Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning to Mediate Perceptual Differences in Situated Human-Robot Dialogue

In human-robot dialogue, although a robot and its human partner are co-present in a shared environment, they have significantly mismatched perceptual capabilities (e.g., recognizing objects in the surroundings). When a shared perceptual basis is missing, it becomes difficult for the robot to identify referents in the physical world that are referred to by the human (i.e., a problem of referential grounding). To overcome this problem, we have developed an optimization based approach that allows the robot to detect and adapt to perceptual differences. Through online interaction with the human, the robot can learn a set of weights indicating how reliably/unreliably each dimension (e.g., object type, object color, etc.) of its perception of the environment maps to the human's linguistic descriptors and thus adjust its word models accordingly. Our empirical evaluation has shown that this weight-learning approach can successfully adjust the weights to reflect the robot's perceptual limitations. The learned weights, together with updated word models, can lead to a significant improvement for referential grounding in future dialogues.
Die Messung und Qualitätskontrolle kontextbezogener Befragungsdaten mithilfe der Mehrebenenanalyse: am Beispiel des Sozialkapitals von Stadtvierteln

Due to methodological problems, contextual effects on individual outcomes are a rarely investigated topic in empirical social research. Multilevel analysis as a new statistical method can help to integrate macro-micro-links into models of individual behaviour. In this article, two features of this approach are discussed. First, I describe an ‘ecometric’ method of assessing the quality of survey data on contextual properties like the ‘social climate’ of neighbourhoods or companies derived by ag1 Dr. phil. Dietrich Oberwittler ist Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter der kriminologischen Forschungsgruppe am Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Strafrecht Freiburg i.Br. E-mail: d.oberwittler@iuscrim.mpg. de. 12 ZA-Information 53 gregating individual-level data. Second, I demonstrate how the simultaneous use of individualand context-level predictors in multilevel models can correct individualistic fallacies. Recent survey data on the social capital of neighbourhoods is taken as an example.
Synthesis and biochemical/pharmacological profile of the novel leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist sodium (1S*, 3S*)-1-hydroxy-3-[(3 R*S*,E)-3-hydroxy-7-phenyl-1-hepten-1-yl]-1-cyclohexane acetate.

A novel series of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) antagonists is reported. These compounds present a cyclohexane ring in their chemical structure, which mimics the three conjugated double bonds of LTB4. The biochemical/pharmacological profile of the leader compound, PH-163 (sodium (1S*,3S*)-1-hydroxy-3-[(3R*S,E)-3-hydroxy-7-phenyl-1-hepten-1-yl]- 1 -cyclohexane acetate, CAS 163251-41-0) is described. This compound competes with [3H]LTB4 binding to its receptor in human neutrophils and guinea pig lung membranes with IC50's of 0.8 mumol/l and 0.2 mumol/l, respectively, i.e. relative binding affinities of 1% as compared to LTB4. PH-163 does not elicit any agonist activity, but inhibits leucocyte chemotaxis induced by LTB4 (pKB = 6.57) and lung parenchymal strip contraction (IC50 = 0.1 mumol/l). In conclusion, PH-163 or derivatives could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases where LTB4 seems to be involved.
The Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Androgen Receptors in the Song Nucleus Hyperstriatalis Ventrale Pars Caudale of the Zebra Finch Develops Independently of Gonadal Steroids

The development of sex differences in brain structure and brain chemistry (“brain sex”) of vertebrates is frequently thought to depend entirely on gonadal steroids such as androgens and estrogens, which act on the brain at the genomic level by binding to intracellular transcription factors, the androgen receptors (ARs) and estrogen receptors (ERs). These hormone actions are thought to shift the brain from a monomorphic to a dimorphic phenotype. One prominent such example is the nucleus hyperstriatalis ventrale pars caudale (HVc) of the zebra finch (Poephila guttata), a set of cells in the caudal forebrain involved in the control of singing. In contrast with previous studies using nonspecific cell staining techniques, the size and neuron number of the HVc measured by the distribution of AR mRNA is already sexually dimorphic on posthatching day (P)9. No ARs or ERs are expressed in the HVc before day 9. Slice cultures of the caudal forebrain of P5 animals show that the sexually dimorphic expression of AR mRNA in HVc is independent of the direct action of steroids on this nucleus or any of its immediate presynaptic or postsynaptic partners. Therefore, gonadal steroids do not appear to be directly involved in the initial sex difference in the expression pattern of AR mRNA, size, and neuron number of the HVc. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the initial steroid-independent size and its subsequent steroid-independent growth by extension linearly with the extension of the forebrain explains 60–70% of the masculine development of the HVc. Thus, we suggest that epigenetic factors such as the gonadal steroids modify but cannot overwrite the sex difference in HVc volume determined autonomously in the brain.
A game-based framework for CTL counterexamples and 3-valued abstraction-refinement

This work exploits and extends the game-based framework of CTL model checking for counterexample and incremental abstraction-refinement. We define a game-based CTL model checking for abstract models over the 3-valued semantics, which can be used for verification as well as refutation. The model checking process of an abstract model may end with an indefinite result, in which case we suggest a new notion of refinement, which eliminates indefinite results of the model checking. This provides an iterative abstraction-refinement framework. This framework is enhanced by an incremental algorithm, where refinement is applied only where indefinite results exist and definite results from prior iterations are used within the model checking algorithm. We also define the notion of annotated counterexamples, which are sufficient and minimal counterexamples for full CTL. We present an algorithm that uses the game board of the model checking game to derive an annotated counterexample in case the examined system model refutes the checked formula.
A Hybrid Conformal Planning Technique with Solitary Dynamic Portal for Postmastectomy Radiotherapy with Regional Nodes

Purpose: This study focuses on incorporation of a solitary dynamic portal (SDP) in conformal planning for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) with nodal regions with an intention to overcome the treatment planning limitations imposed by conventional techniques. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients who underwent surgical mastectomy followed by PMRT were included in this study. Initially, a treatment plan comprising tangential beams fitted to beam's-eye-view (BEV) of chest wall (CW) and a direct anterior field fitted to BEV of nodal region, both sharing a single isocenter was generated using Eclipse treatment planning system. Multiple field-in-fields with optimum beam weights (5% per field) were added primarily from the medial tangent, fitted to BEV of entire target volume, and finally converted into a dynamic portal. Dosimetric analysis for the treatment plans and fluence verification for the dynamic portals were performed. Results and Discussion: Conformal plans with SDP showed excellent dose coverage (V95%>95%), higher degree of tumor dose conformity (≤1.25) and homogeneity (≤0.12) without compromising the organ at risk sparing for PMRT with nodal region. Treatment plans with SDP considerably reduced the lower isodose spread to the ipsilateral lung, heart, and healthy tissue without affecting the dose homogeneity. Further, gamma evaluation showed more than 96% pixel pass rate for standard 3%/3 mm dose difference and distance-to-agreement criteria. Moreover, this plan offers less probability of “geometrical miss” at the highly irregular CW with regional nodal radiotherapy. Conclusion: Hybrid conformal plans with SDP would facilitate improved dose distribution and reduced uncertainty in delivery and promises to be a suitable treatment option for complex postmastectomy CW with regional nodal irradiation.
Reliable Orientation Field Estimation of Fingerprint Based on Adaptive Neighborhood Analysis

Fingerprint Orientation estimation is an important step in feature extraction and classification. However, a reliable extraction of fingerprint orientation data is still a challenge for poor quality images. In this paper, a gradient based estimation of orientation field based on the analysis of orientation consistency in the neighborhood for regularizing the orientation field is proposed. Experimental results are analyzed and compared with other existing gradient based methods used in this work. Evaluation performed on standard FVC2002 fingerprint databases DB1, DB2 and sample fingerprint images collected using optical fingerprint reader exhibit visibly better orientation estimation for various quality images using the proposed method.
Analysis of Home Energy Consumption by K-Mean

The smart meter offered exceptional chances to well comprehend energy consumption manners in which quantity of data being generated. One request was the separation of energy load-profiles into clusters of related conduct. The Research measured the resemblance between groups them together and load-profiles into clusters by k-means clustering algorithm. The cluster met, also called “Gender (Male/Female), House (Rented/Owned) and customers status (Satisfied/Unsatisfied)” display methods of consuming energy. It provided value information aimed at utilities to generate specific electricity charges and healthier aim energy efficiency programs. The results show that 43% extremely dissatisfied of energy customer is achieved by using energy consumption.
Coding of Far and Near Space in Neglect Patients

Far (extrapersonal) and near (peripersonal) spaces are behaviorally defined as the space outside arm-reaching distance and the space within arm-reaching distance. Animal and human studies have shown that this behavioral distinction corresponds in the brain to a composite neural architecture for space representation. In this paper we discuss how the activation of the neural correlates of far and near space can be modulated by the use of tools that change the effective spatial relationship between the agent's body and the target object. When subjects reach for a far object with a tool, it is possible to show that far space is remapped as near. We shall also argue that space remapping may not occur when far space is reached by walking instead of using a tool.
Multiplex picodroplet digital PCR to detect KRAS mutations in circulating DNA from the plasma of colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Multiplex digital PCR (dPCR) enables noninvasive and sensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA with performance unachievable by current molecular-detection approaches. Furthermore, picodroplet dPCR facilitates simultaneous screening for multiple mutations from the same sample. METHODS We investigated the utility of multiplex dPCR to screen for the 7 most common mutations in codons 12 and 13 of the KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) oncogene from plasma samples of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Fifty plasma samples were tested from patients for whom the primary tumor biopsy tissue DNA had been characterized by quantitative PCR. RESULTS Tumor characterization revealed that 19 patient tumors had KRAS mutations. Multiplex dPCR analysis of the plasma DNA prepared from these samples identified 14 samples that matched the mutation identified in the tumor, 1 sample contained a different KRAS mutation, and 4 samples had no detectable mutation. Among the tumor samples that were wild type for KRAS, 2 KRAS mutations were identified in the corresponding plasma samples. Duplex dPCR (i.e., wild-type and single-mutation assay) was also used to analyze plasma samples from patients with KRAS-mutated tumors and 5 samples expected to contain the BRAF (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) V600E mutation. The results for the duplex analysis matched those for the multiplex analysis for KRAS-mutated samples and, owing to its higher sensitivity, enabled detection of 2 additional samples with low levels of KRAS-mutated DNA. All 5 samples with BRAF mutations were detected. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates the clinical utility of multiplex dPCR to screen for multiple mutations simultaneously with a sensitivity sufficient to detect mutations in circulating DNA obtained by noninvasive blood collection.
High-Fidelity Simulation Training in Advanced Resuscitation for Pharmacy Residents

Objective. To assess the impact of high-fidelity patient simulation on pharmacy resident knowledge, confidence, and competency with advanced resuscitation algorithms and interventions. Design. An overview of the institutional cardiopulmonary arrest algorithm and a review of pertinent medications and calculations were presented to postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residents, followed by participation in 3 simulated clinical scenarios using a high-fidelity mannequin. Assessment. An improvement of pharmacy resident knowledge, confidence, and competency with advanced resuscitation skills was observed. In addition, pharmacy residents demonstrated high performance levels with skills requiring advanced competency and proactive interactions with the cardiac arrest team. Conclusion. Incorporating high-fidelity patient simulation into an advanced resuscitation training program can help pharmacy residents achieve competency through the active learning of practical skills.
Pharmacogenetics of Uridine Diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A Family Members and its Role in Patient Response to Irinotecan

Glucuronidation, catalyzed by the glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) superfamily, is a major biotransformation pathway for several drugs, including irinotecan. Irinotecan is commonly used in colorectal cancer chemotherapy. Irinotecan undergoes metabolism in humans and is converted to its active metabolite SN-38, a topoisomerase I inhibitor. SN-38 is inactivated via glucuronidation catalyzed by various hepatic and extrahepatic UGT1A isozymes. Although the role of the UGT1A1 *28 genetic variant has received much attention in altered toxicity upon irinotecan treatment, other UGT1A enzymes also play an important role. This review summarizes pharmacokinetic, toxicologic, and pharmacogenetic studies carried out to date in irinotecan and SN-38 disposition.
Dynamic Virtual Machine Consolidation: A Multi Agent Learning Approach

Distributed dynamic virtual machine (VM) consolidation (DDVMC) is a virtual machine management strategy that uses a distributed rather than a centralized algorithm for finding a right balance between saving energy and attaining best possible performance in cloud data center. One of the significant challenges in DDVMC is that the optimality of this strategy is highly dependent on the quality of the decision-making process. In this paper we propose a cooperative multi agent learning approach to tackle this challenge. The experimental results show that our approach yields far better results w.r. t. The energy-performance tradeoff in cloud data centers in comparison to state-of-the-art algorithms.
Personalizing EigenTrust in the Face of Communities and Centrality Attack

EigenTrust (ET) is a renowned algorithm for reputation management in adversarial P2P systems. It incorporates the opinions of all peers in the network to compute a global trust score for each peer based on its past behavior, and relies on a set of pre-trusted nodes to guarantee that malicious nodes cannot subvert the system. In this paper, we show that ET is vulnerable to community structure and a novel targeted attack based on eigenvector centrality, since ET ranks nodes close to the pre-trusted ones higher than those further away. To address these shortcomings, we propose Personalized EigenTrust (PET) which (i) enables each user to choose her trusted peers from the social network of peers, thereby eliminating the need of pre-trusted nodes and making the system autonomous, (ii) is effective in networks operating under various transaction models based on distributions such as random, community-like and power-law, and (iii) is robust to many types of attacks including the targeted one based on eigenvector centrality. Our simulation results reveal that PET outperforms ET under diverse transaction models and attack strategies.
PR ] 2 4 O ct 2 00 2 Poisson-Kingman Partitions ∗

This paper presents some general formulas for random partitions of a finite set derived by Kingman’s model of random sampling from an interval partition generated by subintervals whose lengths are the points of a Poisson point process. These lengths can be also interpreted as the jumps of a subordinator, that is an increasing process with stationary independent increments. Examples include the two-parameter family of Poisson-Dirichlet models derived from the Poisson process of jumps of a stable subordinator. Applications are made to the random partition generated by the lengths of excursions of a Brownian motion or Brownian bridge conditioned on its local time at zero.
Teaching Smart People How to Learn

Why are your smartest and most successful employees often the worst learners? Likely, they haven't had the opportunities for introspection that failure affords. So when they do fail, instead of critically examining their own behavior, they cast blame outward--on anyone or anything they can. In Teaching Smart People How to Learn, Chris Argyris sheds light on the forces that prevent highly skilled employees for learning from mistakes and offers suggestions for helping talented employees develop more productive responses. Since 1922, Harvard Business Review has been a leading source of breakthrough ideas in management practice-many of which still speak to and influence us today. The HBR Classics series now offers you the opportunity to make these seminal pieces a part of your permanent management library. Each volume contains a groundbreaking idea that has shaped best practices and inspired countless managers around the world-and will change how you think about the business world today.
Unraveling Salt Tolerance Mechanisms in Halophytes: A Comparative Study on Four Mediterranean Limonium Species with Different Geographic Distribution Patterns

We have performed an extensive study on the responses to salt stress in four related Limonium halophytes with different geographic distribution patterns, during seed germination and early vegetative growth. The aims of the work were twofold: to establish the basis for the different chorology of these species, and to identify relevant mechanisms of salt tolerance dependent on the control of ion transport and osmolyte accumulation. Seeds were germinated in vitro, in the presence of increasing NaCl concentrations, and subjected to “recovery of germination” tests; germination percentages and velocity were determined to establish the relative tolerance and competitiveness of the four Limonium taxa. Salt treatments were also applied to young plants, by 1-month irrigation with NaCl up to 800 mM; then, growth parameters, levels of monovalent and divalent ions (in roots and leaves), and leaf contents of photosynthetic pigments and common osmolytes were determined in control and stressed plants of the four species. Seed germination is the most salt-sensitive developmental phase in Limonium. The different germination behavior of the investigated species appears to be responsible for their geographical range size: L. narbonense and L. virgatum, widespread throughout the Mediterranean, are the most tolerant and the most competitive at higher soil salinities; the endemic L. santapolense and L. girardianum are the most sensitive and more competitive only at lower salinities. During early vegetative growth, all taxa showed a strong tolerance to salt stress, although slightly higher in L. virgatum and L. santapolense. Salt tolerance is based on the efficient transport of Na+ and Cl− to the leaves and on the accumulation of fructose and proline for osmotic adjustment. Despite some species-specific quantitative differences, the accumulation patterns of the different ions were similar in all species, not explaining differences in tolerance, except for the apparent activation of K+ transport to the leaves at high external salinity, observed only in the most tolerant L. narbonense and L. virgatum. This specific response may be therefore relevant for salt tolerance in Limonium. The ecological implications of these results, which can contribute to a more efficient management of salt marshes conservation/regeneration programs, are also discussed.
Millimeter Wave Cellular Networks: A MAC Layer Perspective

The millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency band is seen as a key enabler of multigigabit wireless access in future cellular networks. In order to overcome the propagation challenges, mmWave systems use a large number of antenna elements both at the base station and at the user equipment, which leads to high directivity gains, fully directional communications, and possible noise-limited operations. The fundamental differences between mmWave networks and traditional ones challenge the classical design constraints, objectives, and available degrees of freedom. This paper addresses the implications that highly directional communication has on the design of an efficient medium access control (MAC) layer. The paper discusses key MAC layer issues, such as synchronization, random access, handover, channelization, interference management, scheduling, and association. This paper provides an integrated view on MAC layer issues for cellular networks, identifies new challenges and tradeoffs, and provides novel insights and solution approaches.
Predictors of turnover of lower gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes mellitus

Background:Both the natural history of GI symptoms and factors influencing symptom turnover in diabetes mellitus are unknown. We aimed to determine the natural history of GI symptoms in diabetes mellitus over a 3-yr period.METHODS:Subjects with predominantly Type 2 diabetes on the mailing list of Diabetes Australia were recruited and completed a validated questionnaire (n = 892); of these, 64% completed the questionnaire again 3 yr later. Subjects were classified as never having GI symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence), fluctuating (only on one survey), or persistent symptoms.RESULTS:Symptoms more often fluctuated than persisted, but the prevalence at recruitment and 3 yr later was similar. Predictors of symptom turnover varied. In a multivariate model, abnormal sweating and diabetic foot problems predicted symptom turnover for abdominal pain (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.07–3.76 and 2.54, 1.23–5.24, respectively), and paresthesiae (“pins and needles”) and foot problems predicted fecal incontinence (OR = 2.24, 1.06–4.75 and 2.38, 1.04–5.45, respectively), but not constipation or diarrhea. Symptom turnover in constipation was associated with depression (OR = 2.73, CI = 1.89–3.94) and neuroticism (OR = 0.57, CI = 0.36–0.89), and depression was associated with abdominal pain (OR = 1.56, CI = 1.02–2.38), but psychological factors were not related to the other symptoms. The odds for symptoms persisting were not generally related to type or duration of diabetes, or self-rated glycemic control.CONCLUSION:The natural history of GI symptoms in diabetes has been described for the first time; symptoms may either persist or fluctuate, but the prevalence is constant because symptom onset is balanced by disappearance. Glycemic control does not seem to predict symptom change.