Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Informational Component

The Informational Component Enric Vallduv Supervisor: Ellen F. Prince Even though the relevance of non-truth-conditional notions like `topic' and `focus' in sentence structure and interpretation has long been recognized, there is little agreement on the exact nature of these notions and their role in a model of linguistic competence. Following the information-packaging approach (Chafe 1976, Prince 1986), this study argues that these notions are primitive elements in the informational component of language. This component, informatics, is responsible for the articulation of sentences qua information, where information is de ned as that part of propositional content which constitutes a contribution of knowledge to the hearer's knowledge-store. Informational primitives combine into four possible distinct information-packaging instructions, which direct hearers to retrieve the information of a sentence and enter it into their knowledge-store in a speci c way. After a discussion of previous approaches to the informational articulation of the sentence, a hierarchical articulation is proposed: sentences are divided into the focus, which is the only information of the sentence, and the ground, which speci es how that information ts in the hearer's knowledge-store. The ground is further divided into the link, which denotes an address in the hearer's knowledge-store under which s/he is instructed to enter the information, and the tail, which provides further directions on how the information must be entered under a given address. Empirical support for this representation of information packaging comes especially from the surface encoding of instructions in Catalan, which is then contrasted with that of English. Using a multistratal syntactic theory, it is then proposed that information packaging is structurally and purely represented at the abstract level of IS, which acts as an interface with informatics. Finally, in order to further argue for informatics as an autonomous linguistic component, some proposals that attempt to include informational notions under logical semantics are reviewed and countered. This study is an e ort to gain insight into one subdomain of pragmatics by integrating it into the larger process of language understanding. This is done by giving otherwise elusive informational notions a speci c role in the component responsible for the entry of information into the hearer's knowledge-store. v
Adaptive motion control of quadrotors under parametric uncertainties with guaranteed stability

This paper suggests an adaptive control scheme for quadrotors subjected to parametric uncertainties. The adaptive controller learns the quadrotor's inverse model using a Lyapunov adaptation law. For that, a robustness feedback loop is used to stabilize the quadrotor at start-up. Hence, precise motion control is obtained in the presence of parameter variations. Unlike other controllers, the stability and convergence of the proposed controller is analyzed by Lyapunov stability theory. The adaptive controller's ability to cope with parameter variations is illustrated in various operating conditions.
Self-Efficacy and Job-Seeking Activities in Unemployed Ethnic Youth

Abstract The authors examined variables predicting the self-efficacy and the job-seeking activities of 103 unemployed ethnic youth from diverse cultural backgrounds. Whereas self-esteem and acceptance by the host culture were significant predictors of self-efficacy, the major predictors of job seeking were (a) the extent to which the ethnic youth felt accepted by members of the dominant culture and (b) the difference between their cultural backgrounds and the dominant host culture. Implications of these findings for enhancing the employment of ethnic youth are discussed.
Effects of realistic force feedback in a robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery system

Abstract Background: Robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery systems not only have the advantages of traditional laparoscopic procedures but also restore the surgeon's hand-eye coordination and improve the surgeon's precision by filtering hand tremors. Unfortunately, these benefits have come at the expense of the surgeon's ability to feel. Several research efforts have already attempted to restore this feature and study the effects of force feedback in robotic systems. The proposed methods and studies have some shortcomings. The main focus of this research is to overcome some of these limitations and to study the effects of force feedback in palpation in a more realistic fashion. Material and methods: A parallel robot assisted minimally invasive surgery system (PRAMiSS) with force feedback capabilities was employed to study the effects of realistic force feedback in palpation of artificial tissue samples. PRAMiSS is capable of actually measuring the tip/tissue interaction forces directly from the surgery site. Four sets of experiments using only vision feedback, only force feedback, simultaneous force and vision feedback and direct manipulation were conducted to evaluate the role of sensory feedback from sideways tip/tissue interaction forces with a scale factor of 100% in characterising tissues of varying stiffness. Twenty human subjects were involved in the experiments for at least 1440 trials. Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed to statistically analyse the experimental results. Results: Providing realistic force feedback in robotic assisted surgery systems improves the quality of tissue characterization procedures. Force feedback capability also increases the certainty of characterizing soft tissues compared with direct palpation using the lateral sides of index fingers. Conclusion: The force feedback capability can improve the quality of palpation and characterization of soft tissues of varying stiffness by restoring sense of touch in robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery operations.
Determinants of the theory of planned behavior of consumer related to intention to purchase of organic vegetables

The Brazilian consumers have expanded their purchases of organic products. However, little is known about these consumers’ purchase behavior. Considering the Theory of Planned Behavior, was aimed at this study to evaluate the positive influence of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavior control in the decision to buy organic vegetables and to evaluate the causal relationships of these variables in the intention to buy vegetables in function of the sociodemographic characteristics of the consumer. During the purchase process, 472 people were interviewed using a questionnaire. The structural equation modeling with the partial least squares method was used to test the relationships proposed in the specific objectives, among the latent variables, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control and uncertainty, predictive of purchase intention. The results indicate that the latent predictive variables influence positively the intention to purchase, unless the perceived uncertainty that the higher this is, the less will be the intention to purchase. Regarding the socioeconomic variables, only the groups targeted in the level of schooling and family income showed significant differences for the relationship between the subjective norms and purchase intention, and for the group age range, the relation between perceived uncertainty and purchase intention.
Was it a heart attack?

The World Health Organization's classic definition of acute myocardial infarction requires that at least two of the following three criteria are met: a history of typical symptoms of ischaemic chest discomfort; evolutionary electrocardiographic tracings involving the development of Q waves; and an increase in the creatinine kinase level greater than twice the upper reference limit.1 While this definition is clear cut, many patients who have had myocardial infarction will be excluded. Recent developments in the detection of small quantities of myocardial necrosis using serum cardiac troponin levels have prompted a new definition of myocardial infarction. This may well lead to an increase in the number of patients diagnosed and improved patient outcomes, but it may also confuse clinicians, epidemiologists, and most importantly patients themselves. Acute coronary syndromes without accompanying elevation of the ST segment on the presenting standard 12 lead electrocardiogram cover a range from unstable angina to non-ST elevation or non-Q myocardial infarction. Patients in the latter category can go on to fulfil the WHO definition of myocardial infarction by developing Q waves on serial electrocardiographic tracings during their index admission. Specific patterns …
Potential mobilization of inorganic contaminants in a french harbor sediment

As part of a French national research program called “SEDiGEST” concerning the management and the environmental risk assessment of contaminated marine harbor sediments, the research presented in this paper focuses on the determination of the leachability of inorganic contaminants. In this objective, a methodology was developed and applied to investigate the mobility of inorganic contaminants as a function of physicochemical conditions. This methodology is based on the use of leaching tests in conjunction with mineralogical and textural analysis. Muddy sediment with important Organic Matter (OM) content (ca. 12 wt %) has been selected and collected from a French harbor. This sediment contained also ca. 109000 mg.kg-1 calcium (Ca), ca. 32 170 mg.kg-1 iron (Fe), ca. 19 660 mg.kg-1 sulfur (S), ca. 2 120 mg.kg-1 zinc (Zn), ca. 1 730 mg.kg-1 copper (Cu), ca. 860 mg.kg-1 lead (Pb) and ca. 150 mg.kg-1 arsenic (As). In addition, this sediment had a natural pH and ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) of ca. 8.2 and ca. + 350 mV vs. Normal Hydrogen Electrode (NHE). Main results shown in this study indicate that the release of target contaminants (As, Cu, Pb and Zn) during a contact with deionized water is very limited (ca. <-0.1 wt %) by the very low solubility of solids, like sulfides or carbonated phases, and by the stability of their bearing solid phases (i.e., OM and/or sulfides) at natural slightly basic conditions. However, the natural pH of this matrix can vary with the loose of the buffering capacity and an increased mobilization is observed over the long term under specific leaching conditions (i.e., pH < 6, or chelation effect, etc.) which can arise in a given scenario for the management of marine sediments.
The relationship between blood–brain barrier permeability and enlarged perivascular spaces: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) have been widely considered as a feature of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) but the pathogenesis of EPVS remains unclear. Compromised blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity may play a role since previous studies have shown that BBB breakdown is a critical contributor to the pathogenesis of other cSVD markers. This study aimed to investigate the association of EPVS in the centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) with BBB permeability. Patients and methods: Consecutive participants free of symptomatic stroke history presented for physical examination were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. CSO- and BG-EPVS on T2-weighted (T2-W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were rated using a five-point validated scale. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI and Patlak pharmacokinetic model were applied to quantify BBB permeability in the CSO and BG. Results: A total of 109 participants aged 49–90 years (mean age of 69.85 years) were enrolled. The proportions of participants presenting high-grade (>10) EPVS in the CSO and BG were 50.5% and 44.0%, respectively. After adjustments for potential confounders by logistic regression, leakage rate and fractional blood plasma volume were correlated with the severity of BG-EPVS (OR: 5.33; 95%CI: 1.95–14.60 and OR: 0.93; 95%CI: 0.87–0.99). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that BG-EPVS are associated with compromised BBB integrity, supporting the hypothesis that the BBB dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of BG-EPVS. EPVS in the CSO and BG may have distinct pathophysiology.
Association between Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism and Alzheimer’s Disease in a Chinese Population

Angiotensin-converting enzyme has shown altered activity in patients with neurological diseases. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the DCP1 gene encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme has been reported to be associated with the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but ambiguous results have also been presented. We conducted a case-control study in a sample composed of 192 sporadic AD patients and 195 age- and sex-matched controls from Chinese Han population in Beijing and Xi’an districts to investigate the possible effect of the polymorphism. Our data revealed no association between the DCP1 polymorphism and AD risk in the total sample. There was no significant difference in the DCP1 allele or genotype frequencies between cases and controls when stratified by gender and APOE ε4 status. However, the D allele and D/D genotype were more frequent among AD patients between 66 and 70 years compared with controls (D allele: OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.5–5.2, p = 0.001; D/D genotype: OR = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.7–19.9, p = 0.002). Our results provided new proof that the DCP1 D allele was a probable risk factor for late-onset AD. Its role was independent and was limited to the population at a certain age.
CS principles pilot at University of California, Berkeley

■ Grading: Weekly reading quizzes and homework (15%), 2-3 page paper [later evolving into a 1-page blog with 3 mandatory response paragraphs to other students posts] (15%), Midterm Project (15%), Final Project (15%), Quest [early, sanity-check exam, halfway between a " quiz " and a " test " ] (5%), Midterm (15%), and Final (20%). The name of the course originated from Grady Booch's SIGCSE 2007 Keynote in which he exhorted us to share the " Passion, Beauty, Joy and Awe " (PBJA) of computing. We simplified the name (fearing that " awe " may imply more " fear " than " wonder, " and that " passion " is internal, not taught) to " Beauty and Joy of Computing" (BJC). Our whimsical logo captures the spirit of the course, while paying homage to its roots (the colors of the BJC letters come from BYOB and the Blown to Bits book). Between the course title, the idea that this may be the last computing course many students ever take, and the need to adequately prepare them for CS61A, several key design principles emerged (many directly from the SIGCSE panels! ): ■ As much as possible, show beautiful and joyful examples of computing. This includes leveraging (and extending via BYOB) the incredibly well-designed, simple-yet-powerful graphical development environment of Scratch, delightful fractals to teach recursion, elegant higher-order functions that use abstraction to hide messy details of control flow, showing how climate simulations are saving the planet, the internet is wonderfully enabling, etc. ■ Half of the course should be the societal implications of technology. We assigned an incredible book, Blown to Bits (Abelson, Ledeen, and Lewis), which we supplement with videos and other readings. ■ Programming should be joyful, so allow students to choose any project they wish. ■ Deep learning happens by doing, not by listening, so use the lab-centric model of instruction (here, 4 hours of Moodle-driven labs per week). ■ Show relevance of computing to the students. Every lecture begins with a " technology in the news " discussion, selected to be most relevant to the student demographic. They are culled The course is intended for non-CS majors. For students in the College of Letters and Sciences , it fulfills the "Quantitative Reasoning" breadth requirement. It is not required for CS majors, but some intended CS majors with no prior programming experience decide to take it as preparation for our …
Contrast Enhancement Scheme Integrating Global and Local Contrast Equalization Approaches

This paper proposes a new contrast enhancement scheme which integrates a global and a local contrast enhancement schemes to reduce the blocking and the washed-out effects at the same time. The proposed method executes a block-based histogram equalization on the temporary images which are obtained by dividing an input image into sub-blocks so that the sub-block of each temporary image may have a block size different from each other. In the next step, it calculates the contrast factors of all equalized temporary images and the temporary image having the largest contrast factor is selected to apply a global contrast enhancement algorithm. The global equalization function is extracted from the selected equalized temporary image and it is applied to the original image. The experiments have shown that the proposed algorithm produces a visually comfortable result image where the blocking and the washed-out effects cannot be detected.
Suicide risk is elevated in migraineurs who have comorbid fibromyalgia

Approximately 15% of the global adult general population has migraine, a chronic intermittent primary headache disorder with a high degree of disability.1 In addition to the temporary disability associated with migraine attacks, migraineurs may incur additional disability related to other conditions that affect them more often than would be expected by chance—including in particular depression, anxiety, and noncephalic pain.2,3
IL‐17 Eliminates the Therapeutic Effects of Myelin Basic Protein‐Induced Nasal Tolerance in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Activating IL‐6

Interleukin (IL)‐17 is a proinflammatory cytokine primarily secreted by Th17 cells, which are a CD4+ T‐cell subset. Th17 cells and IL‐17 are important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and in its established animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, it is unclear whether IL‐17 contributes to EAE immune tolerance. We used the myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide MBP 68–86 to induce nasal tolerance to EAE, and simultaneously interfered with the tolerance by treatment with different doses of IL‐17. We found that IL‐17 dramatically interfered with MBP 68–86‐induced immune tolerance. IL‐17 administration increased IL‐6 release, skewing T cell differentiation towards Th17 cells and decreasing the number of Treg cells. This led to an imbalance between Treg cells and Th17 cells and spurred the development of EAE.
A high-corrugation-rate self-Processing SiO/sub 2/--ZrO/sub 2/ hybrid sol-gel material for fabrication of microlens array

A novel high-corrugation-rate self-processing SiO/sub 2/--ZrO/sub 2/ hybrid sol-gel material has been developed and employed in single-step fabrication of refractive microlens array (MLA). In the proposed process, the SiO/sub 2/--ZrO/sub 2/ hybrid sol-gel film was exposed to ultraviolet through a binary mask and directly patterned into an MLA, which could be used as an end product with no further development or etching steps. Measurements showed that the surface relief depth could reach 1.32 /spl mu/m, equivalent to 17.1% of the sol-gel film thickness. As expected, the fabricated refractive MLA had excellent surface smoothness, structural and dimensional conformity. The discrepancy between the designed and actual focal length of the MLA was 5.3%. The self-processing, being a true single-step method, was shown to be a practical, cost-effective, and promising fabrication technique for microoptical elements.
Stable carbon isotope discrimination by human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase Published, JLR Papers in Press, July 30, 2008.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible existence and magnitude of stable carbon isotope discrimination by human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR). The catalytic portion of HMGR was expressed and purified. The reaction product mevalonate was lactonized and extracted from the reaction mixture by a solid-phase extraction protocol. Stable carbon isotope ratios of mevalonolactone (MVL) were analyzed by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. An average fractionation factor 12k/13k of 1.0031 ± 0.0004 for all carbon atoms contained in MVL was estimated by the method of internal competition. The value was calculated by nonlinear curve fitting, where the ratio 13C/12C of MVL was plotted versus the fraction of reaction.
A real time implementation of an improved MPPT controller for photovoltaic systems

This paper proposes and develops a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) approach. This method is designed to be applied to systems that are fed with a photovoltaic (PV) generator. It is based on the bijectivity of the PV generator characteristic; as if the optimal current is reached, this means that the Vpv generator is obligatory at its optimal value leading to an optimal power. Based on this principle, as maximum power is obtained either based on the Ipv current control or the Vpv voltage control. In this paper, the MPPT algorithm is based only on the Ipv current control. The proposed MPPT algorithm is implemented on a dSpace DS1104 controller board. To demonstrate the efficiency and the validity of the developed algorithm in real time, an experimental setup around a buck converter and a resistive load is successfully implemented and experimentally studied. Obtained experimental results prove the validity of the proposed MPPT algorithm.
Shielding Effectiveness of Pigtail Connections

The shielding effectiveness of a "pigtail" connection between a coaxial transmission line and a ground plane is treated rigorously by the method of moments, as a function of the type and number of pigtails and frequency. The type of pigtail connection is shown to be crucial with regard to radiation and shielding effectiveness, even though the pigtail itself does not radiate significantly. All pigtails are not equal, even though they may be short electrically. A short pigtail is significantly better than a longer one. A "sloppy" pigtail connection may actually enhance radiation. Finally, multiple pigtails yield significant improvement over the single pigtail only for short pigtails. Results have been compared with other theoretical results and with experiment, with good agreement.
LCM: A Link-Aware Clustering Mechanism for Energy-Efficient Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks, nodes in the area of interest must report sensing readings to the sink, and this report always satisfies the report frequency required by the sink. This paper proposes a link-aware clustering mechanism, called LCM, to determine an energy-efficient and reliable routing path. The LCM primarily considers node status and link condition, and uses a novel clustering metric called the predicted transmission count (PTX), to evaluate the qualification of nodes for clusterheads and gateways to construct clusters. Each clusterhead or gateway candidate depends on the PTX to derive its priority, and the candidate with the highest priority becomes the clusterhead or gateway. Simulation results validate that the proposed LCM significantly outperforms the clustering mechanisms using random selection and by considering only link quality and residual energy in the packet delivery ratio, energy consumption, and delivery latency.
Crowd Simulation by Applying Individual Human Model with Vision

One of the most difficult tasks in the computer graphics field is the simulation of human behavior. Some researchers have already tried to generate human behavior in a virtual space by introducing psychology and/or by considering collision avoidance methods. Many previous works, however, have a control center that knows everything about individual position and going direction and so forth, and informs some of it to each person. In addition, individual and crowd behavior are different and treated separately. This paper proposes a virtual human model who has his/her own eye with which each person can obtain the information necessary for their actions by themselves. In addition, we have tried to simulate crowd behavior by applying the individual human model for many people without introducing particle or flocking systems.