Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tyrol: Evolution Of A 10-Axis Biped Robot

This paper presents work demonstrating the evolution of a biped robot named Tyrol from a simulation environment to physical realization. For the past few years, humanoid robot development has been receiving increasing interest by several research groups. The design of this class of robots is quite challenging because of a variety of reasons such as the high number of degrees of freedom involved, balancing issues, power to weight ratio, and complexity of their control. By studying the development of a biped robot, this work addresses humanoid robot design and control in a bottom-up approach. For this purpose, a ten-degree-of-freedom biped robot concept was developed, modeled and constructed. Different gait algorithms have been developed for the biped robot to navigate on flat and inclined surfaces.
Collect, Scope, and Verify Big Data -- A Framework for Institution Accreditation

Institutions in higher education generate terabytesof data that has great value to shape future of nations. This Big Data is in heterogeneous formats, very current, and in large volumes. We propose a framework to collect, scope and verify this large amount of data. Although the framework is explained in the context of institution accreditation in higher education, the framework can be applied in the fields of health-care, finance, marketing etc. Our framework is used to reduce human involvement in the collection and analysis of data, for the purpose of accreditation. The framework extends the scope of data collected to target the heterogeneous nature of the data. Finally, our framework helps to verify the data against a standard set by an accreditation body.
An autonomous wireless sensor node using a solar cell antenna for solar energy harvesting

An autonomous 3–5 GHz UWB sensor transmitter node uses a single solar cell of 2 × 2 cm2, sufficient to generate energy up to 20 mW of peak power outdoors, and acting as a broadband monopole antenna in the 3–10 GHz range, thus miniaturizing the overall system package. The sensor node consumes 10 µA average current when transmitting data bursts every 8.5 s at 1 kbits/s using OOK modulation. The harvested solar energy is stored in a supercapacitor to ensure continuity of transmission.
Strategies for Guided Wave Structural Health Monitoring

Guided wave structural health monitoring has the potential to detect damage anywhere in a structure using a relatively sparse array of distributed sensors. The success of the approach is dependent on the suppression of signals from benign structural features using reference signal subtraction. In this paper the sensitivity of the reference signal subtraction approach in the presence of ambient temperature changes is quantified and two sensing modalities compared. Two methods of performing the subtraction and their consequences are also investigated.
Discrimination Training Alters Object Representations in Human Extrastriate Cortex

Visual object recognition relies critically on learning. However, little is known about the effect of object learning in human visual cortex, and in particular how the spatial distribution of training effects relates to the distribution of object and face selectivity across the cortex before training. We scanned human subjects with high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they viewed novel object classes, both before and after extensive training to discriminate between exemplars within one of these object classes. Training increased the strength of the response in visual cortex to trained objects compared with untrained objects. However, training did not simply induce a uniform increase in the response to trained objects: the magnitude of this training effect varied substantially across subregions of extrastriate cortex, with some showing a twofold increase in response to trained objects and others (including the right fusiform face area) showing no significant effect of training. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of training effects could not be predicted from the spatial distribution of either pretrained responses or face selectivity. Instead, training changed the spatial distribution of activity across the cortex. These findings support a dynamic view of the ventral visual pathway in which the cortical representation of an object category is continuously modulated by experience.
Acquisition of image features for material perception from fine-tuned convolutional neural networks

Many studies of material property estimation and material recognition have been conducted. Previous approaches evaluate the validity or usefulness of hand-designed image features. Thus, we propose a method to directly and naturally acquire image features for material perception using convolutional neural networks. Using a fine-tuned network, we achieved approximately the same recognition accuracy as recent results on the Flickr Material Database. We found that neurons in deep layers are trained to respond to textures or materials.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Situation-Specific Drinking in Women Substance Abusers

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders are frequently comorbid conditions (Stewart, 1996). Alcohol use may serve a “negatively-reinforcing” function among traumatized individuals with PTSD (Stewart, 1996; Stewart, Conrod, Pihl, & Dongier, 1999a; Stewart, Pihl, Conrod, & Dongier, 1998). As such, the heavy drinking behavior of those with PTSD should be relatively situation-specific (i.e., more frequent in “negative” discriminative contexts than in other types of contexts). To test this “situational-specificity” hypothesis, a lifetime measure of trauma exposure (Everstine & Everstine, 1993), the PTSD Symptom Self-Report Scale (Foa, Riggs, Dancu, & Rothbaum, 1993), and the 42-item Inventory of Drinking Situations (Annis, Graham, & Davis, 1987) were administered to a community-recruited sample of 294 adult women substance abusers. PTSD symptoms were significantly positively correlated with frequency of heavy drinking in negative situations, but unrelated to frequency of heavy drinking in positive and temptation situations. At the level of specific drinking situations, PTSD symptoms were significantly positively correlated with frequency of heavy drinking in the negative situations of Unpleasant Emotions, Physical Discomfort, and Conflict with Others. PTSD symptoms were unrelated to frequency of heavy drinking in the positive situations of Pleasant Times with Others and Social Pressure to Drink, or in the temptation situations of Testing Personal Control and Urges and Temptations. Additionally, PTSD symptoms were significantly negatively correlated with frequency of heavy drinking in positive situations involving Pleasant Emotions. Anxiety sensitivity (fear of anxiety-related sensations; Peterson & Reiss, 1992), but not Neuroticism (tendency to experience negative affect; Costa & McCrae, 1992), mediated the observed associations between PTSD symptoms and situation-specific heavy drinking in negative contexts in general, and Conflict with Others and Physical Discomfort situations in particular. Implications for designing potentially more effective interventions for women with comorbid PTSD-alcohol use disorders are discussed.
Online Purchase Intentions for Product Categories -The Functions of Internet Motivations and Online Buying Tendencies-

This study explores an initial framework for online product categorization by examining the relationships among Internet motivations, buying tendencies, and online purchase intentions for product categories. A total of 217 usable questionnaires were obtained from respondents in a southwestern state in the United States. A path model using a correlation matrix with maximum likelihood was estimated using LISREL 8.53. Findings indicated that Internet motivations consisted of four factors: Diversion, Economic, Information, and Social motivations. In addition, online products were classified into three categories based on purchase intentions: Sensory, Cognitive, and Search products. Estimated path model showed that diversion and economic motivations affected impulse buying tendency, whereas economic, information and social motivations influenced planned buying tendency in the online context. Also, the buying tendencies were significantly related to online purchase intentions for the product categories. Purchase intentions for sensory products were more strongly affected by impulse buying tendency, whereas purchase intentions for cognitive and search products were more strongly affected by planned buying tendency. Theoretical and managerial implications were discussed for devising an appropriate e-market strategy for specific product categories.
Extended Mobile IPv6 route optimization in nested mobile networks

Route optimization support in mobile networks is one of the most important concerns in Next Generation Networks (NGNs). NGNs require an efficient route optimization scheme, optimized specially to support nesting of mobile networks. We propose an Extended Mobile IPv6 route optimization (EMIP) scheme to enhance the performance of nested mobile networks. EMIP scheme is based on MIPv6 route optimization and the root Mobile Router (MR) performs all the route optimization tasks on behalf of all active Mobile Network Nodes (MNNs). Thus, the network movement remains transparent to sub MRs and MNNs. It modifies only MRs and MNNs leaving other entities untouched and is more efficient than the Network Mobility Basic Support protocol (NEMO BS). We carried out extensive simulation study to show that EMIP performs better than NEMO BS and Reverse Routing Header (RRH, a well established route optimization protocol) with respect to TCP throughput and round trip time. EMIP effectively reduces unnecessary large travelling route and overhead, thereby enhances performance. It also achieves route optimization between the mobile network nodes inside nested mobile network.
The Role of Women on Screen and behind the Scenes in the Television and Film Industries: Review of a Program of Research

This article summarizes a stream of research examining the role of women behind the scenes in the film industry and on screen and behind the scenes in the television industry. Results are culled from a study of films released in 1987, 1992, and 1997 and studies of the 1995-1996 and 1997-1998 prime-time television seasons. Overall, the findings indicate that women remain underrepresented in both industries. However, the studies also found a quantitative link between women working behind the scenes and the representation and portrayal of women on screen. In prime-time television, female executive producers exerted influence at a macro level, increasing the percentage of female characters and hiring more female writers. These writers, in turn, provided female characters with more powerful dialogue.
An application of facial animation techniques to expression normalization for robust face recognition

To obtain a satisfying registration of an AAM face graph in the presence of a wide range of facial expressions, the statistical model has to be build from a large database covering many different facial expressions and individuals. Additionally, all images have to be pecisely annotated which can be tedious and time consuming. Creating artificial variations of existing database images partially solves this problem. However this approach still only generates preset variations of the database images instead of being adaptive to the actual facial expression present in the input image.
The use of multimedia, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Environment (VE) in enhancing children's understanding of road safety

Road accident statistics gathered over the past years by the Malaysian Institute Of Road Safety Research (MIROS) reveal a significantly high degree of fatalities and injuries involving children. Realizing the importance of road safety amongst school children, the Ministry of Education of Malaysia has introduced road safety education into the primary schools in stages, beginning with Year One in 2008. The curriculum has been incorporated into the existing Malay Language classes. It is aim is to educate children and young people on safety knowledge and skills, and help to shape good attitudes as road users. Currently, the teaching of road safety in schools is still based on conventional method (chalk and talk) without practical approach and specific schedule. With the limitations that exist in the current teaching approach, this paper aims to introduce an alternative new learning approach for road safety education. It is based on the use of a courseware utilizing mixed learning environments which combines interactive multimedia, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Environment (VE) technologies. This paper starts with the introduction, follows with the literature review, research methodology and ends with a conclusion. Hopefully, the proposed courseware will be able to provide a solution to the issue of Road Safety Education in Malaysia.
Sharing and Bandwidth Consumption in the Low Bandwidth File System

The Low Bandwidth Network File System (LBFS) was de signed to minimize the bandwidth requirements for running interactive applications a nd accessing remote files over bandwidthconstrained network links. We present a simplified implementation of the original LBFS in which we concentrate on the analysis of the chunking algo rithm used to exploit similarities across files. We propose an optimized version of Rabin’s chunking algorithm and evaluate the net savings in bandwidth using this new algorithm. In this process , we verify the claims of the original LBFS paper and demonstrate the efficiency of our algorit hm.
The Relationship between Docu Soap Exposure and Adolescents' Career Aspirations

This study aimed to explore the relationship between adolescents' viewing of docu soaps and their career aspirations. The results show that among a sample of 369 adolescents in their last year of secondary education, regular viewing of a docu soap about midwives, veterinarians or para-commandos was a significant predictor of more positive perceptions of that profession. Ecological data on student numbers suggested that these went up in periods following the broadcasting of a successful docu soap about a particular profession. The odds of becoming a student of a study programme recently featured in a docu soap increased by 15 percent. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings and emphasizes the need for continued research in this area.
Local delivery of a selective androgen receptor modulator failed as an anabolic agent in a rat bone marrow ablation model

Background and purpose — Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) have been developed to have systemic anabolic effects on bones and muscles without the adverse effects of steroidal androgens. One unexplored therapeutic option is the targeted application of SARMs for the enhancement of local new bone formation. We evaluated the osteogenic efficacy of a locally released SARM (ORM-11984). Methods — ORM-11984 was mixed with a copolymer of L-lactide and ɛ-caprolactone (PLCL). An in vitro dissolution test confirmed the sustainable release of ORM-11984 from the matrix. A bone marrow ablation model was used in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Implants containing 10%, 30%, or 50% ORM-11984 by weight or pure PLCL were inserted into the medullary canal of the ablated tibia. At 6 and 12 weeks, the volume of intramedullary new bone and the perimeter of bone-implant contact were measured by micro-computed tomography and histomorphometry. Results — Contrary to our hypothesis, there was a negative correlation between the amount of new bone around the implant and the dose of ORM-11984. There was only a mild (and not statistically significant) enhancement of bone formation in ablated bones subjected to the lowest dose of the SARM (10%). Interpretation — This study suggests that intramedullary/endosteal osteogenesis had a negative, dose-dependent response to locally released SARM. This result highlights the complexity of androgenic effects on bones and also suggests that there are biological limits to the targeted local application of SARMs.
The implications of critical studies on men

Abstract This article addresses the relationship of women's studies, gender research and men. In particular I ask the question: What are the implications of recent critical studies on men, for women's studies and gender research? I first outline some of the ways in which the social category of “men” has been taken for granted in the social sciences, and some of the broad features of critical studies on men. The implications of these studies are then examined, first in terms of the different political positions and discursive practices that may be adopted in studying men; second, the problematicizing and rethinking of research methods and methodologies; third, the kind of “results” of empirical research, and particularly the complexity of power relations; and fourth, the construction and possible transformation of academic disciplines ‐ including women's studies, traditional malestream disciplines, and interdisciplinary work. The article concludes with a brief discussion of issues that need future attentio.
Toward a More Robust Lower Neck Compressive Injury Tolerance—An Approach Combining Multiple Test Methodologies

Objective: The compressive tolerance of the cervical spine has traditionally been reported in terms of axial force at failure. Previous studies suggest that axial compressive force at failure is particularly sensitive to the alignment of the cervical vertebra and the end conditions of the test methodology used. The present study was designed to develop a methodology to combine the data of previous experiments into a diverse data set utilizing multiple test methods to allow for the evaluation of the robustness of current and proposed eccentricity based injury criteria. Methods: Data were combined from 2 studies composed of dynamic experiments including whole cervical spine and head kinematics that utilized different test methodologies with known end conditions, spinal posture, injury outcomes, and measured kinetics at the base of the neck. Loads were transformed to the center of the C7-T1 intervertebral disc and the eccentricity of the sagittal plane resultant force relative to the center of the disc was calculated. The correlation between sagittal plane resultant force and eccentricity at failure was evaluated and compared to the correlation between axial force and sagittal plane moment and axial force alone. Results: Accounting for the eccentricity of the failure loads decreased the scatter in the failure data when compared to the linear combination of axial force and sagittal plane moment and axial force alone. A correlation between axial load and sagittal plane flexion moment at failure (R 2 = 0.44) was identified. The sagittal plane extension moment at failure did not have an identified correlation with the compressive failure load for the tests evaluated in this data set (R 2 = 0.001). The coefficients of determination for the linear combinations of sagittal plane resultant force with anterior and posterior eccentricity are 0.56 and 0.29, respectively. These correlations are an improvement compared to the combination of axial force and sagittal plane moment. Conclusions: Results using the outlined approach indicate that the combination of lower neck sagittal plane resultant force and the anterior–posterior eccentricity at which the load is applied generally correlate with the type of cervical damage identified. These results show promise at better defining the tolerance for compressive cervical fractures in male postmortem human subjects (PMHS) than axial force alone. The current analysis requires expansion to include more tolerance data so the robustness of the approach across various applied loading vectors and cervical postures can be evaluated.
Teachers performing gender and belonging: a case study of how SENCOs narrate inclusion identities

This paper investigates how the narratives Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) tell can be framed as social, discursive practices and performances of identity by analysing accounts offered in focus groups and life history interviews. I explore how the narratives deployed demonstrate an engagement with a rhetoric about who works in inclusive education. I argue that this rhetoric informs the materialisation of what Butler terms an ‘intelligible identity’ (1993, 2004), one which might be identified as a SENCO identity because it is gendered as feminine and caring. However, I explore how some of these narratives simultaneously negotiate and refigure rhetorical constructions of intelligible identities by invoking a child-centred warrior persona to alternatively iterate belonging to the special educational needs community. Thus my analysis considers the potential for personal narratives to decouple gender from a rhetoric of caring and identifies potential alternatives for claiming a SENCO identity.
Effects of Alcoholic Beverage Control Policies and Contextual Factors on Alcohol Consumption and its Related Harms in France From 1960 to 2000

Important social changes such as urbanization, increases in female education and employment, and increased incomes have occurred in France from 1960 to 2000 along with a major decrease in alcoholic beverage consumption (from 25 L pure alcohol per inhabitant 15 years and old to 13 L); especially due to wine consumption decrease. These changes in drinking patterns are associated with significant decreases in alcohol consumption-related harms (liver disease mortality and transport accident mortality). Several alcoholic beverage consumption control policy measures were also created during this period. This study explores the impact of these policies measure on alcohol consumption and alcohol consumption-related harms, adjusted with selected social changes. France's control policy has been associated, partially, with regressive effects on alcohol consumption but not on alcohol consumption-related harms. Study limitations are noted.
A Longitudinal Model for Predicting Performance of Police Officers Using Personality and Behavioral Data

A growing body of evidence suggests that the performance of police officers depends on individual dispositions. Although predictive studies of police performance using personality measures often focus on academy training, in this study the authors fitted a longitudinal structural equation model to examine the predictive validity of the training process for actual performance after graduation. To do so, the authors used behavioral and self-reported personality measures as predictors in a sample of 2,010 police candidates enrolled at the Catalan Institute for Public Safety. While academic qualifications alone predicted 27.3% of performance variance, the predictive power was greatly improved when training was included as a mediator of personal dispositions. The full final model accounted for 60% of performance variance. Results suggest that actual job performance is indeed influenced by personality, but that this influence is mediated by training.
Product Manifold Filter: Non-rigid Shape Correspondence via Kernel Density Estimation in the Product Space

Many algorithms for the computation of correspondences between deformable shapes rely on some variant of nearest neighbor matching in a descriptor space. Such are, for example, various point-wise correspondence recovery algorithms used as a post-processing stage in the functional correspondence framework. Such frequently used techniques implicitly make restrictive assumptions (e.g., nearisometry) on the considered shapes and in practice suffer from lack of accuracy and result in poor surjectivity. We propose an alternative recovery technique capable of guaranteeing a bijective correspondence and producing significantly higher accuracy and smoothness. Unlike other methods our approach does not depend on the assumption that the analyzed shapes are isometric. We derive the proposed method from the statistical framework of kernel density estimation and demonstrate its performance on several challenging deformable 3D shape matching datasets.