Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incremental Learning Framework for Indoor Scene Recognition

This paper presents a novel framework for online incremental place recognition in an indoor environment. The framework addresses the scenario in which scene images are gradually obtained during long-term operation in the real-world indoor environment. Multiple users may interact with the classification system and confirm either current or past prediction results; the system then immediately updates itself to improve the classification system. This framework is based on the proposed \emph{n}-value self-organizing and incremental neural network (\emph{n}-SOINN), which has been derived by modifying the original SOINN to be appropriate for use in scene recognition. The evaluation was performed on the standard MIT 67-category indoor scene dataset and shows that the proposed framework achieves the same accuracy as that of the state-of-the-art offline method, while the computation time of the proposed framework is significantly faster and fully incremental update is allowed. Additionally, a small extra set of training samples is incrementally given to the system to simulate the incremental learning situation. The result shows that the proposed framework can leverage such additional samples and achieve the state-of-the-art result.
Absorbing set characterization of array-based spatially coupled LDPC codes

Absorbing sets are combinatorially defined objects existing in the Tanner graph of a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code that have been shown to cause failures in the iterative message-passing decoder when transmission occurs over the additive white Gaussian noise channel. In this paper, we study the absorbing set properties of a class of high-rate array-based spatially coupled LDPC (SC-LDPC) codes that are constructed by coupling together L array-based LDPC block codes. We prove that the smallest absorbing sets existing in the Tanner graph of the SC-LDPC code have the same size as those in the corresponding uncoupled LDPC codes, and the number of such sets grow linearly with L. We show that spatial coupling greatly reduces the average number (per symbol) of minimal sets compared to the uncoupled codes, and we explain that this reduction is due to many absorbing sets and small cycles being `broken' by the coupling process. The large reduction in the number of minimal absorbing sets suggests that array-based SC-LDPC codes will have significantly improved decoding performance in the high signal-to-noise ratio regime compared to the corresponding uncoupled LDPC codes.
Genetic variation in piñon pine, Pinus edulis, associated with summer precipitation

Three previous reports of microgeographical variation of glycerate dehydrogenase (Gly) frequencies in piñon, Pinus edulis, established the hypothesis that Gly frequencies contribute to adaptation to heterogeneous environments, specifically to variation in soil moisture. In each of these studies, the frequency of the Gly‐3 allele or of Gly‐33 homozygotes was higher on dry sites than on nearby moist sites. Here we attempt to extend these observations by testing the hypothesis that Gly frequencies respond to soil moisture variation on a range‐wide scale. Gly frequencies were surveyed in 11 natural populations, and the frequency of the Gly‐3 allele varied from 0.27 to 0.65 among the sample sites. Elevation varied from 1650 to 3100 m, and summer precipitation, defined as precipitation from April to August, varied from 13.7 to 26.4 cm. The soil types at the collection sites were schist, quaternary volcanic or a mixture of shale and sandstone. Logistic regression revealed that Gly frequencies did not respond to either elevation or soil type, but were related to summer precipitation (P < 0.01). The correlation between summer precipitation and the frequency of the Gly‐3 allele was r = −0.92 (P < 0.001). Thus, the patterns of differentiation on microgeographical scales are consistent with greater differentiation on a range‐wide scale.
Dynamic Simulation for Assessment of Impact of Highway Lane Closure on Traffic

Improvement of existing highway systems, such as maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, is accompanied with lane closure at work zones. Such lane closure causes road user costs for traffic congestion and delays at the work zones. A robust method is developed in this research to support strategic decisionmaking on lane closures. At this stage, the research focuses on a common situation—closing a segment of one lane in one direction on a four-lane highway. The method divides a work zone into arriving-, entering-, passing-, and leaving-zone and classifies the flow of vehicles as arriving-, in-, through-, and out-flow. Thereby, it accounts for traffic congestion and delay due to speed reduction, upstream queue, and speed recovery. Based on dynamic simulation technique, the method simulates the flow of vehicles and measures congestion and delay at work zones. The new method would benefit engineers in planning highway system improvement projects.
Learning skills from play: Artificial curiosity on a Katana robot arm

Artificial curiosity tries to maximize learning progress. We apply this concept to a physical system. Our Katana robot arm curiously plays with wooden blocks, using vision, reaching, and grasping. It is intrinsically motivated to explore its world. As a by-product, it learns how to place blocks stably, and how to stack blocks.
Targeted cancer therapy with ribosome biogenesis inhibitors: a real possibility?

The effects of many chemotherapeutic drugs on ribosome biogenesis have been underestimated for a long time. Indeed, many drugs currently used for cancer treatment – and which are known to either damage DNA or hinder DNA synthesis – have been shown to exert their toxic action mainly by inhibiting rRNA synthesis or maturation. Moreover, there are new drugs that have been proposed recently for cancer chemotherapy, which only hinder ribosome biogenesis without any genotoxic activity. Even though ribosome biogenesis occurs in both normal and cancer cells, whether resting or proliferating, there is evidence that the selective inhibition of ribosome biogenesis may, in some instances, result in a selective damage to neoplastic cells. The higher sensitivity of cancer cells to inhibitors of rRNA synthesis appears to be the consequence of either the loss of the mechanisms controlling the cell cycle progression or the acquisition of activating oncogene and inactivating tumor suppressor gene mutations that up-regulate the ribosome biogenesis rate. This article reviews those cancer cell characteristics on which the selective cancer cell cytotoxicity induced by the inhibitors of ribosome biogenesis is based.
Proposal Genetic Programming for Evolving a Heterogenous Multi-agent System in a Dynamic Environment

The Robocup Rescue Simulation System (RCRSS) is dynamic system of of multi-agent interaction, simulating a large-scale urban disaster scenario. Teams of rescue agents are charged with the tasks of minimizing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage while competing against limitations on time, communication, and awareness. There have been numerous approaches to solving the problems of the RCRSS, but as of yet, no attempts to use Genetic Programming (GP) have been reported. GP is a popular form of automatic programming which utilizes the evolutionary mechanism of Genetic Algorithms (GA) to evolve a potentially complex program from simplistic primitives. This is the approach that will be used in this thesis to evolve the behaviours of a heterogenous set of cooperating agents for the RCRSS. Specifically, this thesis will study GP’s ability to evolve individual behaviours such as appropriate action selection, cooperation amongst homogenous and heterogenous teams of agents, and task assignment.
Fusing Color and Gradient Features for Background Model

Background subtraction is a method typically used to segment moving regions in image sequences taken from a static camera by comparing each new frame to a model of the scene background. We present a novel approach that uses fuzzy integral to fuse the gradient and color features for background model. The method could handle various small motions of background objects such as swaying tree branches and bushes. The model adapts quickly to changes in the scene that enables very sensitive detection of moving targets. The results show that the proposed method is effective and efficient in real-time and accurate background maintenance in complex environment
Homodimeric β-Galactosidase from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DSM 20081: Expression in Lactobacillus plantarum and Biochemical Characterization

The lacZ gene from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DSM 20081, encoding a β-galactosidase of the glycoside hydrolase family GH2, was cloned into different inducible lactobacillal expression vectors for overexpression in the host strain Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. High expression levels were obtained in laboratory cultivations with yields of approximately 53000 U of β-galactosidase activity per liter of medium, which corresponds to ∼170 mg of recombinant protein per liter and β-galactosidase levels amounting to 63% of the total intracellular protein of the host organism. The wild-type (nontagged) and histidine-tagged recombinant enzymes were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and further characterized. β-Galactosidase from L. bulgaricus was used for lactose conversion and showed very high transgalactosylation activity. The maximum yield of galacto-oligosaccharides (GalOS) was approximately 50% when using an initial concentration of 600 mM lactose, indicating that the enzyme can be of interest for the production of GalOS.
Adult Human Brain Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) and Fibroblast-Like Cells Have Similar Properties In Vitro but Only NPCs Differentiate into Neurons

The ability to culture neural progenitor cells from the adult human brain has provided an exciting opportunity to develop and test potential therapies on adult human brain cells. To achieve a reliable and reproducible adult human neural progenitor cell (AhNPC) culture system for this purpose, this study fully characterized the cellular composition of the AhNPC cultures, as well as the possible changes to this in vitro system over prolonged culture periods. We isolated cells from the neurogenic subventricular zone/hippocampus (SVZ/HP) of the adult human brain and found a heterogeneous culture population comprised of several types of post-mitotic brain cells (neurons, astrocytes, and microglia), and more importantly, two distinct mitotic cell populations; the AhNPCs, and the fibroblast-like cells (FbCs). These two populations can easily be mistaken for a single population of AhNPCs, as they both proliferate under AhNPC culture conditions, form spheres and express neural progenitor cell and early neuronal markers, all of which are characteristics of AhNPCs in vitro. However, despite these similarities under proliferating conditions, under neuronal differentiation conditions, only the AhNPCs differentiated into functional neurons and glia. Furthermore, AhNPCs showed limited proliferative capacity that resulted in their depletion from culture by 5–6 passages, while the FbCs, which appear to be from a neurovascular origin, displayed a greater proliferative capacity and dominated the long-term cultures. This gradual change in cellular composition resulted in a progressive decline in neurogenic potential without the apparent loss of self-renewal in our cultures. These results demonstrate that while AhNPCs and FbCs behave similarly under proliferative conditions, they are two different cell populations. This information is vital for the interpretation and reproducibility of AhNPC experiments and suggests an ideal time frame for conducting AhNPC-based experiments.
Multiturn High-Frequency Coaxial Winding Power Transformers

Previous papers on coaxial winding transformers have focused on designs that use a copper tube to form a single- turn outer winding, and litz wire for a multiple-turn inner winding. In high-power applications, the increased resistance of a solid outer winding due to skin effects can be a limiting factor in achieving good performance, especially at frequencies above several hundred kilohertz. A single-turn outer winding leads to large core cross section areas at lower frequencies and the turns ratio is limited to a ratio of 𝓃: 1, where 𝓃 is an integer. This paper demonstrates several methods for achieving multiturn outer windings to improve design flexibility for the coaxial winding transformer. Experimental measurements on transformers that have multiturn outer windings are included to confirm analytical results and demonstrate the modified designs.
Analysis of close associations of uropod-associated proteins in human T-cells using the proximity ligation assay

We have shown previously that the raft-associated proteins flotillin-1 and -2 are rapidly recruited to the uropods of chemoattractant-stimulated human neutrophils and T-cells and are involved in cell polarization. Other proteins such as the adhesion receptor PSGL-1, the actin-membrane linker proteins ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) and the signaling enzyme phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type Iγ90 (PIPKIγ90) also accumulate in the T-cell uropod. Using the in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) we now have investigated putative close associations of these proteins in human freshly isolated T-cells before and after chemokine addition. The PLA allows in situ subcellular localization of close proximity of endogenous proteins at single-molecule resolution in fixed cells. It allows detection also of weaker and transient complexes that would not be revealed with co-immunoprecipitation approaches. We previously provided evidence for heterodimer formation of tagged flotillin-1 and -2 in T-cells before and after chemokine addition using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). We now confirm these findings using PLA for the endogenous flotillins in fixed human T-cells. Moreover, in agreement with the literature, our PLA findings confirm a close association of endogenous PSGL-1 and ERM proteins both in resting and chemokine-activated human T-cells. In addition, we provide novel evidence using the PLA for close associations of endogenous activated ERM proteins with PIPKIγ90 and of endogenous flotillins with PSGL-1 in human T-cells, before and after chemokine addition. Our findings suggest that preformed clusters of these proteins coalesce in the uropod upon cell stimulation.
Accelerometer Calibration and Dynamic Bias and Gravity Estimation: Analysis, Design, and Experimental Evaluation

Tri-axial linear accelerometers are key components in a great variety of applications and, in particular, in navigation systems. Nonidealities such as scale factors, cross coupling, bias, and other higher-order nonlinearities affect the output of this sensor, leading, in general, to prohibitive errors. On the other hand, these coefficients are often slowly time-varying, which renders offline calibration less effective. One such coefficient that usually varies greatly over time and between power-ons is the bias. This paper details the calibration of an accelerometer unit and presents also a dynamic filtering solution for the bias, which also includes the estimation of the gravity in body-fixed coordinates. Simulation and experimental results obtained with a motion rate table are presented and discussed to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithms.
The Stubborn Pervasiveness of Television News in the Digital Age and the Field’s Attention to the Medium, 2010–2014

A secondary analysis of 2010–2014 World Values Survey (WVS) data (N = 81,229) is performed across 56 countries to assess frequency of exposure to television news versus the Internet and mobile phone as information sources. A large majority of the comparisons (105/112; 93.75%) reveal television to be used more frequently than Internet or mobile phones (p < 1.0E-09). A content analysis of works published in 9 communication journals from 2010 to 2014 indicates a precipitous decline in the attention political communication scholars are giving to television. Meanwhile, there is substantial growth in the focus on new media.
Inferring Ongoing Human Activities Based on Recurrent Self-Organizing Map Trajectory

Automatically inferring ongoing activities is to enable the early recognition of unfinished activities, which is quite meaningful for applications, such as online human-machine interaction and security monitoring. Stateof-the-art methods use the spatio-temporal interest point (STIP) based features as the low-level video description to handle complex scenes [1, 2, 3]. While the existing problem is that typical bag-of-visual words (BoVW) focuses on feature distribution but ignores the inherent contexts in sequences, resulting in low discrimination when directly dealing with limited observations. To solve this problem, the Recurrent SelfOrganizing Map (RSOM) [4], which was designed to process sequential data, is novelly adopted in this paper for the high-level representation of ongoing activities. The innovation lies that observed features and their spatio-temporal contexts are encoded in a trajectory of the pre-trained RSOM units. Additionally, a combination of Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) distance and Edit distance, named DTW-E, is specially proposed to measure the structural dissimilarity between RSOM trajectories. RSOM Trajectory: Since the RSOM constitutes a direct extension of SOM, we start from SOM. SOM is to map the data from an input space VI onto a lower dimensional space VL (a map) in such way that the topological relationships in VI are preserved and the SOM units approximate closely the probability density function of VI . Suppose each unit i in SOM is associated with a weight vector wi = [wi1,wi2, . ,win] ∈ Rn with the same dimension as the input vector x = [x1,x2, . ,xn] ∈ Rn. Learning process that leads to self-organization on a map can be summarized as, (i) The feature vector x(t) is input, then its best matching unit (bmu) on the map is found by computing the minimum distance as:
Learning Semantic Parsers for Natural Language Understanding

For building question answering systems and natural language interfaces, semantic parsing has emerged as an important and powerful paradigm. Semantic parsers map natural language into logical forms, the classic representation for many important linguistic phenomena. The modern twist is that we are interested in learning semantic parsers from data, which introduces a new layer of statistical and computational issues. This article lays out the components of a statistical semantic parser, highlighting the key challenges. We will see that semantic parsing is a rich fusion of the logical and the statistical world, and that this fusion will play an integral role in the future of natural language understanding systems.
Competing institutional logics in universities in the United Kingdom: schism in the church of reason

ABSTRACT Theoretical literature on institutions emphasizes the importance of logics – shared rationalizations – in determining many aspects of organizations. In this literature, universities are often discussed as an example of an institution with a particularly strong and cohesive logic, one rooted in notions of academic excellence and the pursuit of universal knowledge. However, more recent literature has argued that multiple institutional logics often compete and conflict with one another in a single organization. In this paper, we use the notion of competing logics to examine how academics in the United Kingdom understand the university as an institution. We perform a factor analysis on questionnaires completed by academics to identify overarching rationalizations of universities. Our analysis suggests three competing institutional logics characterize universities: autonomy, utilitarianism and managerialism. We show these multiple logics produce competing models of the university as an institution, and we discuss the practical and theoretical implications.
A New Weight for Nonlocal Means Denoising Using Method Noise

Method noise, i.e., the difference between the noisy image and its denoised version, often contains residual image information due to imperfect denoising methods. In this letter, a novel weight is derived for nonlocal means (NLM) denoising, which tries to exploit the nonlocal similarities of residual image in method noise, and estimates directly the similarities between noise free patches instead of the commonly used similarity measure based on noisy observations or their pre-denoised versions. The denoising scheme is implemented in two stages: the first stage is the original NLM, and the second stage is the NLM with the new weight that incorporates the role of both the pre-denoised result and the method noise produced in the previous stage. Experimental results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed weight and its potential with respect to classical NLM methods and other state-of-the-art methods.
Measurement of the Inclusive Electron Neutrino Charged Current Cross Section on Carbon with the T2K Near Detector

The T2K off-axis near detector, ND280, is used to make the first differential cross-section measurements of electron neutrino charged current interactions at energies ~1 GeV as a function of electron momentum, electron scattering angle and four-momentum transfer of the interaction. The total flux-averaged $\nu_e$ charged current cross-section on carbon is measured to be $1.11\pm0.09~(stat)\pm0.18~(syst)\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$. The differential and total cross-section measurements agree with the predictions of two leading neutrino interaction generators, NEUT and GENIE. The NEUT prediction is $1.23\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$ and the GENIE prediction is $1.08\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$. The total $\nu_e$ charged current cross-section result is also in agreement with data from the Gargamelle experiment.
MatchSim: a novel neighbor-based similarity measure with maximum neighborhood matching

The problem of measuring similarity between web pages arises in many important Web applications, such as search engines and Web directories. In this paper, we propose a novel neighbor-based similarity measure called MatchSim, which uses only the neighborhood structure of web pages. Technically, MatchSim recursively defines similarity between web pages by the average similarity of the maximum matching between their neighbors. Our method extends the traditional methods which simply count the numbers of common and/or different neighbors. It also successfully overcomes a severe counterintuitive loophole in SimRank, due to its strict consistency with the intuitions of similarity. We give the computational complexity of MatchSim iteration. The accuracy of MatchSim is compared against others on two real datasets. The results show that our method performs best in most cases.
Comparison of Five 3D Surface Texture Synthesis Methods

1 Junyu Dong and Mike Chantler are with the Texture Lab, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland(M.J.Chantler@hw.ac.uk) Abstract We present and compare five approaches for synthesizing and relighting real 3D surface textures. We adapted Efros’s texture quilting method and combined it with five different relighting representations, comprising: a set of three photometric images; surface gradient and albedo maps; polynomial texture maps; and two eigen based representations using 3 and 6 base images. We used twelve real textures to perform quantitative tests on the relighting methods. We develop a systematic qualitative test for the assessment of the complete synthesis systems. Our conclusion is that the cheaper gradient and threebase-image eigen methods should be used in preference to the other methods, especially where the surfaces are Lambertian or near Lambertian.