Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DISOCCLUSION OF 3D LIDAR POINT CLOUDS USING RANGE IMAGES

This paper proposes a novel framework for the disocclusion of mobile objects in 3D LiDAR scenes aquired via street-based Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS). Most of the existing lines of research tackle this problem directly in the 3D space. This work promotes an alternative approach by using a 2D range image representation of the 3D point cloud, taking advantage of the fact that the problem of disocclusion has been intensively studied in the 2D image processing community over the past decade. First, the point cloud is turned into a 2D range image by exploiting the sensor's topology. Using the range image, a semi-automatic segmentation procedure based on depth histograms is performed in order to select the occluding object to be removed. A variational image inpainting technique is then used to reconstruct the area occluded by that object. Finally, the range image is unprojected as a 3D point cloud. Experiments on real data prove the effectiveness of this procedure both in terms of accuracy and speed.
TCP over GEO satellite hybrid networks

Broadcast satellite networks are going to play an important role in the global information infrastructure. Satellites can provide direct-to-user Internet services and as well as traffic trunks in the middle of the network. About 98% of Internet traffic is TCP traffic. TCP works well in terrestrial fiber networks, but does not work well in satellite and in hybrid (satellite-terrestrial) networks. We analyze the problems that cause this degraded performance and review the solutions proposed in the literature. Because an end-to-end solution is difficult in the hybrid network, we propose a solution based on connection splitting. While much research has been done on improving TCP throughput for a single connection, we consider the case when multiple connections with different round trip times compete with each other. The crucial part of our scheme is the flow control algorithm at the hybrid gateways (i.e., the interfaces between the satellite and terrestrial networks). Because the end-to-end connection is split at the hybrid gateways, the data packets are buffered at the TCP layer rather than at the IP layer as in a normal router. Furthermore, the TCP layer not only buffers data waiting for transmission, but also buffers data transmitted but not yet acknowledged. The flow control algorithm should avoid stall caused by buffer exhaustion, guarantee fairness among all competing connections and maintain high utilization of the satellite link. A performance evaluation demonstrates that our scheme meets these requirements.
Mitochondrial Proteomics: From Structure to Function

Mitochondria may be considered an evolutionary product originating from the endosymbiotic process of an aerobic bacterium with a protoeukaryotic cell, which started about 2 billion years ago. This hypothesis was based on the similarities in DNA and protein synthesis machinery between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (Margulis, 1970). In 1890, Altmann, who termed this organelle the “bioblast”, concluded that these were elementary organisms for performing vital functions (Ernster & Schatz, 1981). Furthermore, in 1898 Benda introduced the name “mitochondrion” from the Greek (Mitos: thread and Chondrion: granule). Other authors showed the appearance of these structures during spermatogenesis (Ernster & Schatz, 1981) and defined them as subcellular organelles commonly found in the cytoplasm, with essential functions of aerobic metabolism for eukaryotic cells. These organelles have a wide plasticity and mobility, allowing some modifications in shape. Mitochondrial movement into the cytosol has been associated with microtubules, which may determine organelle organization in different cell types (Yaffe, 1999). Mitochondria can form long filaments of mobile chains, as observed in cardiac muscle cells, or be fixed into a single position as studied in sperm flagella (Yaffe, 1999). The number of mitochondria per cell may also vary according to cell type, usually located in high ATP utilization regions such as cardiac muscle and liver (Frederick & Shaw, 2007; Scheffler, 2008). This organelle also occupies a considerable portion of the cytoplasmic volume, being essential for the evolution of a number of organisms. Mitochondria are also involved in several central metabolic pathways that are important for cell function, modulation of cytosolic Ca+2 signaling, determination of cell death (apoptosis) (Camara et al., 2011), aging and associated diseases (Kowald & Kirkwood, 2011), autophagous embryonic development (Ong & Hausenloy, 2010), as well as being a continuous source of superoxide and reactive oxygen species (Stowe & Camara, 2009; Koopman et al., 2010). Nevertheless, the main function of mitochondria is to generate chemical energy sources (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (Saraste, 1999), acting as the organism’s “powerhouse”. Without the presence of this particular organelle, animal cells would depend on anaerobic glycolysis for their energy production, which would be
Leader-Following Consensus of Multiagent Systems with Time-Varying Delays via Impulsive Control

The leader-following consensus problem for delayed multiagent systems is investigated over stochastic switching topologies via impulsive control method. A distributed consensus protocol is proposed based on sample data information. The convergence analysis for such algorithm over undirected and directed networks is provided, and some sufficient conditions to guarantee the consensus are also established. It is shown that delayed networks can achieve consensus even information is exchanged among followers just at some discrete moments. At last, some numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.
Rapid Assessment of Habitat Diversity Along the Araras Stream, Brazil

Agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization are some of the anthropogenic activities that constantly generate negative impacts on natural environments. Part of this degradation directly affects aquatic systems. This study aimed to evaluate the visual characteristics of the Araras Stream, located in the municipality of Araras, São Paulo state, Brazil. Data was collected at six different assessment sites along the river in both rural and urban areas. The evaluation used a Rapid Habitat Diversity Assessment (RHDA) protocol composed of 22 parameters, which define levels of preservation of ecological conditions. According to this protocol, the 32 Km-long study transect along the Araras Stream was rated as impacted (39.6 points). A separate assessment by transects showed that only Transect 1 presented a natural level of preservation (71.8 points). Transects located in the urban area contributed the most to impacts on the aquatic environment. The RHDA protocol proved to be an important tool to evaluate and monitor aquatic environments.
Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Model-Driven Knowledge Engineering for Improved Software Modularity in Robotics and Automation : (MDKE) 2015

ing Away Low-Level Details in Service Robotics with Fuzzy Fluents Stefan Schiffer, Alexander Ferrein, and Gerhard Lakemeyer 1 Knowledge Based Systems Group (KBSG) RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany {schiffer,gerhard}@cs.rwth-aachen.de 2 Mobile Autonomous Systems & Cognitive Robotics Institute (MASCOR) FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany ferrein@fh-aachen.de Abstract. In domestic service robotic applications, complex tasks have to be fulfilled in close collaboration with humans. We try to integrate qualitative reasoning and human-robot interaction by bridging the gap in human and robot representations and by enabling the seamless integration of human notions in the robot’s high-level control. The developed methods can also be used to abstract away low-level details of specific robot platforms. These low-level details often pose a problem in re-using software components and applying the same programs and methods in different contexts. When combined with methods for self-maintenance developed earlier these abstractions also allow for seamlessly increasing the robustness and resilience of different robotic systems with only little effort. In domestic service robotic applications, complex tasks have to be fulfilled in close collaboration with humans. We try to integrate qualitative reasoning and human-robot interaction by bridging the gap in human and robot representations and by enabling the seamless integration of human notions in the robot’s high-level control. The developed methods can also be used to abstract away low-level details of specific robot platforms. These low-level details often pose a problem in re-using software components and applying the same programs and methods in different contexts. When combined with methods for self-maintenance developed earlier these abstractions also allow for seamlessly increasing the robustness and resilience of different robotic systems with only little effort.
CALCULATION OF THE DERIVED BOUGUER ANOMALY USING THE EQUIVALENT SOURCE METHOD BASED ON JOINT INVERSION OF GROUND GRAVITY AND AIRBORNE GRAVITY GRADIENT DATA

Gravity gradient data measured in airborne surveys are not suitable for the direct determination of the absolute vertical gravity field or Bouguer anomaly. However, the deriving of traditional-like vertical Bouguer anomalies is important for better understanding of airborne gravity gradient data and enabling comparisons and combinations of gradient and ground gravity surveys. The derived Bouguer anomaly can be calculated and integrated with ground gravity using either the Fourier transform method or the equivalent source method. In this paper, the equivalent source procedure using joint inversion of airborne gravity gradient data and sparsely sampled ground gravity data is described and applied for a Falcon AGG (Airborne Gravity Gradient) survey covering an area of 1000 km2 in Savukoski, northern Finland. The national regional gravity net of the Finnish Geodetic Institute with a station spacing of 5 km was used as a source of ground gravity data. As a consequence of this station spacing, the smallest dimension of an airborne gradient survey in Finland should be at least 20 km in order to model long wavelength information from the national ground gravity data of Finland. The equivalent source method was tested and evaluated using 3D block modelling to combine the information contents of the longer wavelengths of the ground gravity with the shorter wavelengths of the gravity gradients. Because the equivalent model needs to explain both gravity and gradient data, the selection of the size and discretization of the initial model is important. The equivalent source method, in which AGG and ground gravity data are simultaneously optimized, proved to be feasible for the integration of ground gravity and airborne gradient data into the derived Bouguer anomaly comparable with traditional regional ground gravity data.
The Impact of Playoffs on Seasonal Uncertainty in the Czech Ice Hockey Extraliga

In the top Czech ice hockey competition “Extraliga,” 14 geographically close teams compete during a regular season in a pure round-robin tournament. However, the eventual champion is determined in the additional playoff stage and the regular season just decides which teams qualify for the playoffs and how these teams are seeded. This article uses a Monte Carlo simulation to show that although the additional playoff stage heavily favors higher-seeded teams and consists of a lot of games, it lowers the average probability of the strongest team becoming a champion from 48 to 39% and thus increases seasonal uncertainty.
Microbial Population and Fermentation Characteristic in Response to Sapindus Rarak Mineral Block Supplementation

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation with lerak extract combined with mineral block on protozoal and bacterial population, and fermentation characteristic in vitro . The experimental design was completely randomized block design with 3 treatments and 4 replications. Control diet was a substrate that consisted of concentrate, forage and feed block with ratio 50 : 48 : 2, respectively. The treatments as a substrate were: control diet (C), C + 0.09% lerak extract, and C + 0.18% lerak extract from the total ration. Variables observed were protozoal and bacterial population, dry matter and organic matter degradability, N-NH 3 and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed that there were no significant effect (P>0.05) for all parameter measured with lerak extract supplementation up to 0.18% in the presence of mineral block. However, supplementation of lerak extract 0.18% only slightly reduced protozoal numbers but tended to increase bacterial numbers. Dry matter and organic matter degradability and concentration of N-NH 3 were similar among treatments. Volatile fatty acids profile changed which propionate tended to increase and acetate tended to decrease and ratio of acetate to propionate tended to decrease. In conclusion, addition of lerak extract up to 0.18% from total ration in the presence of mineral block was not yet effective to depress protozoal population, but could modify fermentation characteristic in vitro .
Macrobenthic colonisation of disturbances on an intertidal sandflat: the influence of season and buried algae

This study examines whether macrofaunal colonisation differs seasonally in an intertidal sandflat. Frozen cores were placed in the sandflat within each season and colonisation of these cores was followed for 50 d. This study shows a previously untested effect of buried algal mats on colonisation. A change in the sediment organic content can increase or decrease macrofaunal densities. Community colonisation rates of defaunated plugs were slower in winter compared to summer because of the higher numbers of rare macrofauna in winter. Community colonisation of plugs with algal additions were also dependent on the seasonally varying response of the corophiid amphipod Paracorophium excavatum, the most abundant species in this community. The strongest effect of the experiments was linked to critical densities of P. excavatum, irrespective of season. A mechanism for this linkage is suggested. This study also emphasises the importance of post-settlement movement as the mechanism by which most species on this sandflat colonised in either season.
Clear Corneal Incision Architecture Imaging after Torsional Phacoemulsification of Hard Nuclear Cataract through a 2.2 mm and a 3.0 mm Large Tunnel

Purpose: To compare the morphological characteristics and the wound edema degree of clear-cornea microincisions and small-incisions for hard cataract removal.Setting: The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College.Design: Prospective randomized study. Methods: Fifty eyes from 36 consecutive patients with hard cataract were included. They were randomized to have phacoemulsification through a clear-cornea microincision (2.2 mm, n=25) or small-incision (3.0 mm, n=25). Anterior segment optical coherence tomography evaluation was performed preoperatively and postoperatively, including wound architecture and incisional corneal thickness (ICT). Results: Endothelial gaping was more common in the 2.2 mm group than in the 3.0 mm group at 2 hours (48 vs 12%) and 1 week (28 vs 12%) postoperatively, although the statistical difference was significant only at 2 hours. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of epithelial gaping, local detachment of Descemet’s membrane, loss of coaptation, and posterior wound retraction. At 2 hours and 1 week after surgery, the mean ICTd was slightly higher in 3.0 mm group (52.1±12.5% and 46.4±12.3%, respectively) than in 2.2 mm group(51.4±11.6% and 40.6±15.1%, respectively), with no statistically significant differences. On the contrary, the ICTd was statistically higher in 3.0 mm group than 2.2 mm group at 1 month (16.8±10.0% vs 10.2±5.8%, P = 0.007) and 3 months (12.1±8.1% vs 6.0±4.5%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: In hard cataract phacoemulsification, microincisions increase the risk of endothelial gaping in the early postoperative period, compared to small incisions. However, they induce a lower amount of corneal edema.
Into the World of Privatized Publicity: Online Privacy on Social Network Sites

Social network sites enable and drive users to express themselves, attract attention, and gain recognition from other people by disclosing private and sensational information about themselves to their networks as well as to the public. As a result, social network sites have affected the perception and concept of privacy. In this vein, this paper aims to discuss how to address the social transformation regarding privacy on SNS space through a systematic literature study. To this end, it reviews the current research on online privacy, particularly focusing on the logic of the users’ disclosure of personal information and changing notion of privacy. Then, we provide a new concept of privatized publicity, which has simultaneously reinforced not only individual selfpromotion but also other-oriented symbolic interactions. The conceptualization is expected to provide social media ethnographers with theoretical and methodological guidance to more thoroughly investigate the behaviors of social media users in terms of symbolic interaction. Finally, we discuss policy implications for developing SNSs.
Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner‐Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica

An isopycnic coordinate ocean circulation model is applied to the ocean cavity beneath Filchner‐Ronne Ice Shelf, investigating the role of tides on sub‐ice shelf circulation and ice shelf basal mass balance. Including tidal forcing causes a significant intensification in the sub‐ice shelf circulation, with an increase in melting (3‐fold) and refreezing (6‐fold); the net melt rate and seawater flux through the cavity approximately doubles. With tidal forcing, the spatial pattern and magnitude of basal melting and freezing generally match observations. The 0.22 m a−1 net melt rate is close to satellite‐derived estimates and at the lower end of oceanographic values. The Ice Shelf Water outflow mixes with shelf waters, forming a cold (<−1.9°C), dense overflow (0.83 Sv) that spills down the continental slope. These results demonstrate that tidal forcing is fundamental to both ice shelf‐ocean interactions and deep‐water formation in the southern Weddell Sea.
Changes in phenol metabolism of minimally processed baby cassava under different temperatures: An alternative to commercialization

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the phenolic oxidation mediated by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in the quality of minimally processed ‘baby cassava’, during the first hours and days of conservation at different temperatures. Pieces of roots of cassava cv. Recife were minimally processed into ‘baby cassava’ form and kept at 5 ± 2 and 25 ± 2°C for 12h and/or 10 days. Fresh weight loss (FWL), visual examination (visual appearance), total soluble phenolics (TSP), fluorescence emission at UV-light, PPO and POD activities were evaluated. Non-refrigerated ‘Baby cassava’ lost overall quality and minimal FWL for 12h. After this period, there was intense darkening, while refrigerated pieces had great quality for 10 days. Non-refrigerated pieces emitted more fluorescence than refrigerated ‘baby cassava’ at 12h, this possibly resulted in the presence of Pseudomoas spp. , or fluorescent phenolics compounds. This is associated with an increase of TSP values and PPO and POD activities. On the other hand, the pieces refrigerated at 5 ± 2°C prolong the shelf life until 10 days, suitable for retail market. Moreover, the new form of 'baby cassava' was good for comercialization and consumption, at room temperature, before 12h, an important time for institutional market. Key words: Manihot esculenta Crantz, baby cassava, peroxidase, polyphenolxidase, browning.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE PERFORMANCE

The Human Capital (HC) is considered a strategic resource intangible for companies whose main features are the ability to be self-generated is to be subjected to the risk of a sudden evaporation in the presence of inadequate management practices. After analyzing the concept of human capital as a subset of the most important intellectual capital, research focuses on the determinants of human capital management on corporate performance. Specifically we will look at the literature that has produced empirical evidence on the impact that the practices of management of human capital, the behaviors of the staff, the remuneration and the formation of the staff have on performance.
The Promise of Internationally Collaborative Research for Studying Occupation: The Example of the Older Women's Food Preparation Study

Growing awareness of the Western perspectives underpinning occupational science and occupational therapy's values, theories, and evaluation tools has given rise to questions about culturally relevant knowledge and practice with non-Western populations. To make sense of attempts to develop cross-cultural knowledge taking place within the profession and discipline, the authors review epistemological perspectives and methodological advances in anthropology and psychology. Thus informed, they both summarize and critique constructivist and positivist approaches to knowledge development and practice that cross or resist the crossing of cultures. The authors outline a multicultural collaborative research method that supports extending and refining the profession's knowledge in a way that both honors local perspectives and reveals concepts that cross cultures. Insights from a study that explored the meaning of food preparation to older Thai, American, and New Zealand women provide illustrative examples.
Participation in job redesign: An evaluation of the use of a sociotechnical tool and its impact

In this article we describe the use of a sociotechnical tool within a company manufacturing photographic products. The tool was used by shop-floor operators and managers to redesign a group of jobs and tasks prior to the introduction of new technology. The tool involved two stages: (a) generating alternative scenarios of ways to reconfigure existing and new jobs and tasks within the plant; and (b) using a set of decision criteria (e.g., control, skill variety, and opportunity for social contact) to evaluate these scenarios, drawing on established sociotechnical and job design principles. The tool proved to be successful in generating new job designs, reinforcing the value of such design techniques, and highlighting the value of shop-floor involvement in the design process. However, participation in the design process was not without its problems. We discuss these further in terms of the critical role of the workshop facilitator and the important role played by factors such as selection of participants and their background knowledge. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Standard methods for Nosema research

Summary Methods are described for working with Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the field and in the laboratory. For fieldwork, different sampling methods are described to determine colony level infections at a given point in time, but also for following the temporal infection dynamics. Suggestions are made for how to standardise field trials for evaluating treatments and disease impact. The laboratory methods described include different means for determining colony level and individual bee infection levels and methods for species determination, including light microscopy, electron microscopy, and molecular methods (PCR). Suggestions are made for how to standardise cage trials, and different inoculation methods for infecting bees are described, including control methods for spore viability. A cell culture system for in vitro rearing of Nosema spp. is described. Finally, how to conduct different types of experiments are described, including infectious dose, dose effects, course of infection and longevity tests.