Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stickman: Towards a Human Scale Acrobatic Robot

Human performers have developed impressive acrobatic techniques over thousands of years of practicing the gymnastic arts. At the same time, robots have started to become more mobile and autonomous, and can begin to imitate these stunts in dramatic and informative ways. We present a simple two degree of freedom robot that uses a gravity-driven pendulum launch and produces a variety of somersaulting stunts. The robot uses an IMU and a laser range-finder to estimate its state mid-flight and actuates to change its motion both on and and off the pendulum. We discuss the dynamics of this behavior in a framework of acrobatic capability and present experimental results.
A study of hematological changes in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasma spp. and Theileria ovis: Molecular diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis are important tick-borne diseases of sheep and goats which are distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess hematological status in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasma and Theileria spp. to clarify the pathogenic aspects of various species involved in ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis in Ahvaz region. METHODS: 109 sheep were sampled, and blood parasite infections were diagnosed by microscopic examination and PCR. The blood samples were also subjected to hematologic assessment. RESULTS: PCR analysis revealed A. ovis infection in 86.2% of sheep, while mixed infections with A. marginale were also detected in 53.2% of them. However, Anaplasma inclusion bodies were only observed in 32.1% of the tested animals. T. ovis were found in 88% of the inspected sheep by PCR, and 67.8% of them were detected microscopically, as well. Hematologic assessment showed that mean RBC, PCV, Hb, and MCHC were significantly lower, whereas MCV and RDW were higher in the animals with mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria, compared to the uninfected sheep and groups with single infection or without parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS: In brief, it seems that Anaplasma can be activated and induce its pathogenesis in the presence of other infective agents in the carrier or asympthomatic animals. It can also be concluded that mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria may induce a regenerative anemia which is most likely attributable to a combined effect of the two.
Waist circumference is an effect modifier of the association between bone mineral density and glucose metabolism

ABSTRACT Objective: The role of bone markers on insulin resistance (IR) remains controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and glucose metabolism and investigate if visceral hyperadiposity, evaluated by waist circumference (WC), is an effect modifier of this association. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional analysis with 468 young adults from the fourth follow-up of the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto prospective birth cohort, Brazil. BMD, total osteocalcin (OC), fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were assessed. IR, sensitivity (S) and secretion (β) were estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indexes. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to estimate the association between BMD and glucose metabolism. Beta coefficient, R2 and p-values were provided. WC was tested as an effect modifier and OC as a confounder. The covariates were selected based on Direct Acyclic Graph. Results: Significant interaction between BMD (femoral neck and proximal femur areas) and WC on glucose metabolism was observed in the adjusted models. Subjects with increased WC presented a positive association between BMD and log HOMA1-IR while an inverse association was found in those with normal WC (femoral neck R2 = 0.17, p = 0.036; proximal femur R2 = 0.16, p = 0.086). BMD was negatively associated with log HOMA2-S in individuals with increased WC and positively in those with normal WC (femoral neck R2 = 0.16, p = 0.042; proximal femur R2 = 0.15, p = 0.097). No significant associations between BMD, log HOMA2-β and OC and glucose metabolism markers were observed. Conclusions: BMD was associated with glucose metabolism, independently of OC, and WC modifies this association.
ANOMALOUS: A Joint Modeling Approach for Anomaly Detection on Attributed Networks

The key point of anomaly detection on attributed networks lies in the seamless integration of network structure information and attribute information. A vast majority of existing works are mainly based on the Homophily assumption that implies the nodal attribute similarity of connected nodes. Nonetheless, this assumption is untenable in practice as the existence of noisy and structurally irrelevant attributes may adversely affect the anomaly detection performance. Despite the fact that recent attempts perform subspace selection to address this issue, these algorithms treat subspace selection and anomaly detection as two separate steps which often leads to suboptimal solutions. In this paper, we investigate how to fuse attribute and network structure information more synergistically to avoid the adverse effects brought by noisy and structurally irrelevant attributes. Methodologically, we propose a novel joint framework to conduct attribute selection and anomaly detection as a whole based on CUR decomposition and residual analysis. By filtering out noisy and irrelevant node attributes, we perform anomaly detection with the remaining representative attributes. Experimental results on both synthetic and real-world datasets corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
An efficient latent-factor-based approach to social relationship recommendation

Social relationship recommenders aim at predicting potential useful relationships with high accuracy and efficiency, which is critically important in social network services for addressing information overload. Existing relationship recommenders mostly emphasize on friend recommendation in online social networks, which can not satisfy the requirements of industrial information systems. This work proposes an efficient latent-factor (LF)-based approach to predict multicategory relationships rather than only friendship in a social network. The main idea is to construct multicategory relationship data and develop the corresponding recommenders. To do so, two dimensions are designed for social relationship data, i.e., a category dimension built on real social relationship types, and an extended dimension built on the involved persons. Depending on the two dimensional relationship data, we construct a rating matrix by analyzing user preferences to each social relationship category one belonged to. For analyzing the resultant rating matrix with high accuracy, the hill-climbing and extended-linear-biases-enhanced latent factor (HC-ELBLF) model is proposed. The original grid-search-based learning process in the original ELBLF is substituted by the hill-climbing algorithm, which is an efficient and practical greed algorithm for parameter selection. The experimental results on two industrial datasets show effectiveness of the proposed HC-ELBLF approach.
Towards Robust Training of Neural Networks by Regularizing Adversarial Gradients

In recent years, neural networks have demonstrated outstanding effectiveness in a large amount of applications.However, recent works have shown that neural networks are susceptible to adversarial examples, indicating possible flaws intrinsic to the network structures. To address this problem and improve the robustness of neural networks, we investigate the fundamental mechanisms behind adversarial examples and propose a novel robust training method via regulating adversarial gradients. The regulation effectively squeezes the adversarial gradients of neural networks and significantly increases the difficulty of adversarial example generation.Without any adversarial example involved, the robust training method could generate naturally robust networks, which are near-immune to various types of adversarial examples. Experiments show the naturally robust networks can achieve optimal accuracy against Fast Gradient Sign Method (FGSM) and C\&W attacks on MNIST, Cifar10, and Google Speech Command dataset. Moreover, our proposed method also provides neural networks with consistent robustness against transferable attacks.
RF sensor based on gap waveguide technology in LTCC for liquid sensing

This paper presents a new concept based on the gap waveguide topology realized in LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) technique for microfluidic applications. The proposed structure consists on a gap waveguide structure acting as a resonator. The interaction between the electric field and the liquid under test translates into predictable relationship between the characteristics of the resonator (resonant frequency, Q factor) and the complex permittivity of the fluid. This work provides new applications on the gap waveguide concept relative to the detection and the exploration of microfluidic applications. Moreover, an improvement in the detection of the sensibility compared to other topologies like Substrate Integrated Cavity has been done.
Wheat Intercropping Enhances the Resistance of Watermelon to Fusarium Wilt

A fungus Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. niveum (FON) is the causal organism of Fusarium wilt in watermelon. In this study, we evaluated the effect of wheat intercropping on the Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Our results showed that wheat intercropping decreases the incidence of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, likely due to the secretion of coumaric acid from the roots of wheat that dramatically inhibits FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid from the roots of watermelon stimulates FON spore germination, sporulation, and growth. The secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is also promoted by FON infection. However, secretion of phenolic acids and organic acids from the roots of watermelon is substantially reduced under wheat intercropping systems. FON infection increases the accumulation of free and conjugated salicylic acid (SA) in watermelon grown under wheat intercropping systems through isochorismate (ICS) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) pathways. Furthermore, wheat intercropping up-regulates the expression of disease-and defense-responsive genes and improves the activities of corresponding pathogenesis-related (PR) enzymes in the roots of watermelon. In conclusion, the secretion of coumaric acid from the roots of wheat and changes in the composition of phenolic acid and organic acid secretion from the roots of watermelon suppress Fusarium wilt of watermelon under wheat intercropping system. Meanwhile, wheat intercropping also enhanced the resistance of watermelon to FON by up-regulating the expression of disease-and defense-responsive genes in watermelon.
Intelligent tensor product mode transformation-based three-sliding-surface sliding mode controller design

This paper studied a novel chattering elimination method based on improved three-sliding-surface and tensor product mode transformation, and the intelligent adaptive sliding mode controller with reinforcement learning strategy is proposed for parallel-type double inverted pendulum (PIP) system. The tensor product model transformation based sliding mode controller was introduced firstly to lay the basis for intelligent adaptive sliding mode controller, and then an adaptive reinforcement learning algorithm is utilized to facilitate controller's performance. In this paper, reinforcement learning algorithm is employed to find the instantaneous optimal value for the boundary layer width of saturation function which is important in the controller chattering reduction. The proposed controller with reinforcement learning strategy is verified by PIP system whereas the agent is rewarded for lower chattering situation and punished for higher case. Simulation results show that chattering can be reduced effectively by the adaptive three-sliding-surface sliding mode controller.
Why Johnny Can't Store Passwords Securely?: A Usability Evaluation of Bouncycastle Password Hashing

Lack of usability of security Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) is one of the main reasons for mistakes that programmers make that result in security vulnerabilities in software applications they develop. Especially, APIs that provide cryptographic functionalities such as password hashing are sometimes too complex for programmers to learn and use. To improve the usability of these APIs to make them easy to learn and use, it is important to identify the usability issues exist on those APIs that make those harder to learn and use. In this work, we evaluated the usability of SCrypt password hashing functionality of Bouncycastle API to identify usability issues in it that persuade programmers to make mistakes while developing applications that would result in security vulnerabilities. We conducted a study with 10 programmers where each of them spent around 2 hours for the study and attempted to develop a secure password storage solution using Bouncycastle API. From data we collected, we identified 63 usability issues that exist in the SCrypt implementation of Bouncycastle API. Results of our study provided useful insights about how security/cryptographic APIs should be designed, developed and improved to provide a better experience for programmers who use them. Furthermore, we expect that this work will provide a guidance on how to conduct usability evaluations for security APIs to identify usability issues exist in them.
Assaults from corrosive substances and medico legal considerations in a large regional burn centre in the United Kingdom: calls for increased vigilance and enforced legislation

Burn injuries from corrosive substances have been recognised as a common method of assault in low and middle income countries (LMICs) motivated by various factors. Such injuries often leave survivors with severely debilitating physical and psychological injuries and scars. The number of reported cases of acid assaults within the United Kingdom (UK) appears to be on the rise. As one of the largest regional burn centres in the UK, we have reviewed our experience of chemical burns from assault. This study aims to: (1) review the demographics, incidence and patient outcomes; (2) evaluate the long-term psychosocial support provided; and (3) review current criminal litigation proceedings and preventative legislations in the UK specific to assault by corrosive substances. A 15-year retrospective review of 21 burn injuries from assault with corrosive substances presenting to a regional burn unit was conducted. Victims were mostly young men; male perpetrators were more common. The most common motive cited was assault. The most common anatomical region affected was the face and neck. The number of victims who pursue litigation is disproportionately lower than the number of total cases at presentation. In an effort to better understand the legal considerations surrounding such assaults, we also collaborated with lawyers experienced in this particular field. We hope that our work will help educate healthcare professionals regarding the legal assistance and existing laws available to protect these patients. Lay Summary Burn injuries from corrosive substances can have fatal complications and leave survivors with severely debilitating physical injuries and psychological scars. The incidence of acid assaults appears to have increased in the UK and gained much publicity through widespread news coverage. This prompted us to look at our experience in managing patients who were victims of assault using corrosive substances. Over a 15-year period, we treated 21 people who sustained burn injuries as a result of an assault involving corrosive substances. Five people required hospital admission for the extent of their injuries and required significant burn reconstructive procedures. Interestingly, only nine out of 21 cases initiated a criminal investigation. Only two of the nine cases that initiated criminal investigations proceeded to indictment. In an effort to better understand legal considerations surrounding such assaults, we collaborated with lawyers experienced in this particular field and lay out for the first time the UK landscape of litigation in this complex area. We hope that our work will help educate healthcare professionals of the legal assistance and existing laws present to protect these vulnerable patients.
Sarcopenia: Beyond Muscle Atrophy and into the New Frontiers of Opportunistic Imaging, Precision Medicine, and Machine Learning

Abstract As populations continue to age worldwide, the impact of sarcopenia on public health will continue to grow. The clinically relevant and increasingly common diagnosis of sarcopenia is at the confluence of three tectonic shifts in medicine: opportunistic imaging, precision medicine, and machine learning. This review focuses on the state-of-the-art imaging of sarcopenia and provides context for such imaging by discussing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, consequences, and future directions in the field of sarcopenia.
Expression and clinical significance of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in endometrial carcinoma

This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of HOX Transcript Antisense RNA (HOTAIR) in endometrial carcinoma, and discuss its correlation with transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) in EC tissue. Sixty patients with EC were enrolled. The EC tissue and cancer adjacent tissue (control) were collected. The expressions of HOTAIR and TGF-β1 mRNA in EC and adjacent tissue were determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Results showed that, the relative expression levels of HOTAIR and TGF-β1 mRNA in EC tissue were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissue (P<0.05). The expression of HOTAIR mRNA was significantly correlated with pathological grade, muscular invasion depth and clinical stage of EC (P<0.05), and that of TGF-β1 mRNA was significantly correlated with muscular invasion depth and clinical stage of EC (P<0.05). In EC tissue the expressions of HOTAIR and TGF-β1 mRNA were positively correlated (r=0.676, P<0.05). There was significant difference of overall survival of patients between high and low HOTAIR expression groups (χ2=4.346, P<0.05). The abnormal expression of HOTAIR may be involved in the occurrence and development of EC. The expression of HOTAIR is positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression in EC tissue.
Direct frequency-comb spectroscopy of 6s2S1/2–8s2S1/2 transitions of atomic cesium

Direct frequency-comb spectroscopy is used to probe the absolute frequencies of the 6 s 2 S 1 / 2 – 8 s 2 S 1 / 2 two-photon transitions of atomic cesium in a hot vapor environment. By utilizing the coherent control method of temporally splitting the laser spectrum above and below the two-photon resonance frequency, Doppler-free absorption is built in two spatially distinct locations and imaged for high-precision spectroscopy. Theoretical analysis finds that these transition lines are measured with uncertainty below 5 × 10−10, mainly contributed from laser-induced AC Stark shift.
Optimum size of soft handover zone in power-controlled UMTS downlink systems

Soft handover has two opposing effects on UMTS downlink systems, and there is a trade-off between them. The optimum size of the soft handover zone, is analysed in a power-controlled UMTS downlink system. The sensitivity of this optimum size to different system parameters, such as downlink orthogonal factor, path loss exponent, shadowing fading variable, is also analysed.
Genetic Privacy: Risks, Ethics, and Protection Techniques

In the big data era of precision medicine, personal genome sequences are becoming quickly accessed with a reasonable cost thanks to recent technological advances. We expect millions of human individuals will have their genomes sequenced for research, clinical and/or personal use in the coming years. By nature, our DNA encodes a signature of us that is marked by genetic variation reflecting our ancestry and disclosing our susceptibility to health and diseases. With the ubiquitous availability of our DNA information, genetic privacy emerges as a valid concern that needs to be carefully addressed. It is thus necessary to investigate potential risks of genetic privacy and security in order to promote and enhance data sharing and open science. In this paper, we present risks and concerns for genetic privacy, ethics and regulations on sharing genetic data, and techniques for mitigating privacy infringement and risk including differential privacy preservation and cryptographic solutions.
Engineering Breast Cancer Microenvironments and 3D Bioprinting

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical cue to direct tumorigenesis and metastasis. Although two-dimensional (2D) culture models have been widely employed to understand breast cancer microenvironments over the past several decades, the 2D models still exhibit limited success. Overwhelming evidence supports that three dimensional (3D), physiologically relevant culture models are required to better understand cancer progression and develop more effective treatment. Such platforms should include cancer-specific architectures, relevant physicochemical signals, stromal–cancer cell interactions, immune components, vascular components, and cell-ECM interactions found in patient tumors. This review briefly summarizes how cancer microenvironments (stromal component, cell-ECM interactions, and molecular modulators) are defined and what emerging technologies (perfusable scaffold, tumor stiffness, supporting cells within tumors and complex patterning) can be utilized to better mimic native-like breast cancer microenvironments. Furthermore, this review emphasizes biophysical properties that differ between primary tumor ECM and tissue sites of metastatic lesions with a focus on matrix modulation of cancer stem cells, providing a rationale for investigation of underexplored ECM proteins that could alter patient prognosis. To engineer breast cancer microenvironments, we categorized technologies into two groups: (1) biochemical factors modulating breast cancer cell-ECM interactions and (2) 3D bioprinting methods and its applications to model breast cancer microenvironments. Biochemical factors include matrix-associated proteins, soluble factors, ECMs, and synthetic biomaterials. For the application of 3D bioprinting, we discuss the transition of 2D patterning to 3D scaffolding with various bioprinting technologies to implement biophysical cues to model breast cancer microenvironments.
Using Knowledge Transfer and Rough Set to Predict the Severity of Android Test Reports via Text Mining

Crowdsourcing is an appealing and economic solution to software application testing because of its ability to reach a large international audience. Meanwhile, crowdsourced testing could have brought a lot of bug reports. Thus, in crowdsourced software testing, the inspection of a large number of test reports is an enormous but essential software maintenance task. Therefore, automatic prediction of the severity of crowdsourced test reports is important because of their high numbers and large proportion of noise. Most existing approaches to this problem utilize supervised machine learning techniques, which often require users to manually label a large number of training data. However, Android test reports are not labeled with their severity level, and manual labeling is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To address the above problems, we propose a Knowledge Transfer Classification (KTC) approach based on text mining and machine learning methods to predict the severity of test reports. Our approach obtains training data from bug repositories and uses knowledge transfer to predict the severity of Android test reports. In addition, our approach uses an Importance Degree Reduction (IDR) strategy based on rough set to extract characteristic keywords to obtain more accurate reduction results. The results of several experiments indicate that our approach is beneficial for predicting the severity of android test reports.