Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability of the Visual World during Eye Drift

We are normally not aware of the microscopic eye movements that keep the retinal image in motion during visual fixation. In principle, perceptual cancellation of the displacements of the retinal stimulus caused by fixational eye movements could be achieved either by means of motor/proprioceptive information or by inferring eye movements directly from the retinal stimulus. In this study, we examined the mechanisms underlying visual stability during ocular drift, the primary source of retinal image motion during fixation on a stationary scene. By using an accurate system for gaze-contingent display control, we decoupled the eye movements of human observers from the changes in visual input that they normally cause. We show that the visual system relies on the spatiotemporal stimulus on the retina, rather than on extraretinal information, to discard the motion signals resulting from ocular drift. These results have important implications for the establishment of stable visual representations in the brain and argue that failure to visually determine eye drift contributes to well known motion illusions such as autokinesis and induced movement.
The Role of Social Information for Social Ability, Sense of Community and Satisfaction in Online Learning

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship and influence of enhanced social information on the social nature of online learning. A survey was implemented to collect students’ perceptions about their online learning experience across six online courses in a mid-west university. The results show students’ ways of accessing social information and their appreciation of the usefulness of social information for their learning goals influences their social ability, sense of community, and satisfaction in online learning. Additionally, aspects of students’ social ability differentially influence a sense of community and learning satisfaction. Perceptions of peers’ and instructor’s social presence and comfort in sharing personal information with others impacts the sense of community, and perceptions of the instructor’s social presence and sense of community impact learning satisfaction.
Can Text Analysis Tell us Something about Technology Progress?

A corpus-based diachronic analysis of patent documents, based mainly on the morphologically productive use of certain terms can help in tracking the evolution of key developments in a rapidly e volving specialist field. The patent texts were obtained from the US Patent & Trade Marks Office's on-line service and the terms were extracted automatically from the texts. The chosen specialist field was that of fast-switching devices and systems. The method presented draws from liter ature on biblio- and sciento-metrics, information extraction, corpus linguistics, and on aspects of English morphology. This interdisciplinary fram ework shows that the evolution of word-formation closely shadows the developments in a field of technology.
TerraFly GeoCloud: online spatial data analysis system

With the exponential growth of the usage of web map services, the geo data analysis has become more and more popular. This paper develops an online Spatial Data Analysis System, TerraFly GeoCloud, which facilitates the end user to visualize and analyze spatial data, and to share the analysis results. Built on the TerraFly Geo spatial database, TerraFly GeoCloud is an extra layer running upon TerraFly map supporting many different visualization functions and spatial data analysis models. TerraFly GeoCloud also enables the MapQL technology to create maps using SQL-like statements. The TerraFly GeoCloud system is available at http://terrafly.fiu. edu/GeoCloud/.
The reset disambiguation policy for navigating stochastic obstacle fields

The problem we consider is a stochastic shortest path problem in the presence of a dynamic learning capability. Specifically, a spatial arrangement of possible obstacles needs to be traversed as swiftly as possible, and the status of the obstacles may be disambiguated (at a cost) en route. No efficiently computable optimal policy is known, and many similar problems have been proven intractable. In this article, we adapt a policy which is optimal for a related problem and prove that this policy is indeed also optimal for a restricted class of instances of our problem. Otherwise, this policy is generally suboptimal but, nonetheless, it is both effective and efficiently computable. Examples/simulations are provided in a mine countermeasures application. Of central use is the Tangent Arc Graph, a polynomially sized topological superimposition of exponentially many visibility graphs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011
Mass Spectrometry-Based Approaches Toward Absolute Quantitative Proteomics

Mass spectrometry has served as a major tool for the discipline of proteomics to catalogue proteins in an unprecedented scale. With chemical and metabolic techniques for stable isotope labeling developed over the past decade, it is now routinely used as a method for relative quantification to provide valuable information on alteration of protein abundance in a proteome-wide scale. More recently, absolute or stoichiometric quantification of proteome is becoming feasible, in particular, with the development of strategies with isotope-labeled standards composed of concatenated peptides. On the other hand, remarkable progress has been also made in label-free quantification methods based on the number of identified peptides. Here we review these mass spectrometry-based approaches for absolute quantification of proteome and discuss their implications.
Play-Graph: A methodology and visualization approach for the analysis of gameplay data

Instrumentation to automatically log information – so called gameplay metrics – about the player-game interaction has become an important tool for analyzing player behavior in games. However, due to the usually large amount of gathered data, analysis of the collected data can be challenging. Visualizations have become a promising addition to statistical techniques to explore and better understand the data. In this paper we build upon our previous work on game-play analysis and introduce the concept of a play-graph as a way to formally describe and visualize gameplay data. Difference graphs are used to depict the changes between two diﬀerent datasets – a relevant but currently neglected task in gameplay analytics. Furthermore, we address issues in regard to the visual representation of our former prototype. Data obtained from a puzzle game, a team-based shooter, and a MMORPG are used to illustrate the concepts.
Improved mean shift algorithm for moving object tracking

Mean shift is a nonparametric estimator of density gradient. Traditional mean shift algorithm is rather sensitive to the influence of background. Therefore, an improved mean shift object tracking algorithm is proposed. Firstly, a novel weights given method is given, which improves the kernel function. The method is that the pixels which near the centre of object are given biggest weights, and the pixels which at the edge of the object are given by exponent distribution as a result of occlusion. In order to hand the occlusion, the occlusion detecting method based on sub-block detecting is also established. The novel sub-block detecting algorithm is that the tracking window is divided into two parts, including right and left, and the similarity measure is calculated respectively. The simulation results show that the improved mean shift algorithm can hand the occlusion effectively and track the moving object very well, and it can track moving object more powerful than the basic mean shift tracked.
Static CFG analyzer for metamorphic Malware code

Malware detection and prevention methods are increasingly becoming important particularly for all computer systems connected to Internet. The term 'Malware' is collectively used for viruses, worms, Trojan's etc. Malicious activities of malware is to steal, modify, leak the data to external server or consuming system resources thereby degrading the performance of system. To avoid detection, malicious code(s) generates multiple variants while they propagate. In past, researchers have addressed malware detection using Control Flow Graph (CFG). These detection methods were based on comparison of shapes of CFG's of original sample with that of variants. The proposed approach compares instructions at basic block of original malware with that of the variants using longest common subsequence (LCS). Some viruses and benign programs have been used in the test set. Preliminary results are promising to prove the effectiveness of our proposed methodology.
The pseudorabies virus gII gene is closely related to the gB glycoprotein gene of herpes simplex virus

We have looked for conserved DNA sequences between four herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein genes encoding gB, gC, gD, and gE and pseudorabies virus (PRV) DNA, HSV-1 DNA fragments representing these four glycoprotein-coding sequences were hybridized to restriction enzyme fragments of PRV DNA by the Southern blot procedure. Specific hybridization was observed only when HSV-1 gB DNA was used as probe. This region of hybridization was localized to a 5.2-kilobase (kb) region mapping at approximately 0.15 map units on the PRV genome. Northern blot (RNA blot) analysis, with a 1.2-kb probe derived from this segment, revealed a predominant hybridizing RNA species of approximately 3 kb in PRV-infected PK15 cells. DNA sequence analysis of the region corresponding to this RNA revealed a single large open reading frame with significant nucleotide homology with the gB gene of HSV-1 KOS 321. In addition, the beginning of the sequenced PRV region also contained the end of an open reading frame with amino acid homology to HSV-1 ICP 18.5, a protein that may be involved in viral glycoprotein transport. This sequence partially overlaps the PRV gB homolog coding sequence. We have shown that the PRV gene with homology to HSV-1 gB encoded the gII glycoprotein gene by expressing a 765-base-pair segment of the PRV open reading frame in Escherichia coli as a protein fused to beta-galactosidase. Antiserum, raised in rabbits, against this fusion protein immunoprecipitated a specific family of PRV glycoproteins of apparent molecular mass 110, 68, and 55 kilodaltons that have been identified as the gII family of glycoproteins. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence indicated that the PRV gII protein shares 50% amino acid homology with the aligned HSV-1 gB protein. All 10 cysteine residues located outside of the signal sequence, as well as 4 of 6 potential N-linked glycosylation sites, were conserved between the two proteins. The primary protein sequence for HSV-1 gB regions known to be involved in the rate of virus entry into the cells and cell-cell fusion, as well as regions known to be associated with monoclonal antibody resistance, were highly homologous with the PRV protein sequence. Furthermore, monospecific antibody made against PRV gII immunoprecipitated HSV-1 gB from infected cells. Taken together, these findings suggest significant conservation of structure and function between the two proteins and may indicate a common evolutionary history.
Longitudinal trajectories of heavy drinking in adults in the United States of America.

AIMS To estimate age, period, cohort and other demographic influences on heavy alcohol consumption and trajectories of heavy drinking in American adults. DESIGN Prospective cohort of 14 127 participants, aged 25-74 years at baseline. Generalized estimating equations to model longitudinal change in the probability of heavy drinking and its association with demographic factors. Setting National, population-based sample of non-institutionalized civilians. MEASUREMENTS Heavy alcohol consumption (usual number of drinks per occasion >or= five for men; >or= four for women) at baseline (1971-74) and three follow-ups until 1992. FINDINGS Heavy alcohol consumption declined with increasing age (age effect) and tracked national average consumption (period effect). There was no cohort effect. Higher probability of heavy drinking was associated with male gender (relative risk: RR = 2.4), being not married (RR = 1.4), having less than high school education (RR = 1.7), having annual income below the median (RR = 1.5), not living in the South-east (RR = 1.7), and smoking (RR = 3.4). Getting married and quitting smoking during the study were each associated with reduction in heavy drinking (RR = 0.55 and 0.61, respectively). Slower age-related decline in the probability of heavy drinking was seen in men (P < 0.0001), married individuals (P = 0.03), and smokers (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Demographic predictors of trends in heavy drinking are different from those for trends in average alcohol consumption. The likelihood of heavy drinking declined more slowly with increasing age in men and smokers, suggesting that the negative health effects of alcohol in older ages may be greatest in these groups.
Impacto do Marketing Interno sobre a Orientação para o Mercado em Empresas Brasileiras

The internal marketing concept refers to visualizing employees as internal consumers and emphasizes the need to listen to and satisfy employees as a requisite to satisfying company customers. This paper focuses, then, on the influence of internal marketing on the adoption of a corporate culture oriented to customers; i.e., a marketing orientation. Based on operationalization of the internal marketing concept from Lings and Greenley (2005), we propose a conceptual model for connections between the internal market orientation and market orientation concepts. The results of an empirical study based on a questionnaire applied to 109 Brazilian firms from several economic sectors corroborate the proposed model. The adoption of internal market oriented behavior, particularly the dimensions relative to the dissemination of information and implementation of responses, influences external market orientation and its dimensions (information production, information disclosure and response).
Accurate extraction of cracks on the underside of concrete bridges

Crack detection is crucial for maintaining the structural health and safety of concrete bridges. Previous studies mainly focus on the detection of thick and conspicuous cracks on bridge deck using high resolution images. However, it's difficult to obtain accurate crack detection results on the underside of bridges due to the fainter and thinner appearance and lower contrast of cracks to their background. To overcome this problem, we propose a modified Beamlet Tree-based crack detection method which searches for possible edges by hierarchically constructing difference filters. The proposed method is evaluated with real crack images on the underside of bridges collected by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Compared with competitors, our proposed method achieves better performance in terms of accuracy and completeness.
Using the Distributional Hypothesis to Derive Cooccurrence Scores from the British National Corpus

In this paper I examine a number of cooccurrence-based scoring systems using the British National corpus to measure word association over wide contexts. The principal aim of this paper is to address the question of how to evaluate a given scoring system, or how to compare two scoring systems, without relying on a small list of example pairs and a ‘feel’ for the results. I evaluate these systems using i) a list of noun-noun pairs and ii) a simple test on aligned and misaligned sets of nouns. I also consider why noun-noun pairs are deemed appropriate for such mechanisms and explore the prospects for determining which words or lemmas will be appropriate for a distributional scoring approach. For my specific application an algorithm similar to MI-score operating across multiple windows offers the best results.
Genes Required for Replication of the 15.5-Kilobase RNA Genome of a Plant Closterovirus

ABSTRACT A full-length cDNA clone of beet yellows closterovirus (BYV) was engineered and used to map functions involved in the replication of the viral RNA genome and subgenomic RNA formation. Among 10 open reading frames (ORFs) present in BYV, ORFs 1a and 1b suffice for RNA replication and transcription. The proteins encoded in these ORFs harbor putative methyltransferase, RNA helicase, and RNA polymerase domains common to Sindbis virus-like viruses and a large interdomain region that is unique to closteroviruses. The papain-like leader proteinase (L-Pro) encoded in the 5′-proximal region of ORF 1a was found to have a dual function in genome amplification. First, the autocatalytic cleavage between L-Pro and the remainder of the ORF 1a product was essential for replication of RNA. Second, an additional L-Pro function that was separable from proteolytic activity was required for efficient RNA accumulation. The deletion of a large, ∼5.6-kb, 3′-terminal region coding for a 6-kDa hydrophobic protein, an HSP70 homolog, a 64-kDa protein, minor and major capsid proteins, a 20-kDa protein, and a 21-kDa protein (p21) resulted in replication-competent RNA. However, examination of mutants with replacements of start codons in each of these seven 3′-terminal ORFs revealed that p21 functions as an enhancer of genome amplification. The intriguing analogies between the genome organization and replicational requirements of plant closteroviruses and animal coronavirus-like viruses are discussed.
Lombard speech model for automatic enhancement of speech intelligibility over telephone channel

This paper aims at evaluating the performance of a “Lombard effect model” for improving speech intelligibility over telephone channel. It is well known that the naturalness and intelligibility of speech degrades rapidly in communication channels, such as phone networks or public address systems. To reduce the degradation, a ”Lombard effect mimicking” system has been proposed to modify the variations of duration, formant frequencies, formant bandwidth, pitch and energy in each frequency band of normal speech for compensating Lombard effect. In order to validate the effectiveness of our Lombard effect mimicking system for speech intelligibility improvement, we evaluated synthetic Lombard speech over telephone channel. From subjective listening test, it is shown that the proposed compensation algorithm increases the intelligibility of speech in telephone channel environments at 5 dB Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) and 10 dB SNR by nearly 10% and 13.9% over the unprocessed signals respectively.
A 79-GHz Planar Antenna Array Using Ceramic-Filled Cavity Resonators in LTCC

Design and measurement of a planar antenna array realized in low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) are presented. The antenna elements are ceramic-filled cavity resonators fed by an integrated laminated waveguide network and a slot in each resonator. The antenna is designed to operate in the 79-GHz frequency range. The array shows good impedance matching and a stable radiation pattern within a bandwidth of approximately 5 GHz. The presented results of a first design show that the antenna is a promising candidate for 79-GHz automotive or related applications and ideally suited for LTCC integration.
Decomposing hierarchical alignment: Co-arguments as conditions on alignment and the limits of referential hierarchies as explanations in verb agreement

Abstract Apart from common cases of differential argument marking, referential hierarchies affect argument marking in two ways: (a) through hierarchical marking, where markers compete for a slot and the competition is resolved by a hierarchy, and (b) through co-argument sensitivity, where the marking of one argument depends on the properties of its co-argument. Here we show that while co-argument sensitivity cannot be analyzed in terms of hierarchical marking, hierarchical marking can be analyzed in terms of co-argument sensitivity. Once hierarchical effects on marking are analyzed in terms of co-argument sensitivity, it becomes possible to examine alignment patterns relative to referential categories in exactly the same way as one can examine alignment patterns relative to referential categories in cases of differential argument marking and indeed any other condition on alignment (such as tense or clause type). As a result, instances of hierarchical marking of any kind turn out not to present a special case in the typology of alignment, and there is no need for positing an additional non-basic alignment type such as “hierarchical alignment”. While hierarchies are not needed for descriptive and comparative purposes, we also cast doubt on their relevance in diachrony: examining two families for which hierarchical agreement has been postulated, Algonquian and Kiranti, we find only weak and very limited statistical evidence for agreement paradigms to have been shaped by a principled ranking of person categories.
Microscopic Equations in Rough Energy Landscape for Neural Networks

We consider the microscopic equations for learning problems in neural networks. The aligning fields of an example are obtained from the cavity fields, which are the fields if that example were absent in the learning process. In a rough energy landscape, we assume that the density of the local minima obey an exponential distribution, yielding macroscopic properties agreeing with the first step replica symmetry breaking solution. Iterating the microscopic equations provide a learning algorithm, which results in a higher stability than conventional algorithms.
Dosimetric study of fetal exposure to uniform magnetic fields at 50 Hz

In this paper, fetal exposure to uniform magnetic fields (MF) with different polarizations is quantified at 50 Hz. Numerical computations were performed on high‐resolution pregnant models at 3, 7, and 9 months of gestational age (GA), that distinguish a high number of fetal tissues. Fetal whole‐body and tissue‐specific induced electric fields (E) and current densities (J) were analyzed as a function of both the extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF‐MF) polarization and GA. Additionally, the induced field variation due to changes in fetal position was analyzed by means of two new pregnant models. The uncertainty budget due to the grid resolution was also calculated. Finally, the compliance of the fetal exposure to the ICNIRP Guidelines was checked. A fetal exposure matrix was built at 50 Hz, which could be used to further investigate possible interaction mechanisms between ELF‐MF and the associated health risk. Some specific findings were: (1) the induced fields increased with GA; (2) the maxima E were found in skin and fat tissues at each GA; (3) fetal tissue‐specific exposure was modified as a function of GA and polarization; (4) the change of the fetal position in the womb significantly modified the induced E in some fetal tissues; (5) the induced fields were in compliance with ICNIRP Guidelines and the results were quite below the permitted threshold limit. Bioelectromagnetics 35:580–597, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new method for generating safe motions for humanoid robots

This paper introduces a new method for planning safe motions for complex systems such as humanoid robots. Motion planning consists on finding the best joint trajectories. By using trajectory parameterization, the motion planning problem can be seen as a semi-infinite programming problem (SIP) since it involves a finite number of parameters over an infinite set of constraints. Most methods solve the SIP problem by transforming it into a finite programming one by using a discretization over a prescribed grid. We show that this approach is risky because it can lead to motions which violate one or several constraints. Then we introduce our new method for planning safe motions. It uses Interval Analysis techniques in order to achieve a safe discretization of the constraints. We show how to implement this method and use it with state-of-the-art constrained optimization packages. Then, we illustrate its capabilities for planning safe motions for the HOAP-3 humanoid robot.