Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Test Environment for Feature-Based Range Data Registration

The analysis of range data is an important step in many automation applications such as robotic manipulation, autonomous navigation or human machine interaction systems. Therefore, range sensors are usually used for acquiring geometric information about the relevant environment of interest. In order to cover the entire environment of interest, using one single sensor is often not sufficient. Hence, sensor systems consisting of multiple sensors are used or the object of interest is rotated relative to the sensor system. For integrating the single sensor data into a common reference system, a registration process must be performed in order to determine the rigid transformations between the single point clouds. This paper presents a test environment for registering multiple point cloud data into a common reference frame. The environment focuses on the case when no initial information regarding the transformation is available and allows efficient testing and evaluation of different parameter setups in particular steps within a common registration pipeline. Key–Words: Registration, Range Data, Sensor Data Fusion, Computer Vision, Automation
Predicting word ’ predictability ’ in cloze completion , electroencephalographic and eye movement data

Previous neurocognitive approaches to word predictability from sentence context in electroencephalographic (EEG) and eye movement (EM) data relied on cloze completion probability (CCP) data effortly collected from up to 100 human participants. Here we test whether two well-established techniques in computational linguistics can predict these data. Together with baseline predictors of word position and frequency, we found that n-gram language models but not topic models provide an approach to EEG and EM data that is not significantly inferior to the CCP-based predictability data. This is the case for the three corpora we used. Most strikingly, our models accounted for about half of the variance of the CCP-based predictability estimates, thus suggesting that it provides a computational framework to explain the predictability of a word from sentence context. This can help to generalize neurocognitive models to all possible novel word combinations.
Smoothing parameter selection for a class of semiparametric linear models

Summary. Spline‐based approaches to non‐parametric and semiparametric regression, as well as to regression of scalar outcomes on functional predictors, entail choosing a parameter controlling the extent to which roughness of the fitted function is penalized. We demonstrate that the equations determining two popular methods for smoothing parameter selection, generalized cross‐validation and restricted maximum likelihood, share a similar form that allows us to prove several results which are common to both, and to derive a condition under which they yield identical values. These ideas are illustrated by application of functional principal component regression, a method for regressing scalars on functions, to two chemometric data sets.
Genetic improvement of Nellore cattle in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

The semi-arid region of Brazil represents approximately 57% of the northeastern territory. The main economic activity in this region is agriculture and livestock, in most cases, using traditional technologies. However, there is little published information currently available on cattle-raising in this part of Brazil. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and trends for productive and reproductive traits of Nellore cattle raised in semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Data were collected on weight-adjusted at 205 (W205), 365 (W365) and 550 (W550) days of life, age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and scrotal circumference (SC) at 550 days of life of cattle born between 1965 and 2011. Estimates of covariance and variance were obtained through univariate analysis using a Gibbs sampler. The estimated coefficients of heritability (mode) were 0.27 (W205), 0.36 (W365) and 0.39 (W550), 0.37 (SC), 0.22 (AFC) and 0.03 (CI). Little or no gain from selection is apparent in the genetic trend analysis over the 45 years of the study. However, environmental improvement has allowed phenotypic progress in growth traits and age at first age calving.
Technology as a Platform for Improving Healthy Behaviors and Weight Status in Children and Adolescents : A Review

Background: Obese children and adolescents are at an increased risk for obesity in adulthood, emphasizing the need for early intervention. Prior research shows potential benefits of using technology to promote weight loss, healthy dietary habits, and/or physical activity in adults; however, little is known about the efficacy of different modes of technology in children and adolescents. The objective of the present study was to review the use of technology-based interventions to improve nutritional behaviors and weight status in children and adolescents. Methods: Literature searches of PubMed, PSYC INFO, Web of Science, and Science Direct were performed, using PRISMA review guidelines, to find studies published between 2008 and 2015. Articles were included if they were randomized controlled trials conducted on children or adolescents 19 years or younger, and if the intervention components included mobile applications, websites, and/or text messages. Results: Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. In nine studies, technology was the stand-alone intervention and in nine studies, technology was a supplemental intervention. Seven studies resulted in significant improvements in nutritional behaviors or weight status in favor of the technology-based intervention, eight studies showed trends toward favorable outcomes, and three studies showed no effects. Additionally, all studies employed a behavioral approach and seventeen were informed by a behavioral theory. Conclusions: Technology seems to be an acceptable and feasible means for improving the health of children and adolescents and using behavioral theory to tailor interventions and incorporating family-based content may help improve health outcomes.
Near-Duplicate Photo Detection in the Context of Events Shared on Social Networks

In this paper, we report on the task of near-duplicate photo detection in the context of events that get shared on multiple social networks. When people attend events, they more and more share event-related photos publicly on social networks to let their social network contacts relive and witness the attended events. In the past, we have worked on methods to accumulate such public user-generated multimedia content so that it can be used to summarize events visually in the form of media galleries or slideshows. Therefore, methods for the deduplication of near-duplicate photos of the same event are required in order to ensure the diversity of the generated media galleries or slideshows. First, we introduce the social-network-specific reasons and challenges that cause near-duplicate photos. Second, we introduce an algorithm for the task of deduplicating near-duplicate photos stemming from social networks. Finally, we evaluate the algorithm’s results and shortcomings.
The likely impact of genetically modified soybeans in the Brazilian collective feeding service

Objective: To expose the likely impact of genetically modified foods in Collective Feeding. Methods: This was a case study conducted on a steel company (SC) in Rio de Janeiro State. The likely impact recognition began with the preparation of a soy food products’ list. Then, we verified these products’ frequency on the Food and Nutrition Unit (FNU) menu from the SC, outlining the offer profile. We calculated odds ratios and binomial distribution probability for assessing exposure to soy that may be transgenic. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) regarding soy products was applied. The convergence of daily products’ relative frequency of this population and the population from a reference study about FFQ validation in Rio de Janeiro was verified. Confrontation took place between the classification of foods by the consumers’ likely exposure to soy and the percentage deviation between observed relative frequency of products’ intake offered on the FNU and on the reference study. Results: A list of 51 products were created and 16 of them integrated the menu, e.g. flour, chicken, sausage, maize, instant pudding, bologna, hot dogs and peanuts. Food usually consumed by FNU users and concomitantly consumed in reference study were cookies, flour, spaghetti, bread, cake, instant pudding, sausage and hot dogs. By the classification and percentage deviations results, cookies, breads and pasta were the “villains” of soy’s susceptibility. Coclusion: It was possible to show the likely impact of genetically modified foods in Collective Feeding, confirming that these consumers were exposed to soybeans that may be transgenic.
Network of the Day: Aggregating and Visualizing Entity Networks from Online Sources.

This software demonstration paper presents a project on the interactive visualization of social media data. The data presentation fuses German Twitter data and a social relation network extracted from German online news. Such fusion allows for comparative analysis of the two types of media. Our system will additionally enable users to explore relationships between named entities, and to investigate events as they develop over time. Cooperative tagging of relationships is enabled through the active involvement of users. The system is available online for a broad user audience.
On the width of the recombination zone in ambipolar organic field effect transistors

The performance of organic light emitting field effect transistors is strongly influenced by the width of the recombination zone. We present an analytical model for the recombination profile. By assuming Langevin recombination, the recombination zone width W is found to be given byW=4. 34dδ, with d and δ the gate dielectric and accumulation layer thicknesses, respectively. The model compares favorably to both numerical calculations and measured surface potential profiles of an actual ambipolar device.
THE COMPLEX-COMPLETE-QUADRATIC-COMBINATION ( CCQC ) METHOD FOR SEISMIC RESPONSES OF NON-CLASSICALLY DAMPED LINEAR MDOF SYSTEM

In this paper, for non-classically damped linear multiple degrees of freedom system with complex modes, the CCQC method for calculation of maximum seismic responses of structures based on response spectra is deduced following similar procedures as the wellknown CQC method, in which new modal displacement-velocity and velocity correlation coefficients are involved besides the modal displacement correlation coefficient in normal CQC formula. The new real value form formula of CCQC method not only is as concise as that of normal CQC method but also has explicit physical meaning. The results obtained from CCQC approach are discussed and verified in example through step by step integration computation under a prescribed earthquake motion input. From examplary analyses, it may be pointed that the CCQC algorithm normally gives conservative outcome and that the forced mode uncoupling approach has good approximation even the discussed examplary structures are strongly non-proportional.
Effect of Randomisation to 6-Month Mediterranean versus Low-Fat Diet Intervention on Inflammation and Adiposity in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease; Preliminary Results of the AUSMED Heart Trial

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is recognised to reduce risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), in part, via its anti-inflammatory properties. Diet efficacy via this mechanism is however unclear in patients with diagnosed CHD. This study aimed to determine the effect of MedDiet versus low-fat diet intervention on inflammatory biomarkers and adiposity in a pilot cohort of Australian patients post coronary event. Participants (62±9 years, 83% male) were randomised to the MedDiet (n=34) or low-fat diet (n=31). At 0-, 3- and 6-months, dietary counselling, anthropometry, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry) and venepuncture was conducted. Participants adhered well to the MedDiet intervention, however, there were no significant changes in body composition or inflammatory biomarkers hs-C-reactive protein or hs-interleukin-6 in the MedDiet compared to the low-fat diet group after 6-months. Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipokine, tended to increase in response to the MedDiet (+1.1±4.2ng/mL, p=0.11) and decrease in response to the low-fat diet (-0.9±3.3ng/mL, p=0.20). In the pooled cohort, participants with greatest improvement in MedDiet adherence score had significantly lower waist circumference and subcutaneous fat levels at 6-months. A clinically significant effect of the MedDiet on inflammation and adiposity in CHD patients may require a larger sample, adjunct exercise intervention and/or caloric restriction.
Photonic crystal structures on nonflat surfaces fabricated by dry lift-off soft UV nanoimprint lithography

The surface nonflatness induced from the material itself or the production atmosphere can lead to serious non-uniformity consequences in nanoimprint lithography (NIL) which is used for providing a low cost and high throughput nano-fabrication process. In this paper, soft UV NIL (SUNIL) processes are used for photonic crystal (PC) pattern transfer of a GaN-based light-emitting diode (LED) with patterned sapphire substrate (PSS). The results reveal a significant incompatibility between the conventional SUNIL and the nonflat p-GaN surface. Ellipse-shaped rather than circle-shaped PC structure is obtained on the p-GaN surface due the deformation of the soft mold in nonflat NIL. A dry lift-off (DLO) SUNIL is proposed to overcome the non-uniformity issue in nonflat NIL as well as the collapse problem of the free-standing pillar-shaped resist in wet lift-off. The photoluminescence enhancements of the LED fabricated by the DLO SUNIL method compared to those with conventional SUNIL and unpatterned LED are 1.41 fold and 3.48 fold, respectively. Further study shows that the DLO SUNIL is applicable in the fabrication of the PC structure with tunable duty cycle via one single initial PC mold.
Soluble Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Composites Containing Covalently Associated Zirconium Dioxide Nanocrystals

Well soluble composite samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) containing hybrid nanoparticles with covalently associated ZrO2 nanocrystals of an average size of (20±5) nm have been studied by light scattering, viscometry and absorption spectroscopy methods in diluted solutions. Composites were synthesized by two ways: in situ bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a presence of ZrO2, and by polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene solution with the dispersed ZrO2 nanocrystals. Surface of ZrO2 was preliminary chemically modified by γ-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate in both cases. Weight fraction of ZrO2 in composite samples was varied in the range 1-3 %. Solution properties of composite polymers revealed that a way of monomer polymerization (in bulk or in solution) affect the type of the produced polymer-inorganic hybrids. Sphere like “core-shell” nanoparticles with a single ZrO2 nanocrystal as a core are mainly formed when polymerization in solution is carried out. Under the conditions of in situ bulk polymerization the organic-inorganic particles of significantly larger size with the irregular number of associated ZrO2 nanocrystals are produced. The size of hybrid nanoparticles in composite samples was determined. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to visualize the difference of ZrO2 distribution in thin films of the both type composite samples.
Utilization of mango peels and seed kernels powders as sources of phytochemicals in biscuit.

Mango peels and seed kernels are the major by-products of mango juice industry, they are rich sources of natural bioactive compounds which play an important role in prevention of diseases. In the present study, the effect of mango peels powders (MPP) at different replacing levels (5, 10, 15 and 20%) and mango kernels powders (MKP) at (20, 30, 40 and 50%) on rheological, physical, sensory and antioxidant properties of biscuits were evaluated. The results revealed that MPP had high contents of ash, crude fiber and water holding capacity while, MKP characterized by higher fat and protein than MPP. Farinograph data of wheat flour incorporated with MPP showed an increase in water absorption from 60.4 to 67.6%, while decrease in MKP. The content of phenolics increased from 3.84 to 24.37 mg/g of biscuit incorporated with deferent levels of MPP and MKP. The biscuits incorporated with MPP and MKP exhibited an improvement in their antioxidant properties. Acceptable biscuits with mango flavor were obtained by incorporating up to 10% MPP and with MKP up to 40%. Thus, the results indicated that by incorporating mango peels and kernels powders, it is possible to enhance the nutritional quality and improved antioxidant properties of biscuits.
Scalable parallel Monte Carlo algorithm for atomistic simulations of precipitation in alloys

We present an extension of the semi-grand-canonical (SGC) ensemble that we refer to as the variance-constrained semi-grand-canonical (VC-SGC) ensemble. It allows for transmutation Monte Carlo simulations of multicomponent systems in multiphase regions of the phase diagram and lends itself to scalable simulations on massively parallel platforms. By combining transmutation moves with molecular dynamics steps, structural relaxations and thermal vibrations in realistic alloys can be taken into account. In this way, we construct a robust and efficient simulation technique that is ideally suited for large-scale simulations of precipitation in multicomponent systems in the presence of structural disorder. To illustrate the algorithm introduced in this work, we study the precipitation of Cu in nanocrystalline Fe.
3-D Hybrid Kinetic Modeling of the Interaction Between the Solar Wind and Lunar-like Exospheric Pickup Ions in Case of Oblique/ Quasi-Parallel/Parallel Upstream Magnetic Field

The interactions between the solar wind and Moon-sized objects are determined by a set of the solar wind parameters and plasma environment of the space objects. The orientation of upstream magnetic field is one of the key factors which determines the formation and structure of bow shock wave/Mach cone or Alfven wing near the obstacle. The study of effects of the direction of the upstream magnetic field on lunar-like plasma environment is the main subject of our investigation in this paper. Photoionization, electron-impact ionization and charge exchange are included in our hybrid model. The computational model includes the self-consistent dynamics of the light (hydrogen (+), helium (+)) and heavy (sodium (+)) pickup ions. The lunar interior is considered as a weakly conducting body. Our previous 2013 lunar work, as reported in this journal, found formation of a triple structure of the Mach cone near the Moon in the case of perpendicular upstream magnetic field. Further advances in modeling now reveal the presence of strong wave activity in the upstream solar wind and plasma wake in the cases of quasiparallel and parallel upstream magnetic fields. However, little wave activity is found for the opposite case with a perpendicular upstream magnetic field. The modeling does not show a formation of the Mach cone in the case of theta(Sub B,U) approximately equal to 0 degrees.
Testing the effect of galactic feedback on the IGM at z ∼ 6 with metal-line absorbers

We present models of low- and high-ionization metal-line absorbers (O i, C ii, C iv and Mg ii) during the end of the reionization epoch, at z ∼ 6. Using four cosmological hydrodynamical simulations with different feedback schemes (including the Illustris and Sherwood simulations) and two different choices of hydro-solver, we investigate how the overall incidence rate and equivalent width distribution of metal-line absorbers varies with the galactic wind prescription. We find that the O i and C ii absorbers are reasonably insensitive to the feedback scheme. All models, however, struggle to reproduce the observations of C iv and Mg ii, which are probing down to lower overdensities than O i and C ii at z ∼ 6, suggesting that the metals in the simulations are not being transported out into the intergalactic medium efficiently enough. The situation is improved but not resolved if we choose a harder (but still reasonable) and/or (locally) increased UV background at z ∼ 6.
NEMATODES AND FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH APPLE REPLANT DISORDER IN SAMPLED NEW YORK STATE ORCHARDS

The factors associated with unthrifty growth of apple are not fully determined, resulting i n inadequate diagnosis of apple replant disorder (ARD). The present study isolated and identified nematodes and fungi from ARD -infested soils to determine factors that interacted to cause ARD. Nematodes were extracted and identified in several orchard soil subsamples. The remaining soils were mixed to give composite soil. Transformed and non-transformed apple host seedlings were planted in the composite soil in a greenhouse, harvested after 10 weeks, and processed for isolation and identification of fungi. Pratylenchus and Xiphinema nematodes were present in the soils. Root-lesion nematode (RLN) frequency was always 100%, and dagger nematode (DN) frequency ranged from 40-70%. The RLN and DN ranged from 56-350 and 5-58 per 100 cm 3 of soil, respectively. Isolation frequency of Pythium species was highest (29%), followed by 10% for Pythium cryptogea, 4% for Pythium cambivoraand Pythium catorum, 3% for Pythium megasperma , and 2% for Phytophthora species. Both transformed and non-transformed apple hosts were infested by at least several fungi. Of the six apple hosts tested, Pythium sp. and F. oxysporum colonized six each, Pythium cryptogea, C. lucidum and C. destructans colonized three each, Pythium cactorum, Pythium cambivora and Pythium megasperma two each, and Phytophthora sp. , F. solani, F. equiseti, F. acuminatum and Rhizoctonia sp. one each. Consequently, the ARD symptoms observed on diverse apple hosts were associated with combined effects of RLN, DN and various species of Pythium, Phytophthora, Cylindrocarp on, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. Whenever unthrifty growth is observed in soil especially that under perennial fruits and continuously cultivated annual crops, similar diagnostic isolation of multiple pathogens should be performed. In developing management st rategies, germplasm for the crop in question should be evaluated in multiple sites or in composite soil in order to identify germplasm with broadspectrum resistance or tolerance to the pathogens.