Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ros4mat: A Matlab Programming Interface for Remote Operations of ROS-Based Robotic Devices in an Educational Context

More and more, robotics is perceived in education as being an excellent way to promote higher quality learning among students, by grounding theoretical concepts into reality. In order to maximize the learning throughput, the focus of any robotics software platform should be on ease of use, with little time spent integrating the components together. To this effect, we introduce ros4mat, an open source library which provides a simple and flexible interface between ROS (Robot Operating System) and Matlab®. The conception is focused on academic use, and allows a very simple integration of sensors and actuators to existing Matlab code. The library is designed to provide an easy, platform-independent, and fast connection between a robot (running ROS) and multiple clients (running only Matlab). Moreover, it is very versatile and can be used with many common types of sensors in robotics, including low-cost ones. We report the results of ros4mat use in a robotics course to provide more real world experimentation, along with some code samples illustrating the simplicity of our approach.
TopPRF

Traditional pseudo relevance feedback (PRF) models choose top k feedback documents for query expansion and treat those documents equally. When k is determined, feedback terms are selected without considering the reliability of these documents for relevance. Because the performance of PRF is sensitive to the selection of feedback terms, noisy terms imported from these irrelevant documents or partially relevant documents will harm the final results extensively. Intuitively, terms in these documents should be considered less important for feedback term selection. Nonetheless, how to measure the reliability of feedback documents is a difficult problem. Recently, topic modeling has become more and more popular in the information retrieval (IR) area. In order to identify how reliable a feedback document is to be relevant, we attempt to adapt the topical information into PRF. However, topics are hard to be quantified and therefore the identification of topic is usually fuzzy. It is very challenging for integrating the obtained topical information effectively into IR and other text-processing-related areas. Current research work mainly focuses on mining relevant information from particular topics. This is extremely difficult when the boundaries of different topics are hard to define. In this article, we investigate a key factor of this problem, the topic number for topic modeling and how it makes topics “fuzzy. ” To effectively and efficiently apply topical information, we propose a new probabilistic framework, “TopPRF,” and three models, TS-COS, TS-EU, and TS-Entropy, via integrating “Topic Space” (TS) information into pseudo relevance feedback. These methods discover how reliable a document is to be relevant through both term and topical information. When selecting feedback terms, candidate terms in more reliable feedback documents should obtain extra weights. Experimental results on various public collections justify that our proposed methods can significantly reduce the influence of “fuzzy topics” and obtain stable, good results over the strong baseline models. Our proposed probabilistic framework, TopPRF, and three topic-space-based models are capable of searching documents beyond traditional term matching only and provide a promising avenue for constructing better topic-space-based IR systems. Moreover, in-depth discussions and conclusions are made to help other researchers apply topical information effectively.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of cervical carcinoma: perfusion pattern and relationship with tumour angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and time-intensity curves to assess angiogenesis in cervical cancer. METHODS 60 patients who were scheduled to undergo radical surgery for biopsy-proven cervical cancers underwent CEUS. Surgical tissue sections from 32 patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed with CD34 staining to estimate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD). CEUS images were analyzed for maximum intensity (IMAX), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP) and mean transit time. RESULTS Cervical lesions had a higher IMAX and shorter RT and TTP (p < 0.001) than reference regions. There was a linear association between the IMAX of the cervical lesion and the mean intratumoral MVD (r = 0.624, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in CEUS variables according to histological type, grade and stage. CONCLUSION Quantitative CEUS variables have potential use for monitoring perfusion changes in tumours after non-surgical therapy for advanced cervical cancer. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE The article demonstrates the capability and value of quantitative CEUS as a non-invasive strategy for detecting the perfusion and angiogenic status of cervical cancer. Quantitative CEUS variables have potential use for monitoring tumour response to non-surgical therapy.
CS 224 w Final Report : Community-Based Yelp Personalization

People use Yelp to search for everything and get recommendations. When we are reading a review, we want to know if the review itself and the reviewer are credible. Thus, it helps if we can know the credibility of the reviewer. In turn, a reviewer might be motivated to write more high-quality reviews. The user scores can be incorporated into calculating new (and hopefully more accurate) scores for the businesses. In addition, people in different communities have very different opinions about a single business. For example, a community of Chinese elderly people and another one of American youngsters can have totally different comments for a Chinese restaurant. However, Yelp currently only offers one single score for a business. With the goal of better reflecting different tastes from different communities, we want to generate communities from all users and put users that have similar tastes into one community. Then for all users in one community, we will put some bias on the new score that we generated for each business based on the other users review and their credibility in the same community. In this way, score of a business is personalized to each community. This community-based score is expected to be most informative and can be utilized to make personalized recommendation.
Association entre consommation de drogues illicites et symptomatologie dépressive à l’adolescence : une étude longitudinale auprès de jeunes Québécois fréquentant l’école secondaire en milieu défavorisé

Illicit drug use and depressive symptoms are associated, but the nature of this association remains poorly understood. Clarifying the underlying mechanism(s) is necessary in order to design interventions which can potentially reduce the co-occurrence of the two phenomena, which accounts for sizeable individual and social costs. Clarification efforts should start in adolescence, when drug use and affective problems are typically initiated. The aim of this thesis is to help clarify the nature of the association between some of the most frequently used illicit drugs and depressive symptomatology in adolescents. This work was carried out using a cohort from the New Approaches, New Solutions (NANS) longitudinal dataset, which comprises more than 3000 students attending school in disadvantaged areas of Quebec (Canada) who were followed throughout high school (20032007). The first article of the thesis focuses on the association between cannabis use and depressive symptoms. This study examined prospective associations in both directions between the two phenomena from the beginning (grade 8) to the end (grade 11) of high school. Direct links were analysed, as well as indirect links involving two factors reflecting normative and non normative social connectedness: school bonding and affiliation with deviant and substance-using peers. Results indicate that depressive symptoms and cannabis use can be mutual risk factors and that a social mechanism involving an erosion of normative social connectedness may play a mediating role in bidirectional developmental cascades linking the two manifestations. The second article tested whether the use of two synthetic drugs, MDMA (ecstasy) and meth/amphetamines (speed), in grade 10 was associated with the development of elevated depressive symptoms the following year, independently from potential confounders. As hypothesized, the use of MDMA and meth/amphetamine was independently predictive of subsequent depressive symptoms. Concurrent use of the two substances was more predictive than singular use. Given the paucity of well-controlled longitudinal studies on the subject, these results provide some of the first compelling
Worst-case test vectors generation using genetic algorithms for the detection of total-dose induced leakage current failures

In this paper, we develop a methodology for generating the worst-case test vectors (WCTV) necessary to detect leakage current failures in a standard-cell based ASIC device exposed to a total ionizing dose. The methodology is based on using the genetic algorithm technique and as such it produces a near worst-case vector. The methodology is validated experimentally by applying the generated vectors on a test chip after exposure to total dose. In terms of total-dose induced leakage current failures, experiments shown that the near worstcase vector results are very close to those of the worst-case vector.
Design of isotropic 3-D multilayered CRLH metamaterial structures using conductive mesh plates and dielectric resonators

Almost isotropic three-dimensional multilayered composite right/left handed metamaterial structure is proposed and designed. It is composed of conductive mesh plates and dielectric layers including dielectric resonators with high dielectric constant. Basically, the structure has uniaxial anisotropy. The polarization of incident waves is restricted to directions parallel to the stacked layers. The numerical results show that not only the wavenumber vector but also wave impedance of the designed structures provides almost isotropic characteristics in a specific frequency region. A flat lens based on the metamaterial structure was fabricated for demonstration of the negative-refractive-index structure, and beam focusing was confirmed.
Aging Shapes the Population-Mean and -Dispersion of Gene Expression in Human Brains

Human aging is associated with cognitive decline and an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease. Our objective for this study was to evaluate potential relationships between age and variation in gene expression across different regions of the brain. We analyzed the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) data from 54 and 101 tissue samples across 13 brain regions in post-mortem donors of European descent aged between 20 and 70 years at death. After accounting for the effects of covariates and hidden confounding factors, we identified 1,446 protein-coding genes whose expression in one or more brain regions is correlated with chronological age at a false discovery rate of 5%. These genes are involved in various biological processes including apoptosis, mRNA splicing, amino acid biosynthesis, and neurotransmitter transport. The distribution of these genes among brain regions is uneven, suggesting variable regional responses to aging. We also found that the aging response of many genes, e.g., TP37 and C1QA, depends on individuals’ genotypic backgrounds. Finally, using dispersion-specific analysis, we identified genes such as IL7R, MS4A4E, and TERF1/TERF2 whose expressions are differentially dispersed by aging, i.e., variances differ between age groups. Our results demonstrate that age-related gene expression is brain region-specific, genotype-dependent, and associated with both mean and dispersion changes. Our findings provide a foundation for more sophisticated gene expression modeling in the studies of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Prevention of islanding in grid connected PV system using twelve pulse line commutated converter

One of the major drawback of connecting PV systems to the grid is unintentional islanding condition. Islanding can be dangerous for utility workers and damage utility equipment so anti islanding is a crucial subject for grid connected PV systems. For this reason inverter in the PV system must detect islanding and stop supplying power if the grid is down. In this paper 12 pulse LCC is used in inversion mode for the grid connection of PV system. A 12 pulse LCC converter needs commutating voltage of grid to operate. The LCC do not require maintaining synchronism between grid and converter and having an ability to suppress all harmonics below 11th order. The simulation results is carried out in Matlab/Simulink shows feasibility of proposed solution.
Increasing synovitis and bone marrow lesions are associated with incident joint tenderness in hand osteoarthritis

Objectives To explore whether changes of MRI-defined synovitis and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are related to changes in joint tenderness in a 5-year longitudinal study of the Oslo hand osteoarthritis (OA) cohort. Methods We included 70 patients (63 women, mean (SD) age 67.9 (5.5) years). BMLs and contrast-enhanced synovitis in the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints were evaluated on 0–3 scales in n=69 and n=48 patients, respectively. Among joints without tenderness at baseline, we explored whether increasing/incident synovitis and BMLs were associated with incident joint tenderness using generalised estimating equations. Among joints with tenderness at baseline, we explored whether decreasing or resolution of synovitis and BMLs were associated with loss of joint tenderness. We adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, follow-up time and changes in radiographic OA. Results Among joints without tenderness at baseline, increasing/incident synovitis and BMLs were seen in 45 of 220 (20.5%) and 47 of 312 (15.1%) joints, respectively. Statistically significant associations to incident joint tenderness were found for increasing/incident synovitis (OR=2.66, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.11) and BMLs (OR=2.85, 95% CI 1.23 to 6.58) independent of structural progression. We found a trend that resolution of synovitis (OR=1.72, 95% CI 0.80 to 3.68) and moderate/large decreases of BMLs (OR=1.90, 95% CI 0.57 to 6.33) were associated with loss of joint tenderness, but these associations were non-significant. Conclusions The Oslo hand OA cohort is the first study with longitudinal hand MRIs. Increasing synovitis and BMLs were significantly associated with incident joint tenderness, whereas no significant associations were found for decreasing or loss of synovitis and BMLs.
Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Arabidopsis

Improving plant nitrogen (N) use efficiency or controlling soil N requires a better knowledge of the regulation of plant N metabolism. This could be achieved using Arabidopsis as a model genetic system, taking advantage of the natural variation available among ecotypes. Here, we describe an extensive study of N metabolism variation in the Bay-0 × Shahdara recombinant inbred line population, using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. We mapped QTL for traits such as shoot growth, total N, nitrate, and free-amino acid contents, measured in two contrasting N environments (contrasting nitrate availability in the soil), in controlled conditions. Genetic variation and transgression were observed for all traits, and most of the genetic variation was identified through QTL and QTL × QTL epistatic interactions. The 48 significant QTL represent at least 18 loci that are polymorphic between parents; some may correspond to known genes from the N metabolic pathway, but others represent new genes controlling or interacting with N physiology. The correlations between traits are dissected through QTL colocalizations: The identification of the individual factors contributing to the regulation of different traits sheds new light on the relations among these characters. We also point out that the regulation of our traits is mostly specific to the N environment (N availability). Finally, we describe four interesting loci at which positional cloning is feasible.
Inductive Logic Programming for Corpus-Based Acquisition of Semantic Lexicons

In this paper, we propose an Inductive Logic Programming learning method which aims at automatically extracting special Noun-Verb (N-V) pairs from a corpus in order to build up semantic lexicons based on Pustejovsky's Generative Lexicon (GL) principles (Pustejovsky, 1995). In one of the components of this lexical model, called the qualia structure, words are described in terms of semantic roles. For example, the telic role indicates the purpose or function of an item (cut for knife), the agentive role its creation mode (build for house), etc. The qualia structure of a noun is mainly made up of verbal associations, encoding relational information. The Inductive Logic Programming learning method that we have developed enables us to automatically extract from a corpus N-V pairs whose elements are linked by one of the semantic relations defined in the qualia structure in GL, and to distinguish them, in terms of surrounding categorial context from N-V pairs also present in sentences of the corpus but not relevant. This method has been theoretically and empirically validated, on a technical corpus. The N-V pairs that have been extracted will further be used in information retrieval applications for index expansion.
Crime and the Life Course: An Introduction

1. An Overview of Lifecourse Theory and Research 2. Biology and the Family: Initial Trajectories 3. Adolescence and Crime: Continuity, Change, and Cumulating Disadvantages 4. Adulthood and Aging Criminals 5. White-Collar Crime and the Lifecourse 6. Historical and Structural Contexts
A new approach to memory and logic-cylindrical domain devices

Magnetic domain behavior in single crystal magnetic oxides has been studied extensively over the last several decades. These investigations, both theoretical and experimental, are an attempt to better understand these materials and their complex domain structures. Recently single crystal oxides have been utilized in memory and logic devices. This paper will update work on cylindrical domains in orthoferrites first published in 1967 and later discussed at the 1968 and 1969 Intermag Conferences.
Evaluation of the RAPIDEC® CARBA NP, the Rapid CARB Screen® and the Carba NP test for biochemical detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was the evaluation of the performance of two commercially available biochemical tests for the rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae compared with a home-made technique. METHODS A collection of 150 enterobacterial isolates, including 132 isolates with decreased susceptibility to at least one carbapenem molecule, were tested for carbapenemase activity using the RAPIDEC(®) CARBA NP (bioMérieux), the Rapid CARB Screen(®) (Rosco Diagnostica) and the home-made Carba NP test. This strain collection included 55 non-carbapenemase producers, 21 KPC producers, 21 NDM producers, 17 VIM producers, 11 IMP producers, 16 OXA-48 producers and 9 OXA-48-like producers (OXA-162, OXA-181, OXA-204, OXA-232 and OXA-244). RESULTS The RAPIDEC(®) CARBA NP detected all carbapenemase producers except a single OXA-244 producer. Using the Rapid CARB Screen(®), one KPC-2, two NDM-1, one OXA-48 and five OXA-48 variant producers gave equivocal results and one OXA-244 producer was not detected. Using the Carba NP test, the same OXA-244 producer was not detected and one OXA-181 producer and one OXA-244 producer gave equivocal results. Sensitivity and specificity were 99% (95% CI 94.3%-99.8%) and 100% (95% CI 93.5%-100%), respectively, for the RAPIDEC(®) CARBA NP test, 89.5% (95% CI 81.7%-94.2%) and 70.9% (95% CI 57.9%-81.2%) for the Rapid CARB Screen(®) and 96.8% (95% CI 91.1%-98.9%) and 100% (95% CI 93.5%-100%) for the Carba NP test. The impact of the use of an adequate bacterial inoculum for obtaining the optimal performance with the RAPIDEC(®) CARBA NP was noted. CONCLUSIONS The RAPIDEC(®) CARBA NP possesses the best performance for rapid and efficient detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
Sharp Bounds for Optimal Decoding of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

Consider communication over a binary-input memoryless output-symmetric channel with low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoding. The replica method of spin glass theory allows to conjecture an analytic formula for the average input-output conditional entropy per bit in the infinite block length limit. Montanari proved a lower bound for this entropy, in the case of LDPC ensembles with convex check degree polynomial, which matches the replica formula. Here we extend this lower bound to any irregular LDPC ensemble. The new feature of our work is an analysis of the second derivative of the conditional input-output entropy with respect to noise. A close relation arises between this second derivative and correlation or mutual information of codebits. This allows us to extend the realm of the ldquointerpolation method,rdquo in particular, we show how channel symmetry allows to control the fluctuations of the ldquooverlap parametersrdquo.
A microfluidic device for high frequency characterization of fluids under high dc electric fields

The design and fabrication of a broadband microwave microfluidic device are presented together with our preliminary measurement results on water dielectric saturation effects. Heavily-doped silicon is used to form microstrip lines and 250 nm deep planar microfluidic channels. The atomically smooth surfaces enable ∼ 0.9 MV/cm dc electric fields across the channel without breakdown issues. High frequency scattering parameter measurements are conducted under different uniform dc electric fields. When the applied dc field is increased to ∼ 0.9 MV/cm, extracted water permittivity, ε′ and ε″, are reduced by as much as 21 % and 11 %, respectively. Future work includes achieving reliable contacts and on-chip de-embedding procedures.
Toward co-evolutionary training of a multi-class classifier

In this work the multi-class classification capabilities of genetic programming (GP) are explored in the context of a competitive co-evolutionary system, in which a population of GP classifiers is trained against an evolving population of trainers (exemplar selectors) with the goal of reducing GP training time for large multi-class classification problems. Moreover, the niche-enabling mechanisms established in the genetic algorithm (GA) literature, known as crowding and sharing, are implemented for the classifier population in order to provide multi-class solutions from a single population in the same trial. The results as presented in the paper indicate the appropriateness of the competitive co-evolutionary training approach under GP multi-class classification.