Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Investigation into Entwistlean Adult Learning Styles in Mature Students

Abstract The learning approaches of 58 nurse tutors, primary teachers, secondary teachers and FE lecturers were investigated using Entwistle's Likert‐style questionnaire. All were studying for a part‐time degree. Female primary teachers were found to have a greater need of guidance by the tutor; the other occupational groups were more independent in their study methods. When examined formally, a majority of all the categories adopted a strategic approach but, when not under this constraint, used a deep approach with plenty of lateral thinking. On average, the females preferred to tackle the details first, rather than the overall picture; whereas the males were evenly divided. The males were on average not significantly more competitive than the females.
Surveillance as an Option for the Treatment of Small Renal Masses

OBJECTIVES. To review the natural history and biological potential of small renal masses in order to evaluate surveillance as a treatment option. METHODS. Literature search of Medline and additional references from non-Medline-indexed publications concerning surveillance of small renal masses. RESULTS. The natural history and biological potential of small renal masses can still not be unambiguously predicted at present. There seems to be no clear correlation between tumour size and presence of benign histology. The majority of small renal masses grow and the majority are cancer, but one cannot safely assume that a lack of growth on serial CT scans is the confirmation of absence of malignancy. Needle core biopsies could be used to help in decision making. They show a high accuracy for histopathological tumour type but are less accurate in evaluating Fuhrman grade. CONCLUSIONS. At present, surveillance of small renal masses should only be considered in elderly and/or infirm patients with competing health risks, in those with a limited life expectancy, and in those for whom minimal invasive treatment or surgery is not an option. In all other patients, active surveillance should only be considered in the context of a study protocol. Long-term, prospective studies are needed to provide a more accurate assessment of the natural history and metastastic potential of small renal masses.
Autonomous Flight of the Rotorcraft-Based UAV Using RISE Feedback and NN Feedforward Terms

A position tracking control system is developed for a rotorcraft-based unmanned aerial vehicle (RUAV) using robust integral of the signum of the error (RISE) feedback and neural network (NN) feedforward terms. While the typical NN-based adaptive controller guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded stability, the proposed NN-based adaptive control system guarantees semi-global asymptotic tracking of the RUAV using the RISE feedback control. The developed control system consists of an inner-loop and outer-loop. The inner-loop control system determines the attitude of the RUAV based on an adaptive NN-based linear dynamic model inversion (LDI) method with the RISE feedback. The outer-loop control system generates the attitude reference corresponding to the given position, velocity, and heading references, and controls the altitude of the RUAV by the LDI method with the RISE feedback. The linear model for the LDI is obtained by a linearization of the nonlinear RUAV dynamics during hover flight. Asymptotic tracking of the attitude and altitude states is proven by a Lyapunov-based stability analysis, and a numerical simulation is performed on the nonlinear RUAV model to validate the effectiveness of the controller.
Efficient photometric stereo technique for three-dimensional surfaces with unknown BRDF

The present paper focuses on efficient inverse rendering using a photometric stereo technique for realistic surfaces. The technique primarily assumes the Lambertian reflection model only. For non-Lambertian surfaces, application of the technique to real surfaces in order to estimate 3D shape and spatially varying reflectance from sparse images remains difficult. In the present paper, we propose a new photometric stereo technique by which to efficiently recover a full surface model, starting from a small set of photographs. The proposed technique allows diffuse albedo to vary arbitrarily over surfaces while non-diffuse characteristics remain constant for a material. Specifically, the basic approach is to first recover the specular reflectance parameters of the surfaces by a novel optimization procedure. These parameters are then used to estimate the diffuse reflectance and surface normal for each point. As a result, a lighting-independent model of the geometry and reflectance properties of the surface is established using the proposed method, which can be used to re-render the images under novel lighting via traditional rendering methods.
High-Level Why-Not Explanations using Ontologies

We propose a novel foundational framework for why-not explanations, that is, explanations for why a tuple is missing from a query result. Our why-not explanations leverage concepts from an ontology to provide high-level and meaningful reasons for why a tuple is missing from the result of a query. A key algorithmic problem in our framework is that of computing a most-general explanation for a why-not question, relative to an ontology, which can either be provided by the user, or it may be automatically derived from the data and/or schema. We study the complexity of this problem and associated problems, and present concrete algorithms for computing why-not explanations. In the case where an external ontology is provided, we first show that the problem of deciding the existence of an explanation to a why-not question is NP-complete in general. However, the problem is solvable in polynomial time for queries of bounded arity, provided that the ontology is specified in a suitable language, such as a member of the DL-Lite family of description logics, which allows for efficient concept subsumption checking. Furthermore, we show that a most-general explanation can be computed in polynomial time in this case. In addition, we propose a method for deriving a suitable (virtual) ontology from a database and/or a schema, and we present an algorithm for computing a most-general explanation to a why-not question, relative to such ontologies. This algorithm runs in polynomial-time in the case when concepts are defined in a selection-free language, or if the underlying schema is fixed. Finally, we also study the problem of computing short most-general explanations, and we briefly discuss alternative definitions of what it means to be an explanation, and to be most general.
Learning variable impedance control

One of the hallmarks of the performance, versatility, and robustness of biological motor control is the ability to adapt the impedance of the overall biomechanical system to different task requirements and stochastic disturbances. A transfer of this principle to robotics is desirable, for instance to enable robots to work robustly and safely in everyday human environments. It is, however, not trivial to derive variable impedance controllers for practical high degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic tasks. In this contribution, we accomplish such variable impedance control with the reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm PI 2 ( P olicy I mprovement with P ath I ntegrals). PI 2 is a model-free, sampling-based learning method derived from first principles of stochastic optimal control. The PI 2 algorithm requires no tuning of algorithmic parameters besides the exploration noise. The designer can thus fully focus on the cost function design to specify the task. From the viewpoint of robotics, a particular useful property of PI 2 is that it can scale to problems of many DOFs, so that reinforcement learning on real robotic systems becomes feasible. We sketch the PI 2 algorithm and its theoretical properties, and how it is applied to gain scheduling for variable impedance control. We evaluate our approach by presenting results on several simulated and real robots. We consider tasks involving accurate tracking through via points, and manipulation tasks requiring physical contact with the environment. In these tasks, the optimal strategy requires both tuning of a reference trajectory and the impedance of the end-effector. The results show that we can use path integral based reinforcement learning not only for planning but also to derive variable gain feedback controllers in realistic scenarios. Thus, the power of variable impedance control is made available to a wide variety of robotic systems and practical applications.
Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Efficiently Capture HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins via CD4 for Antigen Presentation

Advances in HIV-1 vaccine clinical trials and preclinical research indicate that the virus envelope glycoproteins (Env) are likely to be an essential component of a prophylactic vaccine. Efficient Ag uptake and presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) is important for strong CD4+ Th cell responses and the development of effective humoral immune responses. In this study, we examined the capacity of distinct primary human DC subsets to internalize and present recombinant Env to CD4+ T cells. Consistent with their specific receptor expression, skin DCs bound and internalized Env via C-type lectin receptors, whereas blood DC subsets, including CD1c+ myeloid DCs, CD123+ plasmacytoid DCs (PDCs), and CD141+ DCs exhibited a restricted repertoire of C-type lectin receptors and relied on CD4 for uptake of Env. Despite a generally poor capacity for Ag uptake compared with myeloid DCs, the high expression of CD4 on PDCs allowed them to bind and internalize Env very efficiently. CD4-mediated uptake delivered Env to EEA1+ endosomes that progressed to Lamp1+ and MHC class II+ lysosomes where internalized Env was degraded rapidly. Finally, all three blood DC subsets were able to internalize an Env-CMV pp65 fusion protein via CD4 and stimulate pp65-specific CD4+ T cells. Thus, in the in vitro systems described in this paper, CD4-mediated uptake of Env is a functional pathway leading to Ag presentation, and this may therefore be a mechanism used by blood DCs, including PDCs, for generating immune responses to Env-based vaccines.
Acquisition and expression of proximal and distal upper limb stimulus–response curves to transcranial magnetic stimulation

Motor cortex stimulus–response (S/R) curves are an indication of cortical excitability and are of relevance to topographical mapping. The aims of this study were to compare two different methods of collecting data to construct a S/R curve for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the upper limbs, to identify reliable summary statistics for the S/R curve, and to determine whether S/R curves predicted motor threshold. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) were obtained from biceps brachii (BB) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles at rest with a circular coil centered at the vertex. Motor threshold was determined using a validated protocol. MEPs were obtained with 1% increments in intensity or from the average of five trials at 5% increments. The S/R relationships were fitted to linear, S‐shaped, and Boltzmann functions. A linear function determined from the average of five trials accurately summarized our data (r2 from 0.6 to 0.9, P < 0.05, n = 8, for right APB and from 0.6 to 0.9, P < 0.05, n = 8 for right BB). The X‐axis intercept of the line determined using these methods fell between the upper and lower limits of motor threshold in all eight subjects. We propose that MEP values obtained at intervals of 5% averaged over five trials, fitted to a linear function provides a practical means of assessing the S/R characteristics of TMS for proximal and distal upper limb muscles. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 202–206, 2002 DOI 10.1002/mus.10020
Adaptation to Life

* Preface, 1995 * Cast of Protagonists * Part 1: The Study of Mental Health: Methods and Illustrations * Introduction *1. Mental Health *2. The Men of the Grant Study *3. How They Were Studied *4. Health Redefined--The Joyful Expression of Sex and of Anger * Part 2: Basic Styles of Adaptation *5. Adaptive Ego Mechanisms--A Hierarchy *6. Sublimation *7. Suppression, Anticipation, Altruism, and Humor *8. The Neurotic Defenses *9. The Immature Defenses * Part 3: Developmental Consequences of Adaptation *10. The Adult Life Cycle--In One Culture *11. Paths into Health *12. Successful Adjustment *13. The Child Is Father to the Man *14. Friends, Wives, and Children * Part 4: Conclusions *15. The Maturing Ego *16. What Is Mental Health--A Reprise *17. A Summary * References Cited * Appendix A: A Glossary of Defenses * Appendix B: The Interview Schedule * Appendix C: The Rating Scales
A Multiple-Valued Decision Diagram Based Method for Efficient Reliability Analysis of Non-Repairable Phased-Mission Systems

Many practical systems are phased-mission systems (PMSs), where the mission consists of multiple, consecutive, and non-overlapping phases of operation. An accurate reliability analysis of a PMS must consider statistical dependence of component states across phases, as well as dynamics in system configurations, success criteria, and component behavior. This paper proposes a new method based on multiple-valued decision diagrams (MDDs) for the reliability analysis of a non-repairable binary-state PMS. Due to its multi-valued logic nature, the MDD model has recently been applied to the reliability analysis of multistate systems. In this work, we present a novel way to adapt MDDs for the reliability analysis of systems with multiple phases. Examples show how the MDD models are generated and evaluated to obtain the mission reliability measures. Performance of the MDD-based method is compared with an existing binary decision diagram (BDD)-based method for PMS analysis. Empirical results show that the MDD-based method can offer lower computational complexity as well as a simpler model construction and improved evaluation algorithms over those used in the BDD-based method.
Analysis of a three phase five-level dual tapped inductor quasi impedance source-nested neutral point clamped converter

Further growth in renewable energy integration would be dependent on reliability and cost-effectiveness. These two factors can be achieved through power converter topologies that enable transformer-less connection of renewable energy based technology to the grid. This paper presents a three phase five level dual tapped inductor quasi impedance source (qZS)-nested neutral point clamped (NNPC) topology for medium voltage, renewable energy applications. This topology is based on the high boosting factor of the dual tapped inductor quasi source network with minimal shoot-through period and the multilevel feature of the nested neutral-point clamped (NNPC) converter. The steady-state analysis of the proposed topology is presented to illustrate the performance of the converter at continuous conduction mode (CCM). The theoretical analysis has been verified.
Algebraic Soft Decoding Algorithms for Reed-Solomon Codes Using Module

The interpolation based algebraic decoding for Reed-Solomon (RS) codes can correct errors beyond half of the code's minimum Hamming distance. Using soft information, algebraic soft decoding (ASD) can further enhance the performance. This paper introduces two ASD algorithms that utilize a new interpolation technique, the module minimization (MM). Achieving the desirable Gr\"obner basis, the MM interpolation is simpler than the existing Koetter's interpolation that is an iterative polynomial construction process. We will demonstrate how the MM technique can be utilized to solve the interpolation problem in the Koetter-Vardy decoding and the algebraic Chase decoding, respectively. Their re-encoding transformed variants will also be introduced. This transform reduces the size of module entries, leading to a reduced MM complexity. It is more effective for high rate codes. For an RS code of length $n$ and dimension $k$, the MM complexity is $O(n(n - k)l^5)$, where $l$ is the $y$-degree of the interpolated polynomial. Re-encoding transform further reduces the MM complexity to $O((n-k)^2l^5)$. The MM complexity characterizes complexity of the two ASD algorithms. Simulation results will be further provided to substantiate the proposals' decoding and complexity performances.
Bioavailability of pollutants in bacterial communities of Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Processes involving heavy metals and other contaminants continue to present unsolved environmental questions. To advance the understanding of geochemical processes that involve the bioavailability of contaminants, cores where collected in the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, and analyzed for bacterial activity and metal concentrations. Results would suggest an extremely reducing environment where organic substances seem to be the predominant agents responsible for this geochemical process. Analytical data showed sulphate reduction to be the main agent driving this process, since this kind of bacteria was found to be active in all of the samples analyzed. Esterase enzyme production did not signal the influence of heavy metals and hydrocarbon concentrations and heavy metals were found to be unavailable for biota. However, correlation between results for bacterial biomass and the potentially mobile percentage of the total Ni concentrations would suggest a negative impact.
THE INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE: STRATEGIES FOR ACTION IN HIGHLY‐ORDERED CONTEXTS*

Writers in the management literature use one of three general concepts of culture: homogeneous organizational culture, heterogeneous subgroup cultures, and ambiguous cultures. In spite of their differences, each of these conceptualizations focuses attention primarily on the context in which the individual member of an organization acts, and suggests that the latitude for individual action increases as the orderliness of that context decreases. In doing so, the culture literature has underestimated the role of individual actors as active agents in their contexts, regardless of the degree of orderliness prevailing in them. By incorporating a more dynamic perspective of action into the cultural analysis of organizations, this article develops a framework which focuses attention on how individuals not only adhere to, but also depart from even highly‐ordered organizational and subgroup cultures. This framework is then used to investigate managerial interactions during a planning meeting in HAPCO (a pseudonym), a Fortune 500 company. Two general conclusions emerge from these analyses. First, the normative force of HAPCO culture suppresses conflict, as well as the discussion of alternative ideas during decision‐making meetings. Thus, this particular organizational culture severely limits the range of individual action. Second, even in large, highly‐ordered organizations such as HAPCO, culture never completely dominates action because individuals comment critically on their situation. Consequently, individuals possess the capacity not only to adapt to, but also to challenge and depart from cultural rules. Four general types of strategies for individual action are empirically observed and conceptually distinguished.
Remedy for modernity: experiences of walkers and hikers on Medvednica Mountain

Modern life is fraught with pressures and demands that compromise and interfere with the needs of the body. Exercising in leisure time offers many well‐documented mental and physical benefits to counter the strains of modern life – yet many choose to remain inactive. Our understanding of inactivity can be enhanced by more research into those who do undertake exercise in a variety of forms. The purpose of this study was to understand more about the experience of those who exercise in the natural environment, through hiking and walking on Medvednica Mountain Nature Park near Zagreb, Croatia. To this end we interviewed 122 hikers and walkers on‐site, asking general questions about the walking experience on Medvednica. The findings centre around three main experiences: (1) affinity with nature and the outdoors; (2) mental and physical benefits; and (3) interaction with others and development of self‐knowledge. Overall the participants appeared to have found a simple way to negate the impact of living in modern society. This research suggests that civic organisations should promote walking as a way of life.
A Novel Voice Morphing System Using Bi-GMM for High Quality Transformation

This paper presents a novel voice morphing system which reproduces high quality speech while maintaining the majority of the target characteristics. Bi-GMM is named for using GMM technique to estimate mapping functions as well as a codebook generated by GMM either. Compared with the traditional GMM technique, a maximum likelihood estimation framework combined with codebook compensation technique is proposed to overcome the overly smoothed problem caused by conventional GMM. Furthermore, in order to alleviate the discontinuities between frames, a time domain median filter is applied. The STRAIGHT algorithm is adopted for the analysis and synthesis process. The objective and subjective evaluations show that the quality of the speech converted by the proposed method is significantly improved compared with the results by the traditional GMM method.
Design of Physical Layer Network Coded LDPC Code for a Multiple-Access Relaying System

In this letter we propose a novel physical layer network coded LDPC code structure, named PNC-LDPC code, for a non-orthogonal multiple access relay channel. An iterative detection-and-decoding receiver is designed to tackle the multiuser interference at the destination. Based on the code structure and the iterative receiver, we optimize the PNC-LDPC code profile to approach the system achievable rate by utilizing the extrinsic mutual information transfer (EXIT) chart. Simulations show that the performance of our PNC-LDPC code outperforms other conventional network coding based LDPC codes.
Targeted Gene Disruption by Homologous Recombination in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis KOD1

ABSTRACT In contrast to the high accumulation in sequence data for hyperthermophilic archaea, methodology for genetically manipulating these strains is still at an early stage. This study aimed to develop a gene disruption system for the hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis KOD1. Uracil-auxotrophic mutants with mutations in the orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase gene (pyrF) were isolated by positive selection using 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) and used as hosts for further transformation experiments. We then attempted targeted disruption of the trpE locus in the host strain by homologous recombination, as disruption of trpE was expected to result in tryptophan auxotrophy, an easily detectable phenotype. A disruption vector harboring the pyrF marker within trpE was constructed for double-crossover recombination. The host cells were transformed with the exogenous DNA using the CaCl2 method, and several transformants could be selected based on genetic complementation. Genotypic and phenotypic analyses of a transformant revealed the unique occurrence of targeted disruption, as well as a phenotypic change of auxotrophy from uracil to tryptophan caused by integration of the wild-type pyrF into the host chromosome at trpE. As with the circular plasmid, gene disruption with linear DNA was also possible when the homologous regions were relatively long. Shortening these regions led to predominant recombination between the pyrF marker in the exogenous DNA and the mutated allele on the host chromosome. In contrast, we could not obtain trpE disruptants by insertional inactivation using a vector designed for single-crossover recombination. The gene targeting system developed in this study provides a long-needed tool in the research on hyperthermophilic archaea and will open the way to a systematic, genetic approach for the elucidation of unknown gene function in these organisms.