Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Adaptive Clipping Approach for Proximal Policy Optimization

Very recently proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithms have been proposed as first-order optimization methods for effective reinforcement learning. While PPO is inspired by the same learning theory that justifies trust region policy optimization (TRPO), PPO substantially simplifies algorithm design and improves data efficiency by performing multiple epochs of \emph{clipped policy optimization} from sampled data. Although clipping in PPO stands for an important new mechanism for efficient and reliable policy update, it may fail to adaptively improve learning performance in accordance with the importance of each sampled state. To address this issue, a new surrogate learning objective featuring an adaptive clipping mechanism is proposed in this paper, enabling us to develop a new algorithm, known as PPO-$\lambda$. PPO-$\lambda$ optimizes policies repeatedly based on a theoretical target for adaptive policy improvement. Meanwhile, destructively large policy update can be effectively prevented through both clipping and adaptive control of a hyperparameter $\lambda$ in PPO-$\lambda$, ensuring high learning reliability. PPO-$\lambda$ enjoys the same simple and efficient design as PPO. Empirically on several Atari game playing tasks and benchmark control tasks, PPO-$\lambda$ also achieved clearly better performance than PPO.
Storage-Space Capacitated Inventory System with (r, Q) Policies

We deal with an inventory system with limited storage space for a single item or multiple items. For the single-item system, customers' demand is stochastic. The inventory is controlled by a continuous-review (r, Q) policy. Goods are replenished to the inventory system with a constant lead time. An optimization problem with a storage-space constraint is formulated for computing a single-item (r, Q) policy that minimizes the long-run average system cost. Based on some existing results in the single-item (r, Q) policy without a storage-space constraint in the literature, useful structural properties of the optimization problem are attained. An efficient algorithm with polynomial time computational complexity is then proposed for obtaining the optimal solutions. For the multi-item system, each item possesses its particular customers' demand that is stochastic, its own (r, Q) policy that controls the inventory, and its individual lead time that is constant. An important issue in such inventory systems is the allocation of the storage space to the items and the values of r and Q for each item. We formulate an optimization problem with a storage-space constraint for multi-item (r, Q) policies. Based on the results in the single-item (r, Q) policy with a storage-space constraint, we find useful structural properties of the optimization problem. An efficient algorithm with polynomial time computational complexity is then proposed for obtaining undominated solutions.
Case handling in construction

Case handling is a new means for supporting flexible and knowledge intensive business processes. Unlike workflow management, which uses predefined process control structures to determine what should be done during a workflow process, case handling focuses on what can be done to achieve a business goal. In this paper, case handling is introduced as a new possibility for supporting construction processes. The construction of buildings and related facilities is a difficult and complex process, which requires both support and flexibility. This paper describes the application of the case-handling principles within Heijmans. Heijmans is one of the leading companies in the Dutch building industry and is interested in IT support for their construction processes. We have used the case-handling system FLOWer to provide automated support for preparing the construction of complex installations. In this paper, we report our experiences. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Patterns of Physical Activity and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Study

Background: In the current study, we investigated the effect of physical activity (PA) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: In total, 146 cases of CHD and 157 matched controls were included in the study. Data on sociodemographics, lifestyle, and medical history factors were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A standard World Health Organization (WHO)-based lifestyle questionnaire was used to assess PA. The risk of CHD was analyzed in relation to PA patterns using logistic regression. Results: Vigorous-intensity leisure PA was not associated with a lower risk of CHD. Subjects in the highest tertile of moderate occupational PA had a significantly lower risk of CHD compared to the lowest tertile (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.31, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.17–0.56). Subjects in the highest tertile of walking hasd an adjusted OR of 0.37 (95% CI 0.20–0.70). Subjects in the medium and highest tertiles of sedentary behavior had adjusted ORs of 2.01 (95% CI 1.06–3.79) and 3.88 (95% CI 2.14–7.02), respectively (p-value for trend < 0.001). Conclusion: The current results showed that both moderate occupational PA and walking protected against CHD. Sedentary behavior increased the risk of CHD.
A Gene Transfer Agent and a Dynamic Repertoire of Secretion Systems Hold the Keys to the Explosive Radiation of the Emerging Pathogen Bartonella

Gene transfer agents (GTAs) randomly transfer short fragments of a bacterial genome. A novel putative GTA was recently discovered in the mouse-infecting bacterium Bartonella grahamii. Although GTAs are widespread in phylogenetically diverse bacteria, their role in evolution is largely unknown. Here, we present a comparative analysis of 16 Bartonella genomes ranging from 1.4 to 2.6 Mb in size, including six novel genomes from Bartonella isolated from a cow, two moose, two dogs, and a kangaroo. A phylogenetic tree inferred from 428 orthologous core genes indicates that the deadly human pathogen B. bacilliformis is related to the ruminant-adapted clade, rather than being the earliest diverging species in the genus as previously thought. A gene flux analysis identified 12 genes for a GTA and a phage-derived origin of replication as the most conserved innovations. These are located in a region of a few hundred kb that also contains 8 insertions of gene clusters for type III, IV, and V secretion systems, and genes for putatively secreted molecules such as cholera-like toxins. The phylogenies indicate a recent transfer of seven genes in the virB gene cluster for a type IV secretion system from a cat-adapted B. henselae to a dog-adapted B. vinsonii strain. We show that the B. henselae GTA is functional and can transfer genes in vitro. We suggest that the maintenance of the GTA is driven by selection to increase the likelihood of horizontal gene transfer and argue that this process is beneficial at the population level, by facilitating adaptive evolution of the host-adaptation systems and thereby expansion of the host range size. The process counters gene loss and forces all cells to contribute to the production of the GTA and the secreted molecules. The results advance our understanding of the role that GTAs play for the evolution of bacterial genomes.
The Capacity of Finite Abelian Group Codes Over Symmetric Memoryless Channels

The capacity of finite Abelian group codes over symmetric memoryless channels is determined. For certain important examples, such as m -PSK constellations over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels, with m a prime power, it is shown that this capacity coincides with the Shannon capacity; i.e., there is no loss in capacity using group codes. (This had previously been known for binary-linear codes used over binary-input output-symmetric memoryless channels.) On the other hand, a counterexample involving a three-dimensional geometrically uniform constellation is presented in which the use of Abelian group codes leads to a loss in capacity. The error exponent of the average group code is determined, and it is shown to be bounded away from the random-coding error exponent, at low rates, for finite Abelian groups not admitting Galois field structure.
You Are What You Say: Using Meeting Participants’ Speech to Detect their Roles and Expertise

Our goal is to automatically detect the functional roles that meeting participants play, as well as the expertise they bring to meetings. To perform this task, we build decision tree classifiers that use a combination of simple speech features (speech lengths and spoken keywords) extracted from the participants' speech in meetings. We show that this algorithm results in a role detection accuracy of 83% on unseen test data, where the random baseline is 33.3%. We also introduce a simple aggregation mechanism that combines evidence of the participants' expertise from multiple meetings. We show that this aggregation mechanism improves the role detection accuracy from 66.7% (when aggregating over a single meeting) to 83% (when aggregating over 5 meetings).
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE WAGE DISPARITY BETWEEN FEMALE WORKERS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN SOUTH SUMATERA Lamazi

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence wage disparity between working women (female workers) in urban and rural areas in South Sumatera in 2013 using cross-sectional data from Susenas 2013. Methods used in this study are wage equation of Mincer (1994) and wage decomposition model of Blinder-Oaxaca. The results show that average wage disparity between working women in urban and rural areas are 34.93%. This disparity is caused by endowment (independent) variables, namely, education, age, working hours (jam kerja), non-agricultural sector (non-pertanian), marital status (menikah), and the presence of children under the age of five (balita), by 11.82%. The rest of 88.18% are explained by other variables outside this study. Endownment variables such as senior high school (SMA) education, higher education (pendidikantinggi) and working hours (jam kerja) are also found to be the cause of an increase in wage disparity of working women in urban and rural areas.
Treatment of Health Complaints Attributed to Amalgam

The aim of the present study was to compare the reduction of subjective complaints by 3 treatment strategies in 90 “amalgam patients” whose complaints could not be explained by a medical or psychological disorder. The individuals were randomly assigned either to removal of dental amalgam only (removal group), or removal in combination with a “biological detoxification” therapy with high doses of vitamins and trace elements (removal-plus group), or participation in a health promotion program without removal of dental amalgam (no-removal group). Between baseline and month 12, the sum score of main complaints decreased by 3.5 (SD = 2.2) points on average in the removal group as well as in the removal-plus group, and by 2.5 (SD = 2.4) points in the no-removal group (p = 0.152). Both removal groups showed a significant decrease in steady-state levels of inorganic mercury compared with the no-removal group. Thus, all 3 interventions were associated with clinically relevant improvements.
Thoracotomy compared to laparotomy in the traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Systematic review and proportional methanalysis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the most used approach to treat traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures, and in which one the requirement to assess the second cavity is more frequent. METHODS Systematic review, observational studies. Outcomes: moment of approach, most commonly via addressed and the requirement to open the other cavity. Bases searched: Lilacs, Pubmed, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and Web of Science. Statistical analysis: StatsDirect 3.0. 121 software. RESULTS Sixty eight studies (2023 participants) were included. Approach in acute phase was performed four times more than in chronic phase. Approach: abdominal 65% (IC 95% 63-67%), thoracic 23% (IC 95% 21-24%), abdominal in the acute phase 75% (IC 95% 71-78%), and chronic 24% (IC 95% 19-29%), thoracic in the acute phase 12% (IC 95% 10-14%) and chronic 69% (IC 95% 63-74%). Thorax opening in the abdominal approach: 10% (95% CI 8-14%). Abdomen opening in the thoracic approach: 15% (95% CI 7-24%). CONCLUSIONS The most common approach was the abdominal. The approach in the acute phase was more common. In the acute phase the abdominal approach is more frequent than the thoracic approach. In the chronic phase the thoracic approach is more frequent than the abdominal one. The requirement to open the second cavity was similar in both approaches.
Designing with Gradients: Bio-Inspired Computation for Digital Fabrication

Digital fabrication technologies greatly enhance and extend manufacturing possibilities. However, we are still relatively limited in our ability to fully exploit these new methods and create complex architectural structures with performance-driven properties. We argue that entirely new computational approaches are needed, using scalable generative encodings and advanced bio-inspired form finding processes. This paper presents a novel generative model that can create functional and expressive geometries by evolving volumetric gradient patterns. Using three case studies, we demonstrate the key advantages of our approach. We demonstrate, using simulation followed by physical fabrication, that our approach is useful for exploring complex, yet buildable geometries in early stage design. Our new method is therefore suitable for performance-driven form finding tasks such as structural optimisation, and holds vast potential for designing exotic multi-material and functionally graded materials in future applications.
Emergent Social Learning Networks in Organizations with Heterogeneous Agents

Two distinct learning mechanisms are considered for a population of agents who engage in decentralized search for the common optimum. An agent may choose to learn via innovation (individual learning) or via imitation (social learning). The agents are endowed with heterogeneous skills in engaging in the two modes of learning. When the agents choose imitation, they also choose whom to learn from. This leads to the emergence of a social learning network among agents in the population. This paper focuses on the impact the endowed learning skills have on the individual's choice of learning mechanism as well as the micro and macro structure of the evolving network. Finally, it explores the impact the degree of environmental volatility has on the structure of such networks.
Lower-Order Compensation Chain Threshold-Reduction Technique for Multi-Stage Voltage Multipliers

This paper presents a novel threshold-compensation technique for multi-stage voltage multipliers employed in low power applications such as passive and autonomous wireless sensing nodes (WSNs) powered by energy harvesters. The proposed threshold-reduction technique enables a topological design methodology which, through an optimum control of the trade-off among transistor conductivity and leakage losses, is aimed at maximizing the voltage conversion efficiency (VCE) for a given ac input signal and physical chip area occupation. The conducted simulations positively assert the validity of the proposed design methodology, emphasizing the exploitable design space yielded by the transistor connection scheme in the voltage multiplier chain. An experimental validation and comparison of threshold-compensation techniques was performed, adopting 2N5247 N-channel junction field effect transistors (JFETs) for the realization of the voltage multiplier prototypes. The attained measurements clearly support the effectiveness of the proposed threshold-reduction approach, which can significantly reduce the chip area occupation for a given target output performance and ac input signal.
Experimental studies on efficiency enhancement of the parabolic solar collector combined with mirrors using the artificial neural network

ABSTRACT Solar energy has become the most promising renewable energy nowadays. To achieve best possible performance from a solar system, the photovoltaic panel is required to absorb maximum radiation in the possible effective way. More the radiation on panel results in more amount of electricity. The primary goal of the paper is to increase the amount of radiation using mirror and auto tracking arrangement to allow more rays to be concentrated on a small area, i.e. on a photovoltaic panel by introducing a new platform made in a shape of parabolic which is adjusted to follow the sun. Mirrors are going to be attached on a flat shaped frame with the PV panel at an angle of 120°, during the day for the purpose of reflection of maximum amount of radiation on the PV cells. Artificial neural network control is proposed to decide the exact maximum power point while tracking the sun. Due to the mirror effect all the rays will be concentrated on a small area of the photovoltaic panel which is fixed at the focus of the parabola. The nearest position while receiving direct sunlight is considered as the input taken from the database. This process minimises the number of motors for starting and results in reduced quantity of loss of energy in different weather conditions. The comparison has been studied for a fixed PV panel and this new PV panel with mirror and results are tabulated. The results show an increase of 32% in average efficiency by using the mirror and tracking system using the artificial neural networks technique.
Approaches to Improve Therapeutic Efficacy of Biodegradable PLA/PLGA Microspheres: A Review

ABSTRACT This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview about various innovative strategies that have been employed by recent researchers to overcome with the shortcomings associated with traditional microspheres. Essentially, optimization strategies from structural aspects have been widely investigated to improve the properties (e.g., enhanced hydrophilicity, reduced initial burst release, etc.) of the pristine microspheres. These include bulk alteration, surface modification as well as the formation of sophisticated microsphere design such as core-shell structures. Other than that, various microencapsulation techniques and novel technologies such as spray drying, supercritical fluid technique, membrane, and microfluidics emulsification also have been explored in this review. Additionally, the impact of formulation-related aspects on the drug encapsulation efficiency, particles size and particles size distribution during double emulsification method will also be discussed and reviewed extensively based on the recent literatures reported.
Dispatch from the field II: the mystery of the red and blue Opadometa male (Araneae, Tetragnathidae, Opadometa sarawakensis)

Abstract Background Males of Opadometa are difficult to associate with conspecific females, and sex-matching errors may persist in the taxonomic literature. Recommended best practices for definitive sex matching in this genus suggest finding a male in the web of a female, or better yet, mating pairs. New information A male Opadometa was observed hanging on a frame line of the web of a female Opadometa sarawakensis, a species for which the male was previously undescribed. This occurred during a tropical ecology field course held at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Sabah, Malaysia. A taxonomic description was completed as a course activity.
Deep submicron CMOS integrated circuit reliability simulation with SPICE

The purpose of the paper is to introduce a new failure rate-based methodology for reliability simulation of deep submicron CMOS integrated circuits. Firstly, two of the state-of-the-art MOSFET degradation models are reviewed. They have been developed into reliability simulation tools and commercialized in industry for many years, however, their inherent limitations of characterizing circuit lifetime, including tedious processes for extracting device degradation parameters and model fitting parameters, impeded their wide applications in the product's front-end design process. Secondly, a set of accelerated lifetime models for the most important intrinsic silicon degradation mechanisms are proposed. These lifetime models correlate a device's electrical operating parameters to its mean time to failure (MTTF) in simple forms. Finally, a new failure rate-based SPICE reliability simulation methodology is developed, in which MTTF and failure in time (FIT) are the primary reliability parameters to be characterized. The power of this new reliability simulation method, due to its simplicity, makes it an important design-for-reliability tool for electronic product developers.
Exciton fine-structure splitting of telecom-wavelength single quantum dots: Statistics and external strain tuning

In a charge-tunable device, we investigate the fine-structure splitting of neutral excitons in single long-wavelength (1.1 < λ < 1.3 μm) InGaAs quantum dots as a function of external uniaxial strain. Nominal fine-structure splittings between 16 and 136 μeV are measured and manipulated. We observe varied responses of the splitting to the external strain, including positive and negative tuning slopes, different tuning ranges, and linear and parabolic dependencies, indicating that these physical parameters depend strongly on the unique microscopic structure of the individual quantum dot. To better understand the experimental results, we apply a phenomenological model describing the exciton polarization and fine-structure splitting under uniaxial strain. The model predicts that, with an increased experimental strain tuning range, the fine structure can be effectively canceled for select telecom-wavelength dots using uniaxial strain. These results are promising for the generation of on-demand entangled photon pairs at telecom wavelengths.
Silencing synaptic MicroRNA‐411 reduces voluntary alcohol consumption in mice

Chronic alcohol consumption alters the levels of microRNAs and mRNAs in the brain, but the specific microRNAs and processes that target mRNAs to affect cellular function and behavior are not known. We examined the in vivo manipulation of previously identified alcohol‐responsive microRNAs as potential targets to reduce alcohol consumption. Silencing of miR‐411 by infusing antagomiR‐411 into the prefrontal cortex of female C57BL/6J mice reduced alcohol consumption and preference, without altering total fluid consumption, saccharin consumption, or anxiety‐related behaviors. AntagomiR‐411 reduced alcohol consumption when given to mice exposed to a chronic alcohol drinking paradigm but did not affect the acquisition of consumption in mice without a history of alcohol exposure, suggesting that antagomiR‐411 has a neuroadaptive, alcohol‐dependent effect. AntagomiR‐411 decreased the levels of miR‐411, as well as the association of immunoprecipitated miR‐411 with Argonaute2; and, it increased levels of Faah and Ppard mRNAs. Moreover, antagomiR‐411 increased the neuronal expression of glutamate receptor AMPA‐2 protein, a known alcohol target and a predicted target of miR‐411. These results suggest that alcohol and miR‐411 function in a homeostatic manner to regulate synaptic mRNA and protein, thus reversing alcohol‐related neuroadaptations and reducing chronic alcohol consumption.