not, but (cid:1) 2 -AR activation did, reduce myocyte death induced by enhanced I Ca-L and ISO stimulation. Our results suggest that catecholamines induce myocyte necrosis primarily through (cid:1) 1 -AR-mediated increases in I Ca-L , but other mechanisms are also in- volved in rodents.
Modeling Human Motion Using Binary Latent Variables

We propose a non-linear generative model for human motion data that uses an undirected model with binary latent variables and real-valued "visible" variables that represent joint angles. The latent and visible variables at each time step receive directed connections from the visible variables at the last few time-steps. Such an architecture makes on-line inference efficient and allows us to use a simple approximate learning procedure. After training, the model finds a single set of parameters that simultaneously capture several different kinds of motion. We demonstrate the power of our approach by synthesizing various motion sequences and by performing on-line filling in of data lost during motion capture.
Analysis of the directed and nondirected movement of human granulocytes: influence of temperature and ECHO 9 virus on N- formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine-induced chemokinesis and chemotaxis

The directed movement of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in a plane (Zigmond chamber assay) is described by a statistical model. We demonstrate that (a) the movement of a single cell is a superposition of a directed and a random movement, and (b) the degree of orientation, P1, of moving cells in a chemotactic gradient can be determined either by the time average of a single cell or by the average of movement of multiple cells at a fixed time (Ergoden hypothesis). However, an homogeneous cell population is a necessary condition. P1, which is identical with the McCutcheon index, is derived from the measured angular distribution function of moving cells. The statistical model allows one to distinguish between chemotaxis and chemokinesis. Applying this model to the temperature-dependent changes of cell movement, we found that P1 = 0.82 (37 degrees C) decreased to P1 = 0.4 (22 degrees C). The average speed of moving cells exhibits a very strong temperature-dependent variation from 30 microns/min (37 degrees C) to 5 microns/min (22 degrees C), indicating a different temperature dependence of chemotaxis and chemokinesis. At a fixed temperature (37 degrees C) the stability of the chemotactic gradient can also be checked by the angular distribution function. In addition, this model was applied to investigate the enteric cytopathogenic human orphan, strain 9 (ECHO 9) virus-induced disturbances of cell movement. We found: (a) The average speed of cell movement is not affected by the virus. (b) The degree of orientation is not affected for virus doses below a critical virus dose, ao (virus/PMN = 0.8:1). (c) The degree of orientation above this critical value exhibits a time- and virus-dose- dependence. (d) At a fixed viral dose, the time-dependent decrease of P1 is described by an exponential law (virus/PMN = 5:1, the characteristic time is 110 min). (e) This characteristic time investigated as a function of viral dose results in a logarithmic law analogous with the Weber-Fechner law. These findings indicate that only chemotactic and not chemokinetic response is disturbed by ECHO 9 virus.
Integrating Online-Offline Interactions to Explain Societal Challenges

Malgre une litterature abondante sur les consequences des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC), cette litterature n'aborde que trop peu les consequences societales, qu'elles soient positives ou negatives, intentionnelles ou non. Parce que les interactions se propagent au-dela de l'espace en ligne et de ces consequences paradoxales, les defis societaux sont un probleme complexe. C'est pour ces raisons que nous avons besoin d'une meilleure comprehension des problemes sociaux complexes. Pour ce faire, nous avons adopte le modele de la these sur travaux. Les trois etudes de ce travail de doctorat adoptent une approche qualitative et un positionnement realiste critique. Nous examinons un premier cas : celui du Printemps Arabe et l'utilisation de Facebook. Etudier ces types d'evenements contemporains ne vient pas sans difficultes analytiques. Par consequent, nous utilisons un outil d'analyse semiotique pour faire face a la complexite representationnelle des donnees recueillies. Enfin, les communautes en ligne peuvent egalement generer des couts sociaux en fournissant un espace se faisant l'echo a des comportements socialement indesirables.
Fast Graph Pattern Matching

Due to rapid growth of the Internet technology and new scientific/technological advances, the number of applications that model data as graphs increases, because graphs have high expressive power to model complicated structures. The dominance of graphs in real-world applications asks for new graph data management so that users can access graph data effectively and efficiently. In this paper, we study a graph pattern matching problem over a large data graph. The problem is to find all patterns in a large data graph that match a user-given graph pattern. We propose a new two-step R-join (reachability join) algorithm with filter step and fetch step based on a cluster- based join-index with graph codes. We consider the filter step as an R-semijoin, and propose a new optimization approach by interleaving R-joins with R-semijoins. We conducted extensive performance studies, and confirm the efficiency of our proposed new approaches.
Debate on political reforms in Twitter: A hashtag-driven analysis of political polarization

Political debates about a reform may sparkle national controversies, by leading members of the community to polarize their opinions and sentiment about the topic addressed. With the rise of social media like Twitter users are encouraged to voice and share their strong and polarized views and in general people are exposed to broader viewpoints than they were before. The large amount of user-generated social data available is a great opportunity to investigate the communicative behaviors emerging in the context of such political debates and to shed some light on the way communities of users with different roles in the society and different political sentiment interact. In this paper we focussed on communications in Twitter around the reform of marriage in France in 2012 and 2013 - “Le Mariage Pour Tous” - which had been the subject of debate and controversy. We collected a corpus of tweets tagged by the hashtag #mariagepourtous, created to mark the messages about the reform. We applied different kinds of analysis on our dataset based on linguistic and non linguistic features of the observed data in order to investigate the communicative behavior in using subjective and evaluative language on a political topic. The analysis leaded also to reflect on the impact of different typologies of users involved in the virtual debate which included both political messages created by media organizations and by other individual users, from ordinary citizens to politicians or celebrities.
A direct conversion transceiver for multi-band GSM application

The use of direct conversion receiver topologies has been marked by many technical problems, particularly when used in a TDMA environment. This paper describes a receiver architecture that overcomes many of the traditional problems associated with direct conversion. This architecture has been applied in the design of a GSM multi-band transceiver that also features a development of the offset PLL transmitter together with a fast locking fractional-N synthesizer.
Server Placement for Peer-to-Peer Live Streaming Systems

With the rapid growth of the scale, complexity and heterogeneity of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems, the handle of the peer’s network-oblivious traffic and self-organization has become a great challenge. A potential solution is to deploy servers at different locations as appropriate. However, due to the unique features and requirements of P2P systems, the traditional placement models cannot yield the desirable service performance. In this paper, we propose an efficient server placement model for P2P live streaming systems. Compared to the existing solutions, this model takes the Internet service provider (ISP) friendly problem into account and can reduce the cross-network traffic among ISPs. Meanwhile, the peers’ contribution is introduced into our model, which makes it more suitable for P2P live streaming systems. Moreover, we deploy servers based on the theoretical solution subject to practical data and apply them to realistic live streaming applications. The experiment results show that our model can reduce the amount of cross-network traffic, improve the efficiency of systems, has a better adaptability to Internet environment, and is more suitable for P2P systems than the traditional placement models.
IL-15 Activates the Jak3/STAT3 Signaling Pathway to Mediate Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle Cells

Myokines are specialized cytokines that are secreted from skeletal muscle (SKM) in response to metabolic stimuli, such as exercise. Interleukin‐15 (IL‐15) is a myokine with potential to reduce obesity and increase lean mass through induction of metabolic processes. It has been previously shown that IL‐15 acts to increase glucose uptake in SKM cells. However, the downstream signals orchestrating the link between IL‐15 signaling and glucose uptake have not been fully explored. Here we employed the mouse SKM C2C12 cell line to examine potential downstream targets of IL‐15‐induced alterations in glucose uptake. Following differentiation, C2C12 cells were treated overnight with 100 ng/ml of IL‐15. Activation of factors associated with glucose metabolism (Akt and AMPK) and known downstream targets of IL‐15 (Jak1, Jak3, STAT3, and STAT5) were assessed with IL‐15 stimulation. IL‐15 stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. IL‐15 treatment had no effect on phospho‐Akt, phospho‐Akt substrates, phospho‐AMPK, phospho‐Jak1, or phospho‐STAT5. However, with IL‐15, phospho‐Jak3 and phospho‐STAT3 levels were increased along with increased interaction of Jak3 and STAT3. Additionally, IL‐15 induced a translocation of phospho‐STAT3 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. We have evidence that a mediator of glucose uptake, HIF1α, expression was dependent on IL‐15 induced STAT3 activation. Finally, upon inhibition of STAT3 the positive effects of IL‐15 on glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation were abolished. Taken together, we provide evidence for a novel signaling pathway for IL‐15 acting through Jak3/STAT3 to regulate glucose metabolism.
Post-disaster Situational Analysis from WhatsApp Group Chats of Emergency Response Providers

Use of social media has established itself as one of the important information carriers in the field of disaster management. However, use of Twitter and Facebook by victims, first responders and others generates information that is varied, unstructured and unreliable. On the other hand, NGOs, operating in the disaster area, are often involved in intra-organizational communication using messaging apps like WhatsApp
Output Feedback Controller Design for a Class of MIMO Nonlinear Systems Using High-Order Sliding-Mode Differentiators With Application to a Laboratory 3-D Crane

This paper addresses the problem of output feedback control design for a class of multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems where the number of inputs is less than that of outputs. There are two difficulties in this design problem: (1) too few control inputs will not generally allow independent control over all outputs and (2) the state of the system is not available for measurements, and only the outputs are available through measurements. To address the first issue, a practical output feedback control problem is formulated, aiming to regulate only part of the outputs, and a controller structure with two design components in all or some chosen control inputs is proposed. To cope with the second difficulty, the recently developed high-order sliding mode differentiators (HOSMDs) are used to estimate the derivatives of the outputs needed in the controller design. With the derivatives estimated using HOSMDs, an output feedback controller is designed using the backstepping approach. Stability results are established for the designed controller under certain conditions. In order to test the applicability of the proposed output feedback controller in practical industrial problems, experiments are carried out though implementing the controller on a laboratory-scale 3-D crane. The experimental results are presented and reveal the advantage of the proposed controller structure, as well as the effect of controller gain and sampling periods.
Visual Tracking of Vehicles using Multiresolution Analysis and Neural Network

This paper describes the procedure for detection and tracking of a vehicle from an on-road image sequence taken by a monocular video capturing device in real time. The main objective of such a visual tracking system is to closely follow objects in each frame of a video stream, such that the object position as well as other geometric information are always known. In the tracking system described, the video capturing device is also moving. It is a challenge to detect and track a moving vehicle under a constantly changing environment coupled to real time video processing. The system suggested is robust to implement under different illuminating conditions by using the monocular video capturing device. The vehicle tracking algorithm is one of the most important modules in an autonomous vehicle system, not only it should be very accurate but also must have the safety of other vehicles, pedestrians, and the moving vehicle itself. In order to achieve this an algorithm of multi resolution technique based on Haar basis functions were used for the wavelet transform, where a combination of classification was carried out with the multilayer feed forward neural network. The classification is done in a reduced dimensional space, where principle component analysis (PCA) dimensional reduction technique has been applied to make the classification process much more efficient. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Bioinformatics Tools Allow Targeted Selection of Chromosome Enumeration Probes and Aneuploidy Detection

Accurate determination of cellular chromosome complements is a highly relevant issue beyond prenatal/pre-implantation genetic analyses or stem cell research, because aneusomy may be an important mechanism by which organisms control the rate of fetal cellular proliferation and the fate of regenerating tissues. Typically, small amounts of individual cells or nuclei are assayed by in situ hybridization using chromosome-specific DNA probes. Careful probe selection is fundamental to successful hybridization experiments. Numerous DNA probes for chromosome enumeration studies are commercially available, but their use in multiplexed hybridization assays is hampered due to differing probe-specific hybridization conditions or a lack of a sufficiently large number of different reporter molecules. Progress in the International Human Genome Project has equipped the scientific community with a wealth of unique resources, among them recombinant DNA libraries, physical maps, and data-mining tools. Here, we demonstrate how bioinformatics tools can become an integral part of simple, yet powerful approaches to devise diagnostic strategies for detection of aneuploidy in interphase cells. Our strategy involving initial in silico optimization steps offers remarkable savings in time and costs during probe generation, while at the same time significantly increasing the assay’s specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility.