Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social reward shaping in the prisoner's dilemma

Reward shaping is a well-known technique applied to help reinforcement-learning agents converge more quickly to near-optimal behavior. In this paper, we introduce social reward shaping, which is reward shaping applied in the multiagent-learning framework. We present preliminary experiments in the iterated Prisoner's dilemma setting that show that agents using social reward shaping appropriately can behave more effectively than other classical learning and non-learning strategies. In particular, we show that these agents can both lead---encourage adaptive opponents to stably cooperate---and follow---adopt a best-response strategy when paired with a fixed opponent---where better known approaches achieve only one of these objectives.
Cascadedness in Chinese written word production

In written word production, is activation transmitted from lexical-semantic selection to orthographic encoding in a serial or cascaded fashion? Very few previous studies have addressed this issue, and the existing evidence comes from languages with alphabetic orthographic systems. We report a study in which Chinese participants were presented with colored line drawings of objects and were instructed to write the name of the color while attempting to ignore the object. Significant priming was found when on a trial, the written response shared an orthographic radical with the written name of the object. This finding constitutes clear evidence that task-irrelevant lexical codes activate their corresponding orthographic representation, and hence suggests that activation flows in a cascaded fashion within the written production system. Additionally, the results speak to how the time interval between processing of target and distractor dimensions affects and modulates the emergence of orthographic facilitation effects.
Equality saturation: a new approach to optimization

Optimizations in a traditional compiler are applied sequentially, with each optimization destructively modifying the program to produce a transformed program that is then passed to the next optimization. We present a new approach for structuring the optimization phase of a compiler. In our approach, optimizations take the form of equality analyses that add equality information to a common intermediate representation. The optimizer works by repeatedly applying these analyses to infer equivalences between program fragments, thus saturating the intermediate representation with equalities. Once saturated, the intermediate representation encodes multiple optimized versions of the input program. At this point, a profitability heuristic picks the final optimized program from the various programs represented in the saturated representation. Our proposed way of structuring optimizers has a variety of benefits over previous approaches: our approach obviates the need to worry about optimization ordering, enables the use of a global optimization heuristic that selects among fully optimized programs, and can be used to perform translation validation, even on compilers other than our own. We present our approach, formalize it, and describe our choice of intermediate representation. We also present experimental results showing that our approach is practical in terms of time and space overhead, is effective at discovering intricate optimization opportunities, and is effective at performing translation validation for a realistic optimizer.
Potential unsatisfiability of cyclic constraints on stochastic biological networks biases selection towards hierarchical architectures

Constraints placed upon the phenotypes of organisms result from their interactions with the environment. Over evolutionary time scales, these constraints feed back onto smaller molecular subnetworks comprising the organism. The evolution of biological networks is studied by considering a network of a few nodes embedded in a larger context. Taking into account this fact that any network under study is actually embedded in a larger context, we define network architecture, not on the basis of physical interactions alone, but rather as a specification of the manner in which constraints are placed upon the states of its nodes. We show that such network architectures possessing cycles in their topology, in contrast to those that do not, may be subjected to unsatisfiable constraints. This may be a significant factor leading to selection biased against those network architectures where such inconsistent constraints are more likely to arise. We proceed to quantify the likelihood of inconsistency arising as a function of network architecture finding that, in the absence of sampling bias over the space of possible constraints and for a given network size, networks with a larger number of cycles are more likely to have unsatisfiable constraints placed upon them. Our results identify a constraint that, at least in isolation, would contribute to a bias in the evolutionary process towards more hierarchical -modular versus completely connected network architectures. Together, these results highlight the context dependence of the functionality of biological networks.
- 1-POST-IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION OF ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING ( ERP ) IMPLEMENTATION – IN A PUBLIC UTILITIES

Although ERP system implementations can lead to major performance changes, there is already evidence of high failure risks related to ERP system implementation projects. In the past few years, one of the major research issues in the ERP system area has been the study of ERP system implementation success in order to help better plan and execute ERP system implementations. A typical approach used to define and measure ERP system implementation success has been the identification and validation of critical success factors (CSFs) for ERP system implementations. In this research CSFs for ERP system implementations identified in the litertaure are consolidated and the use of these factors in practice is analyzed. A case study research is conducted in order to evaluate their impact on an ERP system implementation at a public utilities institution a subsidary company of the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL). The research conducted leads to the recommendation that especially the requirements analysis phase plays a decisive role for the ERP system implementation success. It is therefore essential to accord the necessary attention to this phase and not to start the implementation until functional and technical specifications are elaborated.
Sonographic Monitoring of Psoriatic Plaque

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 1% to 3% of the world’s population1. A considerable proportion of patients with psoriasis will develop a form of inflammatory arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). More rarely, PsA develops before the psoriatic lesions. The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis varies from 7.6% to 36% according to the different populations studied2. The inadequate response to treatment and the toxicity of traditional treatments opened the doors to the development of new therapeutic alternatives such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists, which are utilized in patients with PsA and psoriasis for reducing the proinflammatory cell infiltration (macrophages, monocytes, keratinocytes, Langerhan’s cells, dermal dendritic cells, mast cells, and activated T cells) at the skin and synovial level3,4. Some authors have demonstrated the utility of ultrasound (US) in PsA5,6, but to our knowledge no studies have aimed at assessing the potential of this technique in anti-TNF-α therapy …
Ascorbic Acid Supplementation and Spermatogenesis in Nigerian Men

Background: The role of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant nutrient in the maturation of sperm cells has received considerable attention. A previous study from our laboratory showed reduced seminal and plasma ascorbic acid in subfertile patients. Method: Fifteen subfertile male patients mean age 36.4±0.9 years with sperm counts of 31.4±7, 08 x10 6 /cm 3 were given 200mg/day dose of ascorbic acid as supplement for four weeks and ten highly fertile male mean age 35.6±1.7 years with sperm count of 50.9±10.3 x10 6 /cm 3 volunteers were selected as controls. The biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements were determined using standard methods. Result: Significant decreases were obtained in baseline sperm cell count (p<0.01), percentage (%) motility and %vitality (p<0.01), and the % of morphologically normal sperm cells (p<0.01) in the subfertile compared with the controls. The baseline plasma and seminal ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly reduced (p<0.001). The post-supplementation sperm cell count (p<0.001), % motility and %vitality (p<0.01) were significantly increased compared with the baseline values. Conclusion: The enhanced reversal of poor semen quality and semen ascorbic acid status with dietary supplementation of vitamin C in subfertile is a pointer to its positive role in the maintenance of sperm cell integrity. Further work is therefore required to elucidate our findings. Keyword: Ascorbic acid, high density lipoprotein, cholesterol, semen, infertility subfertile.
The issue of quantization effect in direct implementation of adaptive LQ controller with NN identification into PLC

The direct implementation of the control algorithm from the simulation environment to the industrial process controller is the aim of many current papers. The sequence of direct implementation usually consists of three steps: simple simulation experiment, real time communication with the real process and monitoring of the control algorithm after implementation. The direct implementation enables us to describe the quantization effect. The issue of quantization effect disturbance given by A/D and D/A converters is often forgotten. This paper shows the second and the third implementation step where the first one was described in the 10th Zittau Fuzzy Colloquium. The advantage of identification based on neural networks in adaptive LQ controller that overcomes presented problem is introduced below.
A 2.14-GHz Chireix outphasing transmitter

A Chireix outphasing system for 2.14 GHz including two saturated class-B pseudomorphic high electron-mobility transistor power amplifiers (PAs) and a Chireix power-combining circuit is reported in this paper. In an outphasing system, an arbitrary input signal is divided into two constant envelope branches. The phase-only modulated branches are then amplified with high-efficiency nonlinear PAs. By controlling the phases of these branches, the original signal waveform can be reconstructed, ideally with high efficiency and perfect linearity. In this paper, the design and implementation of an experimental Chireix outphasing system for a wide-band code division multiple access 2.11-2.17-GHz downlink band is presented. The measured system efficiency for 7-dB backed-off quadrature phase-shift keying signal was 42.2% with a channel power of 31.2 dBm.
Complex regional pain syndrome: evidence for warm and cold subtypes in a large prospective clinical sample

Abstract Limited research suggests that there may be Warm complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and Cold CRPS subtypes, with inflammatory mechanisms contributing most strongly to the former. This study for the first time used an unbiased statistical pattern recognition technique to evaluate whether distinct Warm vs Cold CRPS subtypes can be discerned in the clinical population. An international, multisite study was conducted using standardized procedures to evaluate signs and symptoms in 152 patients with clinical CRPS at baseline, with 3-month follow-up evaluations in 112 of these patients. Two-step cluster analysis using automated cluster selection identified a 2-cluster solution as optimal. Results revealed a Warm CRPS patient cluster characterized by a warm, red, edematous, and sweaty extremity and a Cold CRPS patient cluster characterized by a cold, blue, and less edematous extremity. Median pain duration was significantly (P < 0.001) shorter in the Warm CRPS (4.7 months) than in the Cold CRPS subtype (20 months), with pain intensity comparable. A derived total inflammatory score was significantly (P < 0.001) elevated in the Warm CRPS group (compared with Cold CRPS) at baseline but diminished significantly (P < 0.001) over the follow-up period, whereas this score did not diminish in the Cold CRPS group (time × subtype interaction: P < 0.001). Results support the existence of a Warm CRPS subtype common in patients with acute (<6 months) CRPS and a relatively distinct Cold CRPS subtype most common in chronic CRPS. The pattern of clinical features suggests that inflammatory mechanisms contribute most prominently to the Warm CRPS subtype but that these mechanisms diminish substantially during the first year postinjury.
Nutritive Value and Silage Characteristics of Whole and Partly Stoned Olive Cakes Treated with Molasses

This study was conducted to determine the nutritive value of fresh and ensiled whole and partly stoned olive cake (OC) with or without molasses i.e., 0 and 50 gkg -1 on fresh basis. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin(sa), ether extract (EE), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and total phenols (TPH) of all treatments were determined by laboratory analysis. Additionally, pH and the concentration of ammonia-N, lactic acid, and volatile fatty acids were measured in the ensiled treatments. An in vitro gas production for 24 h was used to estimate organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy content. Ensiling OC decreased (P<0.05) DM, pH, EE, WSC, TPH and OMD, and increased (P<0.05) NDF, ADF and lignin(sa) contents. Addition of molasses decreased (P<0.05) OM, NDF, ADF, lignin(sa) and pH, but increased (P<0.05) DM, WSC, OMD and lactic acid. In conclusion, based on these results, the potential to use of OC as a feed in diets of ruminants is limited.
Opportunistic Routing and Data Dissemination Protocol for Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensor Networks

Recent advances in environmental sources harvesting technologies is a promising solution to provide sustainable energy sources for wireless sensor networks (WSN). Renewable energy sources such as solar, thermal and electromagnetic waves constitute viable alternatives to maximize the network lifetime. Therefore, networking software awareness and adaptability to energy availability conditions should translate into innovative supporting features for data gathering, aggregation, routing and dissemination. Thus, it is paramount to develop robust energy harvesting-aware networking platforms that support the above services and guarantee low energy consumption and data integrity in a noisy, constrained environment. In this paper, we present an opportunistic routing and data dissemination protocol for energy harvesting wireless sensor network (EH-WSN) based on cross-layer constructs that allows across the layers synchronization and coordination between the routing protocol and the application layer services. The OMNET++ based extensive simulation of this protocol showed promising results in terms of meeting application requirements of handling urgent traffic and delay tolerant traffic seamlessly and ensuring energy usage efficiency.
Study of EOQ model in deteriorating items with price reduction sale and permissible shortage

This study focuses on the single-cycle stock replenishment strategies of perishable merchandise with price reduction, in which the stock shortage is permissible. It proposes a new Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model, and conducts one numerical example to show the effectiveness of the new EOQ model. Finally, it provides some potential issues for future research.
Bayesian Inference of Phylogeny and Its Impact on Evolutionary Biology

As a discipline, phylogenetics is becoming transformed by a flood of molecular data. These data allow broad questions to be asked about the history of life, but also present difficult statistical and computational problems. Bayesian inference of phylogeny brings a new perspective to a number of outstanding issues in evolutionary biology, including the analysis of large phylogenetic trees and complex evolutionary models and the detection of the footprint of natural selection in DNA sequences.
Factors affecting the mechanical and geometrical properties of electrostatically flocked pure chitosan fiber scaffolds

The field of articular cartilage tissue engineering has developed rapidly, and chitosan has become a promising material for scaffold fabrication. For this paper, wet-spun biocompatible chitosan filament yarns were converted into short flock fibers and subsequently electrostatically flocked onto a chitosan substrate, resulting in a pure, highly open, porous, and biodegradable chitosan scaffold. Analyzing the wet-spinning of chitosan revealed its advantages and disadvantages with respect to the fabrication of the fiber-based chitosan scaffolds. The scaffolds were prepared using varying processing parameters and were analyzed in regards to their geometrical and mechanical properties. It was found that the pore sizes were adjustable between 65 and 310 µm, and the compressive strength was in the range 13–57 kPa.
LIBSA – A Method for the Determination of Ligand-Binding Preference to Allosteric Sites on Receptor Ensembles

Incorporation of receptor flexibility into computational drug discovery through the relaxed complex scheme is well suited for screening against a single binding site. In the absence of a known pocket or if there are multiple potential binding sites, it may be necessary to do docking against the entire surface of the target (global docking). However no suitable and easy-to-use tool is currently available to rank global docking results based on the preference of a ligand for a given binding site. We have developed a protocol, termed LIBSA for LIgand Binding Specificity Analysis, that analyzes multiple docked poses against a single or ensemble of receptor conformations and returns a metric for the relative binding to a specific region of interest. By using novel filtering algorithms and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the relative ligand-binding frequency at different pockets can be calculated and compared quantitatively. Ligands can then be triaged by their tendency to bind to a site instead of ranking by affinity alone. The method thus facilitates screening libraries of ligand cores against a large library of receptor conformations without prior knowledge of specific pockets, which is especially useful to search for hits that selectively target a particular site. We demonstrate the utility of LIBSA by showing that it correctly identifies known ligand binding sites and predicts the relative preference of a set of related ligands for different pockets on the same receptor.
Is Avoiding an Aversive Outcome Rewarding? Neural Substrates of Avoidance Learning in the Human Brain

Avoidance learning poses a challenge for reinforcement-based theories of instrumental conditioning, because once an aversive outcome is successfully avoided an individual may no longer experience extrinsic reinforcement for their behavior. One possible account for this is to propose that avoiding an aversive outcome is in itself a reward, and thus avoidance behavior is positively reinforced on each trial when the aversive outcome is successfully avoided. In the present study we aimed to test this possibility by determining whether avoidance of an aversive outcome recruits the same neural circuitry as that elicited by a reward itself. We scanned 16 human participants with functional MRI while they performed an instrumental choice task, in which on each trial they chose from one of two actions in order to either win money or else avoid losing money. Neural activity in a region previously implicated in encoding stimulus reward value, the medial orbitofrontal cortex, was found to increase, not only following receipt of reward, but also following successful avoidance of an aversive outcome. This neural signal may itself act as an intrinsic reward, thereby serving to reinforce actions during instrumental avoidance.
Designing and Implementing Efficient Web-based RSS Reader for Mobile Devices

Really Simple Syndication) is a content delivery vehicle. It is the format used when we want to syndicate news and other web content. When this content gets distributed it is called a feed. It takes most people much time to look for new information from one website to other. With RSS readers, we can aggregate latest updates from multiple websites in one place creating a single view for this information. The application explained implements a web-based RSS reader which incorporates an Automatic Filtering Technique (AFT) for mobile devices. A web- based RSS reader is implemented that will simply aggregate news video feeds from multiple news sources. After that, AFT (Automatic Filtering Technique) is to be implemented which forms the crux of this project. If a mobile user is interested in receiving a specific video in reference with a specific category, he or she need not scroll through the whole RSS feeds- which is the usual scenario. In fact, user can submit request as per his requirements, and receive the appropriate video via RSS reader. Repeated requests from same user are retrieved from a buffer and not from the web server. This filtering technique will surely help in reducing the processing cost of mobile devices. Moreover, system is developed as web-based RSS reader solution so as to allow the users to retrieve updated content through the website by only using a mobile web browser. They need not install a mobile reader on device thereby saving resources.
Fast, Simple, Feature Preserving and Memory Efficient Simplification of Triangle Meshes

We propose a new iterative algorithm for the automatic geometric simplification of a triangle mesh based on edge collapse transformations. The way how geometric deviation resulted from an edge collapse transformation is measured plays a basic role in inducing a priority ordering on the set of edge collapse transformations to control the simplification process. We introduce a new technique to measure this deviation based only on current simplified mesh and the new concept of accumulating the cost of collapse, which are easy to implement and involve simple computations making the algorithm computationally efficient. No geometric history is needed to be retained, so the resulting algorithm is also memory efficient. Results and numerical comparisons show that our algorithm generates simplified meshes of good visual fidelity, which compares well with those by other methods in terms of maximum and mean geometric error and it preserves the visually important features of the original mesh.
cLuster: Smart Clustering of Free-Hand Sketches on Large Interactive Surfaces

Structuring and rearranging free-hand sketches on large interactive surfaces typically requires making multiple stroke selections. This can be both time-consuming and fatiguing in the absence of well-designed selection tools. Investigating the concept of automated clustering, we conducted a background study which highlighted the fact that people have varying perspectives on how elements in sketches can and should be grouped. In response to these diverse user expectations, we present cLuster, a flexible, domain-independent clustering approach for free-hand sketches. Our approach is designed to accept an initial user selection, which is then used to calculate a linear combination of pre-trained perspectives in real-time. The remaining elements are then clustered. An initial evaluation revealed that in many cases, only a few corrections were necessary to achieve the desired clustering results. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of our approach in a variety of application scenarios.