Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An adaptable neuromorphic model of orientation selectivity based on floating gate dynamics

The biggest challenge that the neuromorphic community faces today is to build systems that can be considered truly cognitive. Adaptation and self-organization are the two basic principles that underlie any cognitive function that the brain performs. If we can replicate this behavior in hardware, we move a step closer to our goal of having cognitive neuromorphic systems. Adaptive feature selectivity is a mechanism by which nature optimizes resources so as to have greater acuity for more abundant features. Developing neuromorphic feature maps can help design generic machines that can emulate this adaptive behavior. Most neuromorphic models that have attempted to build self-organizing systems, follow the approach of modeling abstract theoretical frameworks in hardware. While this is good from a modeling and analysis perspective, it may not lead to the most efficient hardware. On the other hand, exploiting hardware dynamics to build adaptive systems rather than forcing the hardware to behave like mathematical equations, seems to be a more robust methodology when it comes to developing actual hardware for real world applications. In this paper we use a novel time-staggered Winner Take All circuit, that exploits the adaptation dynamics of floating gate transistors, to model an adaptive cortical cell that demonstrates Orientation Selectivity, a well-known biological phenomenon observed in the visual cortex. The cell performs competitive learning, refining its weights in response to input patterns resembling different oriented bars, becoming selective to a particular oriented pattern. Different analysis performed on the cell such as orientation tuning, application of abnormal inputs, response to spatial frequency and periodic patterns reveal close similarity between our cell and its biological counterpart. Embedded in a RC grid, these cells interact diffusively exhibiting cluster formation, making way for adaptively building orientation selective maps in silicon.
Do Zebra Finch Parents Fail to Recognise Their Own Offspring?

Individual recognition systems require the sender to be individually distinctive and the receiver to be able to perceive differences between individuals and react accordingly. Many studies have demonstrated that acoustic signals of almost any species contain individualized information. However, fewer studies have tested experimentally if those signals are used for individual recognition by potential receivers. While laboratory studies using zebra finches have shown that fledglings recognize their parents by their "distance call", mutual recognition using the same call type has not been demonstrated yet. In a laboratory study with zebra finches, we first quantified between-individual acoustic variation in distance calls of fledglings. In a second step, we tested recognition of fledgling calls by parents using playback experiments. With a discriminant function analysis, we show that individuals are highly distinctive and most measured parameters show very high potential to encode for individuality. The response pattern of zebra finch parents shows that they do react to calls of fledglings, however they do not distinguish between own and unfamiliar offspring, despite individual distinctiveness. This finding is interesting in light of the observation of a high percentage of misdirected feedings in our communal breeding aviaries. Our results demonstrate the importance of adopting a receiver's perspective and suggest that variation in fledgling contact calls might not be used in individual recognition of offspring.
An analysis of retrospective and repeat prospective reports of adverse childhood experiences from the South African Birth to Twenty Plus cohort

Most studies rely on cross-sectional retrospective reports from adult samples to collect information about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to examine relationships with adult outcomes. The problems associated with these reports have long been debated, with only a few studies determining their reliability and validity and fewer still reaching consensus on the matter. This paper uses repeat prospective and retrospective reports of adverse childhood experiences from two respondent sources in the South African Birth to Twenty Plus (Bt20+) cohort to explore agreement and concordance in the prospective reporting of ACEs by caregivers and respective children as adolescents and then as young adults. The findings demonstrate little overall agreement between prospective and retrospective accounts of childhood experiences, with 80% of kappa values below the moderate agreement cutoff (k = .41). The highest levels of agreement were found between prospective and retrospective reporting on parental and household death (kappas ranging from .519 to .944). Comparisons between prospective caregiver reports and retrospective young adult reports yielded high concordance rates on sexual and physical abuse and exposure to intimate partner violence (91.0%, 87.7% and 80.2%, respectively). The prevalence of reported ACEs varied with the age of the respondent, with adolescents reporting much higher rates of exposure to violence, physical and sexual abuse than are reported retrospectively or by caregivers. This variation may partly reflect actual changes in circumstances with maturation, but may be influenced by developmental stage and issues of memory, cognition and emotional state more than has been considered in previous analyses. More research, across disciplines, is needed to understand these processes and their effect on recall. Long-term prospective studies are critical for this purpose. In conclusion, methodological research that uses a range of information sources to establish the reliability and validity of both retrospective and prospective reports ‒ recognizing that the two approaches may fundamentally answer different questions ‒ should be encouraged.
RESISTING IMAGINATIVE RESISTANCE

Recently, philosophers have identified certain fictional propositions with which one does not imaginatively engage, even where one is transparently intended by their authors to do so. One approach to explaining this categorizes it as 'resistance', that is, as deliberate failure to imagine that the relevant propositions are true; the phenomenon has become generally known (misleadingly) as 'the puzzle of imaginative resistance'. I argue that this identification is incorrect, and I dismiss several other explanations. I then propose a better one, that in central cases of imaginative failure, the basis for the failure is the contingent incomprehensibility of the relevant propositions. Why the phenomenon is especially commonplace with respect to moral propositions is illuminated along the way.
Which cancer patient completes a psychosocial intervention program?

The present study explored the similarities and differences in patterns of psychological distress, coping strategies and social support of 41 cancer patients who dropped out of a psychosocial therapy program and 20 patients who completed the program as agreed. The findings indicated that only depression, out of nine brief symptom inventory subscales, predicted which patients would complete the program, i.e. patients with a high level of depression tended to complete the psychosocial intervention program. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online two speaker diarization

Short conversations pose some challenges for online diarization due to data sparseness and unbalanced representation of the two speakers. This paper presents our recent advances in online diarization of two-wire telephone conversations, introducing several methods for improving processing efficiency and accuracy on short conversations. Our framework is based on the offline diarization of a conversation prefix followed by an efficient online processing of the rest of the conversation. We use an adaptive prefix size, resulting from the tradeoff between desired efficiency and accuracy as measured by a confidence measure on the diarization output. We further show the enhancement of our online speaker recognition system based on implicit speaker diarization using the proposed techniques.
Distributed Multipath Routing Algorithm for Data Center Networks

Multipath routing has been studied in diverse contexts such as wide-area networks and wireless networks in order to minimize the finish time of data transfer or the latency of message sending. The fast adoption of cloud computing for various applications including high-performance computing applications has drawn more attention to efficient network utilization through adaptive or multipath routing methods. However, the previous studies have not exploited multiple paths in an optimized way while scaling well with a large number of hosts for some reasons such as high time complexity of algorithms.In this paper, we propose a scalable distributed flow scheduling algorithm that can exploit multiple paths in data center networks. We develop our algorithm based on linear programming and evaluate the algorithm in FatTree network topologies, one of several advanced data center network topologies. The results show that the distributed algorithm performs much better than the centralized algorithm in terms of running time and is comparable to the centralized algorithm within 10% increased finish time in terms of data transfer time.
Human Capital Convergence: A Joint Estimation Approach

In the growth literature, evidence on convergence of per capita incomes is mixed. In the development literature, health and education indicators are often used to measure countries' development progress. This study examines whether average stocks of health and education are converging across countries and calculates the speed of their convergence using data from 84 countries for 1970-90. A three-stage least-squares (3SLS) procedure is used in a joint analysis of human capital convergence. The results confirm that investments in education and health are closely linked. The study finds unconditional convergence for life expectancy and infant survival, and for the stock of education as measured by average levels of total and secondary schooling in the adult population.
Obstacle-free range determination for rail track maintenance vehicles

Maintenance trains travel in convoy. In Australia, only the first train of the convoy pays attention to the track sig-nalization (the other convoy vehicles simply follow the preceding vehicle). Because of human errors, collisions can happen between the maintenance vehicles. Although an anti-collision system based on a laser distance meter is already in operation, the existing system has a limited range due to the curvature of the tracks. In this paper, we introduce an anti-collision system based on vision. The two main ideas are, (1) to warp the camera image into an image where the rails are parallel through a projective transform, and (2) to track the two rail curves simultaneously by evaluating small parallel segments. The performance of the system is demonstrated on an image dataset.
Liouville field theory on an unoriented surface

Liouville field theory on an unoriented surface is investigated, in particular, the one point function on a 2 is calculated. The constraint of the one point function is obtained by using the crossing symmetry of the two point function. There are many solutions of the constraint and we can choose one of them by considering the modular bootstrap.
Physical Scale Intensity-Based Range Keypoints

This paper presents a method for detecting, describing, and matching keypoints in combined range-intensity data. We extend a 2D image-based detection and description framework to 3D using an image back-projected onto a range scan. A key feature of the framework is a physical scale space for detecting keypoints, which eliminates errors in scale during both detection and matching. We develop smoothing, differentiation, and description techniques that are focused on making the keypoint invariant to viewpoint, sampling, and intensity changes. We demonstrate the power of our algorithm with comparisons to a back-projected SIFT algorithm, showing that it is able to find and match keypoints in a variety of challenging scan pairs.
Semi-immersive virtual reality system with support for educational and pedagogical activities

The aim of this work is to highlight the use of semi-immersive virtual reality in educational process. Part of the effort is explanation of virtual reality systems considering immersion and human-computer interaction. For implementation of such a system was needed to define requirements to enhance productivity during education. Described solution is based on virtual workbench using touch user interface and disposes with capabilities to lead a student through infinite amount of use-cases. Important property is evaluation of student's steps.
In vitro Cytotoxicity Comparison of MTA Fillapex, AH-26 and Apatite Root Canal Sealer at Different Setting Times

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the cytotoxicity of MTA Fillapex, AH-26 and Apatite root canal sealers at different times after mixing. Methods and Materials: In this in vitro study, MTA Fillapex, AH-26 and Apatite root canal sealer were spilled uniformly by 40 µm mesh in a 96-well plate. Then, human fetal foreskin fibroblast cell line (HFFF2) were added to each sealer cell culture medium. Cytotoxicity was measured using MTT assay after 24, 48 and 72 h and seven days. Multiple comparisons were done using analysis of variances (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post hoc test. Results: All studied sealers exhibited severe cytotoxicity (more than 70%) except for Apatite sealer (95%) at 48 h after mixing. Cytotoxicity of MTA Fillapex and AH-26 were similar (P>0.05) at 24, 48 and 72 h and 7 days after mixing of sealers. Cytotoxicity of MTA Fillapex and Apatite root canal sealer, at 24 and 48 h, were significantly different (P=0.003 and P=0.000, respectively); MTA Fillapex was more cytotoxic. However in 72 h and 7 days after mixing, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). At 24 and 48 h after mixing, AH-26 was more cytotoxic (P=0.002 and P=0.000, respectively). Same as above at 72 h and 7 days after mixing, their cytotoxicity were similar (P>0.05). Conclusion: Overall cytotoxicity of all studied materials were severe. However, it was observed that the cytotoxicity of MTA Fillapex, AH-26 and Apatite root canal sealer decreased over time. Apatite root canal sealer exhibited the least cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity of MTA Fillapex and AH-26 were similar at different time intervals.
Enhanced Performance of PMOS MUGFET via Integration of Conformal Plasma-Doped Source/Drain Extensions

For the first time, scaled PMOS MUGFET devices with TiCN/HfO2 gate stack is doped with specific pulsed plasma doping processes. This paper first highlights the key benefit brought by conformal source/drain extensions, demonstrates how pulsed plasma doping process can be tuned to conformal dope very dense fin structures and finally shows that high performance (+24% vs. ion implant reference) multi-gate pMOS device (720 muA/mum @ Ioff 20nA/mum, at Vds = -1.2V) is achieved with extensions formed by optimized PLAD process
Draft Genome Sequence of Defluviimonas indica Strain 20V17T, Isolated from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Environment in the Southwest Indian Ocean

ABSTRACT Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Defluviimonas indica 20V17T, which was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney sample in the southwest Indian Ocean. The draft genome sequence contains 4,268,338 bp, with a G+C content of 66.33%.
Interactive evolution instead of default parameters

Tools for processing biological data often have many parameters, but most users simply use the default settings. Such software often has a large number of controls or user specified parameters. This means that there can be problems with teaching users to use even standard bioinformatic tools effectively. This study prototypes a technique called a show-me-more interface that uses human-in-the-loop evolution to permit an untutored user to operate a complex software tool that designs images of flowers. This task is intended to permit research on managing complex parameters for users that do not understand them without the added complexity of working with biological data. Users are given two specific and two nonspecific tasks and the results of their design efforts are displayed and discussed. The basic concept of show-me-more control has broad applications for permitting casual users to manipulate complex tools in a simple and transparent manner. Careful design can minimize the number of clicks needed for a user to reanalyze data, reducing the potential for user fatigue and attendant error.
Interpreting Evidence of Predictive Validity for Developmental Screening Tests

Evidence of predictive validity is an essential basis for the selection and use of a screening instrument. In the area of developmental screening such information is typically assessed by two methods: correlational analysis and classificational analysis. This paper describes each methodology and reviews their relative advantages and disadvantages in relation to the early identification of developmental handicaps and risks.
A Report on Using General-Case Programming to Teach Collateral Academic Skills to a Student in a Postsecondary Setting

The authors’ purpose in this report is to examine the application of general-case programming to teach collateral academic skills to a student with pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and with a mild intellectual disability who was attending college. The authors use data drawn from their work with Tom to explain and illustrate how a general-case approach may be developed and implemented effectively. The authors’ experience provides initial support for the utility of general-case programming for teaching acquisition and generalization of collateral academic skills. They make recommendations to guide researchers in future investigations of the application of the general-case programming to teach skills that enhance the successful integration of students with disabilities in postsecondary programs.
Adaptive error control for packet video in the Internet

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the quality of many videoconferences in the Internet is mediocre because of high packet loss rates. This makes it important to design and implement mechanisms that minimize packet loss and its impact in video (and audio) applications. There are two such types of mechanisms. Rate control mechanisms attempt to minimize the amount of packet loss by matching the bandwidth requirements of a video flow to the capacity available in the network. However, they do not prevent packet loss altogether. Error control mechanisms attempt to minimize the visual impact of lost packets at the destinations. We provide motivation for using error control mechanisms based on forward error correction (FEC) and packet reconstruction. We examine a specific mechanism, and evaluate its cost as well as the benefit expected from using it. This mechanism can be augmented to obtain a joint source/channel coding scheme suitable for both the current and the future integrated services Internet.
TANSEN: A System for Automatic Raga Identification

Computational Musicology is a new and emerging field which draws heavily from Computer Science, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Western Music has been under the gaze of this community for quite some time. However, Indian music has remained relatively untouched. In this paper, which is an illustration of the application of techniques in AI to the study of Indian music, we present an approach to solve the problem of automatic identification of Ragas from audio samples. Our system, named Tansen, is based on a Hidden Markov Model enhanced with a string matching algorithm. The whole system is built on top of an automatic note transcriptor. Experiments with Tansen show that our approach is highly effective in solving the problem.
Social Constructionism: A Postmodern Lens on the Dynamics of Social Learning

It is widely accepted in many societies that we are all individuals, with our own thoughts and minds, our own abilities, emotions and personalities, our own free will. In the western world our education systems are based on these ideas, as are our theories of education, our psychologies of behaviour, and our day-to-day communications. How else might we think of ourselves and each other? Social constructionists argue, and there is strong support from neuroscience for this, that we create our worlds and our perceptions of our worlds collaboratively. As our technologies of communication develop and become more ubiquitous, it can be helpful to consider how we might theorise their significance in the production of knowledge. What we think about who we are, and about what education is, are discursively produced. These underlying ideas, that we take for granted, have a significant impact on how we approach the use of technologies for teaching and learning, and on how we interpret the interactions that result.
Right-truncatable Neural Word Embeddings

This paper proposes an incremental learning strategy for neural word embedding methods, such as SkipGrams and Global Vectors. Since our method iteratively generates embedding vectors one dimension at a time, obtained vectors equip a unique property. Namely, any right-truncated vector matches the solution of the corresponding lower-dimensional embedding. Therefore, a single embedding vector can manage a wide range of dimensional requirements imposed by many different uses and applications.
A Multi-time Sharing Scheme in Optimal Memory Time Partitioning for Chip-Multiprocessors

When there are several concurrently executing applications in Chip-Multiprocessor (CMP), it's a problem to allocate cache resource between these applications. Cache partitioning is commonly used to solve this problem. Most of the existing partitioning schemes is to reduce the miss rate of concurrently executing applications, but the optimal miss rate does not mean the best performance. This paper presents a Multi-Time Sharing (MTS) scheme based on Optimal Memory Time cache Partitioning (OMTP) to improve the overall performance and the fairness metrics of concurrently executing applications. the MTS scheme uses dynamic weighted values to implement multiple time sharing. the experiment results show that OMTP has higher miss rate compared with utility-based cache partitioning (UCP) but has better IPC throughput and weighted speedup, the MTS scheme used in OMTP can improve both fairness and performance.
El “vínculo” con los medios de transporte: instrumental, simbólico y afectivo

Resumen La investigación en torno a los factores determinantes de la elección de un medio de transporte u otro ha puesto de relieve la importancia de la función instrumental de los mismos. El análisis cualitativo proveniente de 6 grupos de discusión (78 personas) llevados a cabo en Madrid, Bilbao y San Sebastián pone de manifiesto que tanto la función simbólica que cumplen los medios de transporte como el afecto asociado a su uso resultan relevantes, junto con la función instrumental, a la hora de elegir un medio de transporte concreto. De hecho, las referencias emocionales presentan una alta frecuencia de mención en relación con el transporte público. La evaluación de las diferencias entre el transporte público y privado, en relación con las funciones instrumental y simbólica, y el afecto asociado, sugiere que el transporte público es considerado pobre en cuanto a su función instrumental y de forma negativa en cuanto a su función simbólica, mientras que el transporte privado es valorado muy positivamente en cuanto a su función instrumental y simbólica. Finalmente, el aspecto afectivo es evaluado de forma más ambivalente en relación al transporte privado mientras que para el transporte público es fundamentalmente negativo.