Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feature-based pattern recognition and object identification for telerobotics

This paper presents a method to efficiently recognize 3D objects from 2D images based on feature-based indexing. Object recognition is the identification of correspondences between parts of a current scene and stored views of known objects, using chains of segments or indexing vectors. To create indexed object models, the characteristic model image features are extracted during preprocessing. Feature vectors representing model object contours from several points of view around each object are acquired and stored. At recognition time, the indexing vectors with the highest match probability are retrieved from the model image database, using a search strategy that employs knowledge-based (KB) search criteria. The knowledge-based simplifies the recognition process and minimizes the number of iterations and memory usage. Candidate objects in camera images are matched with the stored set of reference views by probabilistic viewing interpolation. The experimental results indicate that feature-based indexing in combination with a knowledge-based system will be a useful methodology for automatic target recognition (ATR).
Timing protein intake increases energy expenditure 24 h after resistance training.

PURPOSE To determine whether protein supplementation (PRO) before an acute bout of heavy resistance training (HRT) would influence postexercise resting energy expenditure (REE) and the nonprotein respiratory exchange ratio (RER). HYPOTHESIS REE would be increased and RER would be decreased up to 48 h after timed PRO and HRT compared with CHO supplementation and HRT. METHODS Eight resistance-trained subjects (five men and three women) participated in a double-blind two-trial crossover design, where REE and RER were measured (7:00 a.m.) on four consecutive days. On the second day of trial 1, subjects consumed 376 kJ of either PRO (18 g of whey protein, 2 g of carbohydrate, 1.5 g of fat) or CHO (1 g of whey protein, 19 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of fat) 20 min before a single bout of HRT (nine exercises, 4 sets, 70%-75% 1-repetition maximum). REE and RER were measured 24 and 48 h after HRT. During trial 2, the same protocol was followed except subjects consumed the second supplement before HRT. RESULTS Compared with baseline, REE was elevated significantly in both CHO and PRO at 24 and 48 h after HRT (P < 0.05). At 24 h after HRT, REE in response to PRO was significantly greater compared with CHO (P < 0.05). RER decreased significantly in both CHO and PRO at 24 h after HRT compared with baseline (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in total energy intake, macronutrient intake, or HRT volume (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Timing PRO before HRT may be a simple and effective strategy to increase energy expenditure by elevating REE the day after HRT. Increasing REE could facilitate reductions in body fat mass and improve body composition if nutritional intake is stable.
Semidefinite Representations of Gauge Functions for Structured Low-Rank Matrix Decomposition

This paper presents generalizations of semidefinite programming formulations of 1-norm optimization problems over infinite dictionaries of vectors of complex exponentials, which were recently proposed for superresolution, gridless compressed sensing, and other applications in signal processing. Results related to the generalized Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov lemma in linear system theory provide simple, constructive proofs of the semidefinite representations of the penalty functions used in these applications. The connection leads to several extensions to gauge functions and atomic norms for sets of vectors parameterized via the nullspace of matrix pencils. The techniques are illustrated with examples of low-rank matrix approximation problems arising in spectral estimation and array processing.
Short-latency ocular following responses of monkey. II. Dependence on a prior saccadic eye movement.

The ocular following responses elicited by brief unexpected movements of the visual scene were studied in eight rhesus monkeys. Test patterns were random dots except in one experiment when sine-wave gratings were used. Test stimuli were velocity steps of 100-ms duration applied after spontaneous saccades. Two response measures were used: the initial peak in the eye velocity profile (ei), and the average final eye velocity over the period of 110-140 ms measured from stimulus onset (ef). Responses were best when the test ramps began soon after saccades and attenuated progressively as the postsaccadic delay interval was increased: postsaccadic enhancement of ocular following. The decline in ei was roughly exponential: average time constant, 60 ms; average asymptote, 22%. Later measures (ef) were generally less affected. We suggest that this transient enhancement aids the visual suppression of postsaccadic ocular drifts (glissades) and the tracking of moving images newly acquired with a saccade. The magnitude of the postsaccadic enhancement was dependent on the amount of retinal stimulation during the antecedent saccade; when this stimulation was compromised, as when a vertical saccade was made while viewing a grating pattern with vertically oriented stripes, subsequent enhancement of ocular following was much reduced. Further, saccade-like conditioning movements of the visual scene resulted in an enhancement of the ocular following, elicited by subsequent test ramps, that was similar in magnitude and time course to that in the wake of real saccades. We conclude that the postsaccadic enhancement of ocular following is largely due to the visual stimulation produced by the saccade sweeping the scene across the retina. Data obtained with the visual field partitioned into central and peripheral regions (center 20-60 degrees diam) and with gaze centered suggested that the short-latency ocular following system and the enhancement mechanism that modulates it both receive their major inputs from the central 40 degrees of the retina. Further, when this central region was partitioned, enhancement was obtained only when the conditioning and test stimuli were presented to the same region of retina. Visual enhancement showed only weak interocular transfer: the conditioning and test stimuli had to be seen by the same eye to produce appreciable enhancement. These data suggest that the enhancement involves local spatial interactions at an "early" point in the visual pathway before the inputs from the two eyes have converged. When the conditioning and test stimuli impinged on different regions of the retina, brief powerful suppression of ocular following was obtained. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Predicting Expatriate Adjustment

This study assumes that the frequently applied model, developed in North America, predicting expatriate adjustment to foreign host countries is applicable crossnationally. This assumption is tested using Israel as a host country, an environment far removed from North American culture, and one that represents a particularly highly heterogeneous society in values, ethnic identities, languages, and religions. Expatriates from 14 different countries stationed in Israel were studied during the term of their foreign assignment. Tested were various behavioral and attitudinal constructs, which include personal, cultural, and work variables. Despite the cultural milieu Israel poses, the predictive model was reconfirmed in most of its aspects. As expected, the findings indicated that spouse's adjustment and expatriate's adjustment are highly correlated. However, it was found that interaction adjustment and environmental adjustment are two distinct processes and are predicted by different behavioral and attitudinal attributes. Work adjustment constitutes a separate criterion and can be predicted by work attitudinal variables. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed.
A partial map of the circular mitochondrial genome of Drosophila melanogaster. Location of EcoRI-sensitive sites and the adenine-thymine- rich region

The mitochondrial genome of Drosophila melanogaster is a circular DNA molecule of mol wt 12.35 X 10(6) daltons. A single region accounting for approx. 25% of this molecule can be reproducibly differentially denatured presumably because it is rich in adenine and thymine. We have mapped on the circular mitochondrial genome of D. melanogaster the relative positions of this adenine-thymine (A-T) rich region and the sites sensitive to cleavage by the restriction endonuclease EcoRI, using agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Digestion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules to completion with EcoRI resulted in the production of four fragments, A, B, C, and D which represent (+/- SD) 58.9 +/- 1.1%, 27.5 +/- 0.8%, 8.9 +/- 0.5%, and 4.5 +/- 0.3%, of the circular genome length, respectively. Fragments produced by EcoRI digestion and circularized by incubation at 2 degrees C also fell into four distinct length groups with means (+/- SD) of 59.1 +/- 0.5%, 27.5 +/- 0.5%, 9.2 +/- 0.3%, and 4.6 +/- 0.2% of the circular genome length. From a consideration of the lengths of fragments resulting from incomplete EcoRI digestion, it was determined that the arrangement of the fragments in the circular genome was A-C-B-D. By electron microscope examination of partially denatured EcoRI fragments, the A-T- rich region was shown to be located in the A fragment closer to one end than to the other. By similar partial-denaturation studies of fragments resulting from incomplete EcoRI digestion, it was determined that, in the circular genome, of the two EcoRI sites which define the limits of the A fragment, the site between the A and D fragment lies nearest to the A-T-rich region.
Fundamental movement skill proficiency and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in eight-year-old children

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: A study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the Test of gross motor development, 2nd ed. Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured, and International Obesity Task Force cut-off values for body mass index were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object control, locomotor and total FMS) was significantly and strongly associated with lower BF% and lower AF% measured with DXA. Conclusions: The inverse association between FMS and body composition measured with DXA (BF% and AF%) is an important finding, as body fatness and specifically abdominal fatness are associated with less favourable cardiovascular risk factor status in children.
QUALITY ANALYSIS AND CORRECTION OF MOBILE BACKPACK LASER SCANNING DATA

Abstract. Backpack laser scanning systems have emerged recently enabling fast data collection and flexibility to make measurements also in areas that cannot be reached with, for example, vehicle-based laser scanners. Backpack laser scanning systems have been developed both for indoor and outdoor use. We have developed a quality analysis process in which the quality of backpack laser scanning data is evaluated in the forest environment. The reference data was collected with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) laser scanning system. The workflow included noise filtering, division of data into smaller patches, ground point extraction, ground data decimation, and ICP registration. As a result, we managed to observe the misalignments of backpack laser scanning data for 97 patches each including data from circa 10 seconds period of time. This evaluation revealed initial average misalignments of 0.227 m, 0.073 and -0.083 in the easting, northing and elevation directions, respectively. Furthermore, backpack data was corrected according to the ICP registration results. Our correction algorithm utilized the time-based linear transformation of backpack laser scanning point clouds. After the correction of data, the ICP registration was run again. This revealed remaining misalignments between the corrected backpack laser scanning data and the original UAV data. We found average misalignments of 0.084, 0.020 and -0.005 meters in the easting, northing and elevation directions, respectively.
Improving Advising Using Technology and Data Analytics

This article describes a method that enhances human advising with modern technology and data analytics, thereby freeing advisors to spend more time on the things only people can do. This method, called eAdvisor, helps students find majors in which they are likely to succeed; keeps them progressing toward a degree; and makes advisors more informed, efficient, and effective. It also allows the university to manage enrollments effectively, thereby saving money while improving student success.
Strategies for managerial self‐change in a cleaned‐up bureaucracy: a qualitative study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a set of strategies for effective managerial self‐change within the substantive setting of a cleaned‐up bureaucracy.Design/methodology/approach – Using inductive methodology, data have been collected and analysed from a large Australian public‐sector bureaucracy by means of 26 personal interviews conducted between 2000 and 2002.Findings – A conceptual model of managerial self‐change is presented stressing the importance of both cognitive and behavioural strategies within the context of an “awareness‐understanding‐accomplishment” feedback loop and learning process. The model incorporates and extends some of the major concepts in the extant literature on thought self‐leadership and learned optimism by incorporating attributional analysis into managerial cognitive thought patterns. The findings also suggest refinements to the concept of managerial credibility within cleaned‐up bureaucracies.Research limitations/implications – Findings are derived on the basis.
The Spatial Distribution of Alkaloids in Psychotria prunifolia (Kunth) Steyerm and Palicourea coriacea (Cham.) K. Schum Leaves Analysed by Desorption Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

INTRODUCTION Species of the genera Psychotria and Palicourea are sources of indole alkaloids, however, the distribution of alkaloids within the plants is not known. Analysing the spatial distribution using desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) has become attractive due to its simplicity and high selectivity compared to traditional histochemical techniques. OBJECTIVES To apply DESI-MSI to visualise the alkaloid distribution on the leaf surface of Psychotria prunifolia and Palicourea coriacea and to compare the distributions with HPLC-MS and histochemical analyses. METHODOLOGY Based upon previous structure elucidation studies, four alkaloids targeted in this study were identified using high resolution mass spectrometry by direct infusion of plant extracts, and their distributions were imaged by DESI-MSI via tissue imprints on a porous Teflon surface. Relative quantitation of the four alkaloids was obtained by HPLC-MS/MS analysis performed using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. RESULTS Alkaloids showed distinct distributions on the leaf surfaces. Prunifoleine was mainly present in the midrib, while 10-hydroxyisodeppeaninol was concentrated close to the petiole; a uniform distribution of 10-hydroxyantirhine was observed in the whole leaf of Psychotria prunifolia. The imprinted image from the Palicourea coriacea leaf also showed a homogeneous distribution of calycanthine throughout the leaf surface. CONCLUSION Different distributions were found for three alkaloids in Psychotria prunifolia, and the distributions found by MSI were in complete accordance with HPLC-MS analysis and histochemical results. The DESI-MSI technique was therefore demonstrated to provide reliable information about the spatial distribution of metabolites in plants. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Field validation of fibre Bragg grating sensors for measuring strain on driven steel piles

In recent years, fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have emerged as a relatively new strain sensing technology for civil engineering applications. This paper presents a field trial to assess the feasibility of using FBG sensor arrays to measure strain in driven steel piles. Two FBG arrays were installed in grooves within the wall of an open-ended steel pile such that the finished profile was completely flush with the pile shaft. The pile was then driven into a dense sand deposit using an impact hammer to provide the required installation energy. The FBG gauges were monitored throughout driving in conjunction with accelerometers to quantify the scale of the hammer impacts. The FBG sensors were subjected to hammer blows that yielded pile accelerations between 500 g and 1400 g during installation. The fibre optic sensors were measured throughout driving, where they were observed to respond to the hammer impacts, showing a rapid increase in strain and a return to their initial values between hammer strikes. Af.
A upper limb rehabilitation system with motion intention detection

Upper limb rehabilitation robotic systems have been studied for decades to improve the rehabilitation training of hemiplegic patients. Ideally such robotic systems should be capable of detecting the intentions of the patients and assisting them as needed. In this paper, we integrate a virtual environment and a low-cost motion sensor, the Microsoft Kinect II, into a robotic upper limb rehabilitation system to detect user motion intentions and generate motion commands for a rehabilitation robot. The system requires users to mimic a pre-programmed bimanual motion sequence shown in the virtual environment. A Gaussian Process based predictive controller uses the motion of the unaffected arm and the programmed motion sequence to estimate the motion intentions of the affected arm. We also adopt this controller in Mirror Therapy, a widely-practised therapeutic intervention method. Two preliminary experiments have been conducted to validate the proposed controller and test proper function and safety of the system including a patient case-study.
Predictors of Psychological Well-Being during Behavioral Obesity Treatment in Women

This study examined the association of autonomy-related variables, including exercise motivation, with psychological well-being and quality of life, during obesity treatment. Middle-aged overweight/obese women (n = 239) participated in a 1-year behavioral program and completed questionnaires measuring need support, general self-determination, and exercise and treatment motivation. General and obesity-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL), self-esteem, depression, and anxiety were also assessed. Results showed positive correlations of self-determination and perceived need support with HRQOL and self-esteem, and negative associations with depression and anxiety (P < .001). Treatment autonomous motivation correlated positively with physical (P = .004) and weight-related HRQOL (P < .001), and negatively with depression (P = .025) and anxiety (P = .001). Exercise autonomous motivation was positively correlated with physical HRQOL (P < .001), mental HRQOL (P = .003), weight-related HRQOL (P < .001), and self-esteem (P = .003), and negatively with anxiety (P = .016). Findings confirm that self-determination theory's predictions apply to this population and setting, showing that self-determination, perceived need support, and autonomous self-regulation positively predict HRQOL and psychological well-being.
Beamforming and power allocation for energy-efficient massive MIMO

Massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) has emerged as a promising technology, which utilizes a large number of antennas at base stations (BSs) to significantly improve the spectral efficiency in terms of bits/s/Hz while reducing the radiated signal power. A critical issue with massive MIMO is the costly circuit power consumption, which is proportional to the number of antennas. This paper develops low-complexity power allocation techniques to apply beamforming and to maximize the energy efficiency of massive MIMO while meeting users' quality-of-service requirements. Algorithms of low computational complexity with rapid convergence are proposed to solve for the optimal beamformer in this sense. Numerical examples are provided to show the merit of the proposed computational approach.
Optical response of correlated electron systems

Recent progress in experimental techniques has made it possible to extract detailed information on dynamics of carriers in a correlated electron material from its optical conductivity, σ(Ω,T). This review consists of three parts, addressing the following three aspects of optical response: (1) the role of momentum relaxation; (2) Ω/T scaling of the optical conductivity of a Fermi-liquid metal, and (3) the optical conductivity of non-Fermi-liquid metals. In the first part (section ), we analyze the interplay between the contributions to the conductivity from normal and umklapp electron–electron scattering. As a concrete example, we consider a two-band metal and show that although its optical conductivity is finite it does not obey the Drude formula. In the second part (sections and ), we re-visit the Gurzhi formula for the optical scattering rate, 1/τ(Ω,T)∝Ω2+4π2T2, and show that a factor of 4π2 is the manifestation of the ‘first-Matsubara-frequency rule’ for boson response, which states that 1/τ(Ω,T) must vanish upon analytic continuation to the first boson Matsubara frequency. However, recent experiments show that the coefficient b in the Gurzhi-like form, 1/τ(Ω,T)∝Ω2+bπ2T2, differs significantly from b = 4 in most of the cases. We suggest that the deviations from Gurzhi scaling may be due to the presence of elastic but energy-dependent scattering, which decreases the value of b below 4, with b = 1 corresponding to purely elastic scattering. In the third part (section ), we consider the optical conductivity of metals near quantum phase transitions to nematic and spin-density-wave states. In the last case, we focus on ‘composite’ scattering processes, which give rise to a non-Fermi-liquid behavior of the optical conductivity at T = 0: σ′(Ω)∝Ω−1/3 at low frequencies and σ′(Ω)∝Ω−1 at higher frequencies. We also discuss Ω/T scaling of the conductivity and show that σ′(Ω,T) in the same model scales in a non-Fermi-liquid way, as T4/3Ω−5/3.
Consumer behaviour in the scratch card market: a double-hurdle approach

This paper investigates how various socio-demographic as well as psychological factors are related to the purchasing frequency of Le Millionaire scratch card in Mauritius. In order to obtain a refined description and understanding of consumer behaviour, special attempts have been made to control for the personality traits of an individual. The OCEAN model of personality is thereby considered. We employ cross-sectional micro-data acquired from a household drop-off survey with a sample size of 1135 observations. Within a double-hurdle framework, gender, residential location, educational level, household income, alcohol consumption, other forms of gambling activities, and personality traits are found to be determining factors affecting an individual's decision to gamble in the scratch card market. Our findings help us to draw attention to the consequences of risk-taking behaviours and how personality-specific policies can be designed to influence gambling behaviour.