Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-resource learning in complex games

This project is concerned with learning to take decisions in complex domains, in games in particular. Previous work assumes that massive data resources are available for training, but aside from a few very popular games, this is generally not the case, and the state of the art in such circumstances is to rely extensively on hand-crafted heuristics. On the other hand, human players are able to quickly learn from only a handful of examples, exploiting specific characteristics of the learning problem to accelerate their learning process. Designing algorithms that function in a similar way is an open area of research and has many applications in today’s complex decision problems. One solution presented in this work is design learning algorithms that exploit the inherent structure of the game. Specifically, we take into account how the action space can be clustered into sets called types and exploit this characteristic to improve planning at decision time. Action types can also be leveraged to extract high-level strategies from a sparse corpus of human play, and this generates more realistic trajectories during planning, further improving performance. Another approach that proved successful is using an accurate model of the environment to reduce the complexity of the learning problem. Similar to how human players have an internal model of the world that allows them to focus on the relevant parts of the problem, we decouple learning to win from learning the rules of the game, thereby making supervised learning more data efficient. Finally, in order to handle partial observability that is usually encountered in complex games, we propose an extension to Monte Carlo Tree Search that plans in the Belief Markov Decision Process. We found that this algorithm doesn’t outperform the state of the art models on our chosen domain. Our error analysis indicates that the method struggles to handle the high uncertainty of the conditions required for the game to end. Furthermore, our relaxed belief model can cause rollouts in the belief space to be inaccurate, especially in complex games. We assess the proposed methods in an agent playing the highly complex board game Settlers of Catan. Building on previous research, our strongest agent combines planning at decision time with prior knowledge extracted from an available corpus of general human play; but unlike this prior work, our human corpus consists of only 60 games, as opposed to many thousands. Our agent defeats the current state of the art agent by a large margin, showing that the proposed modifications aid in exploiting general human play in highly complex games.
Carbon Emissions, Renewable Electricity, and Profits: Comparing Policies to Promote Anaerobic Digesters on Dairies

Anaerobic digesters can provide renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manure management. Government policies that encourage digester adoption by livestock operations include construction cost-share grants, renewable electricity subsidies, and carbon pricing (offset) programs. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of these policies is not well understood. For the U.S. dairy sector, we compare predicted digester adoption rates, carbon emission reductions, renewable electricity generation and sales, and net returns and social benefits of several policies. We find that a carbon pricing policy provides the greatest net social benefit for a range of assumptions about the benefits of carbon reductions and renewable energy.
Wideband Dual-Polarized Two-Beam Antenna Array With Low Sidelobe and Grating-Lobe Levels for Base-Station Applications

This paper presents a wideband dual-polarized <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\,\times \,6$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antenna array with two beams for base-station applications. It consists of three <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4 \times 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> subarrays. For obtaining ± 45° dual-polarized radiation, a wideband crossed dipole is employed as a basic element. For each <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4 \times 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> subarray, the lower and upper <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4 \times 1$ </tex-math></inline-formula> subarrays are misaligned in the horizontal plane. By using this innovative scheme, the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\,\times \,2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> subarray is equivalent to an <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8 \times 1$ </tex-math></inline-formula> subarray with a half adjacent-element spacing, resulting in good grating-lobe suppression. For achieving stable two-beam radiation with low sidelobe over a wide frequency band, specific wideband beam-forming networks with little magnitude and phase imbalances are designed. Moreover, the adjacent-element spacing is optimized to obtain stable 10 dB beamwidth around 120°, thus satisfying the coverage requirement of 120° in the horizontal plane for base-station applications. For demonstration, the proposed <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4 \times 6$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antenna array is designed, fabricated, and measured. The array exhibits two beams with stable 10 dB beamwidth around 120° in the horizontal plane and around −10 dB cross level between two beams. The impedance bandwidth is measured to be 56.1% (1.64–2.92 GHz) for VSWR < 1.5 and horizontally, sidelobe and grating-lobe levels of the two beams are measured to be better than 18 dB. Moreover, the proposed method can easily be extended to multibeam base-station antenna array designs.
Improving EEG Muscle Artifact Removal With an EMG Array

Removal of artifacts induced by muscle activity is crucial for analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG), and continues to be a challenge in experiments where the subject may speak, change facial expressions, or move. Ensemble empirical mode decomposition with canonical correlation analysis (EEMD-CCA) has been proven to be an efficient method for denoising of EEG contaminated with muscle artifacts. EEMD-CCA, likewise the majority of algorithms, does not incorporate any statistical information of the artifact, namely, electromyogram (EMG) recorded over the muscles actively contaminating the EEG. In this paper, we propose to extend EEMD-CCA in order to include an EMG array as information to aid the removal of artifacts, assessing the performance gain achieved when the number of EMG channels grow. By filtering adaptively (recursive least squares, EMG array as reference) each component resulting from CCA, we aim to ameliorate the distortion of brain signals induced by artifacts and denoising methods. We simulated several noise scenarios based on a linear contamination model, between real and synthetic EEG and EMG signals, and varied the number of EMG channels available to the filter. Our results exhibit a substantial improvement in the performance as the number of EMG electrodes increase from 2 to 16. Further increasing the number of EMG channels up to 128 did not have a significant impact on the performance. We conclude by recommending the use of EMG electrodes to filter components, as it is a computationally inexpensive enhancement that impacts significantly on performance using only a few electrodes.
Is Price Support for Overvalued Equity a Motive for Increasing Share Repurchases?

Prior research shows that companies repurchase stock during quarters with low returns, presumably because the stock is undervalued. We focus on repurchase increases and investigate another motive: Are repurchases increased to provide price support for a stock that, despite recent low returns, remains overvalued? Using an increase in short selling to indicate overvaluation, we regress quarterly changes in share repurchases on quarterly changes in short interest. Consistent with price support, the association is positive and statistically significant each year from 2003 to 2014. We find that the price support quarter is followed by a sharp multi-quarter decline in ROA (return on assets), but the corresponding decline in EPS (earnings per share) is modest due to the reduction in outstanding shares. Abnormal returns after the price support quarter are positive, indicating that price support is effective. We also examine trading by insiders. While insiders generally sell when shorts sell, they hold onto shares during the price support quarter. This indicates that insiders are confident that they can maintain the current stock price.
THE FRAMEWORK RESULTING FROM THE BASEL III REGULATIONS

The banking sector is under prudential regulations set internationally by the Basel Committee, in order to ensure its strength, stability and mitigate competitive inequities. Its founding principle is based on a minimum solvency ratio introduced in 1988 in the form of the Cooke ratio, resulting in a harmonization of the rules of banking supervision governing the level of own funds. Basel II was introduced after the various financial crises of the 1990s (the Mexican crisis of 1994, the Asian crisis, and the Brazilian and Argentinean crisis). Despite a series of reforms, Basel II has quickly shown its limitations with the 2007 crisis that has strongly impacted the financial markets and the world economy generally. In this context, the Basel Committee has developed within Basel III a number of requirements which aim at strengthening the resilience of the banking institutions and financial system. These adjustments will be applied to the three pillars already in place and relate to capital, liquidity and systemic risks. The new Basel provisions relating to the calculation of the numerator of the solvency ratio are declined according to the triptych: strengthening the quality of prudential eligible own funds instruments, increase of the statutory deductions provided by Basel II, and higher minimum thresholds of solvency ratios. Furthermore, a limitation of the lever, calculated from the balance sheet and elements of off-balance sheet based on non-weighted by the risks, will be introduced. The Basel III criteria entering into force between 2013 and 2018 constitute one of the major challenges to which the banking sector will face. The real impact of the Basel III reform will depend on the attitude of the banks that will have to change in their strategy, their cost structure and policy of remuneration of the shareholders. A reform which will have therefore an impact on the world economy ensuring as estimated by Governors and supervisors, stability and long term economic performance. This paper will present the main adjustments proposed by the Basel Committee.
New sensor technologies in aircraft structural health monitoring

The traditional nondestructive testing (NDT) method contributes greatly to aircraft structural safety and reliability. However, it also significantly increases operating expense, or leads to the decrease of the aircraftpsilas runtime because of the disassemble and reassemble of structural components. Aircraft structural health monitoring (SHM) is a new in-situ, online structure detection method which was developed on the basis of the traditional NDT method. It can increase the reliability, safety and runtime of aircrafts while reduce the structurepsilas operating and maintenance costs. This paper describes this new technology and introduces the principles and applications of some new sensor technologies in aircraft structural health monitoring, the candidate SHM sensor technologies including optical fiber sensors, piezoelectric sensors, MEMS sensors, wireless sensing systems etc. The paper will finish with a perspective for further research in this field.
Location, Location, Habitat: How the Value of Ecosystem Services Varies across Location and by Habitat

We used a choice experiment to examine how ecosystem service values (ESVs) vary across locations and, for the first time, across habitats. The study context was three habitats (oyster reef, salt marsh, and black mangrove) in two U.S. Gulf Coast locations. The null hypothesis of ESV equality across locations was rejected 44% of the time and, when tested over suites of services, was rejected 50% of the time. Across habitats, the null hypothesis was rejected 22% and 10% of the time, respectively. Overall, benefit transfer across habitats appeared to work fairly well, whereas results were more mixed across locations. (JEL H41, Q51)
Big Social Data Analytics: Opportunities, Challenges and Implications on Society

Big social data analysis is an interdisciplinary domain that uses advanced analytics to identify the key influence in a communication network that shrinks and grows rapidly in a near real-time fashion. It brings together various disciplines such as social media analysis, information retrieval techniques, reasoning, natural language processing (opinion mining), graph mining and analysis, linguistics, machine learning, multimedia management and big data processing. The role of big social data analysis in the growth of a business is larger than what meets the eye, but many enterprises are unaware of how this data influence their expansion. The analysis of information gathered from consumer transactions, communication devices, online activities and streaming devices are used to uncover hidden patterns. The right tools and a foolproof strategy are highly important to utilize information from social data to the fullest. The power of social media along with the emerging big data technology offers abundant opportunities for achieving business growth and if channeled properly, it could be leveraged for the betterment of society. The main goal of this paper is to emphasize the opportunities and challenges provided by dynamic social network data with its implications on the society
Pulmonary Artery Catheter Placement for Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Before or After Anesthetic Induction?

Pulmonary arterial catheters (PACs) are often used during and after coronary artery bypass grafting. We hypothesized that placement of a PAC would be faster in anesthetized patients. We further hypothesized that the presence or absence of a PAC during the induction of anesthesia would make no difference in hemodynamics, vasoactive drug use, or IV fluid administration during the induction. Patients (n = 200) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were assigned to PAC insertion either before or after the induction of anesthesia. Total time for PAC insertion, number of finder needle and venous catheter insertion attempts, incidence of carotid artery puncture, arrhythmias or ST segment changes, arterial blood gas analysis, hemodynamic variables, IV fluids, and vasoactive drugs required during and after the anesthetic induction were recorded. Thirty-two different physicians placed the PACs. PAC placement was faster (10 versus 12 min, P = 0.0003) and required fewer punctures with a finder needle (P = 0.0107) in anesthetized patients. There were no significant differences between groups in hemodynamic values or use of vasoactive or anesthetic drugs or IV fluids during the induction. There were also no significant differences between groups in the incidence of myocardial ischemia, arterial hypoxemia, or hypercarbia. Placement of a PAC before the induction of anesthesia consumes more time and fails to improve hemodynamic stability or lessen vasoactive drug use during the induction of anesthesia.
Static, Dynamic and First-Pass MR Imaging of Musculoskeletal Lesions Using Gadodiamide Injection

Forty-five patients with known or suspected musculoskeletal tumors were examined with static and dynamic MR imaging to evaluate the safety, tolerability and diagnostic utility of gadodiamide injection and to assess the diagnostic value of dynamic MR imaging and parametric “first-pass” (FP) images. The proportion of patients presenting more diagnostic information on the contrast-enhanced compared to the precontrast spin-echo examinations was determined. The dynamic enhancement characteristics were evaluated with time-intensity curves and parametric images of the FP enhancement rate. The tolerance of gadodiamide injection was good. Contrast enhancement was useful for delineating tumor from muscle, and differentiating viable from necrotic tissue and cystic from solid lesions. Malignant tumors showed a significantly higher slope value, earlier onset of enhancement, and higher maximum enhancement than benign lesions. However, slope values could not be used to predict the malignant potential of a lesion, due to overlap between highly vascular benign and low vascular malignant lesions. By displaying highly vascular areas, parametric FP images provided useful information on the most active part in a tumor before biopsy and for assessing the incorporation of bone-chip allografts. Static, dynamic and FP MR imaging using gadodiamide injection appears safe and provides useful information for diagnosis, biopsy and follow-up of musculoskeletal lesions.
Plant Microsomal Phospholipid Acyl Hydrolases Have Selectivities for Uncommon Fatty Acids

Developing endosperms and embryos accumulating triacylglycerols rich in caproyl (decanoyl) groups (i.e. developing embryos of Cuphea procumbens and Ulmus glabra) had microsomal acyl hydrolases with high selectivities toward phosphatidylcholine with this acyl group. Similarly, membranes from Euphorbia lagascae and Ricinus communis endosperms, which accumulate triacylglycerols with vernoleate (12-epoxy-octadeca-9-enoate) and ricinoleate (12-hydroxy-octadeca-9-enoate), respectively, had acyl hydrolases that selectively removed their respective oxygenated acyl group from the phospholipids. The activities toward phospholipid substrates with epoxy, hydroxy, and medium-chain acyl groups varied greatly between microsomal preparations from different plant species. Epoxidated and hydroxylated acyl groups in sn-1 and sn-2 positions of phosphatidylcholine and in sn-1-lysophosphatidylcholine were hydrolyzed to a similar extent, whereas the hydrolysis of caproyl groups was highly dependent on the positional localization.
Automatic Speech Recognition in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery. A Project for a Prototypal Computer-Based Voice-Controlled Vitrectomy Machine

In the past half decade automatic speech recognition techniques, software and hardware technology have matured enough to support sophisticated medical applications. The project described aimed at introducing a computer-based, voice-controlled prototype system in a simulated vitreo-retinal surgery scenario. The aim was to provide the surgeon with a tool that could significantly improve the quality and ease of work and shorten the duration of intervention. The speech recognition system allows voice entry of simple commands to simulate surgical instrument control, including the infusion pump, vitreous cutter and diathermy. The project relies on a Markov-based, speaker-dependent, commercial isolated-word recognizer, and consists of a specific recognition vocabulary and application software, created and developed by the authors. Results have been encouraging. The system performed well under the test conditions, proving robust, simple to use and accurate (over 97% average word recognition rate). On the basis of their experience, the authors believe that automatic speech recognition technology, though suffering from some limitations such as the need for training, speaker dependence and a relatively small vocabulary, and requiring extensive testing under operating conditions, merits further development and opens new perspectives for a possible new generation of surgical instruments.
Effectiveness Best R-R Reconstruction Interval Determination Software for the Evaluation of Dual-Source Coronary CT Angiography Examinations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of automated best R-R interval determination software for the evaluation of dual-source coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. Methods: One hundred and nine consecutive patients who underwent dual-source coronary MDCT angiography are included in the study. The indications were chest pain syndrome of low-intermediate risk and/or nonspecific electrocardiographic changes (n = 91), stenting (n = 9), and bypass grafts (n = 9). Imaging was performed using dual-source MDCT. Temporal resolution was 0.83 milliseconds and slice thickness was 0.6 mm. None of the patients received &bgr;-blockers. Best R-R interval software has determined the best intervals in diastole and systole. The visibility of coronary arteries was evaluated using 15-segment (total 1635 segments) AHA classification by 2 radiologists in consensus. Results: The mean patient age was 55 years. The mean heart rate was 73 beats per minute (range, 47-110 beats per minute). The mean (SD) best diastole R-R interval was determined as 73 (5) (95% CI, 63-83), and the mean (SD) best systole interval as 38 (5) (95% CI, 28-48). When only best diastole, only best systole, and both best systole and diastole reconstructions were evaluated, all coronary artery segments were visualized in 65 (60%), 61 (56%), and 93 (85%) patients, respectively. In 12 patients' evaluation of additional 1(n = 11) or 2(n = 1), R-R reconstruction intervals allowed visualization of all coronary artery segments. In 4 patients with arrhythmia, all segments cannot be visualized, but after electrocardiographic editing, all segments were visible in 3 of 4 patients. Conclusions: Automatic determination of best R-R reconstruction interval allows evaluation of all coronary artery segments in most patients (85%) without additional reconstructions. By means of this software, coronary CT angiography studies can be evaluated faster and easier. The most significant limitation of the software is patients with arrhythmia.
Effect of captopril on progression to clinical proteinuria in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria. European Microalbuminuria Captopril Study Group.

OBJECTIVES To study the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on the rate of progression to clinical proteinuria and the rate of change of albumin excretion rates in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and persistent microalbuminuria. DESIGN AND SETTING Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 2 years' duration at 12 hospital-based diabetes centers. PATIENTS Ninety-two patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and persistent microalbuminuria but no hypertension. INTERVENTION The patients were randomly allocated in blocks of two to receive either captopril, 50 mg, or placebo twice per day. MEASUREMENTS Albumin excretion rate, blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin level, and fructosamine level every 3 months; urinary urea nitrogen excretion every 6 months; and glomerular filtration rate every 12 months. RESULTS Twelve patients receiving placebo and four receiving captopril progressed to clinical proteinuria, defined as an albumin excretion rate persistently greater than 200 micrograms/min and at least a 30% increase from baseline (P = .05). The probability of progression to clinical proteinuria was significantly reduced by captopril therapy (P = .03 by log-rank test). Albumin excretion rate rose from a geometric mean (95% confidence interval) of 52 (39 to 68) to 76 (47 to 122) micrograms/min in the placebo group but fell from 52 (41 to 65) to 41 (28 to 60) micrograms/min in the captopril group, a significant difference (P < .01). Mean blood pressure was similar at baseline in the two groups and remained unchanged in the placebo group but fell significantly, by 3 to 7 mm Hg, in the captopril group. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels and glomerular filtration rate remained stable in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Captopril therapy significantly impeded progression to clinical proteinuria and prevented the increase in albumin excretion rate in nonhypertensive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and persistent microalbuminuria.