Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A robust gesture detection and recognition algorithm for domestic robot interactions

An algorithm for the robust detection and recognition of gestures for the interaction between human and a domestic floor cleaner robot is presented. The gestures are selected through a user study, in which the participants are asked to show natural gestures to the robot in given specific interaction scenarios. The gestures selected are those repeated by majority of participants and consist both commanding (say start cleaning) and social interaction (say greeting) gestures. The gesture recognition algorithm is developed using a combination of robust angular, positional, and directional features. The frontal and sagittal plains of human body are identified and invariant angular features are extracted from the skeletal data of a Kinect sensor. Robust positional and directional features are extracted by skeletal reconstruction using the invariant angular features and link rotation matrices. Dynamic time warping of features is done to make the algorithm robust to gesturing speed. Gestures are detected and recognized by calculating multiclass probability estimates by pairwise coupling method. The algorithm provided 97.26% recognition accuracy for a ten class robot commanding gesture database collected from multiple subjects.
Representing Urban Phenomena in Their Context and at Different LoD: from Raw Data to Appropriate LoD

More than half of the world population lives in cities today. This proportion rises to 80% in developed countries. The density of urban population causes environmental troubles such as noise, urban heat waves, and chemical pollutions or magnetic pollution. Sensors and models are used to improve knowledge related to these phenomena particularly in cities. The aim of our research is to propose methods to view these phenomena in contextualised ways and at different levels of details. In the context of data exploration, we wish to generate from the initial phenomena data other levels of detail to allow the visual perception of the information at different visual scale. We also propose symbols that resist as well as possible to scale change and without excessive covering the other information such as streets, buildings or names. The first solutions presented in this paper are implemented and illustrated through two examples: nocturne temperature in Paris with very sparse initial data and concentration of chlorine with very dense initial data.
Visual tracking based on object appearance and structure preserved local patches matching

Drift is the most difficult issue in object visual tracking based on framework of “tracking-by-detection”. Due to the self-taught learning, the mis-aligned samples are potentially to be incorporated in learning and degrade the discrimination of the tracker. This paper proposes a new tracking approach that resolves this problem by three multi-level collaborative components: a high-level global appearance tracker provides a basic prediction, upon which the structure preserved low-level local patches matching helps to guarantee precise tracking with minimized drift. Those local patches are deliberately deployed on the foreground object via foreground/background segmentation, which is realized by a simple and efficient classifier trained by super-pixel segments. Experimental results show that the three closely collaborated components enable our tracker runs in real time and performs favourably against state-of-the-art approaches on challenging benchmark sequences.
Isolation of a subpopulation of glycoprotein IIb-III from platelet membranes that is bound to membrane actin

Triton X-100-insoluble residues, or skeletons, of plasma membrane-rich vesicles obtained from unstimulated human platelets were isolated by high speed centrifugation. About 10-15% of the total surface iodinatable glycoproteins IIb and III (GPIIb and GPIII, respectively) co-isolated with the insoluble fraction. After sonication and centrifugation the solubilized material was further purified by affinity chromatography on Lens culinaris lectin-Sepharose. SDS PAGE analysis of this material revealed the presence of at least three major proteins, which were shown to be GPIIb, GPIII, and membrane actin, as judged by their electrophoretic properties and on the basis of immunological criteria. Antibodies directed against platelet surface glycoproteins and antibodies directed against rabbit actin were able to immunoprecipitate all three proteins, which indicates that they were noncovalently associated with one another. Gel filtration of the Lens lectin-purified Triton-insoluble complex on Ultrogel AcA 22 showed that greater than 85% of the total surface GPIIb and III was associated with an actin-rich peak that eluted in the void volume. In contrast, the form of GPIIb-III present in the Triton-soluble membrane fraction behaved as monomeric species when chromatographed under identical conditions. Finally, the GPIIb-III membrane actin complex bound with high efficiency to rabbit f-actin in vitro in a Ca++-independent manner, whereas the monomeric forms found in the Triton-soluble fraction did not bind to actin. These results indicate that two forms of GPIIb and III exist: one that binds directly to endogenous membrane actin and one that does not.
NP-hardness of polytope M-matrix testing and related problems

In this note we prove NP-hardness of the following problem: Given a set of matrices, is there a convex combination of those that is a nonsingular M-matrix? Via known characterizations of M-matrices, our result establishes NP-hardness of several fundamental problems in systems analysis and control, such as testing the instability of an uncertain dynamical system, and minimizing the spectral radius of an affine matrix function.
Toward a Rayleigh Wave Attenuation Model for Eurasia

We are characterizing Rayleigh wave attenuation for Eurasia using tomographic inversion of surface-wave amplitude data. These attenuation models will be used to calibrate the regional surface-wave magnitude scale and to extend the teleseismic Ms-mb event discriminant to regional distances. Our research is based on the successful proofof-concept study conducted by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) researchers to develop a 20-s Rayleigh wave attenuation model for central and southeastern Asia. In order to minimize amplitude measurement errors caused by multipathing, focusing, and source uncertainty, LANL designed a measurement tool incorporating the phase-match filtering technique. The Surface Wave Amplitude Measurement TOOL (SWAMTOOL) proved effective in making reliable surface-wave amplitude measurements. A two-step inversion technique was employed using both two-station amplitude ratios and single-station amplitudes to better constrain the attenuation model. In this study, we are developing shorter-period (10 – 18 s) attenuation models for Eurasia, covering geographical regions that increase in extent with period. At regional distances, the new Ms scale will most likely be measured at shorter periods and therefore requires shorter-period attenuation corrections. In order to make SWAMTOOL more suitable for measuring amplitudes at various periods more accurately, we have made modifications to improve its functionality. In addition to the existing ability of the tool to perform phase-match filtering and source parameter analysis, we added back-azimuth calculation using a cross-correlation technique. By comparing calculated backazimuth with great-circle back-azimuth, we can assess whether the surface wave traveled along the great-circle path and, if not, the path deviation from the great circle. This information will help us to better identify the primary surface-wave arrival and better constrain the quality of the measurements. We also included pre-signal noise measurement in the tool. The noise level is used to identify the useful frequency band within which amplitude measurements have adequate signal-to-noise ratio. We currently are collecting both two-station and single-station waveform data for measurement. We will collect data from permanent broadband and long-period stations in the region and from temporary PASSCAL deployments to improve data coverage, particularly at shorter periods. 27th Seismic Research Review: Ground-Based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Technologies
Dgcr 8 and Dicer are essential for sex chromosome integrity in male meiosis

Small RNAs play crucial roles in regulating gene expression during mammalian meiosis. To investigate the function of microRNAs and small-interfering RNAs in male meiosis, we generated germ cell-specific conditional deletions of Dgcr8 and Dicer in mice. Analysis of spermatocytes from both conditional knockout lines reveals frequent chromosomal fusions during meiosis, always involving one or both sex chromosomes. RNA sequencing indicates upregulation of Atm in spermatocytes from microRNA-deficient mice, and immunofluorescence imaging demonstrates an increased abundance of activated ATM kinase and mislocalization of phosphoMDC1, an ATM phosphorylation substrate. The Atm 3′UTR contains many potential microRNA target sites; notably, target sites for several miRNAs depleted in both conditional knockout mice are highly effective at promoting repression. RNF8, a telomere-associated protein whose localization is controlled by the MDC1/ATM kinase cascade, normally associates with the sex chromosomes during pachytene, but in both conditional knockouts redistributes to the autosomes. Together, these results suggest that Atm dysregulation in microRNA-deficient germ lines contributes to the redistribution of proteins involved in chromosomal stability from the sex-chromosomes to the autosomes, resulting in sex-chromosome fusions during meiotic prophase I.
Endogenous Processing and Presentation of T-cell Epitopes from Chlamydia trachomatis with Relevance in HLA-B27-associated Reactive Arthritis*

Chlamydia trachomatis triggers reactive arthritis, a spondyloarthropathy linked to the human major histocompatibility complex molecule HLA-B27, through an unknown mechanism that might involve molecular mimicry between chlamydial and self-derived HLA-B27 ligands. Chlamydia-specific CD8+ T-cells are found in reactive arthritis patients, but the immunogenic epitopes are unknown. A previous screening of the chlamydial genome for putative HLA-B27 ligands predicted multiple peptides that were recognized in vitro by CD8+ T-lymphocytes from patients. Here stable transfectants expressing bacterial fusion proteins in human cells were generated to investigate the endogenous processing and presentation by HLA-B27 of two such epitopes through comparative immunoproteomics of HLA-B27-bound peptide repertoires. A predicted T-cell epitope, from the CT610 gene product, was presented by HLA-B27. This is, to our knowledge, the first endogenously processed epitope involved in HLA-B27-restricted responses against C. trachomatis in reactive arthritis. A second predicted epitope, from the CT634 gene product, was not detected. Instead a non-predicted nonamer from the same protein was identified. Both bacterial peptides showed very high homology with human sequences containing the HLA-B27 binding motif. Thus, expression and intracellular processing of chlamydial proteins into human cells allowed us to identify two bacterial HLA-B27 ligands, including the first endogenous T-cell epitope from C. trachomatis involved in spondyloarthropathy. That human proteins contain sequences mimicking chlamydial T-cell epitopes suggests a basis for an autoimmune component of Chlamydia-induced HLA-B27-associated disease.
Using path matching filter for lightweight indoor location determination

Sensor Fusion (SF) combining accelerometer and gyroscope readings with position sensor (Wi-Fi, GPS) information is the way for increasing indoor positioning precision, mostly during intervals between subsequent callbacks from position sensor. Existing algorithms demonstrate the accuracy acceptable for the users. However customers often require the ALWAYS ON solution implemented on mobile platform level, continuously delivering an accurate location immediately without waiting for the session start.
Fundamental limits in correlated fading MIMO broadcast channels: Benefits of transmit correlation diversity

We investigate fundamental limits of the capacity of correlated fading MIMO broadcast channels (BCs) in several regimes of system parameters, with a particular interest in the large-scale array (or massive MIMO) regime. It is advocated in this paper that transmit correlation can be of use to increase both multiplexing gain and power gain in multiuser MIMO systems. In particular, it is shown to improve the system multiplexing gain up to by a factor of the number of degrees of transmit correlation diversity that captures how favorable structure users have in their transmit correlations.
"Ellos Son Mi Familia." Testing the Embodied Capital Theory in Dominican Populations in the Dominican Republic and in New York City

This dissertation explores the conditions under which Dominican women invest in their own embodied capital and the embodied capital of their offspring, focusing on the tradeoffs between quantity and quality and income and stability using two different labor market economies in the Dominican Republic and in New York City. The main goals of this dissertation include three specific aims: (1) to identify different political economies and their impact on the same cultural/ethnic group, (2) to understand how access to different educational and employment opportunities influences variation in reproductive timing, considering ways in which birth control and birth spacing might facilitate delays in onset of reproduction and number of children, and (3) to understand the causes and consequences of female parental investments including the tradeoff between income and stability. A key assumption of the embodied capital theory the recognition that females face tradeoffs between investments in own embodied capital and investments in offspring’s embodied capital and that the costs and benefits of parental investment may change due to the environmental context and familial and individual circumstances. Results indicate that access to educational and employment opportunities influences reproductive timing and investments in own and offspring’s embodied capital
Cultural Orientation and Parent Emotion in the Chinese American Immigrant Family

The present dissertation used a developmental, sociocultural models approach to culture and emotion, and examined the prospective relations of immigrant parents' cultural orientations and their expression of emotion in the family context. Chinese American immigrant parents (n=210) with elementary-aged children were assessed at two time points approximately two years apart. Parents reported on their own and their children's patterns of engagement in both Chinese and American cultural domains. Parents also reported on their patterns of emotional expression in the family context (positive, negative dominant, and negative submissive emotion), and their endorsement of emotion-relevant values (collectivism, conformity, emotional control, and ideals toward high/low arousal positive and negative affect). Main analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that parents' greater engagement in Chinese cultural domains predicted their lower expression of negative emotion in the family context. Parents' engagement in cultural domains positively predicted their endorsement of emotion-relevant values; however, across models, parents' endorsement of emotion-relevant values did not mediate prospective effects of parents' cultural engagement on their emotional expression. Finally, differences between parents' and children's orientations to Chinese culture predicted parents' lower expression of positive and negative submissive emotion in the family context.Results underscore the relevance of the family context in the transmission of cultural norms toward emotional expression. Implications of these findings for developmentally-informed approaches to the study of culture and emotion are discussed.
An optimal randomized algorithm for maximum Tukey depth

We present the first optimal algorithm to compute the maximum <i>Tukey depth</i> (also known as <i>location or halfspace depth</i>) for a non-degenerate point set in the plane. The algorithm is randomized and requires <i>O</i>(<i>n</i> log <i>n</i>) expected time for <i>n</i> data points. In a higher fiexed dimension <i>d</i> ≥ 3, the expected time bound is <i>O</i>(<i>n</i><sup>d-1</sup>), which is probably optimal as well. The result is obtained using an interesting variant of the author's randomized optimization technique, capable of solving "implicit" linear-programming-type problems; some other applications of this technique are briefly mentioned.
Research trends in studies of medical students’ characteristics: a scoping review

The purpose of this study is to investigate domestic and international research trends in studies of medical students’ characteristics by using the scoping review methods. This study adopted the scoping review to assess papers on the characteristics of medical students. The procedure of research was carried out according to the five steps of the scoping review. The full texts of 100 papers are obtained and are read closely, after which suitable 88 papers are extracted by us for this research. The review is mapped by the year of the study, source, location, author, research design, research subject, objective, and key results. The frequency is analyzed by using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. We found 70 papers (79.5%) on a single medical school, 15 (17.0%) on multiple medical schools, and three (3.4%) on mixed schools, including medical and nonmedical schools. Sixty-nine (79.5%) were cross-sectional studies and 18 (20.5%) were longitudinal studies. Eighty-two papers (93.2%) adopted questionnaire surveys. We summarized research trends of studies on medical students in Korea and overseas by topic, and mapped them into physical health, mental health, psychological characteristics, cognitive characteristics, social characteristics, and career. This study provides insights into the future directions of research for the characteristics of medical students.
Attention to Speed of Motion, Speed Discrimination, and Task Difficulty: An fMRI Study

We studied the functional neuroanatomy of attention to speed of motion using functional magnetic resonance imaging in eight healthy subjects, who performed a speed discrimination (SID) task using a random textured pattern moving at a reference speed of 6 deg/s. During the control condition (DIM), with retinal stimulation identical to that during SID, subjects detected the dimming of the central fixation point. Attention to speed (SID compared to DIM) activated mainly ventral V3 and V4, dorsal V3 and V3A. Compared to a fixation control condition, speed discrimination recruited a large visuomotor network, including hMT/V5+. However, hMT/V5+ was only marginally more active during speed discrimination than during dimming detection. Thus hMT/V5+ is involved in speed discrimination, in line with the speed discrimination impairments following hMT/V5+ lesions, but our results suggest that this activity simply reflects the processing of motion rather than attention to speed. Manipulating the difficulty of the speed discrimination task over a large range of the psychometric curve revealed that increasing difficulty linearly increases activity in right frontal regions, as well as in lateral occipital and dorsal parietal regions. A weak effect of difficulty was also observed in dorsal V3.
Opinion Detection in Blogs: What Is Still Missing?

In recent years, a lot of work has been done in the field of Opinion Detection in blogs but most of the research is based on machine learning or lexical based approaches. The objective of this paper is to focus on Social Network based evidences that can be exploited for the task of Opinion Detection. We propose a framework that makes use of the major elements of the blogosphere for extracting opinions from blogs. Besides this, we highlight the tasks of opinion prediction and multidimensional ranking. In addition, we also discuss the challenges that researchers might face while realizing the proposed framework. At the end, we demonstrate the importance of social networking evidences by performing experimentation.
The Social Construction of Organization

1. Making Your Way 2. Organizational Science and the Promises of Postmodernism 3. Organizations, Organizing, and Related Concepts of Change 4. Patterns of Engagement 5. Auditive Leadership Culture: Lessons from Symphony Orchestras 6. Abilities, Competencies and Selection Decision-making 7. The Group-in-the-Making: From "Group Dynamics" to "Relational Practices" 8. Voicing Differences and Becoming Other: Life-stories of Immigrants in an Organizational Context 9. The Social Side of Innovation: A Process Perspective 10. Learning Organizations: The Emergence of a Relational-interpretive View of Organization 11. Appreciative Evaluation in an Educational Context: Inviting Conversations of Assessment and Development 12. Wittgenstein, Bakhtin, Management and the Dialogical 13. Consulting: New Language, New Possibilities? 14. Lev Vygotsky and the New Performative Psychology: Some Implications for Business and Organizations 15. Living in Organizations: Lessons from Jazz Improvisation 16. Disturbing Patterns of Engagement
ACL Injury Mechanisms and Related Factors in Male and Female Carving Skiers: A Retrospective Study

In recreational alpine skiing, ACL injury risk is 3 times greater in females. However, since the introduction of carving skis ACL injury risk seems to have decreased. No study has yet investigated the distribution of ACL injury mechanisms in male and female carving skiers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate potential gender specific differences of ACL injury mechanisms and related factors among carving skiers. In total, 220 recreational carving skiers (59 males and 161 females) suffering from an ACL injury volunteered for this study. Demographic data, skiing ability, equipment related and environmental factors, circumstances and causes for the fall, and type of fall (injury mechanisms) were collected by questionnaire. The forward twisting fall is the most reported ACL injury mechanism in both gender (p=0.672) accounting for 54% of all injuries, although male and female skiers differed significantly with regard to circumstances of fall (p=0.001) and actions when ACL injury occurred (p=0.04). Bindings not releasing at the time point of accident occurred 2.6 times more with females than with males (p=0.005). The forward twisting fall seems to have become the dominant ACL injury mechanism both in male and female recreational skiers since the introduction of carving skis.
Distributed containment control of linear multi-agent systems with multiple leaders of bounded unknown inputs

This paper considers the distributed containment control problem for multi-agent systems with general linear dynamics and multiple leaders whose control inputs are possibly nonzero and not available to any follower. It is assumed that the communication graph among the followers is undirected, there exists at least one leader that has a directed path to each follower, and the leaders' control inputs are bounded. Based on the relative state information of neighboring agents, two distributed controllers with, respectively, static and adaptive coupling gains, are designed to solve the containment control problem, i.e., the states of the followers asymptotically converge to the convex hull formed by those of the leaders. A sufficient condition for the existence of these distributed controllers is that each agent is stabilizable. A simulation example is given to illustrate the theoretical results.