Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global N-linked Glycosylation is Not Significantly Impaired in Myoblasts in Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes Caused by Defective Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase 1 (GFPT1)

Glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) is the first enzyme of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. It transfers an amino group from glutamine to fructose-6-phosphate to yield glucosamine-6-phosphate, thus providing the precursor for uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) synthesis. UDP-GlcNAc is an essential substrate for all mammalian glycosylation biosynthetic pathways and N-glycan branching is especially sensitive to alterations in the concentration of this sugar nucleotide. It has been reported that GFPT1 mutations lead to a distinct sub-class of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) termed “limb-girdle CMS with tubular aggregates”. CMS are hereditary neuromuscular transmission disorders in which neuromuscular junctions are impaired. To investigate whether alterations in protein glycosylation at the neuromuscular junction might be involved in this impairment, we have employed mass spectrometric strategies to study the N-glycomes of myoblasts and myotubes derived from two healthy controls, three GFPT1 patients, and four patients with other muscular diseases, namely CMS caused by mutations in DOK7, myopathy caused by mutations in MTND5, limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A), and Pompe disease. A comparison of the relative abundances of bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary N-glycans in each of the cell preparations revealed that all samples exhibited broadly similar levels of branching. Moreover, although some differences were observed in the relative abundances of some of the N-glycan constituents, these variations were modest and were not confined to the GFPT1 samples. Therefore, GFPT1 mutations in CMS patients do not appear to compromise global N-glycosylation in muscle cells.
Voice conversion based on simultaneous modelling of spectrum and F0

This paper proposes a simultaneous modeling of spectrum and F0 for voice conversion based on MSD (Multi-Space Probability Distribution) models. As a conventional technique, a spectral conversion based on GMM (Gaussian Mixture Model) has been proposed. Although this technique converts spectral feature sequences nonlinearly based on GMM, F0 sequences are usually converted by a simple linear function. This is because F0 is undefined in unvoiced segments. To overcome this problem, we apply MSD models. The MSD-GMM allows to model continuous F0 values in voiced frames and a discrete symbol representing unvoiced frames within an unified framework. Furthermore, the MSD-HMM is adopted to model long term correlations in F0 sequences.
A Survey of Computational Intelligence Techniques in Protein Function Prediction

During the past, there was a massive growth of knowledge of unknown proteins with the advancement of high throughput microarray technologies. Protein function prediction is the most challenging problem in bioinformatics. In the past, the homology based approaches were used to predict the protein function, but they failed when a new protein was different from the previous one. Therefore, to alleviate the problems associated with homology based traditional approaches, numerous computational intelligence techniques have been proposed in the recent past. This paper presents a state-of-the-art comprehensive review of various computational intelligence techniques for protein function predictions using sequence, structure, protein-protein interaction network, and gene expression data used in wide areas of applications such as prediction of DNA and RNA binding sites, subcellular localization, enzyme functions, signal peptides, catalytic residues, nuclear/G-protein coupled receptors, membrane proteins, and pathway analysis from gene expression datasets. This paper also summarizes the result obtained by many researchers to solve these problems by using computational intelligence techniques with appropriate datasets to improve the prediction performance. The summary shows that ensemble classifiers and integration of multiple heterogeneous data are useful for protein function prediction.
Time-Saving Tips for Problem Solving with Incomplete Information

Problem solving with incomplete information is usually very costly, since multiple alternatives must be taken into account in the planning process. In this paper, we present some pruning rules that lead to substantial cost savings. The rules are all based on the simple idea that, if goal achievement is the sole criterion for performance, a planner need not consider one "branch" in its search space when there is another "branch" characterized by equal or greater information. The idea is worked out for the cases of sequential planning, conditional planning, and interleaved planning and execution. The rules are of special value in this last case, as they provide a way for the problem solver to terminate its search without planning all the way to the goal and yet be assured that no important alternatives are overlooked.
Laser-based perception for door and handle identification

In this paper, we present a laser-based approach for door and handle identification. The approach builds on a 3D perception pipeline to annotate doors and their handles solely from sensed laser data, without any a priori model learning. In particular, we segment the parts of interest using robust geometric estimators and statistical methods applied on geometric and intensity distribution variations in the scan. We present experimental results on a mobile manipulation platform (PR2) intended for indoor manipulation tasks. We validate the approach by generating trajectories that position the robot end-effector in front of door handles and grasp the handle. The robustness of our approach is demonstrated by real world experiments conducted on a large set of doors.
Automatic Conformance Verification of Distributed Firewalls to Security Requirements

Distributed firewalls are often deployed by large enterprises to filter the network traffic. However, it has been observed that the resulting complex firewall network is highly error prone and causes serious security holes. Hence, automated solutions are needed in order to check its correctness. In this paper, we propose a formal and automatic method for checking whether distributed firewalls react correctly with respect to a security policy given in a high level declarative language. When errors are detected, some useful feedback is returned to the user in order to correct the firewall configurations. Furthermore, the procedure verifies that no conflicts exist within the security policy. We show that our method is both correct and complete. Finally, it has been implemented in a prototype of verifier based on a satisfiability solver modulo theories (SMT). Experiment conducted on relevant case studies demonstrate the efficiency of our approach.
On the X-Ray Light Curve, Pulsed-Radio Emission, and Spin Frequency Evolution of the Transient Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar XTE J1810–197 during Its X-Ray Outburst

We show that (1) the long-term X-ray outburst light curve of the transient AXP XTE J1810–197 can be accounted for by a fallback disk that is evolving toward quiescence through a disk instability after having been heated by a soft gamma-ray burst, (2) the spin-frequency evolution of this source in the same period can also be explained by the disk torque acting on the magnetosphere of the neutron star, and (3) most significantly, recently observed pulsed-radio emission from this source coincides with the epoch of minimum X-ray luminosity. This is natural in terms of a fallback-disk model, as the accretion power becomes so low that it is not sufficient to suppress the beamed radio emission from XTE J1810–197.
Neutralino relic density from ILC measurements in the CP-violating MSSM

We discuss ILC measurements for a specific MSSM scenario with CP phases, where the lightest neutralino is a good candidate for dark matter, annihilating efficiently through t-channel exchange of light staus. These prospective (CP-even) ILC measurements are then used to fit the underlying model parameters. A collider prediction of the relic density of the neutralino from this fit gives 0.116<{omega}h{sup 2}<0.19 at 95% C.L. CP-odd observables, while being a direct signal of CP violation, do not help in further constraining {omega}h{sup 2}. The interplay with (in)direct detection of dark matter and with measurements of electric dipole moments is also discussed. Finally we comment on collider measurements at higher energies for refining the prediction of {omega}h{sup 2}.
Key Usability and Ethical Issues in the NAVI programme ( KEN ) Deliverable 1 Basics of Human-Centred Design in Personal Navigation VERSION 1 . 0

Usability issues in maps & navigation systems (RS) Usability issues in mobile systems (RS, EK) Usability issues in in-vehicle navigation systems (JL, MP) Usability issues in adaptive systems (EK) Standards for in-vehicle navigation (JL, MP) 0.4 2.1. Abstract This report is the first deliverable of the Key Usability and Ethical Issues in the NAVI programme (KEN) project. It brings together current knowledge about usability and human-centred design to serve as a basis for the cooperation of the KEN project and the projects of the NAVI programme. The report is targeted at anyone participating in the design of products and services for personal navigation and does not require any background knowledge about usability or personal navigation. Part I of the report describes the principles of the human-centred design approach and introduces human-centred design activities in different phases of design projects. The incorporation of a human-centred approach is characterised by: q active involvement of users and clear understanding of user and task requirements q an appropriate allocation of functions between users and technology q the iteration of design solutions q multidisciplinary design In the design and evaluation of the products and services for personal navigation we can utilise mainly the same methods as in designing any other products. However, the contexts of use in personal navigation are often very demanding. That is why the users and their contexts of use should be studied thoroughly from the very beginning and throughout the design process. Part I of the report can be utilised when planning a design project and defining the human-centred design activities needed. This part of the report can also be used as a reference book during the design process in adopting different usability design and evaluation methods. Part II of the report gives an overview of usability design issues in personal navigation. Personal navigation device usability can be seen as an intersection of the usability of maps, mobile devices, navigation systems and, in the case of location-aware systems, adaptive systems. Each of these elements has its own usability issues that have to be considered when designing navigation devices and services. Part II of this report also gives an overview of available usability guidelines and standards for different device and software environments. Part II of the report can be used as a reference book to select the usability design guidelines that each individual project should adhere to. This report presents mainly general …
Zirconium nanoparticles prepared by the reduction of zirconium oxide using the RAPET method

The aim of the current work is the synthesis and characterization of metallic Zr nanoparticles. The preparation is carried out by using the RAPET method (Reaction under Autogenic Pressure at Elevated Temperatures) developed in our lab. The RAPET reaction of commercial ZrO2 with Mg powder was carried out in a closed stainless steel cell, at 750 °C. On completion of the reaction, the additionally formed MgO is removed by treatment with acid. The characterization of the product was performed by XRD, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and elemental analysis. The XRD pattern reveals that the product is composed of pure metallic zirconium, without any traces of the MgO by-product.
A study on speaker and session variability in speaker recognition of Chinese whispered speech

A new approach to the problem of estimating the hyperparameters which define the speaker and session variability model in joint factor analysis is applied to Chinese whispered speech. Especially, the proposed technique decoupled estimates the speaker space and channel space. The aim of this paper is to compare different recognition methods, which used in speaker recognition of Chinese whispered speech. Experiments are carried on our own database. This corpus consists of 100 target speakers, 80 male and 20 female, in which each speaker is recorded over 8 typical channels. Compared with MAP, Feature Mapping + MAP and SMS systems, the proposed JFA technique does provide superior performance and significant speedup.
Variable Pallet Pick-Up for Automatic Guided Vehicles in Industrial Environments

This paper presents two laser scanner based approaches to locate and pick-up pallets with the aim of automating forklift trucks. In contrast to camera based systems our approaches are independent of luminance conditions which can be highly variable in industrial environments. Whereas one approach uses pallets modified with adhesive reflectors which enables very flexible handling of pallets, the second approach detects pallets based on geometric characteristics without any modifications to the environment. Experimental results are also reported including a run of an autonomous fork-lift truck presented at the logistics fair CeMAT 2005 in Hannover.
A survey of cooperative ITS for next generation public transport systems

Urban transport systems are often not capable to satisfy the numerous needs of urban mobility. Therefore, in recent years great interest has been given in Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS), which via two-way communication between road participants and infrastructure allow new solutions addressing transport problems. However, if efficiency improvements only target general traffic, several negative feedback effects such as induced demand can be observed. Therefore, these improvements should also address Public Transport (PT) in order to obtain desirable level of patronage. The paper summarises C-ITS research for PT and presents the future PT concepts relying on the C-ITS paradigm. It emphasises C-ITS's increasingly important role in improving the efficiency of conventional diesel-dominated bus systems, as well as the emerging electric bus systems in a system approach. The outcome of such improvements includes increased commercial speed of PT, improved service reliability, reduced emissions/energy consumption and improved ride comfort.
Cross and Double Cross: Comparative Statics in First Price and All Pay Auctions

This paper analyses comparative statics for first price auctions and all pay auctions with independent private values. In all pay auctions, bidders with low values will respond to a stochastically higher (in the sense of likelihood ratio dominance) distribution of types by playing less aggressively while high value bidders bid more. In the first price auction, a similar change results in all types playing more aggressively. Furthermore, we show that a decrease in dispersion of values, in the sense of a refinement of second order stochastic dominance, although also associated with an increase in competitiveness, may in addition result in less aggressive play by bidders with high values in both auction forms. We also find similar considerations in an oligopoly game with incomplete information: stochastically lower costs can lead to higher prices.
A system-aware cyber security method for shipboard control systems with a method described to evaluate cyber security solutions

Current shipboard control systems contain significant levels of automation to perform complex functions such as navigation and propulsion control. The purpose for employing automated systems has been to reduce costs and improve performance. While automation offers great benefits, it also introduces a set of corresponding cyber security related risks. Current ships carry only limited cyber security systems. In order to advance the level of cyber security in shipboard control systems, this paper introduces novel security design methods which are designed to be embedded within the control system itself. This paper also outlines a potential method for evaluating the cyber security value of such patterns in the context of shipboard control systems.
Doubly stochastic large scale kernel learning with the empirical kernel map

With the rise of big data sets, the popularity of kernel methods declined and neural networks took over again. The main problem with kernel methods is that the kernel matrix grows quadratically with the number of data points. Most attempts to scale up kernel methods solve this problem by discarding data points or basis functions of some approximation of the kernel map. Here we present a simple yet effective alternative for scaling up kernel methods that takes into account the entire data set via doubly stochastic optimization of the emprical kernel map. The algorithm is straightforward to implement, in particular in parallel execution settings; it leverages the full power and versatility of classical kernel functions without the need to explicitly formulate a kernel map approximation. We provide empirical evidence that the algorithm works on large data sets.
Turchin's Relation for Call-by-Name Computations: A Formal Approach

Supercompilation is a program transformation technique that was first described by V. F. Turchin in the 1970s. In supercompilation, Turchin's relation as a similarity relation on call-stack configurations is used both for call-by-value and call-by-name semantics to terminate unfolding of the program being transformed. In this paper, we give a formal grammar model of call-by-name stack behaviour. We classify the model in terms of the Chomsky hierarchy and then formally prove that Turchin's relation can terminate all computations generated by the model.
The broad effectiveness of seventy-four field instances of abstinence-based programming

Abstract Evaluations of a large federally funded sexual risk avoidance education (SRAE) efforts in the USA have not been widely reported in the wake of funding cuts. The purpose of this study is to report results from a broad set of programmes to demonstrate the breadth of field effectiveness of these programmes. Twenty-seven separate community-based SRAE programmes were evaluated from 2005 to 2010, comprising 74 separate evaluations and involving over 96,000 young people. Pre- to post-effect sizes on key attitudinal predictors of sexual activity were analysed using meta-analytic techniques, both individually and as an average composite score. The standardised change score effect size on the composite measure were small and statistically significant (d = 0.20, k = 75, p < 0.001), as were effects on individual measures (d = 0.15–0.31). Programmes using a single curriculum showed greater results than those using their own blend of two or more curricula. As a group, this large body of field implementations of SRAE appears to have produced modest but statistically significant effects on key predictors of sexual activity in youth.
Phase-Only Planar Antenna Array Synthesis with Fuzzy Genetic Algorithms

This paper describes a new method for the synthesis of planar antenna arrays using fuzzy genetic algorithms (FGAs) by optimizing phase excitation coefficients to best meet a desired radiation pattern. We present the application of a rigorous optimization technique based on fuzzy genetic algorithms (FGAs), the optimizing algorithm is obtained by adjusting control parameters of a standard version of genetic algorithm (SGAs) using a fuzzy controller (FLC) depending on the best individual fitness and the population diversity measurements (PDM). The presented optimization algorithms were previously checked on specific mathematical test function and show their superior capabilities with respect to the standard version (SGAs). A planar array with rectangular cells using a probe feed is considered. Included example using FGA demonstrates the good agreement between the desired and calculated radiation patterns than those obtained by a SGA.
Approximation of images by basis functions for multiple region segmentation with level sets

Active contours and level sets provide a solid formal framework for image segmentation. The problem, stated as the minimization of a functional containing terms of conformity to data and regularization, is solved by curve evolution implemented via level set partial differential equations (PDE). The purpose of this study is to investigate approximation by basis functions as a model for image representation in segmentation by level set PDE. This model is mathematically yielding, affords more generality than current piecewise constant and Gaussian models, and can be just as efficient as the most general piecewise smooth model. We state the problem using this model to measure conformity of segmentation to data. The resulting functional is minimized via level set evolution PDE. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the formulation.
Next Generation System for Unmanned LHD Operation in Underground Mines

In the pursuit of increased safety the mining industry has worked to develop systems for remote control and autonomous operation of both stationary and mobile equipment. This paper reports on a newly developed system for teleoperation and autonomous tramming of LHD (Load-Haul-Dump) mining vehicles that not only increases the safety of the operators, but also has the potential to increase productivity.
Football as a terrain of hope and struggle: beginning a dialogue on social change, hope and building a better world through sport

Abstract From diplomats and politicians, to the executives of sports governing bodies and non-governmental development agencies, to grassroots activists, sport – particularly football – is invariably invoked as an object of hope and a vehicle for building a better world. However, how hope is conceived by these various actors and institutions, and the better world that they imagine is often left unexamined. The purpose of this paper, a collaboration between a researcher interested in sport for development and peace and an activist involved in South African social movements and community football, is to begin an exploration of different understandings of hope and social change in relation to sport. Our aim is to demonstrate that reorienting discussions around how social change is conceptualised in different ways can result in critical understandings of how sport is currently being mobilised in various ways to affect change, and the potential alternatives that are being overlooked.
Quality distributed community formation for data delivery in pocket switched networks

In this paper we look at ways of detecting groups of strongly related devices called communities which are present in mobile Pocket Switched Networks (PSNs). We use existing methods to detect communities which leverage repeated human movement patterns and "familiar strangers" within a number of real PSNs extracted from the CRAWDAD repository. By using different community detection techniques we attempt to show that there is a correlation between community size and compactness and inter-community membership of devices with increased data delivery. Finally our findings are implemented in a prototype protocol called Quality which creates larger communities with increased intercommunity membership distributively.