Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D interaction technique to enhance telemanipulation tasks using virtual environment

This paper gives preliminary results about the utilization of an interaction technique called FOLLOW-ME to fasten the selection task for teleoperation system. The implementation of an interaction between a user and a virtual environment (VE) in virtual reality (VR) may use various techniques. However, in the case of teleoperation, the interaction must be very precise and comfortable for the user. The model associated to the FOLLOW-ME technique splits the virtual environment into three zones in which a specific interaction model is used: a free manipulation zone, a scaled manipulation zone and a precise manipulation zone. Each one of the three zones is characterized by a specific interaction granularity. In the precise manipulation zone, we use the concept of virtual guides in order to assist the user to achieve his task. In this paper, our aim is to show that the FOLLOW-ME technique is well suited for selection in teleoperation tasks. To do this, we have first compared the FOLLOW-ME technique with classical interaction techniques in a virtual environment where different targets are situated at different depth and may move. The preliminary results show that our technique is more efficient than the classical go-go and ray-casting techniques, in a sense that the task is more reproducible and easier to accomplish by the user. In a second stage, we use this result to design selection procedures for the ARITI tele-operation system and show that the use of FOLLOW-ME induces benefits for the user
Multi-user MIMO linear precoding schemes in OFDM systems

In this paper, several multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) linear precoding schemes with both perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI) for downlink transmission are proposed. Compared to nonlinear precoding schemes which need perfect CSI to achieve the channel capacity, we focus on systems which are restricted to use only linear precoding schemes due to complexity constraints and limited feedback. The limited feedback and some improvement technologies have also been introduced. The proposed MU-MIMO schemes extend the point-to-point single-user precoding to point-to-multipoint multi-user precoding.
Plackett-Luce regression: A new Bayesian model for polychotomous data

Multinomial logistic regression is one of the most popular models for modelling the effect of explanatory variables on a subject choice between a set of specified options. This model has found numerous applications in machine learning, psychology or economy. Bayesian inference in this model is non trivial and requires, either to resort to a Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, or rejection sampling within a Gibbs sampler. In this paper, we propose an alternative model to multinomial logistic regression. The model builds on the Plackett-Luce model, a popular model for multiple comparisons. We show that the introduction of a suitable set of auxiliary variables leads to an Expectation-Maximization algorithm to find Maximum A Posteriori estimates of the parameters. We further provide a full Bayesian treatment by deriving a Gibbs sampler, which only requires to sample from highly standard distributions. We also propose a variational approximate inference scheme. All are very simple to implement. One property of our Plackett-Luce regression model is that it learns a sparse set of feature weights. We compare our method to sparse Bayesian multinomial logistic regression and show that it is competitive, especially in presence of polychotomous data.
Evidence that a variety of cultured cells secrete protease nexin and produce a distinct cytoplasmic serine protease‐binding factor

Four criteria were used to examine serum‐free conditioned cell culture medium for protease nexin (PN):(1) formation of SDS‐stable ∼77 K Da complexes between a medium component and [125l]thrombin; (2) acceleration by heparin of the rate of formation of these complexes; (3) cellular binding of these complexes; and (4) inhibition by heparin of the cellular binding of complexes. Listed in order of decreasing PN production, PN was detected in media conditioned by the following cell types: human foreskin fibroblasts (0.18 μg/106 cells), rat embryo heart muscle cells (0.13 μg/106 cells), mouse myotubes (0.1 μg/106 cells), monkey kidney epithelial cells, human fibrosarcoma cells, human lung fibroblasts, simian virus 40 (SV‐40)‐transformed human fibroblasts, human epidermoid carcinoma cells, bovine aortic endothelial cells (only after phorbol ester treatment), and mouse myoblasts. No PN was found in medium conditioned by mouse 3T3 cells, SV40 virus‐transformed 3T3 cells, human lymphoblasts, or mouse leukemia cells.
Contrast-Ita Bank: A corpus for Italian Annotated with Discourse Contrast Relations

English. We present Contrast-Ita Bank, a corpus annotated with discourse contrast relations in Italian. We annotate both explicit and implicit contrast relations, following the schema proposed in the Penn Discourse Treebank. We provide and discuss quantitative data about the new resource. Italiano. Presentiamo Contrast-Ita Bank, un corpus annotato con relazioni di contrasto in italiano. Abbiamo annotato sia relazioni esplicite che implicite, adottando lo schema proposto nel Penn Discourse Treebank. Portiamo e discutiamo dati quantitativi sulla nuova risorsa.
HPLC OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF BULBS FROM THREE ORNITHOGALUM SPECIES AVAILABLE IN INDIA

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze phenolic compounds of three species of Ornithogalum viz Ornithogalum virens , Ornithogalum thyrsoides, Ornithogalum dubium and to assess their bioactivity in terms of antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Methods: Extracts were prepared in 20% aqueous methanol. Each extract was subjected to phenolic and flavonoid estimation. Antioxidant activity was tested using DPPH method, and their antimicrobial activity was tested on six pathogenic strains namely Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli , Shigella dysenteriae , Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extracts were subjected to HPLC analysis with different standards namely gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, methyl gallate, catechin, rutin, apigenin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempherol. Results: O. dubium was found to have highest antioxidant activity (IC 50 311 µg/g extract). Inhibition zone was minimum in S. marcescens and E. coli on the application of extracts of O. virens, and the consequent MIC was 670 µg and 650µg/g dry weight respectively. None of the three extracts was found to have any effect either on S. aureus or P. aeruginosa . HPLC analyses have shown that myricetin was the primary flavonoid constituent of the extract of O. dubium and gallic acid of O. virens . Conclusion: O. dubium shows maximum antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Extracts of O. virens also shows maximum polyphenol content. From the HPLC results, it is evident that the flavonoids present in O. dubium are myricetin, rutin, p-coumaric acid along with some phenolic compounds, which confers bioactivity to the extract. Keywords: Ornithogalum, Phenolic acid, Flavonoids, HPLC, Antioxidant activity, Antimicrobial activity
Site specific control of crystallographic grain orientation through electron beam additive manufacturing

Abstract Site specific control of the crystallographic orientation of grains within metal components has been unachievable before the advent of metals additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. To demonstrate the capability, the growth of highly misoriented micron scale grains outlining the letters D, O and E, through the thickness of a 25·4 mm tall bulk block comprised of primarily columnar [001] oriented grains made of the nickel base superalloy Inconel 718 was promoted. To accomplish this, electron beam scan strategies were developed based on principles of columnar to equiaxed transitions during solidification. Through changes in scan strategy, the electron beam heat source can rapidly change between point and line heat source modes to promote steady state and/or transient thermal gradients and liquid/solid interface velocity. With this approach, an equiaxed solidification in the regions bounding the letters D, O and E was achieved. The through thickness existence of the equiaxed grain structure outlining the letters within a highly columnar [001] oriented bulk was confirmed through characterizing the bulk specimen with energy selective neutron radiography and confirming with an electron backscatter detection. Ultimately, this demonstration promotes the ability to build metal components with site specific control on crystallographic orientation of grains using the electron beam melting process.
Human Gene and Protein Database (HGPD): a novel database presenting a large quantity of experiment-based results in human proteomics

Completion of human genome sequencing has greatly accelerated functional genomic research. Full-length cDNA clones are essential experimental tools for functional analysis of human genes. In one of the projects of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in Japan, the full-length human cDNA sequencing project (FLJ project), nucleotide sequences of approximately 30 000 human cDNA clones have been analyzed. The Gateway system is a versatile framework to construct a variety of expression clones for various experiments. We have constructed 33 275 human Gateway entry clones from full-length cDNAs, representing to our knowledge the largest collection in the world. Utilizing these clones with a highly efficient cell-free protein synthesis system based on wheat germ extract, we have systematically and comprehensively produced and analyzed human proteins in vitro. Sequence information for both amino acids and nucleotides of open reading frames of cDNAs cloned into Gateway entry clones and in vitro expression data using those clones can be retrieved from the Human Gene and Protein Database (HGPD, http://www.HGPD.jp). HGPD is a unique database that stores the information of a set of human Gateway entry clones and protein expression data and helps the user to search the Gateway entry clones.
The RNA binding protein Npl3 promotes resection of DNA double-strand breaks by regulating the levels of Exo1

Abstract Eukaryotic cells preserve genome integrity upon DNA damage by activating a signaling network that promotes DNA repair and controls cell cycle progression. One of the most severe DNA damage is the DNA double-strand break (DSB), whose 5΄ ends can be nucleolitically resected by multiple nucleases to create 3΄-ended single-stranded DNA tails that trigger DSB repair by homologous recombination. Here, we identify the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA binding protein Npl3 as a new player in DSB resection. Npl3 is related to both the metazoan serine-arginine-rich and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleo-proteins. NPL3 deletion impairs the generation of long ssDNA tails at the DSB ends, whereas it does not exacerbate the resection defect of exo1Δ cells. Furthermore, either the lack of Npl3 or the inactivation of its RNA-binding domains causes decrease of the exonuclease Exo1 protein levels as well as generation of unusual and extended EXO1 RNA species. These findings, together with the observation that EXO1 overexpression partially suppresses the resection defect of npl3Δ cells, indicate that Npl3 participates in DSB resection by promoting the proper biogenesis of EXO1 mRNA.
QoF: Towards comprehensive path quality measurement in wireless sensor networks

Due to its large scale and constrained communication radius, a wireless sensor network mostly relies on multi-hop transmissions to deliver a data packet along a sequence of nodes. It is of essential importance to measure the forwarding quality of multi-hop paths and such information shall be utilized in designing efficient routing strategies. Existing metrics like ETX, ETF mainly focus on quantifying the link performance in between the nodes while overlooking the forwarding capabilities inside the sensor nodes. The experience on manipulating GreenOrbs, a large-scale sensor network with 330 nodes, reveals that the quality of forwarding inside each sensor node is at least an equally important factor that contributes to the path quality in data delivery. In this paper we propose QoF, Quality of Forwarding, a new metric which explores the performance in the gray zone inside a node left unattended in previous studies. By combining the QoF measurements within a node and over a link, we are able to comprehensively measure the intact path quality in designing efficient multi-hop routing protocols. We implement QoF and build a modified Collection Tree Protocol (CTP). We evaluate the data collection performance in a test-bed consisting of 50 TelosB nodes, and compare it with the original CTP protocol. The experimental results show that our approach takes both transmission cost and forwarding reliability into consideration, thus achieving a high throughput for data collection.
Analysis model based recovery of remote sensing data

In the past decade, the synthesis-based methods have drawn people's attention more and more in the sparse representation community. The synthesis model decomposes the data into a combination of a few atoms of the overcomplete dictionary. However, the dual analysis-based methods have not been studied deeply. The analysis model results in a sparse outcome by multiplying an analysis dictionary. This work proposes an analysis-based recovery of the missing information of remote sensing data, by extracting supplementary information from another term of data at a different period. Our method is verified by the qualitative and quantitative assessments in the experiments.
Cellular Microenvironment Influences the Ability of Mammary Epithelia to Undergo Cell Cycle

The use of cell culture models is a principal and fundamental technology used in understanding how mammalian cells work. However, for some cell types such as mammary epithelia, the lines selected for extended culture are often transformed or have chromosomal abnormalities, while primary cultures have such a curtailed lifespan that their use is restricted. For example, mammary luminal epithelial cells (MECs) are used to study mechanisms of breast cancer, but the proliferation of primary cell cultures is highly limited. Here we describe the establishment of a new culture system to allow extended analysis of cultures of primary mouse MECs. In 2D monolayer culture, primary MECs showed a burst of proliferation 2–3 days post isolation, after which cell cycle decreased substantially. Addition of mammary epithelial growth factors, such as Epidermal Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor-2, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, and Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κB Ligand, or extracellular matrix proteins did not maintain their proliferation potential, neither did replating the cells to increase the mitogenic response. However, culturing MECs directly after tissue extraction in a 3D microenvironment consisting of basement membrane proteins, extended the time in culture in which the cells could proliferate. Our data reveal that the cellular microenvironment has profound effects on the proliferative properties of the mammary epithelia and is dominant over growth factors. Moreover, manipulating the cellular environment using this novel method can maintain the proliferative potential of primary MECs, thus enabling cell cycle to be studied as an endpoint after gene transfer or gene deletion experiments.
Constraints on the Formation and Evolution of Circumstellar Disks in Rotating Magnetized Cloud Cores

We use magnetic collapse models to place some constraints on the formation and angular momentum evolution of circumstellar disks that are embedded in magnetized cloud cores. Previous models have shown that the early evolution of a magnetized cloud core is governed by ambipolar diffusion and magnetic braking, and that the core takes the form of a nonequilibrium flattened envelope that ultimately collapses dynamically to form a protostar. In this paper, we focus on the inner centrifugally supported disk, which is formed only after a central protostar exists, and grows by dynamical accretion from the flattened envelope. We estimate a centrifugal radius for the collapse of mass shells within a rotating, magnetized cloud core. The centrifugal radius of the inner disk is related to its mass through two important parameters characterizing the background medium: the background rotation rate Ωb and the background magnetic field strength Bref. We also revisit the issue of how rapidly mass is deposited onto the disk (the mass accretion rate) and use several recent models to comment upon the likely outcome in magnetized cores. Our model predicts that a significant centrifugal disk (much larger than a stellar radius) will be present in the very early (class 0) stage of protostellar evolution. Additionally, we derive an upper limit for the disk radius as it evolves owing to internal torques, under the assumption that the star-disk system conserves its mass and angular momentum even while most of the mass is transferred to a central star.
A WSD Model for Corpus Construction

A common difficulty in the annotation of large corpora is the disambiguation of the meanings of polysemous words, a task which currently depends on unassisted manual checking by human experts. In this paper, we propose RFR-SUM, an approach to the automatic disambiguation of polysemous Chinese words that calculates and then sums the collocational strengths of words in the local context of a given word. The approach is efficient in that it learns from a small annotated corpus. It can also be used to support manual checking by automatically identifying sentences where usages are borderline and require a human decision. Testing has shown that RFR-SUM outperforms two other commonly used WSD approaches.
Online auctions and generalized secretary problems

We present generalized secretary problems as a framework for online auctions. Elements, such as potential employees or customers, arrive one by one online. After observing the value derived from an element, but without knowing the values of future elements, the algorithm has to make an irrevocable decision whether to retain the element as part of a solution, or reject it. The way in which the secretary framework differs from traditional online algorithms is that the elements arrive in uniformly random order. Many natural online auction scenarios can be cast as generalized secretary problems, by imposing natural restrictions on the feasible sets. For many such settings, we present surprisingly strong constant factor guarantees on the expected value of solutions obtained by online algorithms. The framework is also easily augmented to take into account time-discounted revenue and incentive compatibility. We give an overview of recent results and future research directions.
Colour spaces: perceptual, historical and applicational background

In this paper, we present and overview of colour spaces used in electrical engineering and image processing. We stress the importance of the perceptual, historical and applicational background that led to a colour space. The colour spaces presented are: RGB, opponent-colour spaces, phenomenal colour spaces, CMY, CMYK, TV colour spaces (YUV and YIQ), PhotoYCC, CIE XYZ, Lab and Luv colour spaces.
Comparative study of band-power extraction techniques for Motor Imagery classification

We review different techniques for extracting the power information contained in frequency bands in the context of electroencephalography (EEG) based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). In this domain it is common to apply only one algorithm for extracting the power information. However previous work and our current study confirm that one may indeed expect varying degrees of success by choosing inadequate algorithms for the power extraction. Our results suggest that on average one algorithm seems superior for extracting the power information for Motor Imagery tasks : the application of a Morlet wavelet on the raw EEG signals, with the time-frequency resolution tradeoff selected by cross-validation.
Measuring pattern retention in anonymized data - where one measure is not enough

In this paper, we explore how modifying data to preserve privacy affects the quality of the patterns discoverable in the data. For any analysis of modified data to be worth doing, the data must be as close to the original as possible. Therein lies a problem -- how does one make sure that modified data still contains the information it had before modification? This question is not the same as asking if an accurate classifier can be built from the modified data. Often in the literature, the prediction accuracy of a classifier made from modified (anonymized) data is used as evidence that the data is similar to the original. We demonstrate that this is not the case, and we propose a new methodology for measuring the retention of the patterns that existed in the original data. We then use our methodology to design three measures that can be easily implemented, each measuring aspects of the data that no pre-existing techniques can measure. These measures do not negate the usefulness of prediction accuracy or other measures -- they are complementary to them, and support our argument that one measure is almost never enough.
A FRAMEWORK FOR MOTION PLANNING OF COOPERATIVE MOBILE ROBOTS

This paper addresses the problem of planning and controlling the actions of groups of mobile robots during the execution of cooperative tasks. We propose a general framework that transforms several cooperative tasks to the same basic problem, thus enabling a single solution for all of them. Using this approach a single team of robots is capable to perform many different tasks by providing each robot with a single suite of algorithms parameterized only by the particularities of the task at hand. We present experimental results with a group of car-like robots using omnidirectional cameras as their only sensor.
Five new species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract Following ongoing ecological research on the tree diversity of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, we describe five new species of Syzygium. These are the first descriptions of Syzygium species from the island since Blume (1850, Jambosa celebica and J. cornifolia), highlighting the significant lack of taxonomic research on the genus for the region. The five species proposed as new are Syzygium balgooyi sp. nov., Syzygium contiguum sp. nov., Syzygium devogelii sp. nov., Syzygium eymae sp. nov., and Syzygium galanthum sp. nov. All species are illustrated and information on their distribution, ecology, and conservation status is given.
Provision of Storage QoS in Distributed File Systems for Clouds

In this paper, we present a distributed file system with storage QoS provision for cloud computing. The objective is to maximize the aggregated disk bandwidth utilization with the assurance of allocated disk bandwidth for each data transfer. First, we implement a distributed file system based on the ECNP model, which avoids matchmaker overloading and the lack of up-to-date information in the original matchmaking model. Next, resource selection policies for resource management are investigated to improve bandwidth utilization. Furthermore, we propose several dynamic replication strategies to balance the workload of resource providers. Experiments are conducted in real systems to study the performance on storage QoS with different resource selection policies and dynamic replication strategies.