Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Learning Reward Functions from User Interactions

In the physical world, people have dynamic preferences, e.g., the same situation can lead to satisfaction for some humans and to frustration for others. Personalization is called for. The same observation holds for online behavior with interactive systems. It is natural to represent the behavior of users who are engaging with interactive systems such as a search engine or a recommender system, as a sequence of actions where each next action depends on the current situation and the user reward of taking a particular action. By and large, current online evaluation metrics for interactive systems such as search engines or recommender systems, are static and do not reflect differences in user behavior. They rarely capture or model the reward experienced by a user while interacting with an interactive system. We argue that knowing a user's reward function is essential for an interactive system as both for learning and evaluation. We propose to learn users' reward functions directly from observed interaction traces. In particular, we present how users' reward functions can be uncovered directly using inverse reinforcement learning techniques. We also show how to incorporate user features into the learning process. Our main contribution is a novel and dynamic approach to restore a user's reward function. We present an analytic approach to this problem and complement it with initial experiments using the interaction logs of a cultural heritage institution that demonstrate the feasibility of the approach by uncovering different reward functions for different user groups.
Dense RGB-D Map-Based Human Tracking and Activity Recognition using Skin Joints Features and Self-Organizing Map

This paper addresses the issues of 3D human activity detection, tracking and recognition from RGB-D video sequences using a feature structured framework. During human tracking and activity recognition, initially, dense depth images are captured using depth camera. In order to track human silhouettes, we considered spatial/temporal continuity, constraints of human motion information and compute centroids of each activity based on chain coding mechanism and centroids point extraction. In body skin joints features, we estimate human body skin color to identify human body parts (i.e., head, hands, and feet) likely to extract joint points information. These joints points are further processed as feature extraction process including distance position features and centroid distance features. Lastly, self-organized maps are used to recognize different activities. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is reliable and efficient in recognizing human poses at different realistic scenes. The proposed system should be applicable to different consumer application systems such as healthcare system, video surveillance system and indoor monitoring systems which track and recognize different activities of multiple users.
Synthesis of Silicalite Membrane with an Aluminum-Containing Surface for Controlled Modification of Zeolitic Pore Entries for Enhanced Gas Separation

The separation of small molecule gases by membrane technologies can help performance enhancement and process intensification for emerging advanced fossil energy systems with CO2 capture capacity. This paper reports the demonstration of controlled modification of zeolitic channel size for the MFI-type zeolite membranes to enhance the separation of small molecule gases such as O2 and N2. Pure-silica MFI-type zeolite membranes were synthesized on porous α-alumina disc substrates with and without an aluminum-containing thin skin on the outer surface of zeolite membrane. The membranes were subsequently modified by on-stream catalytic cracking deposition (CCD) of molecular silica to reduce the effective openings of the zeolitic channels. Such a pore modification caused the transition of gas permeation from the N2-selective gaseous diffusion mechanism in the pristine membrane to the O2-selective activated diffusion mechanism in the modified membrane. The experimental results indicated that the pore modification could be effectively limited within the aluminum-containing surface of the MFI zeolite membrane to minimize the mass transport resistance for O2 permeation while maintaining its selectivity. The implications of pore modification on the size-exclusion-enabled gas selectivity were discussed based on the kinetic molecular theory. In light of the theoretical analysis, experimental investigation was performed to further enhance the membrane separation selectivity by chemical liquid deposition of silica into the undesirable intercrystalline spaces.
MARKET ORIENTATION AND LEADERSHIP STYLES OF MANAGERS IN MALAYSIA

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between leadership styles of managers in relation to market orientation. Personal characteristics of top managers—age, education, area of specialization, and executive experience—are control variables. This exploratory study focuses on small and medium scale manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Market orientation is defined as customer orientation, competitor orientation, and inter-functional coordination (Narver & Slater, 1990). A total of 78 managers participated in this study from various manufacturing industries: engineering, electrical and electronics, packaging and paper, metals, chemicals, and food and herbal industries. These managers are managing directors, chief executive officers (CEOs), owner-managers, or executive directors of their organizations. The methodology employed included descriptive, correlation, factor, and regression analyses. Findings showed supportive-oriented leadership styles of top managers have a significant relationship with market orientation. Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature in market orientation in relation to SMEs in Malaysia. For managers, it gives better understanding and insight into how their behaviors and leadership styles will influence the development of market orientation in their organizations. Limitations included the methodology used and the sample size. Recommendations for future studies suggest extending to investigate other leadership theories and variables such as actions and attitudes of managers, as well as future longitudinal studies.
Cloning, sequencing, and characterization of CYP1A1 cDNA from leaping mullet (Liza Saliens) liver and implications for the potential functions of its conserved amino acids

A 2,037 bp CYP1A1 cDNA (GenBank AF072899) was cloned through screening of a λZipLox cDNA library constructed from the liver of a leaping mullet (Liza saliens) fish captured from Izmir Bay on the Aegean coast of Turkey using rainbow trout CYP1A1 cDNA as a probe. This clone has a 130 bp 5'‐flanking region, a 1,563 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 521‐amino acid protein (58,972 Da), and a 344 bp 3'‐untranslated region without a poly (A) tail. Alignment of the deduced amino acids of CYP1A1 cDNAs showed 58% and 69–96% identities with human and 12 other fish species, respectively. Southern blot analysis suggested that this CYP1A1 cDNA was from a single‐copy gene. Based on the comparison with CYP1A1 genes reported for fish and mammals, the leaping mullet CYP1A1 gene is probably split into 7 exons. The intron insertion sites were predicted. Alignment of the CYP1A1 cDNA encoded amino acids from 13 fish and 7 mammalian species disclosed differences in highly conserved amino acids between aquatic and land vertebrates. The possible associated secondary structure; conserved motifs and substrate‐binding sites were discussed. The phylogenetic relationships of CYP1A1s among 13 fish species were analyzed by a distance method. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 15:243–255, 2001
A low cost 100 MHz analog test bus

This paper describes an on-chip analog bus whose bandwidth is limited primarily by an off-chip amplifier. It uses only a digital 3-state inverter for each bus input. The high-speed and constant low-input capacitance of this scheme make it suitable for measuring sensitive or even digital signals. For equal silicon area, the signal bandwidth is demonstrated to be 10 to 40 times that of previously reported transmission gate schemes.
Rapid desensitization of the rat α7 nAChR is facilitated by the presence of a proline residue in the outer β‐sheet

The rat α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has a proline residue near the middle of the β9 strand. The replacement of this proline residue at position 180 (P180) by either threonine (α7‐P180T) or serine (α7‐P180S) slowed the onset of desensitization dramatically, with half‐times of ∼930 and 700 ms, respectively, compared to 90 ms for the wild‐type receptor. To investigate the importance of the hydroxyl group on the position 180 side‐chains, the mutant receptors α7‐P180Y and α7‐P180F were studied and showed half‐times of desensitization of 650 and 160 ms, respectively. While a position 180 side‐chain OH group may contribute to the slow desensitization rates, α7‐P180S and α7‐P180V resulted in receptors with similar desensitization rates, suggesting that increased backbone to backbone H bonding expected in the absence of proline at position 180 would likely exert a great effect on desensitization. Single channel recordings indicated that for the α7‐P180T receptor there was a significantly reduced closed time without any change in single channel conductance (as compared to wild‐type). Kinetic simulations indicated that all changes observed for the mutant channel behaviour were reproduced by decreasing the rate of desensitization, and increasing the microscopic affinity to resting receptors. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a homology model were used to provide insight into likely H bond interactions within the outer β‐sheet that occur when the P180 residue is mutated. All mutations analysed increased about twofold the predicted number of H bonds between the residue at position 180 and the backbone of the β10 strand. Moreover, the α7‐P180T and α7‐P180S mutations also formed some intrastrand H bonds along the β9 strand, although H bonding of the OH groups of the threonine or serine side‐chains was predicted to be infrequent. Our results indicate that rapid desensitization of the wild‐type rat α7 nAChR is facilitated by the presence of the proline residue within the β9 strand.
Quantum statistics in particle mixing phenomena.

Particle mixing phenomena such as {ital K}{sup 0}, neutrino, or axion-photon oscillations are cast in second-quantized form. This allows one to discuss effects involving the quantum statistics of the particles. In particular, one can understand neutrino oscillations in the case of degeneracy or the final-state distribution of occupation numbers in highly occupied states of light bosons.
Therapeutic Gene Silencing Delivered by a Chemically Modified Small Interfering RNA against Mutant SOD1 Slows Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression*♦

Inherited neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease and subset of Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are caused by the mutant genes that have gained undefined properties that harm cells in the nervous system, causing neurodegeneration and clinical phenotypes. Lowering the mutant gene expression is predicted to slow the disease progression and produce clinical benefit. Administration of small interfering RNA (siRNA) can silence specific genes. However, long term delivery of siRNA to silence the mutant genes, a requirement for treatment of these chronic central nervous system (CNS) diseases, remains a critical unsolved issue. Here we designed and tested a chemically stabilized siRNA against human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in a mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We show that the modified siRNA has enhanced stability and retains siRNA activity. Administration of this siRNA at the disease onset by long term infusion into the CNS resulted in widespread distribution of this siRNA, knocked down the mutant SOD1 expression, slowed the disease progression, and extended the survival. These results bring RNA interference therapy one step closer to its clinical application for treatment of chronic, devastating, and fatal CNS disorders.
Pharmacological regulation of airway macrophage function

The airway macrophage has the characteristics ofthe cell conducting the inflammation of the airways that leads to asthma. The alveolar macrophage holds this position as it makes up the majority ofthe cells within the airway lumen [I] during both established asthma and periods of remission whether drug induced or spontaneous [2.3]. This is in contrast to the other important cells of asthmatic inflammation: mast cells, eosinophils and sub-types of Tlymphocytes, which are transient residents within the airways [4], being present chiefly during the active phase ofthe inflammation. in addition to its anatomical presence, the airway macrophage is sensitive to activation by immunological events such as IgE mediated anligen reactions [5 8] as well as during phagocytosis [9-12]. When stimulated by such provocation, the airway macrophage is capable of releasing both aeute phase and pro-inflammatory [9-13] mediators. The acute phase products include the spasmogens thromboxane A: and platelet activating factor as well as reactive oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes (iticluding A^-acetylglucosaminidase), which can lead to local tissue damage. The pro-inflammatory mediators include platelet activating factor, leukotriene B4 and various cytokines (including IL-1. 6. 8. TNF and GMCSF) which are chemoattractant to mast cells, the cosinophils and lymphocytes. Thus aetivation of the macrophage will instigate the characteristic pathological events of asthma [14]. The pharmacological manipulation ofthe airway macrophage may well prove to be a specific goal for therapy as a drug which targets the airway macrophage would not only reduce acute mediator load in the airway but also the cellular influx. In addition, knowledge ofthe pharmacological profile of the airway macrophage may help differentiate it from other triggering cells and help pinpoint its involvement in asthma in the absence of specific markers of maerophage activation in vivo. This paper will review the mechanisms by which the cell becomes activated and hence the targets for regulation. In addition, known pharmacological responses, in comparison to other inflammatory cells will be discussed.
A simple time-based threshold strategy for dynamic spectrum access

In dynamic spectrum access networks, the unused licensed spectrum of primary users (PU) is opened to unlicensed secondary user (SU) for improving spectrum efficiency. The problem we study in this paper is to maximize the SU throughput while guaranteeing PU performance. We design a simple time-based threshold strategy to maximize the SU throughput while guaranteeing the PU performance by learning directly from the interaction with PU environment. At a given time, the SU decides if it should transmit and if so to protect the PU performance. It is observed that such strategies perform closely to the strategy optimized based on prior knowledge about PU traffic models. Simulations are used for performance evaluation.
MDLText e Indexação Semântica aplicados na Detecção de Spam nos Comentários do YouTube

Muitos usuarios do YouTube produzem conteudo regularmente e fazem desta tarefa seu principal meio de vida. Contudo, esse sucesso vem despertando a atencao de usuarios mal-intencionados, que propagam comentarios indesejados para se autopromoverem ou para disseminar links maliciosos. Neste cenario, metodos tradicionais de categorizacao de texto podem sofrer limitacoes devido as caracteristicas inerentes ao problema: (1) os comentarios costumam ser curtos e mal redigidos e (2) o problema de classificacao e naturalmente online. Este artigo avalia um metodo de classificacao baseado no principio da descricao mais simples e compara os resultados com os de metodos tradicionais de aprendizado online. Tambem e proposta uma tecnica ensemble, que combina os metodos de classificacao com diferentes tecnicas de processamento de linguagem natural. Os experimentos foram cuidadosamente realizados e a analise estatistica dos resultados indica que a tecnica proposta obteve desempenho superior ao obtido quando apenas os comentarios originais foram empregados.
Effects of Quaternary Ammonium Silane Coatings on Mixed Fungal and Bacterial Biofilms on Tracheoesophageal Shunt Prostheses

ABSTRACT Two quaternary ammonium silanes (QAS) were used to coat silicone rubber tracheoesophageal shunt prostheses, yielding a positively charged surface. One QAS coating [(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloride] was applied through chemical bonding, while the other coating, Biocidal ZF, was sprayed onto the silicone rubber surface. The sprayed coating lost its stability within an hour, while the chemically bonded coating appeared stable. Upon incubation in an artificial throat model, allowing simultaneous adhesion and growth of yeast and bacteria, all coated prostheses showed significant reductions in the numbers of viable yeast (to 12% to 16%) and bacteria (to 27% to 36%) compared with those for silicone rubber controls, as confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy after live/dead staining of the biofilms. In situ hybridization with fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes showed that yeasts expressed hyphae on the untreated and Biocidal ZF-coated prostheses but not on the QAS-coated prostheses. Whether this is a result of the positive QAS coating or is due to the reduced number of bacteria is currently unknown. In summary, this is the first report on the inhibitory effects of positively charged coatings on the viability of yeasts and bacteria in mixed biofilms. Although the study initially aimed at reducing voice prosthetic biofilms, its relevance extends to all biomedical and environmental surfaces where mixed biofilms develop and present a problem.
Estimating velocity using diversity reception

In mobile communication systems, the velocity of mobile terminals is important for adequate handoff control and efficient dynamic channel assignment. We can estimate the velocity of a mobile terminal in a Rayleigh fading channel, because it is proportional to the Doppler frequency. Diversity reception is the most common method of improving communication quality in faded channels, and since the switching rate of diversity branches is proportional to the Doppler frequency, the velocity is easily estimated. We derived a relationship between the switching rate of the branches N/sub BS/ (times/s), and the Doppler frequency f/sub D/ (Hz): as follows N/sub BS//spl sime/1.3 f/sub D/. We confirmed this relationship experimentally, and since our method is very simple and needs no additional equipment, it can easily be implemented in mobile terminals. <<ETX>>
Performance of non-linear observers for closed loop terminal sliding mode control of quadrotor UAV

This paper deals with the comparative analysis of high gain Observer (HGO), sliding mode observer (SMO) and sliding mode observer with super-twisting algorithm (STSMO) for a remotely controlled quadrotor UAV. Under the restriction that inertial co-ordinates and attitude angles are available for measurement while angular and linear velocities are estimated. This paper is solved in two steps for each observer. First, the observers (HGO, SMO and STSMO) are designed and then, in second stage a terminal sliding mode technique is being applied on the basis of estimated states to design controller. The performance of the non-linear observers are appraised in terms of their output feedback response, ability to confront with model fallibility and uncertainties such as sensor noise and random initial conditions. Simulations results shows the closed loop output feedback based performance comparison of aforementioned observers with terminal sliding mode control as a control scheme.
Signal amplification, detection and transmission in a wireless 100-electrode neural recording system

We are developing a fully-implantable neural recording system with wireless power and data transfer. As part of this system, we have developed a low-power integrated circuit that performs power rectification and regulation, reception of configuration data, neural signal amplification and filtering, spike detection, neural signal digitization and RF transmission. The chip includes 88 amplifiers having a gain of 60 dB from 1 to 5 kHz. An integrated ADC operates at 15 kSamples/sec with 9-bit resolution. A 433-MHz RF transmitter uses FSK modulation to transmit one digitized neural signal and spike detection data from all channels. Total power consumption is 13.5 mW
“Instant” Blood Sugar Measurement Using Dextrostix and a Reflectance Meter

A new “reflectance meter,” capable of reading and quan-titating the color change of the Dextrostix blood-glucose oestimation, has been tested using capillary blood samples from patients attending a diabetic clinic and men having diagnostic glucose tolerance tests. The correlation of these blood glucose results with those obtained with an Auto-Analyzer method was very high (r = 0.98) and replication by the reflectance meter method was also satisfactory.
Macrophage-Derived Tumor Necrosis Factor α, an Early Developmental Signal for Motoneuron Death

Mechanisms inducing neuronal death at defined times during embryogenesis remain enigmatic. We show in explants that a developmental switch occurs between embryonic day 12 (E12) and E13 in rats that is 72-48 hr before programmed cell death. Half the motoneurons isolated from peripheral tissues at E12 escape programmed cell death, whereas 90% of motoneurons isolated at E13 enter a death program. The surrounding somite commits E12 motoneurons to death. This effect requires macrophage cells, is mimicked by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and is inhibited by anti-TNFα antibodies. In vivo, TNFα is detected within somite macrophages, and TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) is detected within motoneurons precisely between E12 and E13. Although motoneuron cell death occurs normally in TNFα-/- mice, this process is significantly reduced in explants from TNFα-/- and TNFR1 -/- mice. Thus, embryonic motoneurons acquire the competence to die, before the onset of programmed cell death, from extrinsic signals such as macrophage-derived TNFα
A New LSM-style Garbage Collection Scheme for ZNS SSDs

This paper explores how to design a garbage collection scheme for ZNS (Zoned NameSpace) SSDs (Solid State Drives). We ﬁrst show that a naive garbage collection based on a zone unit incurs a long latency due to the huge size of a zone. To overcome this problem, we devise a new scheme, we refer to it as LSM ZGC (Log-Structured Merge style Zone Garbage Collection), that makes use of the following three features: segment based ﬁne-grained garbage collection, reading both valid and invalid data in a group manner, and merging different data into separate zones. Our proposal can exploit the internal parallelism of a zone and reduce the utilization of a candidate zone by segregating hot and cold data. Real implementation based experimental results show that our scheme can enhance performance by 1.9 times on average.
A LINTNER MODEL OF DIVIDENDS AND MANAGERIAL RENTS

We develop a dynamic agency model where payout, investment and financing decisions are made by managers who attempt to maximize the rents they take from the firm, subject to a capital market constraint. Managers smooth payout in order to smooth their flow of rents. Total payout (dividends plus net repurchases) follows Lintner's (1956) target-adjustment model. Payout smooths out transitory shocks to current income and adjusts gradually to changes in permanent income. Smoothing is accomplished by borrowing or lending. Payout is not cut back to finance capital investment. Risk aversion causes managers to underinvest, but habit formation mitigates the degree of underinvestment.