Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SketchOpt: Sketch-based Parametric Model Retrieval for Generative Design

Developing fully parametric building models for performance-based generative design tasks often requires proficiency in many advanced 3D modeling and visual programming software, limiting its use for many building designers. Moreover, iterations of such models can be time-consuming tasks and sometimes limiting depending on the the design stage, as major changes in the layout design may result in remodeling the entire parametric definition. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel automated generative design system, which takes a basic floor plan sketch as an input and provides a parametric model prepared for multi-objective building optimization as output. In addition, the user-designer can assign various design variables for its desired building elements by using simple annotations in the drawing. We take advantage of a asymmetric convolutional module combined with a parametrizer to allow real-time parametric sketch-retrieval for a performance-based generative workflow. The system would recognize the corresponding element and define variable constraints to prepare for a multi-objective optimization problem. We illustrate the the use case of our proposed system by running a real-time structural optimization form-finding study. Our findings indicate the system can be utilized as a promising generative design tool for novice users.
AIDX: Adaptive Inference Scheme to Mitigate State-Drift in Memristive VMM Accelerators

An adaptive inference method for crossbar (AIDX) is presented based on an optimization scheme for adjusting the duration and amplitude of input voltage pulses. AIDX minimizes the long-term effects of memristance drift on artificial neural network accuracy. The sub-threshold behavior of memristor has been modeled and verified by comparing with fabricated device data. The proposed method has been evaluated by testing on different network structures and applications, e.g., image reconstruction and classification tasks. The results showed an average of 60% improvement in convolutional neural network (CNN) performance on CIFAR10 dataset after 10000 inference operations as well as a 78.6% error reduction in image reconstruction.
Automatic Radish Wilt Detection Using Image Processing Based Techniques and Machine Learning Algorithm

Image processing, computer vision, and pattern recognition have been playing a vital role in diverse agricultural applications, such as species detection, recognition, classification, identification, plant growth stages, plant disease detection, and many more. On the other hand, there is a growing need to capture high resolution images using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and to develop better algorithms in order to find highly accurate and to the point results. In this paper, we propose a segmentation and extraction-based technique to detect fusarium wilt in radish crops. Recent wilt detection algorithms are either based on image processing techniques or conventional machine learning algorithms. However, our methodology is based on a hybrid algorithm, which combines image processing and machine learning. First, the crop image is divided into three segments, which include viz., healthy vegetation, ground and packing material. Based on the HSV decision tree algorithm, all the three segments are segregated from the image. Second, the extracted segments are summed together into an empty canvas of the same resolution as the image and one new image is produced. Third, this new image is compared with the original image, and a final noisy image, which contains traces of wilt is extracted. Finally, a k-means algorithm is applied to eliminate the noise and to extract the accurate wilt from it. Moreover, the extracted wilt is mapped on the original image using the contouring method. The proposed combination of algorithms detects the wilt appropriately, which surpasses the traditional practice of separately using the image processing techniques or machine learning.
toki: A Build- and Test-Platform for Prototyping and Evaluating Operating System Concepts in Real-Time Environments

Typically, even low-level operating system concepts, such as resource sharing strategies and predictability measures, are evaluated with Linux on PC hardware. This leaves a large gap to real industrial applications. Hence, the direct transfer of the results might be difficult. As a solution, we present toki, a prototyping and evaluation platform based on FreeRTOS and several open-source libraries. toki comes with a unified build- and test-environment based on Yocto and Qemu, which makes it well suited for rapid prototyping. With its architecture chosen similar to production industrial systems, toki provides the ground work to implement early prototypes of real-time systems research results, up to technology readiness level 7, with little effort.
Why epithelial cells collectively move against a traveling signal wave

The directional collective migration along traveling signal waves is indispensable for the development in multicellular tissues. However, little is known about how the net motion occurs under wave-like activation while the forces are balanced. To reveal the law of migration with the traveling wave, we study collective migration by considering the signal-dependent coordination of contractile stress and adhesive friction to the substratum. We show that their interplay forms a non-reciprocal motion that enhances the backward motion against a signal wave. Moreover, the relaxation dynamics during this non-reciprocal motion realize a noise filter by which the migration velocity is optimized under a certain wave velocity. Our finding thus brings deep understanding of the rectified migration by a traveling signal wave, which may be involved in wound healing of epithelial tissues.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The first wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a serious impact worldwide. We were concerned with the decrease in physical activity (PA) during the pandemic and the potential for incident disability and the progression of frailty in the older population; therefore, we investigated changes in PA before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in older Japanese adults. The data were recently published in this journal as “Effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on physical activity in communitydwelling older adults in Japan: A cross-sectional online survey,” in which we indicated that the total amount of time devoted to PA in April 2020 (during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic) had significantly decreased from that in January 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) among older adults (1). Importantly, this trend has been recognized in many cities worldwide (2). In Japan, the national government lifted the state of emergency on May 25, 2020. Subsequently, many companies, schools, shopping malls, and restaurants reopened. It was thought that social changes resulting from the first wave of the LETTER TO THE EDITOR
IR2VEC

We propose IR2VEC, a Concise and Scalable encoding infrastructure to represent programs as a distributed embedding in continuous space. This distributed embedding is obtained by combining representation learning methods with flow information to capture the syntax as well as the semantics of the input programs. As our infrastructure is based on the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the source code, obtained embeddings are both language and machine independent. The entities of the IR are modeled as relationships, and their representations are learned to form a seed embedding vocabulary. Using this infrastructure, we propose two incremental encodings: Symbolic and Flow-Aware. Symbolic encodings are obtained from the seed embedding vocabulary, and Flow-Aware encodings are obtained by augmenting the Symbolic encodings with the flow information. We show the effectiveness of our methodology on two optimization tasks (Heterogeneous device mapping and Thread coarsening). Our way of representing the programs enables us to use non-sequential models resulting in orders of magnitude of faster training time. Both the encodings generated by IR2VEC outperform the existing methods in both the tasks, even while using simple machine learning models. In particular, our results improve or match the state-of-the-art speedup in 11/14 benchmark-suites in the device mapping task across two platforms and 53/68 benchmarks in the thread coarsening task across four different platforms. When compared to the other methods, our embeddings are more scalable, is non-data-hungry, and has better Out-Of-Vocabulary (OOV) characteristics.
Probing the supersolid order via high-energy scattering: Analytical relations among the response, density modulation, and superfluid fraction

High-energy scattering spectroscopy is a widely established technique for probing the characteristic properties of complex physical systems. Motivated by the recent observation of long-sought supersolid states in dipolar quantum Bose gases, I investigate the general relationships existing between the density contrast, the superfluid fraction, and the response to a high-energy scattering probe of density-modulated states within a classical-field approach. I focus on the two extreme regimes of shallow and deep supersolids, which are of particular interest in describing the phase transitions of the supersolid to a uniform superfluid and an incoherent crystal state, respectively. Using relevant Ans\"atze for the fields of dipolar supersolid states in these regimes, I specify and illustrate the scaling laws relating the three observables. This work was first prompted to develop an intuitive understanding of a concomitant study based on experiments and mean-field numerical simulations. Beyond this specific application, this works provides a simple and general framework to describe density-modulated states and in particular the intriguing case of supersolids. It describes key properties characterizing the supersolid order and highlights possibilities for probing such properties based on high-energy scattering response.
Biology of the Caddisfly Helicopsyche borealis (Hagen): A Comparison of North American Populations

Studies of the caddisfly Helicopsyche borealis (Hagen) in Big Sulphur Creek (Sonoma Co., CA) from 1977-1983 indicated a single-cohort population with a univoltine life cycle. Most adult emergence occurred in May. Larval growth was rapid during summer, decreased in autumn and winter, and increased again in spring; larval instars could not be distinguished using head capsule measurements. Larval densities were as high as 28,000/m2 in August; densities in spring were generally 1-2% of densities the previous autumn. Adult females exhibit 'calling' behavior similar to some Lepidoptera and apparently emit sex pheromones in attracting males. Characteristics of the Big Sulphur Creek H. borealis population that differ from one or more reports on other North American populations include: absence of egg diapause, indistinguishable larval instars, temporally restricted pupation and emergence periods, no hyporheic distribution, and higher thermal tolerances.
The Potential Diagnostic Value of Exosomal Long Noncoding RNAs in Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background Exosomes are defined as small membranous vesicles. After RNA content was discovered in exosomes, they emerged as a novel approach for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA), a kind of specific RNA transcript, have been reported to function as tumor growth, metastasis, invasion, and prognosis by regulating the tumor microenvironment in exosomes. This study aims at exploring the potential diagnostic of exosomal lncRNA in solid tumors. Methods A meta-analysis conducted from January 2000 to October 2019 identified publications in the English language. We searched all relevant English literature from the Web of Science, EMBASE, and PubMed databases through October 1, 2019. The articles were strictly screened by our criteria and critiqued using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results There were 28 studies with 19 articles (4017 patients) identified, including studies on gastric cancer, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, breast cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer. A meta-analysis showed that the combined value of sensitivity in 29 studies was 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7–0.78), and the combined value of specificity in the studies was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78–0.83). This suggests the high diagnostic efficacy of liquid exosomes in cancer patients. It is statistically insignificant in terms of sex, ethnicity, and year. The diagnostic power of urinary system tumors was found to be higher than that of digestive system tumors by several subgroup analyses. Conclusions We performed a meta-analysis and literature review of 28 studies that included 4017 patients with 10 malignant cancer types. Mechanistically, our study demonstrated that lncRNAs in exosomes could be a promising bioindicator for the diagnosis and prognosis of solid tumors. INPLASY Registration Number: INPLASY202060083.
Comparison of effects of training order of explosive strength and plyometrics training on different physical abilities in adolescent handball players

While both plyometric and traditional resistance training methods are beneficial to athletic performance in a wide range of sports, their efficacy regarding training order has yet to be determined in a periodized training programme. Therefore, this study compared the effects of a 12-week training period where explosive strength training (six weeks) preceded plyometric training (six weeks), or vice versa. Forty-two competitive male (n = 12) and female (n = 30) adolescent handball players (age 14.9 ± 0.5 years, body mass 64.1 ± 9.1 kg, height 1.71 ± 0.09 m) conducted explosive strength training for six weeks followed by six weeks of plyometric training or vice versa. Variables included a 30 m sprint, a change of direction test, countermovement jump (CMJ) with and without arm swing, load-velocity back squat assessment, overhead throwing velocity with and without preliminary steps, and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). Both groups experienced similar improvements in the CMJ, change of direction and load-velocity squat assessments from pre- to posttest (p ≤ 0.013, η 2 = 0.194–0.378). Conversely, no improvements were observed in the Yo-Yo IR1, 30 m sprint or throwing velocity tests, regardless of group (p ≥ 0.081). No main effect of training order was observed for any of the tests employed (p ≥ 0.31). Training order does not appear to play a noticeable role in the physical development of young handball players. Therefore, practitioners could focus on implementing variations in exercise and loading to benefit athlete adherence and correspond to present needs.
Impact of multiple firings and resin cement type on shear bond strength between zirconia and resin cements

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of multiple firings on the bond strength between yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) and 2 types of resin cements. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty 3Y-TZP specimens (LAVA Frame Multi) were divided into 3 groups depending on the following firing procedures: (1) 2-firing cycles, (2) 5-firing cycles, (3) 10-firing cycles. Two samples from each group were investigated by using SEM to determine the morphological changes. All specimens were treated with 125 µm airborne-particle abrasion and the surface roughness of each specimen was measured. The specimens from each firing group were then further divided into 2 subgroups (n = 9) to apply 2 types of resin cement (MDP-free resin cement: RelyX Unicem-RU, and MDP containing resin cement: Panavia F 2.0-PA). The shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed and failure types of all the debonded specimens were classified by using a stereomicroscope as adhesive, cohesive, and mixed. The statistical analysis of surface roughness and SBS data were performed by using 1-way ANOVA and 2-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-HSD tests (α=.05). Failure modes were calculated as a percentage for each group. RESULTS The bond strength of RU and PA to the specimens obtained with 2 firings were not statistically different from each other (P=.1). However, the SBS values of PA were found to be significantly higher than RU for the specimens obtained with 5 and 10 firing cycles (P=.001 and P=.02, respectively). Surface roughness analysis revealed no statistical difference between groups (P=.2). The SEM analysis of samples fired 5- and 10- times showed irregularities and boundary loss in zirconia grains, and empty spaces between zirconia grains. CONCLUSION The bond strength of PA cement was higher than that of RU to the zirconia subjected to repeated firings (5 and 10 firing cycles). When zirconia is subjected to multiple firings, using MDP-containing resin cement can be recommended.
Ocean Alkalinity, Buffering and Biogeochemical Processes

Alkalinity, the excess of proton acceptors over donors, plays a major role in ocean chemistry, in buffering and in calcium carbonate precipitation and dissolution. Understanding alkalinity dynamics is pivotal to quantify ocean carbon dioxide uptake during times of global change. Here we review ocean alkalinity and its role in ocean buffering as well as the biogeochemical processes governing alkalinity and pH in the ocean. We show that it is important to distinguish between measurable titration alkalinity and charge balance alkalinity that is used to quantify calcification and carbonate dissolution and needed to understand the impact of biogeochemical processes on components of the carbon dioxide system. A general treatment of ocean buffering and quantification via sensitivity factors is presented and used to link existing buffer and sensitivity factors. The impact of individual biogeochemical processes on ocean alkalinity and pH is discussed and quantified using these sensitivity factors. Processes governing ocean alkalinity on longer time scales such as carbonate compensation, (reversed) silicate weathering, and anaerobic mineralization are discussed and used to derive a close‐to‐balance ocean alkalinity budget for the modern ocean.
The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and Helicobacter pylori across East Asian, European and Mediterranean countries: a meta-analysis

Background The current literature suggests a protective benefit of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here we assessed whether this effect varied by IBD subtype—Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC)—and geographic region: East Asia, Europe (non-Mediterranean) or Mediterranean region. Methods A database search was performed up to July 2019 inclusive for all studies that compared H. pylori infection in IBD patients vs. non-IBD controls. The relative risk (RR) was used to quantify the association between IBD and H. pylori, and the effects were combined across studies using a mixed-effects meta-regression model, which included IBD subtype and geographic region as categorical moderator variables. Results Our meta-regression model exhibited moderate heterogeneity (I2=48.74%). Pooled RR depended on both region (P=0.02) and subtype (P<0.001). Pooled RRs were <1 for all subtype and region combinations, indicative of a protective effect of H. pylori against IBD. The pooled RR was 28% (9%, 50%; P=0.001) greater for UC vs. CD and 43% (4%, 96%; P=0.02) greater for Mediterranean countries vs. East Asia. The pooled RR was 18% (-13%, 60%; P=0.48) greater for Europe vs. East Asia and 21% (-13%, 68%; P=0.42) greater for Mediterranean vs. Europe, though these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions The protective effect of H. pylori on IBD varied by both subtype (more protection against CD vs. UC) and region (East Asia more protected than Mediterranean regions). Variation due to these effects could provide insight into IBD etiology.
Evolution of the patella and patelloid in marsupial mammals

The musculoskeletal system of marsupial mammals has numerous unusual features beyond the pouch and epipubic bones. One example is the widespread absence or reduction (to a fibrous “patelloid”) of the patella (“kneecap”) sesamoid bone, but prior studies with coarse sampling indicated complex patterns of evolution of this absence or reduction. Here, we conducted an in-depth investigation into the form of the patella of extant marsupial species and used the assembled dataset to reconstruct the likely pattern of evolution of the marsupial patella. Critical assessment of the available literature was followed by examination and imaging of museum specimens, as well as CT scanning and histological examination of dissected wet specimens. Our results, from sampling about 19% of extant marsupial species-level diversity, include new images and descriptions of the fibrocartilaginous patelloid in Thylacinus cynocephalus (the thylacine or “marsupial wolf”) and other marsupials as well as the ossified patella in Notoryctes ‘marsupial moles’, Caenolestes shrew opossums, bandicoots and bilbies. We found novel evidence of an ossified patella in one specimen of Macropus rufogriseus (Bennett’s wallaby), with hints of similar variation in other species. It remains uncertain whether such ossifications are ontogenetic variation, unusual individual variation, pathological or otherwise, but future studies must continue to be conscious of variation in metatherian patellar sesamoid morphology. Our evolutionary reconstructions using our assembled data vary, too, depending on the reconstruction algorithm used. A maximum likelihood algorithm favours ancestral fibrocartilaginous “patelloid” for crown clade Marsupialia and independent origins of ossified patellae in extinct sparassodonts, peramelids, notoryctids and caenolestids. A maximum parsimony algorithm favours ancestral ossified patella for the clade [Marsupialia + sparassodonts] and subsequent reductions into fibrocartilage in didelphids, dasyuromorphs and diprotodonts; but this result changed to agree more with the maximum likelihood results if the character state reconstructions were ordered. Thus, there is substantial homoplasy in marsupial patellae regardless of the evolutionary algorithm adopted. We contend that the most plausible inference, however, is that metatherians independently ossified their patellae at least three times in their evolution. Furthermore, the variability of the patellar state we observed, even within single species (e.g. M. rufogriseus), is fascinating and warrants further investigation, especially as it hints at developmental plasticity that might have been harnessed in marsupial evolution to drive the complex patterns inferred here.