Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal parameters for efficient crossing-based dialog boxes

We present an empirical analysis of crossing-based dialog boxes. First, we study the spatial constraints required for efficient crossing-based interactions in the case of a simple multi-parameter dialog box. Through a series of 3 tasks, we establish the minimal value of the landing margin, the takeoff margin, and the column width. We also offer an estimation of the role of stroke shape on user performance. After studying the reasons for errors during our experiment, we propose a relaxed crossing semantic that combines aspects of pointing and crossing-based interfaces. To test our design, we compare a naïve dialog box implementation with our new implementation, as well as a standard point-and-click dialog box. Our results reveal that there is not a significant difference between the naïve crossing implementation and the standard point-and-click interface and that the new crossing semantic is faster than both the naïve crossing implementation and the point-and-click interface, despite a higher error rate. Together these two experiments establish that crossing-based dialog boxes can be as spatially efficient and faster than their point-and-click counterpart. Our new semantic provides the first step towards a smooth transition from point-and-click interfaces to crossing-based interfaces.
A fully unconstrained interior point algorithm for multivariable state and input constrained optimal control problems

This paper exposes a methodology to solve constrained optimal control problems for non linear systems using interior penalty methods. A constructive choice for the penalty functions that are introduced to account for the constraints is established in the article. It is shown that this choice allows one to approach a solution of the non linear optimal control problem using a sequence of unconstrained problems, whose solutions are readily characterized by the simple calculus of variations. An illustrative example is given. The paper extends recent contributions, originally focused on single input single output systems.
Belief, preference and willingness under ambiguity.

Ambiguity aversion originally reported in conjunction with Ellsberg paradox appears to have established a law-like status in both empirical and normative researches that are mostly confined in the betting context. The present paper was designed to test its generality in a wider, natural context, using three psychological measures ― belief, preference and willingness. Subjects responded to these measures in the choice problems of a hospital and a driving-school that differed in the locus of control over outcome uncertainties. The effects of framing and relativity of uncertainty were examined as the between-subjects factors. The results were in sharp contrast with the previous findings. That is, there was little evidence for ambiguity aversion, but ambiguity seeking and indifference were predominant
Shape reconstruction from photometric stereo

Two iterative algorithms for shape reconstruction based on multiple images taken under different lighting conditions, known as photometric stereo, are proposed. It is shown that single-image shape-from-shading (SFS) algorithms have an inherent problem, i.e., the accuracy of the reconstructed surface height is related to the slope of the reflectance map function defined on the gradient space. This observation motivates the authors to generalize the single-image SFS algorithm to two photometric stereo SFS algorithms aiming at more accurate surface reconstruction. The two algorithms directly determine the surface height by minimizing a quadratic cost functional, which is defined to be the square of the brightness error obtained from each individual image in a parallel or cascade manner. The optimal illumination condition that leads to best shape reconstruction is examined. <<ETX>>
How Developers' Experience and Ability Influence Web Application Comprehension Tasks Supported by UML Stereotypes: A Series of Four Experiments

In recent years, several design notations have been proposed to model domain-specific applications or reference architectures. In particular, Conallen has proposed the UML Web Application Extension (WAE): a UML extension to model Web applications. The aim of our empirical investigation is to test whether the usage of the Conallen notation supports comprehension and maintenance activities with significant benefits, and whether such benefits depend on developers ability and experience. This paper reports and discusses the results of a series of four experiments performed in different locations and with subjects possessing different experience-namely, undergraduate students, graduate students, and research associates-and different ability levels. The experiments aim at comparing performances of subjects in comprehension tasks where they have the source code complemented either by standard UML diagrams or by diagrams stereotyped using the Conallen notation. Results indicate that, although, in general, it is not possible to observe any significant benefit associated with the usage of stereotyped diagrams, the availability of stereotypes reduces the gap between subjects with low skill or experience and highly skilled or experienced subjects. Results suggest that organizations employing developers with low experience can achieve a significant performance improvement by adopting stereotyped UML diagrams for Web applications.
Searching for Bayesian Network Structures in the Space of Restricted Acyclic Partially Directed Graphs

Although many algorithms have been designed to construct Bayesian network structures using different approaches and principles, they all employ only two methods: those based on independence criteria, and those based on a scoring function and a search procedure (although some methods combine the two). Within the score+search paradigm, the dominant approach uses local search methods in the space of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), where the usual choices for defining the elementary modifications (local changes) that can be applied are arc addition, arc deletion, and arc reversal. In this paper, we propose a new local search method that uses a different search space, and which takes account of the concept of equivalence between network structures: restricted acyclic partially directed graphs (RPDAGs). In this way, the number of different configurations of the search space is reduced, thus improving efficiency. Moreover, although the final result must necessarily be a local optimum given the nature of the search method, the topology of the new search space, which avoids making early decisions about the directions of the arcs, may help to find better local optima than those obtained by searching in the DAG space. Detailed results of the evaluation of the proposed search method on several test problems, including the well-known Alarm Monitoring System, are also presented.
MMSE-optimal approximation of continuous-phase modulated signal as superposition of linearly modulated pulses

The optimal linear modulation approximation of any M-ary continuous-phase modulated (CPM) signal under the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) criterion is presented in this paper. With the introduction of the MMSE signal component, an M-ary CPM signal is exactly represented as the superposition of a finite number of MMSE incremental pulses, resulting in the novel switched linear modulation CPM signal models. Then, the MMSE incremental pulse is further decomposed into a finite number of MMSE pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) pulses, so that an M-ary CPM signal is alternatively expressed as the superposition of a finite number of MMSE PAM components, similar to the Laurent representation. Advantageously, these MMSE PAM components are mutually independent for any modulation index. The optimal CPM signal approximation using lower order MMSE incremental pulses, or alternatively, using a small number of MMSE PAM pulses, is also made possible, since the approximation error is minimized in the MMSE sense. Finally, examples of the MMSE-optimal CPM signal approximation and its comparison with the Laurent approximation approach are given using raised-cosine frequency-pulse CPM schemes.
Examining how avoidant coping and anger suppression relate to emotional eating in young women

The present research furthers our understanding of the process through which young women eat in response to negative emotions. The importance of restrained eating (chronic dieting) as a precursor for emotional and binge eating is well documented. As a group, restrained eaters reliably eat more in response to negative emotions compared to nonrestrained eaters. Researchers have recently noted, however, that there are important sources of individual variability in restrained eating. The present investigation sought to clarify these potential sources of variability in restrained eating by examining how two passive coping styles, avoidant coping and anger suppression, relate to how young women eat in response to negative affect. The influence of these two styles of coping on emotional eating was examined in two studies. The first study used an experimental paradigm and the second used a questionnaire format. In Study 1, the effects of film induced affect on eating behaviour were examined in 73 young women classified as high and low on both avoidant coping and dietary restraint. Participants were randomly assigned to watch either a horror film or documentary film in a laboratory setting. Comparisons between anxiety scores before and after watching the films indicated that the horror film increased anxiety and the documentary film decreased anxiety. As predicted, the only group of participants who ate more in the horror compared to the neutral film was the high restraint, high avoidant copers. These results suggest that negative affect may prompt overeating in a subgroup of restrainers who use more passive and indirect modes of coping with stress. Study 2 explored how anger suppression predicts emotional eating behaviour after considering the influence of body weight, dietary restraint, and self-esteem; factors known to have important influences on emotional eating behaviour in women. Questionnaires assessing heights and weights, self-esteem, dietary restraint, and desire to eat in response to emotions were completed by 190 young women. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicate that on the final step of the regression, suppressed anger contributes unique variance to the prediction of emotional eating behaviour. Findings from these two studies highlight how the overreliance on passive coping strategies, such as avoidance and anger suppression, can contribute to the process of emotional eating in young women. This is important given the association between emotional eating and more disturbed eating behaviours, such as binge eating. The current research also sheds light on the variability in restrainers vulnerability to eating in response to negative emotions. Young women who avoid using strategies aimed at directly managing their anxiety and who seek to suppress their feelings of anger are more susceptible to eating when upset than women who do not use such passive styles of coping
Characterization of Thermoelectric Modules for Powering Autonomous Sensors

The characterization of three commercial thermoelectric modules, which are designed for cooling/heating applications, is presented to employ the devices for power conversion, i.e., as thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The thermoelectric theory is briefly summarized at first, taking into account the relationship between the effective temperature difference across the TEG junctions and the temperature difference applied externally, considering insulating ceramic plates having finite thermal conductance. The thermoelectric modules have been characterized in terms of open-circuit output voltage and output power density for different temperature gradients and load conditions. Measurement techniques and experimental data are reported, which show the possibility of using thermoelectric devices for energy-harvesting applications. A comparison of the results from the tested devices with the performance data of commercial TEGs that are specifically designed for power harvesting is then presented, and the main characteristics of the two device typologies are discussed. A TEG was then used to supply an autonomous system that interfaces with a temperature sensor and periodically transmits the measurement information via an RF link. Experimental data show that the system works correctly and sends the RF signal when the temperature difference that is applied across the TEG is higher than 34 K.
Distributed under Creative Commons Cc-by 4.0 Toxgen: an Improved Reference Database for the Identification of Type B-trichothecene Genotypes in Fusarium

Type B trichothecenes, which pose a serious hazard to consumer health, occur worldwide in grains. These mycotoxins are produced mainly by three different tri-chothecene genotypes/chemotypes: 3ADON (3-acetyldeoxynivalenol), 15ADON (15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) and NIV (nivalenol), named after these three major mycotoxin compounds. Correct identification of these genotypes is elementary for all studies relating to population surveys, fungal ecology and mycotoxicology. Trichothecene producers exhibit enormous strain-dependent chemical diversity, which may result in variation in levels of the genotype's determining toxin and in the production of low to high amounts of atypical compounds. New high-throughput DNA-sequencing technologies promise to boost the diagnostics of mycotoxin genotypes. However, this requires a reference database containing a satisfactory taxonomic sampling of sequences showing high correlation to actually produced chemotypes. We believe that one of the most pressing current challenges of such a database is the linking of molecular identification with chemical diversity of the strains, as well as other metadata. In this study, we use the Tri12 gene involved in mycotoxin biosynthesis for identification of Tri genotypes through sequence comparison. Tri12 sequences from a range of geographically diverse fungal strains comprising 22 Fusarium species were stored in the ToxGen database, which covers descriptive and up-to-date annotations such as indication on Tri genotype and chemotype of the strains, chemical diversity, information on trichothecene-inducing host, substrate or media, geographical locality, and most recent taxonomic affiliations. The present initiative bridges the gap between the demands of comprehensive studies on trichothecene producers and the existing nucleotide sequence databases, which lack toxicological and other auxiliary data. We invite researchers working in the fields of fungal taxonomy, epidemiology and mycotoxicology to join the freely available annotation effort. How to cite this article Kulik et al. (2017), ToxGen: an improved reference database for the identification of type B-trichothecene genotypes in Fusarium.
Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Protection of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in Streptozotocin Injection-Induced Models

Diabetes mellitus is considered as a risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the front runner of neurodegenerative disorders. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a toxin for pancreatic β-cell, which can construct a model of insulin deficient diabetes through intraperitoneal or intravenous injection. A model generated by intracerebroventricular STZ (icv-STZ) also shows numerous aspects of sporadic AD. The protective roles of tea polyphenols epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on both two diseases were researched by some scientists. This review highlights the link between diabetes and AD and recent studies on STZ injection-induced models, and also discusses the protection of EGCG to clarify its treatment in STZ-induced diabetes and AD.
Parameterization of the Stomatal Component of the DO3SE Model for Mediterranean Evergreen Broadleaf Species

An ozone (O3) deposition model (DO3SE) is currently used in Europe to define the areas where O3 concentrations lead to absorbed O3 doses that exceed the flux-based critical levels above which phytotoxic effects would be likely recorded. This mapping exercise relies mostly on the accurate estimation of O3 flux through plant stomata. However, the present parameterization of the modulation of stomatal conductance (gs) behavior by different environmental variables needs further adjustment if O3 phytotoxicity is to be assessed accurately at regional or continental scales. A new parameterization of the model is proposed for Holm oak (Quercus ilex), a tree species that has been selected as a surrogate for all Mediterranean evergreen broadleaf species. This parameterization was based on a literature review, and was calibrated and validated using experimentally measured data of gs and several atmospheric and soil parameters recorded at three sites of the Iberian Peninsula experiencing long summer drought, and very cold and dry winter air (El Pardo and Miraflores) or milder conditions (Tietar). A fairly good agreement was found between modeled and measured data (R2 = 0.64) at Tietar. However, a reasonable performance (R2 = 0.47–0.62) of the model was only achieved at the most continental sites when gs and soil moisture deficit relationships were considered. The influence of root depth on gs estimation is discussed and recommendations are made to build up separate parameterizations for continental and marine-influenced Holm oak sites in the future.
Analyzing Neural Responses to Natural Signals: Maximally Informative Dimensions

We propose a method that allows for a rigorous statistical analysis of neural responses to natural stimuli that are nongaussian and exhibit strong correlations. We have in mind a model in which neurons are selective for a small number of stimulus dimensions out of a high-dimensional stimulus space, but within this subspace the responses can be arbitrarily nonlinear. Existing analysis methods are based on correlation functions between stimuli and responses, but these methods are guaranteed to work only in the case of gaussian stimulus ensembles. As an alternative to correlation functions, we maximize the mutual information between the neural responses and projections of the stimulus onto low-dimensional subspaces. The procedure can be done iteratively by increasing the dimensionality of this subspace. Those dimensions that allow the recovery of all of the information between spikes and the full unprojected stimuli describe the relevant subspace. If the dimensionality of the relevant subspace indeed is small, it becomes feasible to map the neuron's input-output function even under fully natural stimulus conditions. These ideas are illustrated in simulations on model visual and auditory neurons responding to natural scenes and sounds, respectively.
Smartphone-Based Walking Speed Estimation for Stroke Mitigation

Each year, 15 million people suffer stroke worldwide. Among them, 5 million die and another 5 million are permanently disabled. Stroke recovery is a lifelong process. Clinical research have shown that gait velocity (a.k.a, walking speed) is a very powerful indicator of function and prognosis after stroke. In this paper, we focus on developing new algorithms to estimate the walking speed using pervasive devices, such as smartphone. While there are existing techniques to measure walking speed using inertial sensors, very little research has specifically involved smartphone, due to some unique challenges caused by pervasive devices, such as placement of the sensor and sensor drifting. We propose new practical algorithms based on high pass filter, integration of accelerator's reminder, and feedback loop. We evaluate our proposed approach with real world data and present a through analysis on the results. The experimental results have indicated that proposed approach is a promising practical approach for gait speed estimation.
Test-retest reliability and determinants of the Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ): A measure of dysfunctional breathing

s. A concise and factual abstract is required (maximum length 200 words for an unstructured abstract or 250 words for a structured abstract). An abstract is often presented separate from the article,or 250 words for a structured abstract). An abstract is often presented separate from the article, so it must be able to stand alone. The abstract should be written using the following headings as appropriate: Objectives : a clear statement of the purpose of the study Design : describe aspects of the study: randomisation, prospective, blinding, placebo controlled, observational, survey Setting : include the level of care eg primary, secondary; number of participating centres Participants : numbers, selection criteria, numbers entering and completing study Interventions : what were the interventions, how and for how long Main outcome measures : identify primary outcome measure and any supporting secondary outcome measures Results : including main finding, point estimate and degree of uncertainty eg: confidence interval, where appropriate Conclusions : main conclusion based on results and onjective of study, implications Clinical Trial Registration number For meta-analyses and systematic reviews, provide a structured summary in line with the PRISMA Statement, including as applicable: Background or context Objectives: the clinical question or purpose Data sources: databases searched and other information sources Study selection or eligibility criteria, (participants, and interventions) Study appraisal and synthesis methods (or Data Extraction and Data Synthesis); Results Limitations Conclusion and implications of key findings Funding: for the systematic review Systematic review registration number OPEN ACCESS: Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 6(6): e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097