Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary Neural Networks applied in First Person Shooters

Computers games are becoming more and more complex. This calls for better artificial behaviors of the computer opponents. Right now creating these solutions is all done by hand, making it a very labor intensive task. Especially if the number of inputs increases this becomes very impractical. Several learning techniques are created in the scientific world that could be used to make this an automated process. The goal is to show that these techniques could be used in commercial games. A comparison is made between currently used techniques in commercial games and related work using scientific approaches. Quake III is chosen as platform to test the algorithm, this is a first person shooter game. It was selected because first person shooter games are a good test case and the code was completely open source. From all the tasks of the artificial behavior we concentrated on decision problems. More specific on weapon selection and item selection. The implemented algorithm using evolutionary algorithms on neural networks is explained and different parameter settings are tested. We successfully created a system using evolutionary neural networks that fully automatically creates solutions for the decision problems. The performance of these solutions outperforms the original hand coded approach.
Paradigm lost, or is top-down forcing no longer significant in the Antarctic marine ecosystem?

Abstract Investigations in recent years of the ecological structure and processes of the Southern Ocean have almost exclusively taken a bottom-up, forcing-by-physical-processes approach relating various species' population trends to climate change. Just 20 years ago, however, researchers focused on a broader set of hypotheses, in part formed around a paradigm positing interspecific interactions as central to structuring the ecosystem (forcing by biotic processes, top-down), and particularly on a “krill surplus” caused by the removal from the system of more than a million baleen whales. Since then, this latter idea has disappeared from favour with little debate. Moreover, it recently has been shown that concurrent with whaling there was a massive depletion of finfish in the Southern Ocean, a finding also ignored in deference to climate-related explanations of ecosystem change. We present two examples from the literature, one involving gelatinous organisms and the other involving penguins, in which climate has been used to explain species' population trends but which could better be explained by including species interactions in the modelling. We conclude by questioning the almost complete shift in paradigms that has occurred and discuss whether it is leading Southern Ocean marine ecological science in an instructive direction.
NOTAS CIENTÍFICAS A simple and reliable method for the screening of transgenic tobacco plants (1)

(5) Abstract - Even though much improvement has been made in plant transformation methods, the screening of transgenic plants is often a laborious work. Most approaches for detecting the transgene in trans- formed plants are still time-consuming, and can be quite expensive. The objective of this study was to search for a simpler method to screen for transgenic plants. The infiltration of kanamycin (100 mg/mL) into tobacco leaves resulted in conspicuous chlorotic spots on the non-transgenic plant leaves, while no spots were seen on the leaves of transformed plants. This reaction occurred regardless of age of the tested plants, and the method has proven to be simple, fast, non-destructive, relatively cheap, and reliable. These results were com- parable to those obtained by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the transgene using specific primers.
Persistence of Multiple Genetic Lineages within Intrahost Populations of Ross River Virus

ABSTRACT We examined the structure and extent of genetic diversity in intrahost populations of Ross River virus (RRV) in samples from six human patients, focusing on the nonstructural (nsP3) and structural (E2) protein genes. Strikingly, although the samples were collected from contrasting ecological settings 3,000 kilometers apart in Australia, we observed multiple viral lineages in four of the six individuals, which is indicative of widespread mixed infections. In addition, a comparison with previously published RRV sequences revealed that these distinct lineages have been in circulation for at least 5 years, and we were able to document their long-term persistence over extensive geographical distances.
Synchronous Gestures in Multi-Display Environments

ABSTRACT Synchronous gestures are patterns of sensed user or users' activity, spanning a distributed system that take on a new meaning when they occur together in time. Synchronous gestures draw inspiration from real-world social rituals such as toasting by tapping two drinking glasses together. In this article, we explore several interactions based on synchronous gestures, including bumping devices together, drawing corresponding pen gestures on touch-sensitive displays, simultaneously pressing a button on multiple smart-phones, or placing one or more devices on the sensing surface of a tabletop computer. These interactions focus on wireless composition of physically colocated devices, where users perceive one another and coordinate their actions through social protocol. We demonstrate how synchronous gestures may be phrased together with surrounding interactions. Such connection-action phrases afford a rich syntax of cross-device commands, operands, and one-to-one or one-to-many associations with a flexible physical arrangement of devices. Synchronous gestures enable colocated users to combine multiple devices into a heterogeneous display environment, where the users may establish a transient network connection with other select colocated users to facilitate the pooling of input capabilities, display resources, and the digital contents of each device. For example, participants at a meeting may bring mobile devices including tablet computers, PDAs, and smart-phones, and the meeting room infrastructure may include fixed interactive displays, such as a tabletop computer. Our techniques facilitate creation of an ad hoc display environment for tasks such as viewing a large document across multiple devices, presenting information to another user, or offering files to others. The interactions necessary to establish such ad hoc display environments must be rapid and minimally demanding of attention: during face-to-face communication, a pause of even 5 sec is socially awkward and disrupts collaboration. Current devices may associate using a direct transport such as Infrared Data Association ports, or the emerging Near Field Communication standard. However, such transports can only support one-to-one associations between devices and require close physical proximity as well as a specific relative orientation to connect the devices (e.g., the devices may be linked when touching head-to-head but not side-to-side). By contrast, sociology research in proxemics (the study of how people use the “personal space” surrounding their bodies) demonstrates that people carefully select physical distance as well as relative body orientation to suit the task, mood, and social relationship with other persons. Wireless networking can free device-to-device connections from the limitations of direct transports but results in a potentially large number of candidate devices. Synchronous gestures address these problems by allowing users to express naturally a spontaneous wireless connection between specific proximal (collocated) interactive displays.
L-Carnitine supplementation to reverse hyperammonemia in a patient undergoing chronic valproic acid treatment: A case report

Valproic acid is a broad-spectrum anticonvulsant that has also gained attention in the psychiatric setting. With respect to safety, valproic acid may induce a seemingly rare condition, hyperammonemia, which can induce a wide variety of symptoms ranging from irritability to coma. The proposed mechanism of hyperammonemia involves depletion of carnitine and overproduction of a toxic metabolite, 4-en-valproic acid, both of which impair the urea cycle and thus ammonia elimination. Carnitine is a commonly used antidote for acute intoxication of valproic acid, but is not a therapeutic option for management of chronic adults with adverse effects related to valproic acid. We herein report a case involving a woman with epilepsy who developed hyperammonemia after a change in her anticonvulsant therapy. She reported increased seizures and gastrointestinal disturbances. Her ammonia, valproic acid, 4-en-valproic acid, and carnitine levels were monitored. Her ammonia level was elevated and her carnitine level was at the inferior limit of the population range. She was supplemented with carnitine at 1 g/day. After 1 month, her ammonia level decreased, her carnitine level increased, and her seizures were better controlled. Carnitine supplementation was useful for reversal of her hyperammonemia, allowing her to continue valproic acid for seizure control.
Shh signaling in limb bud ectoderm: Potential role in teratogen‐induced postaxial ectrodactyly

A variety of teratogens induce the loss of postaxial forelimb structures when administered during mid‐gestation to the mouse. Previous studies demonstrated that teratogen exposure is associated with a reduction in zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) ‐related polarizing activity without a noticeable loss of Shh expression. Herein, we quantitatively confirm that expression of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli3 are unaltered by teratogen exposure and demonstrate that sonic hedgehog (Shh) translation is unaffected. Examination of the polarizing response of host chick wings to teratogen‐exposed ZPA tissue revealed an induced growth response and ectopic induction of Fgf4, Bmp2, Ptch1, and Gli1 expression similar to control ZPA tissue. Control ZPA tissue altered the fate of cells destined to die in the anterior necrotic zone, whereas cell death ensued in hosts receiving teratogen‐exposed grafts. Immunohistochemical studies localized Shh protein in the mouse limb to the posterior mesoderm and overlying ectoderm. We postulate that teratogen exposure alters the ability of Shh to signal to the ectoderm and present microarray and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction data, indicating that Shh signaling could occur in the limb bud ectoderm. Developmental Dynamics 233:313–325, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Updated Cochrane Review of Bed Rest for Low Back Pain and Sciatica

Study Design. A systematic review within the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group. Objectives. To report the main results from the updated version of the Cochrane Review on bed rest for low back pain. Summary of Background Data. There has been a growing amount of evidence showing that bed rest is not beneficial for people with low back pain. However, existing systematic reviews are unclear regarding the effects of bed rest for different types of low back pain. Methods. All randomized studies available in systematic searches up to March 2003 were included. Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion assessed the validity of included trials and extracted data. Investigators were contacted to obtain missing information. Results. Two new trials comparing advice to rest in bed with advice to stay active were included. There is high quality evidence that people with acute low back pain who are advised to rest in bed have a little more pain (standardized mean difference 0.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.02–0.41) and a little less functional recovery (standardized mean difference 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.45) than those advised to stay active. For patients with sciatica, there is moderate quality evidence of little or no difference in pain (standardized mean difference −0.03, 95% confidence interval: −0.24–0.18) or functional status (standardized mean difference 0.19, 95% confidence interval: −0.02–0.41) between bed rest and staying active. Conclusion. For people with acute low back pain, advice to rest in bed is less effective than advice to stay active. For patients with sciatica, there is little or no difference between advice to rest in bed and advice to stay active.
Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study

Background and aims: Melatonin, a sleep promoting agent, is involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility and sensation. We aimed to determine if melatonin was effective in improving bowel symptoms and sleep disturbances in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients with sleep disturbance. Methods: Forty IBS patients (aged 20–64 years; 24 female) with sleep disturbances were randomly assigned to receive either melatonin 3 mg (n = 20) or matching placebo (n = 20) at bedtime for two weeks. Immediately before and after the treatment, subjects completed bowel, sleep, and psychological questionnaires, and underwent rectal manometry and overnight polysomnography. Results: Compared with placebo, melatonin taken for two weeks significantly decreased mean abdominal pain score (2.35 v 0.70; p<0.001) and increased mean rectal pain threshold (8.9 v −1.2 mm Hg; p<0.01). Bloating, stool type, stool frequency, and anxiety and depression scores did not significantly differ after treatment in both groups. Data from sleep questionnaires and polysomnography showed that the two week course of melatonin did not influence sleep parameters, including total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, arousals, duration of stages 1–4, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and REM onset latency. Conclusions: Administration of melatonin 3 mg at bedtime for two weeks significantly attenuated abdominal pain and reduced rectal pain sensitivity without improvements in sleep disturbance or psychological distress. The findings suggest that the beneficial effects of melatonin on abdominal pain in IBS patients with sleep disturbances are independent of its action on sleep disturbances or psychological profiles.
1H-n.m.r. investigation of naturally occurring and chemically oversulphated dermatan sulphates. Identification of minor monosaccharide residues.

The 1H-n.m. r. spectra of various dermatan sulphate preparations present, besides the major signals of the basic disaccharide unit, several other minor signals. We have assigned most of them by n.m. r. , using two-dimensional proton-proton double-quantum-correlation and nuclear-Overhauser-effect spectroscopy experiments. This allowed us to identify 2-O-sulphated L-iduronic acid and D-glucuronic acid residues as well as 6-sulphated N-acetylgalactosamine (presumably 4-O-sulphated as well). 2-O-Sulphated iduronic acid was present to similar extents (6-10% of total uronic acids) in pig skin dermatan sulphate and pig intestine dermatan sulphate, whereas glucuronic acid represented 17% of the uronic acid of pig skin dermatan sulphate and was virtually absent (1%) from the other preparation. 6-O-Sulphated N-acetylgalactosamine was present in minor amounts in pig intestine dermatan sulphate only. The influence of sulphation of iduronic acid units on their conformation was assessed by using chemically oversulphated pig intestine dermatan sulphate. Introduction of sulphate groups in this unit in dermatan sulphate tends to shift the conformational equilibrium towards the 1C4 conformer.
Unmanned aerial vehicle micro platform for airborne radar applications

A micro-scale airborne sensor platform based on a microcopter model that is equipped with a time-domain subsampling impulse radar will be presented in this work. A microcopter is an unmanned aerial system that uses all available engines for lift solely and is remote controlled by purely changing the rotational speed of the individual engines. The microcopter is used as an universal carrier platform for remote sensing applications of locations that are otherwise difficult to reach. The developed microcopter is equipped with a impulse radar module for 6.3 GHz and 26 GHz. The received radar echo is evaluated by subsampling the carrier modulated Gaussian pulses. The low frequency envelope of the consecutive samples, that represents a stretched replica of the high frequency radar signal, is digitized and recorded for post processing. This contribution illustrates the implementation of the time-domain radar module onto the experimental microdrone to develop a miniature airborne radar system.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS INJURIES AMONG MALE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS IN CROATIA

The aim of this study was to assess occurrence of sports injuries among professional male soccer players in relation to their psychological characteristics. This prospective cohort study was conducted during the 2013/2014 sports season among all professional players with the first team contract in the first Croatian soccer league. A stratified sample of 182 male soccer players were selected for the assessment. They were surveyed during their preparation period before the beginning of the season and were under monitoring during the season. Seriousness of injuries was assessed depending on the duration (one day or more) of players’ non-participation in sports activities. Psychological characteristics were assessed by the General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Revised Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, impulsive behaviour scale from the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire Cross-Cultural 50-item version and Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports. Majority of players (62.6%) experienced a kind of injury, with the mean number of 1.28 injuries per player, and 30.7% of them contracted severe injuries. Results of the binary regression model suggest that likelihood of being injured is mostly influenced by higher Impulsive Sensation Seeking and GAD-7 scores (OR=1.26 in both cases). In contrast, adequate mental preparation significantly lowers the chance of being injured (OR=0.89). The study gives an insight into proportions, severity, mechanisms and number of sport injuries in the population of Croatian professional soccer players. We propose several variables as important predictors of future injuries. Some scales, commonly used in this field, have been shown to be less useful for injury prediction. Key words: psychological characteristics, mental preparation, sports injuries, professional soccer players
Rational or Institutional Intent? Knowledge Management adoption in Saudi public organizations

A mixed-methods analysis examined the motivations of the Saudi public organizations to adopt knowledge management as a modern management philosophy by using rational and institutional perspectives. The results show that these organizations are affected by both institutional and rational factors, however, The role of the institutional perspective in interpreting the mechanism of decision making for the adoption of knowledge management, achieving the requirements necessary for establishing a knowledge management project, and the organizations ability to manage the knowledge management project is more prominent than the rational perspective. Regarding type of organization, the results has indicated a different response to the institutional pressures according to the type of organization. Organizations that operate in an environment that have more technologies are inclined to the rational perspective, as in the case of financial institutions and organizations operate in an environment that have limited technology and less identified objectives are inclined to the institutional perspective, as in case of training and educational organizations.
Market Incentives and Regulators’ Activity Shaping Financial Information: An Analysis of the Net Debt Disclosure in Italy

As a performance indicator, net debt conveys information to assess firms’ gearing level and the ability to service the outstanding borrowings. Moreover, net debt is frequently used in debt covenants in order to reduce information asymmetry between borrowers and lenders and to enhance the efficiency of the debt contracting process. Notwithstanding the decision usefulness and the contracting relevance associated to net debt disclosure, contrasting positions have been suggested concerning the notion of- and the information about the net financial position. In particular, a regulated/narrow approach contrasts an unregulated/principle-based one, and both the academic literature and accounting profession are far from being unanimous on this issue. By examining financial statements of 60 Italian listed companies, we compare the content of the net debt disclosure produced in a non-regulated environment with that delivered within a mandatory disclosure regime. Our analysis shows that the adoption of a mandatory disclosure regime has only slightly enhanced the comparability of net debt disclosure and highlights the opportunistic nature of the disclosure about the net financial position. At the same time, the multivariate analysis shows the role that regulation could play as a low-cost commitment device.
Extended direct power control of a three-level Neutral Point Clamped Voltage Source Inverter with unbalanced voltages

This paper presents the control of a three- level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) Voltage Source Inverter under unbalanced grid voltages. The control method used is the Extended Direct Power Control (EDPC), which is a generic approach for Direct Power Control of multilevel inverters based on geometrical considerations. It defines, for each inverter vector, two geometrical loci of no power change (a circumference for active power and a straight line for reactive power). Each locus divides the plane into two regions. The relative position of grid voltage vector in these regions determines whether the application of a certain inverter voltage vector will increase or decrease power. Besides, dc link middle point voltage is controlled by taking into account the switching state of the inverter (those states which make the middle point voltage changing). Finally, a decision algorithm chooses the inverter vector to be applied among those which fulfil the three requirements. In case of imbalances in grid voltages, negative sequence components appear and system variables start oscillating at twice the fundamental frequency, affecting the performance of the inverter. In fact, if power is kept constant, output current becomes distorted, presenting mainly third and fifth harmonic components. In order to obtain sinusoidal balanced output currents and thus improve inverter performance under voltage imbalances, power reference is compensated with oscillating terms so that negative sequence current components disappear. The whole control system has been tested on a three-level NPC Voltage Source Inverter connected to the grid and results confirm the validity of the method.