Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physics-aware Self-supervised Training of CNNs for Object Detection

Impressive progress has been achieved recently in object detection with the use of deep learning. Nevertheless, such tools typically require large amounts of training data and significant manual effort for labeling objects. This limits their applicability in realistic domains, where it is necessary to scale solutions to a large number of objects and a variety of conditions. This work proposes a training process for Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), which minimizes manual effort and takes advantage of physical reasoning through the use of a physicsengine. The application involves detection of objects placed in cluttered scenes and tight environments, such as shelves. In particular, given access to 3D object models, the labeling takes place automatically over synthetic images, which correspond to physically realistic object poses. To further improve object detection, the network self-trains over real images that contain the target objects. In these situations, successful detections can be used to provide additional real-world examples. Then, the trained network can be successfully applied in complicated scenes, which involve clutter and object occlusions, without manual labeling. The proposed training process is evaluated by showing that it can match the accuracy of a training process based on manual labeling and can improve over time through selftraining resulting in a lifelong learning solution.
Membership function sensitivity of descriptive statistics in fuzzy-set relations

Fuzzy-set theory has provided researchers with a new perspective on many social-scientific problems. In particular, the method of fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) has gained in popularity across various disciplines. However, while the methodological development of fsQCA has progressed on a number of fronts, sensitivity diagnostics have only recently been put on the agenda. This article analyses how coverage as an important descriptive statistic in fsQCA is influenced by the interaction between membership function form and crossover threshold choice. Depending on the relative location of the latter, changes in the former influence coverage in either a negative or a positive direction, and to different magnitudes. This influence is not uniform but varies in relation to cases’ distance from unique peak points. Although the orientation of this article is theoretical, its results have implications for empirical research. Most importantly, the influence of membership functions should become part of routine sensitivity checks.
Information-theoretic limits of subspace clustering

Subspace clustering is a celebrated problem that comes up in a variety of applications such as motion segmentation and face clustering. The goal of the problem is to find clusters in different subspaces from similarity measurements across data points. While the algorithmic aspect of this problem has been extensively studied in the literature, the information-theoretic limit on the number of similarities required for reliable clustering has been unknown. In this paper, we translate the problem into an instance of community recovery in hypergraphs, and characterize the sharp threshold on the limit required for exact subspace clustering. Moreover, we present a computationally efficient algorithm that achieves the fundamental limit.
Tetratic order in the phase behavior of a hard-rectangle system

Previous Monte Carlo investigations by Wojciechowski et al. have found two unusual phases in two-dimensional systems of anisotropic hard particles: a tetratic phase of fourfold symmetry for hard squares [Comput. Methods Sci. Tech. 10, 235 (2004)], and a nonperiodic degenerate solid phase for hard-disk dimers [Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3168 (1991)]. In this work, we study a system of hard rectangles of aspect ratio two, i.e., hard-square dimers (or dominos), and demonstrate that it exhibits phases with both of these unusual properties. The liquid shows quasi-long-range tetratic order, with no nematic order. The solid phase we observe is a nonperiodic tetratic phase having the structure of a random tiling of the square lattice with dominos with the well-known degeneracy entropy 1.79k{sub B} per particle. Our simulations do not conclusively establish the thermodynamic stability of this orientationally disordered solid; however, there are strong indications that this phase is glassy. Our observations are consistent with a two-stage phase transition scenario developed by Kosterlitz and co-workers with two continuous phase transitions, the first from isotropic to tetratic liquid, and the second from tetratic liquid to solid. We obtain similar results with both a classical Monte Carlo method using true rectangles and a novelmore » molecular dynamics algorithm employing rectangles with rounded corners. « less
3D face texture stitching based on Poisson Equation

In this paper, we present a effective method for 3D face texture stitching based on Poisson Equation. Usually, 3D face model is composed of two parts information: shape and texture. Compared with the great deal of efforts on shape of the face model, we pay more attention to the texture parts operation. We use stitching method to merge a new organ texture with other face sample based on Poisson Equation. This will be great helpful to improve stitching result in the face model texture. The Experimental results show that the proposed stitching method has good performance on 3D face texture modeling.
Cognitive motivation and pragmatic functions of the Greek deictics

This paper is a study of the way in which native speakers of Modern Greek use deictic categories. Specifically, it provides a theoretical account of the cognitive procedures that motivate the choice of one deictic over its counter-part in a deictic contrast and the pragmatic effects that this particular choice seems to have in terms of the speech situation.
Effect of maternal age on the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in human oocytes

The cytogenetic investigation of human oocytes was initiated in the Sixties, and for the last four decades, this field of research has never stopped progressing as new technologies appear. Numerous karyotyping studies and molecular cytogenetic studies have been reported to date, providing a large body of data on the incidence and the distribution of chromosomal abnormalities in human female gametes, but also displaying a great variability in results, which may be essentially attributable to the technical limitations of these in situ methods when applied to human oocytes. Essentially, the most relevant analyses have led to the estimate that 15–20% of human oocytes display chromosome abnormalities, and they have emphasized the implication of both whole chromosome nondisjunction and chromatid separation in the occurrence of aneuploidy in human oocytes. The effect of advanced maternal age on the incidence of aneuploidies has also been investigated in human oocytes. Most previous studies have failed to confirm any relationship between maternal age and aneuploidy frequency in human oocytes, whereas the more recent reports based on large samples of oocytes or polar bodies have provided evidence for a direct correlation between increased aneuploidy frequency and advanced maternal age, and have clarified the contribution of the various types of malsegregation in the maternal age-dependent aneuploidies.
THE CATERPILLAR SYSTEM FOR DATA-DRIVEN CONCATENATIVE SOUND SYNTHESIS

Concatenative data-driven synthesis methods are gaining more interest for musical sound synthesis and effects. They are based on a large database of sounds and a unit selection algorithm which finds the units that match best a given sequence of target units. We describe related work and our CATERPILLAR synthesis system, focusing on recent new developments: the advantages of the addition of a relational SQL database, work on segmentation by alignment, the reformulation and extension of the unit selection algorithm using a constraint resolution approach, and new applications for musical and speech synthesis.
Model Checking One Million Lines of C Code

Implementation bugs in security-critical software are pervasive. Several authors have previously suggested model checking as a promising means to detect improper use of system interfaces and thereby detect a broad class of security vulnerabilities. In this paper, we report on our practical experience using MOPS, a tool for software model checking security-critical applications. As examples of security vulnerabilities that can be analyzed using model checking, we pick five important classes of vulnerabilities and show how to codify them as temporal safety properties, and then we describe the results of checking them on several significant Unix applications using MOPS. After analyzing over one million lines of code, we found more than a dozen new security weaknesses in important, widely-deployed applications. This demonstrates for the first time that model checking is practical and useful for detecting security weaknesses at large scale in real,
Observational learning in motor skill acquisition: A look at demonstrations

Three studies are presented which explore the information conveyed by demonstrations and which evaluate the effectiveness of demonstrations in providing the learner with sufficient information to model both kinematic and kinetic features of motor skill. In all three experiments adult female participants viewed a video-recorded demonstration of an adult female dance expert’s performance of a two-dimensional dance step. Immediately after viewing the demonstration participants attempted to replicate the movement. Performance attempts were video-recorded and biomechanically analysed on a number of measures including movement outcome accuracy, movement form (angular displacement). absolute and relative timing of movements and peak force on landing and take-off. Results of the programme of research suggest that the demonstration viewing condition affected the quality of visual information conveyed which in turn affected subsequent efforts at replication. Results are discussed in terms of coordination and contro.
S-O-R and the Psychology of Human Learning

A frame of reference is presented for describing the empirical laws of human learning and performance in terms of stimulus (S), organismic (O), and response (R) variables. The relationship of experimentation to the discovery of laws and the construction of theories is outlined, and some problems connected with the objective specification of S, O, and R events are discussed. Learning as a systematic concept is treated at two definitional (formal vs operational) and two theoretical (Hull vs Estes) levels. An analysis of the hypothetical associative factor (Hall's H or Estes' x) reveals that it is basically a mathematical transformation of selected independent variables. Finally, a set of criteria is proposed by which the utility of theories of learning and performance may be evaluated.
The perceptual assimilation of Danish monophthongs and diphthongs by monolingual Australian English speakers

This study explores how experience with native language (L1) diphthongs influences the assimilation of non-native diphthongs. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of L1 attunement, native Australian English (AusE) speakers categorized and rated the Danish diphthongs, in addition to the monophthongs, in relation to their entire native vowel inventory. Short Danish vowels were assimilated to both lax and tense AusE vowels, and long Danish vowels were primarily categorized to tense AusE vowels. Only two of the Danish diphthongs were assimilated to an AusE diphthong, while the rest were either assimilated to an AusE tense vowel or were uncategorized. This suggests that the perceptual assimilation of non-native diphthongs is not based purely on sensitivity to vowel dynamics, but also on the perceived phonetic similarity between non-native diphthongs and L1 vowels. Implications for modelling cross-language speech perception are discussed.
Mobile Privacy-Preserving Crowdsourced Data Collection in the Smart City

Smart cities rely on dynamic and real-time data to enable smart urban applications such as intelligent transport and epidemics detection. However, the streaming of big data from IoT devices, especially from mobile platforms like pedestrians and cars, raises significant privacy concerns. Future autonomous vehicles will generate, collect and consume significant volumes of data to be utilized in delivering safe and efficient transportation solutions. The sensed data will, inherently, contain personally identifiable and attributable information - both external (other vehicles, environmental) and internal (driver, passengers, devices). The autonomous vehicles are connected to the infrastructure cloud (e.g., Amazon), the edge cloud, and also the mobile cloud (vehicle to vehicle). Clearly these different entities must co-operate and interoperate in a timely fashion when routing and transferring the highly dynamic data. In order to maximise the availability and utility of the sensed data, stakeholders must have confidence that the data they transmit, receive, aggregate and reason on is appropriately secured and protected throughout. There are many different metaphors for providing end-to-end security for data exchanges, but they commonly require a management and control sidechannel. This work proposes a scalable smart city privacy-preserving architecture named Authorized Analytics that enables each node (e.g. vehicle) to divulge (contextually) local privatised data. Authorized Analytics is shown to scale gracefully to IoT scope deployments.
Genome evolution mediated by Ty elements in Saccharomyces

How mobile genetic elements molded eukaryotic genomes is a key evolutionary question that gained wider popularity when mobile DNA sequences were shown to comprise about half of the human genome. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not suffer such “genome obesity”, five families of LTR-retrotransposons, Ty1, Ty2, Ty3, Ty4, and Ty5 elements, comprise about 3% of its genome. The availability of complete genome sequences from several Saccharomyces species, including members of the closely related sensu stricto group, present new opportunities for analyzing molecular mechanisms for chromosome evolution, speciation, and reproductive isolation. In this review I present key experiments from both the pre- and current genomic sequencing eras suggesting how Ty elements mediate genome evolution.
Effects of beak trimming and cage design on laying hen performance and egg quality

1. Conventional cages are to be replaced by furnished cages or aviary systems to improve the welfare of hens. We compared the performance and egg quality of hens reared in two designs of furnished cages and of two standard cages. We also explored the consequences of the absence of beak trimming when using these designs. 2. Hens (2028) were housed from 18 to 70 weeks of age in 108 standard cages at 6 per cage (60 cm × 63·5 cm), in 96 cages at 5 per cage (59·5 cm × 55·5 cm) or in two designs of furnished cage at 15 per cage (24 F15M cages and 36 F15P cages made by two manufacturers) which contained equipment varying in size and location (nests, dust baths and perches). Half of the hens were beak-trimmed in each design. 3. Mortality was low in beak-trimmed hens (<5%) but was unacceptably high in non-beak-trimmed hens due to cannibalism (>40%, 516 hens). Mortality was worse in standard cages than in furnished cages. Consequently, hen-housed egg production was significantly lowered in non-beak-trimmed hens. 4. Egg laying in beak-trimmed hens reared in furnished cages occurred mainly in the nest (80 and 84·8% in F15M and F15P) but also in the dust bath (13·3 and 9·4% in F15M and F15P) and in other parts of the cage (6·7 and 5·8% in F15M and F15P). 5. The total percentage of broken (visual observation) and hair-cracked eggs (candling) was high in the furnished cage designs (15·4 and 19·6% in F15M and F15P, respectively) compared with standard cage designs (8·1 and 12·2% in S6 and S5). This was mainly due to hair-cracked eggs, the highest percentages occurring in the nests, especially in the design with a narrow nest and no egg saver (11·1% in F15M compared to 17·6% in F15P) as a consequence of egg accumulation in the cradle and relatively low frequency of manual egg collection. 6. Eggshell quality (index and breaking strength) was only slightly influenced by cage effects so differences in egg breakage were attributable to impacts related to cage design. 7. It is concluded that beak trimming remains the most effective way to prevent cannibalism, although furnished cages with a large group of hens slightly reduced the incidence, and that further development and optimisation of furnished cages is needed to reach egg quality similar to standard cages.
Ninety-Day Survival Rate of Patients With Sepsis Relates to Programmed Cell Death 1 Genetic Polymorphism rs11568821

Background Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. Programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1), a negative costimulatory molecule, is suggested to be involved in pathogenesis as mortality is associated with high expression and as neutralizing antibodies improve survival in a mouse model. The PD-1 gene harbors an intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism, rs11568821, which is located in a transcription factor–binding site and supposed to affect PD-1 transcription. Objective This study aimed at investigating whether mortality (90-day) among patients with sepsis associates with PD-1 rs11568821 genotypes. Methods Adult white patients with sepsis from the surgical intensive care units of a university medical center were followed up for 90 days, and mortality was recorded as primary outcome variable. Blood samples were taken for PD-1 rs11568821 genotyping. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores increased at enrollment and during the observation period to monitor morbidity. Results Two hundred nineteen critically ill patients with sepsis were enrolled in this investigation. Ninety-day mortality was significantly higher among G homozygotes than among A allele carriers (P = 0.0032). During intensive care unit stay, G homozygotes experienced higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (P < 0.001) and a higher demand of vasopressor therapy (P = 0.0107). Conclusions Data provide first associative evidence for PD-1 rs11568821 as a prognostic indicator in patients with sepsis.
Motivating Factors for Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: A Synthesis of the Literature

The fascination in physical beauty is becoming more and more prevalent in today's society. Beauty in American culture is defined by the media through magazines, television, and music. The perfect career, the perfect family, social status, and high self-esteem all revolve around having an impeccable figure. Research shows that 94% of the covers of women's magazines showcase a woman with a thin physique (A. R., Malkin, K., Wornian, & J. C. Chrisler, 1999). Therefore, it is not surprising that year after year, millions of people elect for cosmetic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery (2006), approximately 11.7 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed and Americans spent $13.2 billion on these procedures. This is a 457% increase since 1997. As the demand for elective cosmetic surgery continues to rise, it is important for healthcare employees to recognize the motive behind the decision to seek cosmetic surgery. The purpose of this literature review project was to ascertain those factors that influence or motivate patients to seek cosmetic surgery. This project investigated physical, psychiatric, and psychosocial factors associated with individuals who undergo elective cosmetic surgery. It has been shown that the motivation for cosmetic surgery is based on a combination of psychological and emotional factors. Researchers surmise that body image, teasing history, and self-esteem were associated with motivational factors for those patients who elected to seek cosmetic surgery (T. Soest, I. L. Kvalem, K. C. Skolleborg, & H. E. Roald, 2006). In addition, the researchers concluded that body dysmorphic disorder, education, and culture are also predicting factors in the decision to have cosmetic surgery.
Small-incision deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK): six-month results in the first prospective clinical study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the visual, topographic, and endothelial survival results in 25 consecutive patients who have received small-incision deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) transplant surgery. METHODS DLEK surgery was performed in 25 patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy utilizing a 5-mm scleral access incision. Snellen visual acuities, refractive astigmatism, endothelial cell counts, and corneal topography were prospectively measured at preop and at 6 months after small-incision DLEK endothelial replacement surgery. RESULTS Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved from an average of 20/90 (range 20/25 to 2'/200) before surgery to an average of 20/44 (range 20/25 to 20/200, P < 0.001) 6 months after surgery, with 56% of patients 20/40 or better at 6 months. Average refractive astigmatism at 6 months was 1.31 +/- 0.59 diopters (range 0.25 to 2.50 diopters), representing an average increase in astigmatism of 0.45 diopters from preop. Despite folding of the donor graft for placement into the recipient posterior lamellar bed, the average postoperative endothelial cell count at 6 months was 2122 +/- 510 cells/mm2 (range 1097 to 3202 cells/mm2) or an average 24% cell loss from donor eye preop measurements, a level of cell loss comparable to that reported after PK or after large-incision DLEK surgery. CONCLUSION Small-incision DLEK surgery preserves the recipient corneal topography, resulting in very little change in astigmatism from preop. The excellent postoperative donor endothelial cell counts attest to the survival of donor endothelium despite folding of the graft for insertion. The small-incision DLEK technique may become the standard for endothelial replacement surgery in the future.
The Psychology of Problem Solving: Motivating Self-Regulated Problem Solvers

Solving a complex problem requires more than mere knowledge; it requires the motivation and personal resourcefulness to undertake the challenge and persist until a solution is reached. Classical theories of problem solving have emphasized the role of discovery or illumination as a primary motive to learn, but contemporary research has uncovered an array of highly predictive task- and performance-related motivational beliefs, such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, intrinsic task interest, and learning goal orientations. Unlike trait motivational constructs, such as the need for achievement, these motivational beliefs change during the course of problem solving, and a complete account of their role must describe their interrelation with metacognitive and motor learning processes. Self-regulation models of learning and performance have integrated metacognitive, motoric, and motivational aspects of problem solving within a cyclical structure. We discuss how these task- and performance-related motivational beliefs instigate problem-solving efforts, and reciprocally how these beliefs are modified based on the outcomes of self-regulated solution efforts. This chapter begins with a description of the difficulties of problem solving in formal and informal contexts, with particular focus on motivational beliefs and associated behavioral processes. The limited conceptions of problem solving derived from research in formal contexts are discussed, and the need to broaden these conceptions to explain problem solving in informal contexts is emphasized. Methods of problem solving used by experts and their high levels of motivation are described, and a model of self-regulated problem solving is presented that cyclically integrates numerous motivation beliefs and self-regulatory processes.