Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D finite element models of shoulder muscles for computing lines of actions and moment arms

Accurate representation of musculoskeletal geometry is needed to characterise the function of shoulder muscles. Previous models of shoulder muscles have represented muscle geometry as a collection of line segments, making it difficult to account for the large attachment areas, muscle–muscle interactions and complex muscle fibre trajectories typical of shoulder muscles. To better represent shoulder muscle geometry, we developed 3D finite element models of the deltoid and rotator cuff muscles and used the models to examine muscle function. Muscle fibre paths within the muscles were approximated, and moment arms were calculated for two motions: thoracohumeral abduction and internal/external rotation. We found that muscle fibre moment arms varied substantially across each muscle. For example, supraspinatus is considered a weak external rotator, but the 3D model of supraspinatus showed that the anterior fibres provide substantial internal rotation while the posterior fibres act as external rotators. Including the effects of large attachment regions and 3D mechanical interactions of muscle fibres constrains muscle motion, generates more realistic muscle paths and allows deeper analysis of shoulder muscle function.
Fusion of LiDAR and Photogrammetric Imagery for Precise and Automatic Building Extraction

We propose a new building detection and description algorithm for LiDAR data and photogrammetric imagery using splitting and merging segments, and line segments matching. Our algorithm consists of three steps. In the first step, we extract initial building regions from LiDAR data. In the second step, given the color segmentation results from the photogrammetric imagery, we extract coarse building boundaries based on the LiDAR results with region segmentation and merging from aerial imagery. In the third step, we extract precise building boundaries based on the coarse building boundaries using line segments matching and the characteristic of man-made object. Experimental results on multisensor data demonstrate that the proposed algorithm produces accurate and reliable results.
Optimization Flow Control in IP Networks : Distributed Pricing Algorithms and Reality Oriented Simulation

The paper deals with reactive flow control in a communication network where the objective of the control is to maximize the total utility of all sources over their transmission rates. The control mechanism is derived as a price adjustment algorithm, formally to solve the dual problem of the price method. The paper examines the workability of implementation of various proposed price adjustment algorithms in IP-based networks and discusses the feasibility of using prices generated during optimization periods as a base of charging the users. The detailed simulation results are presented.
Early Childhood Educators’ Perspectives and Practices About Inclusion of Children With Special Needs in Botswana

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate perspectives of Early Childhood Educators (ECEds) about inclusion of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) by examining their attitudes, training needs, and inclusive practices used in the inclusive classroom. One hundred twenty-eight ECEds completed a questionnaire that included the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusive Classrooms (STATIC) and a self-assessment of training needs. Observation of 21 inclusive classrooms was done to examine the practices of ECEds using the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) observation rating scale. The findings of the study revealed that ECEds’ attitudes were inclined toward the positive side and indicated more training needs on knowledge of CWSN and professional knowledge. Observation findings indicated that the quality of inclusive childhood practice in Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings was between minimum and good, indicating the need for improvement in many areas, like provision of more resources, materials, and equipment.
Working memory: Differences between young adults and the aged in listening tasks

Working memory is a system with a limited capacity which enables the temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for complex cognitive tasks. Numerous studies have suggested that performance in these tasks is related to age where older adults have a lesser performance than the young. Objective To analyze the processing functions of working memory in a listening task. Method 59 educated participants aged between 19 and 76 years having no memory complaints were divided into two groups (young and aged adults). The test administered was the adapted Listening Span, in which the subject listens to a sentence, judging whether it is true or false and, concomitantly, stores the last word of each sentence for later evocation. Results In the judgment task, performance of both groups approached to a similar average. Results of sentence recall demonstrated that with the increase in number of sentences at each level, performance of both groups declined. In the blocks of sentences 1 and 2 at level 1, all participants performed similarly. In the block of sentences 3, at level 1, there was a difference between the young and the aged. From this level onward (retention of 3 to 5 items), the aged and the young differed significantly. Conclusions An increase in the number of sentences diminished participants’ performance of temporary storage in the recall tasks, while not interfering in the processing of sentences during judgment. The difference between the young and the aged became more accentuated as item retention demands increased.
The theoretical basis of the Conversational Model of Therapy

The Conversational Model of Therapy, which is also known as Psychodynamic-Interpersonal Therapy is an evidence-based psychological treatment. The model has a set of distinctive therapist behaviours, which can be taught and learnt in a short space of time. Although the model can be practised without an appreciation of the theory which underpins it, the theoretical basis of the model is rooted in psychodynamic ideas, and it shares many common theoretical approaches with other psychodynamic models. In this article, we describe the theoretical underpinnings of the model, include a description of basic model behaviours, an explanation of why these behaviours are important, and how they directly relate to and are derived from the theoretical stance. We also provide a case example, and show why the model can be practised without detailed theoretical knowledge to good effect, if its common guiding principles are followed.
Contribution of the screened self-energy to the Lamb shift of quasidegenerate states

Expressions for the effective Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) Hamiltonian due to self-energy screening (self-energy correction to the electron-electron interaction) are presented. We use the method of the two-time Green's function, which handles quasidegenerate atomic states. From these expression one can evaluate energy corrections to, e.g., 1s2p 3P1 and 1s2p 1P1 levels in helium and two-electron ions, to all orders in Z\alpha
Rubik's cube as a benchmark validating MRROC++ as an implementation tool for service robot control systems

Purpose – This paper seeks to develop universal software (a programming framework) enabling the implementation of service robot controllers. The software should distinguish the hardware‐oriented part of the system from the task‐oriented one. Moreover, force, vision as well as other sensors should be taken into account. Multi‐effector systems have to be considered.Design/methodology/approach – The robot programming framework MRROC++ has been implemented as a hierarchical structure composed of processes, potentially consisting of threads. All of the software is written in an object‐oriented manner using C++ and is supervised by a QNX real‐time operating system. The framework has been verified on several systems executing diverse tasks. Here, a Rubik's cube puzzle‐solving system, consisting of two arms and utilizing force control and visual servos, is presented.Findings – The presented framework is well suited to tasks requiring two‐handed manipulation with force sensing, visual servoing and online construct.
Efficient computation of logic circuits reliability based on Probabilistic Transfer Matrix

The development of fault tolerance techniques to enhance systems dependability is becoming an unavoidable task as IC industry enters in the nanoscale era. However, before consider the fault tolerant design, an accurate method of reliability evaluation is necessary. The knowledge of the natural error masking capabilities of a given circuit will be essential to handle design tradeoffs in the conception stage. This paper is intended to deal with improvements in the reliability computation of logic circuits using the probabilistic transfer matrix (PTM) approach. We propose an algorithm that reduces memory requirements and can improve run-time performances in the most significant stage of the PTM algorithm, keeping the same accurate reliability analysis.
Flexible Hardware-Managed Isolated Execution: Architecture, Software Support and Applications

We consider the problem of how to provide an execution environment where the application's secrets are safe even in the presence of malicious system software layers. We propose Iso-X—a flexible, fine-grained hardware-supported framework that provides isolation for security-critical pieces of an application such that they can execute securely even in the presence of untrusted system software. Isolation in Iso-X is achieved by creating and dynamically managing compartments (isolated software modules) to host critical fragments of code and associated data. Iso-X provides fine-grained isolation at the memory-page level, flexible allocation of memory, and a low-complexity, hardware-only trusted computing base. Iso-X requires minimal additional hardware, a small number of new ISA instructions to manage compartments, and minimal changes to the operating system which need not be in the trusted computing base. The run-time performance overhead of Iso-X is negligible and even the overhead of creating and destroying compartments is modest. An FPGA implementation of Iso-X runtime mechanisms shows a negligible impact on the processor cycle time.
Resource management in active-passive multifunction radar networks

Despite the extensive research within the field of resource management in monostatic multifunction radar, the resource management techniques for a multifunction radar network are still in their infancy. More specifically, a network which has the ability to switch modes between monostatic and bistatic configuration may potentially be able to capitalise on the advantages of both configurations. This is a gap which has been identified and is the aim of this thesis to explore. The research within this thesis begins by exploring the advantages provided by a bistatic configuration over a monostatic configuration. The conclusions from the initial research are carried forward to design a complete resource management framework for a multifunction radar network consisting of active and passive nodes. The resource management framework is broken into two sub-problems, resourceallocation and the scheduling problem. The resource-allocation problem deals with the task parameter selection methodology to optimally distribute the finite resources. This incorporates the concept of information sharing, which can be considered as a subset of information fusion theory, to delegate a given task to the best suited sensor within the network. A Quality of service framework is utilised to solve the resource-allocation problem where the resulting algorithm is referred to as APNQ-RAM. The scheduling problem is solved by deploying an earliest deadline first scheduler on master-slave architecture where the resulting algorithm is named as MS-EDFS. The research has also explored the impact of the networks geometry and the number of nodes on the network’s performance in tracking and surveillance functions. The research shows significant advantages
Extending the NetPDL Language to Support Traffic Classification

Despite the importance of traffic classification in modern networks, the number of languages tailored to this task is extremely limited. These languages can be valuable, because they allow the update of an application (e.g. firewall) in terms of supported protocols by simply updating its protocol description database, instead of recompiling the application from scratch. This paper presents a set of extensions to the Network Protocol Description Language (NetPDL) allowing support of traffic classification from data-link to application-layer protocols. A set of preliminary experimental results obtained with these new extensions is presented as well.
Cut-and-Paste Editing over 3D Meshes

A novel direct cut-and-paste editing method over 3D triangular meshes is proposed in this paper. The source feature mesh is transferred to the position where it is to be pasted through the corresponding planes. The planes are created using the least squares approximation. To decrease the distortion of pasting region, the local mesh representation is used, and the pasted region is reconstructed in the least squares sense. Then, the boundary vertices of the source feature mesh are connected with the target mesh. This method is applicable to source geometry features with non-zero genus. It can be performed at interactive rates and produces less distortion and natural results
Automatic Design of Balanced Board Games

AI techniques are already widely used in game software to provide computer-controlled opponents for human players. However, game design is a more-challenging problem than game play. Designers typically expend great effort to ensure that their games are balanced and challenging. Dynamic game-balancing techniques have been developed to modify a game-engine’s parameters in response to user play. In this paper we describe a first attempt at using AI techniques to design balanced board games like checkers and Go by modifying the rules of the game, not just the rule parameters. Our approach involves the use of a commercial general game-playing (GGP) engine that plays according to rules that are specified in a general game-definition language. We use a genetic algorithm (GA) to search the space of game rules, looking for turn-based board games that are well balanced, i.e., those that the GGP engine in self-play finds equally hard to win from either side and rarely draws. The GA finds better games than a random-search strategy that uses equivalent computational effort.
Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV improves metabolic control over a 4-week study period in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been proposed as a new treatment modality for type 2 diabetes. To circumvent the drawback of the short half-life of GLP-1, inhibitors of the GLP-1-degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) have been examined. Such inhibitors improve glucose tolerance in insulin-resistant rats and mice. In this study, we examined the 4-week effect of 1-[[[2-[(5-cyanopyridin-2-yl)amino]ethyl]amino]acetyl]-2-cyano-(S)-pyrrolidine (NVP DPP728), a selective, orally active inhibitor of DPP IV, in subjects with diet-controlled type 2 diabetes in a placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 93 patients (61 men and 32 women), aged 64 +/- 9 years (means +/- SD) and with BMI 27.3 +/- 2.7 kg/m(2), entered the study. Fasting blood glucose was 8.5 +/- 1.5 mmol/l, and HbA(1c) was 7.4 +/- 0.7%. Before and after treatment with NVP DPP728 at 100 mg x 3 (n = 31) or 150 mg x 5 (n = 32) or placebo (n = 30), subjects underwent a 24-h study with standardized meals (total 2,000 kcal). RESULTS Compared with placebo, NVP DPP728 at 100 mg t.i. d. reduced fasting glucose by 1.0 mmol/l (mean), prandial glucose excursions by 1.2 mmol/l, and mean 24-h glucose levels by 1.0 mmol/l (all P < 0.001). Similar reductions were seen in the 150-mg b.i. d. treatment group. Mean 24-h insulin was reduced by 26 pmol/l in both groups (P = 0.017 and P = 0.023). Although not an efficacy parameter foreseen in the study protocol, HbA(1c) was reduced to 6.9 +/- 0.7% in the combined active treatment groups (P < 0.001). Laboratory safety and tolerability was good in all groups. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that inhibition of DPP IV is a feasible approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the early stage of the disease.
No cumulative effect of 10 years of elevated [CO2] on perennial plant biomass components in the Mojave Desert

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) generally increase primary production of terrestrial ecosystems. Production responses to elevated [CO2] may be particularly large in deserts, but information on their long‐term response is unknown. We evaluated the cumulative effects of elevated [CO2] on primary production at the Nevada Desert FACE (free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment) Facility. Aboveground and belowground perennial plant biomass was harvested in an intact Mojave Desert ecosystem at the end of a 10‐year elevated [CO2] experiment. We measured community standing biomass, biomass allocation, canopy cover, leaf area index (LAI), carbon and nitrogen content, and isotopic composition of plant tissues for five to eight dominant species. We provide the first long‐term results of elevated [CO2] on biomass components of a desert ecosystem and offer information on understudied Mojave Desert species. In contrast to initial expectations, 10 years of elevated [CO2] had no significant effect on standing biomass, biomass allocation, canopy cover, and C : N ratios of above‐ and belowground components. However, elevated [CO2] increased short‐term responses, including leaf water‐use efficiency (WUE) as measured by carbon isotope discrimination and increased plot‐level LAI. Standing biomass, biomass allocation, canopy cover, and C : N ratios of above‐ and belowground pools significantly differed among dominant species, but responses to elevated [CO2] did not vary among species, photosynthetic pathway (C3 vs. C4), or growth form (drought‐deciduous shrub vs. evergreen shrub vs. grass). Thus, even though previous and current results occasionally show increased leaf‐level photosynthetic rates, WUE, LAI, and plant growth under elevated [CO2] during the 10‐year experiment, most responses were in wet years and did not lead to sustained increases in community biomass. We presume that the lack of sustained biomass responses to elevated [CO2] is explained by inter‐annual differences in water availability. Therefore, the high frequency of low precipitation years may constrain cumulative biomass responses to elevated [CO2] in desert environments.
The Relationship between Cation-Induced Substrate Configuration and Enzymatic Activity of Phosphatidate Phosphohydrolase from Human Liver

The mechanism by which bi-and trivalent cations affect human liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity was investigated. Bivalent cations up to 1 mM increased PAP activity whereas at higher concentrations the activity of the enzyme decreased. The stimulatory concentration for trivalent cations such as Al 3+ and Cr 3+ , however, was much lower being 2 mM and 1 mM, respectively. All cations affecting PAP activity were also able to induce phase transition of phosphat idate from lamellar (La) to inverted hexagonal (HII) form. The rate of La-HII transition was different for each cation . At 100 mM concentration of Mg 2+ only 26% of the original phosphatidate remained in La form and for other cations tested ranged from 14.5% to 76%. The phase transition was blocked by EDTA. Magnesium from 0.8 to 1.5 mM concentration raised PAP activity (3-fold) with La form of substrate but not with the HII phase. Monovalent cations such as Na + and K + neither affected enzyme activity nor substrate configuration. These data suggest that cation -induced PAP activation is not as a result of cation -protein interaction, but is due to formation of a suitable substrate configuration for the enzyme catalysis during phosphatidate phase transition. It appears that the real substrate configuration for PAP activity is situated between La and HII phases. Iran. Biomed. J. 4: 13-19, 2000
Evaluating the Performance Impact of Xen on MPI and Process Execution For HPC Systems

Virtualization has become increasingly popular for enabling full system isolation, load balancing, and hardware multiplexing for high-end server systems. Virtualizing software has the potential to benefit HPC systems similarly by facilitating efficient cluster management, application isolation, full-system customization, and process migration. However, virtualizing software is not currently employed in HPC environments due to its perceived overhead. In this work, we investigate the overhead imposed by the popular, open-source, Xen virtualization system, on performance-critical HPC kernels and applications. We empirically evaluate the impact of Xen on both communication and computation and compare its use to that of a customized kernel using HPC cluster resources at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). We also employ statistically sound methods to compare the performance of a para virtualized kernel against three popular Linux operating systems: RedHat Enterprise 4 (RHEL4) for build versions 2.6. 9 and 2.6. 12 and the LLNL CHAOS kernel, a specialized version of RHEL4. Our results indicate that Xen is very efficient and practical for HPC systems.
A Cluster Refinement Algorithm for Motif Discovery

Finding Transcription Factor Binding Sites, i.e., motif discovery, is crucial for understanding the gene regulatory relationship. Motifs are weakly conserved and motif discovery is an NP-hard problem. We propose a new approach called Cluster Refinement Algorithm for Motif Discovery (CRMD). CRMD employs a flexible statistical motif model allowing a variable number of motifs and motif instances. CRMD first uses a novel entropy-based clustering to find complete and good starting candidate motifs from the DNA sequences. CRMD then employs an effective greedy refinement to search for optimal motifs from the candidate motifs. The refinement is fast, and it changes the number of motif instances based on the adaptive thresholds. The performance of CRMD is further enhanced if the problem has one occurrence of motif instance per sequence. Using an appropriate similarity test of motifs, CRMD is also able to find multiple motifs. CRMD has been tested extensively on synthetic and real data sets. The experimental results verify that CRMD usually outperforms four other state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of the qualities of the solutions with competitive computing time. It finds a good balance between finding true motif instances and screening false motif instances, and is robust on problems of various levels of difficulty.
Hardware Accelerator for Dictionary-Based Compression of MMP Algorithm

The MMP is an algorithm for image compression which uses the multiscale method of recurrent patterns, based on dictionary. The MMP has compression ratio at the same level of others compression algorithms which are based on transforms, having been detached to images with high frequency, however its execution time has been shown high, by repeated searches of these patterns in dictionaries. In this paper we propose a parallel and dedication hardware to accelerate the execution of MMP, and it is implemented in FPGA, which performs the critical function in 340ns, achieving a speedup of 300 over software version.