Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tactile Guidance for Policy Adaptation

Demonstration learning is a powerful and practical technique to develop robot behaviors. Even so, development remains a challenge and possible demonstration limitations, for example correspondence issues between the robot and demonstrator, can degrade policy performance. This work presents an approach for policy improvement through a tactile interface located on the body of the robot. We introduce the Tactile Policy Correction (TPC) algorithm, that employs tactile feedback for the refinement of a demonstrated policy, as well as its reuse for the development of other policies. The TPC algorithm is validated on humanoid robot performing grasp positioning tasks. The performance of the demonstrated policy is found to improve with tactile corrections. Tactile guidance also is shown to enable the development of policies able to successfully execute novel, undemonstrated, tasks. We further show that different modalities, namely teleoperation and tactile control, provide information about allowable variability in the target behavior in different areas of the state space.
Influence of yield and other cane characteristics on cane loss and product quality

Field and crop conditions affect cane loss, cane-supply quality and the amount of extraneous matter that is mixed with cane billets supplied to the mill. The size of the crop produced also impacts on machine performance and cane loss during harvest. Crop physical properties and the composition of the sugarcane stalk are driven by a wide range of agronomic practices, including nutrition. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different crop conditions on sugar loss during harvest, with in-field nutrient practises being the primary driver of the changing cutting pour rates when the ground speed is fixed. The physical properties of the sugarcane (stalk length and diameter, population density and yield) were measured in the experimental plots in Bundaberg in 2014 and Macknade in 2015 that had received a range of different nitrogen (N) application rates before being cut by a chopper harvester. Cane loss during cutting was then determined at harvest by collecting all material (leaves, tops, stalks, etc.) discarded from the harvester. This procedure was performed using a standard ‘tarp test’ combined with a loss-assessment method based on measuring juice loss on trash to evaluate cane loss, juice loss, etc. The residue samples gathered from the tarp were shredded and frozen for determination of sugar loss by colorimetric method, using a Glucose and Sucrose Colorimetric Assay Kit. Different N rates resulted in a range of stalk physical properties (stalks per unit area, billet size and stalk weight) and cane yields (t/ha). With the harvester operating at a constant ground speed (and set fan speed) the pour rate was driven by the N applied. As pour rate increased, the ability of the extractor fan to efficiently differentiate trash from billets decreased, resulting in greater sugar loss. Sugarcane sizing influenced by the varying N rates led to the sugar loss differences occurring during the cutting by the harvester.
Performance experiment and numerical prediction of the copperbased hair cell sensor for underwater sensing

This paper demonstrates the performance experiment and numerical prediction of the copper based hair cell for underwater sensing. Generally, the hair cell consists of the single cantilever that attached perpendicular to the substrate and integrated with strain gage (Kyowa type: KFG-1N-120-C1-11). The hair cell sensor was simulated using different flow rates to study the pressure and the strain distribution acting on the sensor by using computational fluid dynamic and finite element analysis approach. High performance sensor can be achieved by increasing the length of the hair cell and also using low Young Modulus material. The hair cell has been fabricated for dimension of 8000 μm length, 2000 μm width and 100 μm thickness, where the copper was chosen due to its mechanical properties. The response time for a sensor to respond completely to a change in input is about 50 m/s and the sensitivity in terms of output voltage and input flow rate is 0.2 mV/ms-1. Also, the result obtained in the simulation is aligned with the experimental result. The experiment for moving object detection proved that this sensor is able to detect the moving object and it is necessary for underwater applications, especially for monitoring and surveillance.
Independent screening for single‐index hazard rate models with ultrahigh dimensional features

Summary. In data sets with many more features than observations, independent screening based on all univariate regression models leads to a computationally convenient variable selection method. Recent efforts have shown that, in the case of generalized linear models, independent screening may suffice to capture all relevant features with high probability, even in ultrahigh dimension. It is unclear whether this formal sure screening property is attainable when the response is a right‐censored survival time. We propose a computationally very efficient independent screening method for survival data which can be viewed as the natural survival equivalent of correlation screening. We state conditions under which the method admits the sure screening property within a class of single‐index hazard rate models with ultrahigh dimensional features and describe the generally detrimental effect of censoring on performance. An iterative variant of the method is also described which combines screening with penalized regression to handle more complex feature covariance structures. The methodology is evaluated through simulation studies and through application to a real gene expression data set.
Spectral Model for Soybean Yield Estimate Using MODIS/EVI Data

Attaining reliable and timely agricultural estimates is very important everywhere, and in Brazil, due to its characteristics, this is especially true. In this study, estimations of crop production were made based on the temporal profiles of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. The objective was to evaluate the coupled model (CM) performance of crop area and crop yield estimates based solely on MODIS/EVI as input data in Rio Grande do Sul State, which is characterized by high variability in seasonal soybean yields, due to different crop development conditions. The resulting production estimates from CM were compared to official agricultural statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the National Company of Food Supply (CONAB) at different levels from 2000/2001 to 2010/2011 crop years. Results obtained with CM indicate that its application is able to generate timely production estimates for soybean both at municipality and local levels. Validation estimates with CM at State level obtained R2 = 0.95. Combining all cropping years at municipality level, estimates were highly correlated to official statistics from IBGE, with R2 = 0.91 and RMSD = 10,840 tons. Spatially interpolated comparisons of yield maps obtained from the CM estimates and IBGE data also showed visual similarity in their spatial distribution. Local level comparisons were performed and presented R2 = 0.95. Implications of this work point out that time-series analysis of production estimates are able to provide anticipated spatial information prior to the soybean harvest.
Solid Phase Extraction of Some Lanthanide Ions by Functionalized SBA-15 from Environmental Samples

In this research, nanoporous silica (SBA-15) was physically functionalized using 2-(2-nitrobenzylideneamino) guanidine compound. This functionalized SBA-15 was utilized as a new sorbent for separation and preconcentration of some lanthanide ions. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used as a detection technique. The preconcentration factor of the method is 100 and detection limit of this technique is obtained 2.9 ng/mL for Dy3+, 1.6 ng/mL for Eu3+, 8.4 ng/mL for Nd3+, 3.8 ng/mL for Sm3+ and 2.5 ng/mL for Yb3+ ions. The time and optimum amount of the sorbent, pH effect, presence of other ions on extraction condition were also tested. The maximum capacity of 5 mg functionalized SBA-15 was found to be about 155.2 μg for Sm3+, 131.2 μg for Yb3+, 128.1 μg for Nd3+, 143.3 μg for Eu3+, 140.6 μg for Dy3+ ions. The method was successfully applied for preconcentration and determination of these lanthanides in some natural water samples.
A Novel Approach for the Detection, Classification and Localization of Transmission Lines Faults using Wavelet Transform and Support Vector Machines Classifier

Over the time, techniques have been developed whose approach has been linked mainly to the diagnosis of faults, which is why over the years these techniques have been improved little by little in order to complement or at best cases innovate the traditional methods used for the detection of faults from the mathematical point of view relying mainly on sophisticated methods and some of them related to artificial intelligence. Taking into account the aforementioned, in this paper we propose the use one of the branches of artificial intelligence, specifically automatic learning through the tool known as Support Vector Machines (SVM) to find a method with which is feasible to identify and classify the type of fault. For the creation of the mathematical model it is essential to have a database. The database consists of input data and output data, the input data are the detail coefficients obtained from the decomposition of the current and voltage signals using the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). Meanwhile, the output data are the labels assigned and with which the model can identify and classify the different types of faults. Both current signals and voltage signals are generated based on an extensive simulation of faults along the longest transmission line that has a test system.
DECISION-MAKING BASED ON ONLINE REVIEWS: THE SMALL AND MEDIUM HOTELS MANAGEMENT

The decision-making process based on the user-generated content (UGC) can be used by several industries such as movies, books, tourism and hotels. This paper presents a fine-grained analysis of UGC for small and medium hotels (SMH). We collected and analysed 1500 online reviews from 50 SMH. This data was cross-referenced in order to find patterns that could support decision-making. The findings show that Room and Service were the concepts that guests pay more attention to in their review and ratings. For the concept Location, was identified an upward trend for hotels near trade centres and points of access to public transport. Tendencies to evaluate positively the hotels using high ratings were also identified. Although reviews receive high ratings, there is a significant number of negative considerations in these reviews. This paper also points the main features which SMH managers should prioritise according to the profile of the guest. For example, we found that British guests value teaor coffee-making facilities in the room. This research concludes that online reviews provide useful information to help the SMH management in making decisions to increase customer satisfaction and to manage existing resources efficiently.
Acute Pancreatitis and Elevated Aminotransferases : What to Think ?

1 Internal Medicine Resident at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia 2 Professor of Medicine in the Gastroenterology Unit at the National University of Colombia and Gastroenterologist at Clínica Fundadores in Bogotá, Colombia 3 Professor of Medicine in the Gastroenterology Unit at the National University of Colombia and Gastroenterologist at the Hospital El Tunal in Bogotá, Colombia
IMPACT OF TRADE OPENNESS ON OUTPUT GROWTH FOR PAKISTAN: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

In this paper we analyze the impact of trade liberalization policy on GDP growth of Pakistan for the period ranging from 1972 to 2002. We found that there is long run negative relationship between trade growth and GDP growth. When we separate the total trade volume in export and import we find insignificant positive relationship between GDP and export and import. Both the models showed positive and significant relationship between GDP and investment.
Value-added information in term structure: the case of Malaysian government securities

This study empirically examines the impact of value-added information in the risk premium on the predictability of longer maturity term structure about future short-term rates in Malaysian fixed income securities market. Regardless of the absence of a time-varying risk premium in the interest rate, the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) results suggest that there is statistical evidence to support that the longer-term spread between long-term and short-term rates does have some significant power in predicting the changes in expected future shortterm rate. This implies the stability of the short-term interest rates in Malaysia.
The radical constructivist dynamics of cognition

The early days of psychology in the 19th century were those of introspection. Because introspection is a first-person approach it doesn’t lend itself to objective communicability, one of the pillars of science. With the rise of positivist philosophy (e.g., Carnap 1932), which demands science to stick solely to observable entities, B. F. Skinner and John Watson introduced the behaviorist approach which rejected any metaphysical speculation about non-observable descriptions such as cognitive processes. The task of psychology was to “predict, given the stimulus, what reaction will take place; or, given the reaction, state what the situation or stimulus is that has caused the reaction” (Watson 1930, p.11). After decades of dominating psychology in the US, doubts were cast on behaviorism as whether it is powerful enough to account for more sophisticated phenomena such as language. In his 1959 paper, Chomsky overthrew behaviorist psychology by showing that one has to assume the internalization of linguistic rules, otherwise people would not be able to generate novel and yet grammatically correct sentences they have never heard before. However, speaking about internal processes was out of reach for behaviorists as they claimed that “cognitive constructs give [. ] a misleading account of what [to] find inside”(Skinner 1977, p.10). As a result, a new paradigm, cognitivism, appeared about at the same time as the discipline artificial intelligence (AI). 1 Both emphasize internal computations that link sensory input with action output. As Steven Pinker (1997) pointed out, cognitive “psychology is engineering in reverse [. ] one figures out what a machine was designed to do. ” Uneasiness with the idea that we are mere machines rather than the unique pinnacle of creation, and especially recollecting holistic philosophies such as phenomenology and early psychological streams like gestalt-psychology as well as improved computational power that allows for sophisticated dynamical interactions among a huge number of
OPERATION OF THE INJECTOR CYCLOTRON JULIC FOR THE COOLER SYNCHROTRON COSY/JÜLICH

Since January 1996, the cyclotron JULIC operates as the injector of H - or D - beams for the cooler synchrotron COSY at the Institut fur Kernphysik (IKP) of the Forschungszentrum Julich. After more than a decade of reliable operation some cyclotron subsystems showed wear-out symptoms and a process has been started in order to assure the availability for the challenging scientific program at COSY. E.g. the vacuum system and main components of the radio frequency system of the cyclotron have been partly replaced. The performance of the operation with polarized negative ions has been continuously improved by applying results of detail studies.
Migration Intentions of Post War Youths in Sri Lanka: A Systematic Review of Literature on Causes of Migration

Abstract This is a conceptual paper to understand the migration of youth population from Sri Lanka. The study reviews recent migration literature. Many actors have taken many initiatives to create a better future for youth in Sri Lanka. This includes provision of free and/or affordable education, skill development opportunities, and integration to development process, to shape the future. But there is a significant segment of the youth population who are not satisfied about the available opportunities and choices within Sri Lanka. They are not convinced for a better and safer society in future. In this research, the migration drivers and tendencies are examined and researched from a theoretical point of view with a special importance to perspectives and causes for migration of youths of post-war Sri Lanka. Objectives of this study are to understand reasons for youth migration and to understand the expected future relationship with home country. Many international migration theories have been proposed to assess and explain the underlying phenomena of international migration. Conventional findings suggest that migration can be explained with Neo-classical Theory of Migration, Theory of Economics of Migration, Dual Market Theory, Social Capital Theory, Cumulative Causation Theory and Trans-nationalism. However, international migration is a complex issue with multiple facets. One single theory may only explain a particular aspect of international migration. This study indicates that most of youth migrate to different countries due to perceived uncertainty placed upon their future and it cannot be explained with a single theory. This study makes major contributions to the existing theory in International Migration of Youth Population of Sri Lanka. The paper concluded with propositions, and recommendations on future research on understanding migration of youth. Keywords: International Migration, Youth, Decision Making, Development, Globalization
Comparative, randomized, double-blind study of microneedling associated with drug delivery for rejuvenating the skin of the anterior thorax region

Introduction: Photodamaged skin of the anterior thorax region is characterized by flacidity, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, erythema, telangiectasia, and atrophy. Microneedling has been used for the transdermal drug delivery of active agents to the skin through microchannels. Objective: To clinically evaluate the rejuvenation of the skin of the anterior thorax region resulting from the use of microneedling associated with drug delivery. Methods: Double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted with 22 women who underwent three microneedling sessions followed by the topical application of a test product containing hyaluronic acid and other active principles or placebo. The evaluation was performed through photographic comparison carried out by a dermatologist oblivious to the study and the application of self-assessment questionnaires to patients. Results: Clinical evaluation showed improvement in the overall skin rejuvenation of the anterior thorax region in 100% of the patients. The statistical analysis showed a 28% improvement (p <0.05) with use of the test product as compared to the placebo. The responses to the questionnaires demonstrated an improvement of 30% in the patients treated with microneedling and the test product. Conclusions: The microneedling technique associated with the transdermal administration of drugs used for rejuvenation provides improved overall appearance of the skin of the anterior thorax region, with a high degree of tolerability and satisfaction.
Molecular Cloning, Characterization, Expression Analysis and Chromosomal Localization of the Gene Coding for the Porcine αIIb Subunit of the αIIbβ3 Integrin Platelet Receptor

Integrins are a long family of heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins consisting of multiple combinations of noncovalently linked α and β chains, which generate different complex receptors with different expression patterns and ligand binding profiles. The integrins bind to extracellular matrix (ECM) or to cell-surface ligands, regulating numerous downstream pathways (Hynes, 2002). Each integrin binds to only a limited series of ligands, ensuring that cell adhesion and migration are precisely regulated. The α subunit mainly determines the substrate specificity with extracellular matrix molecules (ECM) (Yamada, 1991), while the intracytoplasmic tail of the β chain is predominantly responsible for the integrin interaction with the cell cytoskeleton by binding to vinculin, talin and α-actin (Isenberg, 1991). Thus, this heterodimeric association between α and β subunits allows the integrins to act as bidirectional signaling molecules in the different tissues and cell types in which they are widely distributed, mediating a variety of biological processes so diverse as embryogenesis, haemostasis, tissue repair, migration, cell polarity, immune response and metastatic diffusion of tumor cells (Hynes, 1987, 1992; Hemler et al., 1994). Mammalian integrins have been divided into subfamilies according to their β subunit. The most important β integrin subfamilies are β1, β2 and β3. Within a subfamily, the same β subunit can associate with different α subunits. To date, 18 α and 8 β chains -whose combinations provide up to 24 different integrinshave been described in mammal species (Hynes et al., 2002; Alam et al, 2007).
Arguments for biodiversity conservation in Natura 2000 sites: An analysis based on LIFE projects

Achieving acceptance among local stakeholders is crucial for biodiversity conservation, as their often diverging interests can hamper the success of conservation projects. While research exists on the different narratives and arguments used in the international policy debates, there is not much evidence on how effective alternative arguments are in communicating the value of biodiversity to local stakeholders. This pa per used a multiple case study design for sites of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network to investigate which arguments have been successfully used to persuade local stakeholders of restoration projects, funded under the EU’s LIFE program. Particular focus is given to the role of ecosystem services as arguments for nature conservation and how these relate to other instrumental and non-instrumental arguments. Instrumental arguments appeared particularly effective for commercial users, where economic interests stood against the conservation activities. But also stakeholders without commercial interest tended to be more receptive to arguments that implied a benefit for themselves or their communities, such as recrea tion or a cultural value. Regarding ecosystem services this study found that they should be understood as an addition to the category of instrumental arguments. Where pure economic factors were not sufficient to create a business case for conservation, ecosystem services were frequently applied to make the case for conservation stronger. Finding consensus among the different stakeholders is a key factor in achieving any conservation at all. The argument strategy should therefore always consist of a mix of instrumental and non-instrumental arguments, as only focusing on instrumental arguments might repel those individuals who seek a strong ethical motivation.
“He Didn't Go in Doing a Skydive”: Sustaining the Illusion of Control in an Edgework Activity

Exploring Lyng's notion of “edgework,” this article draws on ethnographic data to explore the ways skydivers create and sustain the belief that they can maintain control while working the “edge” in this sport. The article focuses on the ways skydivers construct and maintain the “illusion” that they can exercise control as they negotiate their particular edge. It elaborates the ways this sense of control is constructed and the extent to which it informs the ways risk recreators approach the edge. In the choices jumpers make about how they participate in the sport and the ways they interpret the experiences of themselves and other jumpers, they defend the position that their hazardous environments are within their control. When this position becomes untenable, they often draw on the notion of fate to construct certain hazards as outside of the sport, thereby sustaining their sense of control.