Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrimination of Faces, Sex, and Relationships by Capuchin Monkeys

Whether attending a business function or moving to a new neighborhood, the ability to recognize, remember, and garner information about the social relationships of other individuals is critical for human survival. But to what degree is this unique to humans? Nonhuman primates provide us with the opportunity to study the evolutionary history and function of human sociocognitive skills within a comparative framework. I tested capuchin monkeys on three computerized tasks that evaluated their ability to discriminate the faces, sexual identities and dominance relationships of conspecifics living in their own social group, a neighboring social group or completely unfamiliar individuals. This paradigm allowed for testing the effect of familiarity and parsed underlying mechanisms of these socio-cognitive skills, both of which help to elucidate how social knowledge emerges from the foundations of perception. INDEX WORDS: Social knowledge, Face recognition, Capuchin monkey, Sex discrimination, Familiarity, Dominance DISCRIMINATION OF FACES, SEX, AND RELATIONSHIPS BY CAPUCHIN MONKEYS
Maintaining Temporal Consistency: Issues and Algorithms

Although transaction scheduling and concurrency control issues that arise in real-time databases have been studied in detail, insufficient attention has been paid to issues that arise when real-time transactions access data with temporal validity. Such transactions must not only meet their deadlines but also read and use data that correctly reflects the environment. In this paper, we discuss the issues involved in the design of a real-time active database which maintains data temporal consistency. The concept of data-deadline is introduced and time cognizant transaction scheduling algorithms which exploit the semantics of data and transactions based on data-deadline are proposed.
Matching of objects nodal points improvement using optimization

The main objective of this work was to improve a previously developed object matching methodology. This overall methodology includes: a modeling phase; followed by a modal analysis; construction of a matrix that relates both sets of objects points; and a matching phase. The previously implemented matching phase is based on a local search; with this solution the relation between objects nodes (points) are not considered. To overcome this, we implemented a new matching solution, using optimization techniques, based on a global search. This solution is compared with the previous one allowing the improvement of result verification. The local and the global search methods used in this work allow only matches of the usual type “one to one”. However, there are situations when this type of match is not the most adequate, since it can imply loss of information. To avoid this problem, we developed a new algorithm applicable to contour objects that finds satisfactory matches of type “one-to-many” or vice versa.
Emergence of Three-Dimensional Printing Technology and Its Utility in Spine Surgery

In the last decade, spine surgery has advanced tremendously. Tissue engineering and three-dimensional (3D) printing/additive manufacturing have provided promising new research avenues in the fields of medicine and orthopedics in recent literature, and their emergent role in spine surgery is encouraging. We reviewed recent articles that highlighted the role of 3D printing in medicine, orthopedics, and spine surgery and summarized the utility of 3D printing. 3D printing has shown promising results in various aspects of spine surgery and can be a useful tool for spine surgeons. The growing research on tissue bioengineering and its application in conjunction with additive manufacturing has revealed great potential for tissue bioengineering in the treatment of spinal ailments.
Lightweight Kernel Support for Direct Shared Memory Access on a Multi-Core Processor.

This paper describes an enhancement to the Catamount lightweight kernel for direct shared memory access between processes running on a multi-core processor as part of a par- allel application. Unlike traditional shared memory support for interprocess communication, which involves dynamic mem- ory allocation and mapping, we leverage Catamount's static contiguous memory mapping scheme to allows the processes on a multi-core process to directly access each other's mem- ory through simple virtual address manipulation. This pa- per describes our implementation of direct shared memory access in Catamount, contrasts it to other approaches, and discusses the potential benefits of this approach in support- ing MPI applications.
Bioinformatic Analysis of Retroelement-Associated Sequences in Human and Mouse Promoters

— Mammalian genomes contain large number of retroelements (SINEs, LINEs and LTRs) which could affect expression of protein coding genes through associated transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). Activity of the retroelement-associated TFBS in many genes is confirmed experimentally but their global functional impact remains unclear. Human SINEs (Alu repeats) and mouse SINEs (B1 and B2 repeats) are known to be clustered in GC-rich gene rich genome segments consistent with the view that they can contribute to regulation of gene expression. We have shown earlier that Alu are involved in formation of cis-regulatory modules (clusters of TFBS) in human promoters, and other authors reported that Alu located near promoter CpG islands have an increased frequency of CpG dinucleotides suggesting that these Alu are undermethylated. Human Alu and mouse B1/B2 elements have an internal bipartite promoter for RNA polymerase III containing conserved sequence motif called B-box which can bind basal transcription complex TFIIIC. It has been recently shown that TFIIIC binding to B-box leads to formation of a boundary which limits spread of repressive chromatin modifications in S. pombe . SINE-associated B-boxes may have similar function but conservation of TFIIIC binding sites in SINEs located near mammalian promoters has not been studied earlier. Here we analysed abundance and distribution of retroelements (SINEs, LINEs and LTRs) in annotated sequences of the Database of mammalian transcription start sites (DBTSS). Fractions of SINEs in human and mouse promoters are slightly lower than in all genome but >40% of human and mouse promoters contain Alu or B1/B2 elements within -1000 to +200 bp interval relative to transcription start site (TSS). Most of these SINEs is associated with distal segments of promoters (-1000 to -200 bp relative to TSS) indicating that their insertion at distances >200 bp upstream of TSS is tolerated during evolution. Distribution of SINEs in promoters correlates negatively with the distribution of CpG sequences. Using analysis of abundance of 12-mer motifs from the B1 and Alu consensus sequences in genome and DBTSS it has been confirmed that some subsegments of Alu and B1 elements are poorly conserved which depends in part on the presence of CpG dinucleotides. One of these CpG-containing subsegments in B1 elements overlaps with SINE-associated B-box and it shows better conservation in DBTSS compared to genomic sequences. It has been also studied conservation in DBTSS and genome of the B-box containing segments of old (AluJ, AluS) and young (AluY) Alu repeats and found that CpG sequence of the B-box of old Alu is better conserved in DBTSS than in genome. This indicates that B-box-associated CpGs in promoters are better protected from methylation and mutation than B-box-associated CpGs in genomic SINEs. These results are consistent with the view that potential TFIIIC binding motifs in SINEs associated with human and mouse
A depth-incorporated 2D descriptor for robust and efficient 3D environment reconstruction

We develop a system to reconstruct the indoor 3D environment from a sequence of range images. The range images from different partial views of the environment are taken from a range camera while it is moving. The efficiency and accuracy of the 3D reconstruction heavily rely on the partial matching between two range images. We propose a depth-incorporated SURF keypoints and descriptors to stitch two adjacent range image frames. Finally, the stitched reconstruction result is globally optimized through a graph optimization. This effectively reduce the inevitable accumulated error introduced during the pairwise stitching procedure. F5.
The Limits of Human Stereopsis in Space and Time

To encode binocular disparity, the visual system determines the image patches in one eye that yield the highest correlation with patches in the other eye. The computation of interocular correlation occurs after spatiotemporal filtering of monocular signals, which leads to restrictions on disparity variations that can support depth perception. We quantified those restrictions by measuring humans' ability to see disparity variation at a wide range of spatial and temporal frequencies. Lower-disparity thresholds cut off at very low spatiotemporal frequencies, which is consistent with the behavior of V1 neurons. Those thresholds are space–time separable, suggesting that the underlying neural mechanisms are separable. We also found that upper-disparity limits were characterized by a spatiotemporal, disparity-gradient limit; to be visible, disparity variation cannot exceed a fixed amount for a given interval in space–time. Our results illustrate that the disparity variations that humans can see are very restricted compared with the corresponding luminance variations. The results also provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying depth from disparity, such as why stimuli with long interocular delays can still yield clear depth percepts.
Neurocognitive correlates of the effects of yoga meditation practice on emotion and cognition: a pilot study

Mindfulness meditation involves attending to emotions without cognitive fixation of emotional experience. Over time, this practice is held to promote alterations in trait affectivity and attentional control with resultant effects on well-being and cognition. However, relatively little is known regarding the neural substrates of meditation effects on emotion and cognition. The present study investigated the neurocognitive correlates of emotion interference on cognition in Yoga practitioners and a matched control group (CG) underwent fMRI while performing an event-related affective Stroop task. The task includes image viewing trials and Stroop trials bracketed by neutral or negative emotional distractors. During image viewing trials, Yoga practitioners exhibited less reactivity in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) to negative as compared to neutral images; whereas the CG had the opposite pattern. A main effect of valence (negative > neutral) was observed in limbic regions (e.g., amygdala), of which the magnitude was inversely related to dlPFC activation. Exploratory analyses revealed that the magnitude of amygdala activation predicted decreased self-reported positive affect in the CG, but not among Yoga practitioners. During Stroop trials, Yoga practitioners had greater activation in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) during Stroop trials when negative, compared to neutral, emotional distractor were presented; the CG exhibited the opposite pattern. Taken together, these data suggest that though Yoga practitioners exhibit limbic reactivity to negative emotional stimuli, such reactivity does not have downstream effects on later mood state. This uncoupling of viewing negative emotional images and affect among Yoga practitioners may be occasioned by their selective implementation of frontal executive-dependent strategies to reduce emotional interference during competing cognitive demands and not during emotional processing per se.
Gauge theory, calibrated geometry and harmonic spinors

In this paper, connections between different gauge‐theoretical problems in high and low dimensions are established. In particular, it is shown that higher dimensional anti‐self‐duality equations on the total spaces of spinor bundles over low‐dimensional manifolds can be interpreted as the Taubes–Pidstrygach generalization of the Seiberg–Witten equations. By collapsing each fibre of the spinor bundle to a point, solutions of the Taubes–Pidstrygach equations are related to generalized harmonic spinors. This approach is also generalized to arbitrary fibrations (without singular fibres) compatible with an appropriate calibration.
A Survey on the Computational Complexity of Coloring Graphs with Forbidden Subgraphs

For a positive integer k, a k‐coloring of a graph G=(V,E) is a mapping c:V→{1,2,. ,k} such that c(u)≠c(v) whenever uv∈E . The Coloring problem is to decide, for a given G and k, whether a k‐coloring of G exists. If k is fixed (i.e., it is not part of the input), we have the decision problem k‐Coloring instead. We survey known results on the computational complexity of Coloring and k‐Coloring for graph classes that are characterized by one or two forbidden induced subgraphs. We also consider a number of variants: for example, where the problem is to extend a partial coloring, or where lists of permissible colors are given for each vertex.
Thematic Roles and Semantic Space Insights from Distributional Semantic Models

The goal of this work is to use Distributional Semantic Models (Sahlgren, 2006; Turney, 2010) to get insights into the nature of thematic roles. In particular, we investigate whether the semantic representation produced by Distributional Semantic Models (henceforth, DSMs) is sensitive to effects of typicality involving thematic roles, and we quantify their relative prominence in the semantic representation encoded in the distributional space. Corpus-based modeling of selectional preferences and thematic fit is a well established field of research (see Erk et al., 2007 and references therein). What is peculiar to our approach is its attempt to model thematic fit data without taking into account syntactic relations, on the basis of distributional relatedness in bag-of-words DSMs. In this abstract we will show that (a) DSMs that make no use of syntax show good performances in a task related to selectional preference and (b) that the distribution of DSMs’ performance across thematic relations shows patterns which are compatible with some general assumptions in theoretical linguistics.
Exploring the web of spatial data with facete

The majority of data (including data published on the Web as Linked Open Data) has a spatial dimension. However, the efficient, user friendly exploration of spatial data remains a major challenge. We present Facete, a web-based exploration and visualization application enabling the spatial-faceted browsing of data with a spatial dimension. Facete implements a novel spatial data exploration paradigm based on the following three key components: First, a domain independent faceted filtering module, which operates directly on SPARQL and supports nested facets. Second, an algorithm that efficiently detects spatial information related to those resources that satisfy the facet selection. The detected relations are used for automatically presenting data on a map. And third, a workflow for making the map display interact with data sources that contain large amounts of geometric information. We demonstrate Facete in large-scale, real world application scenarios.
Contribution of the reverse rate of the conformational step to polymerase beta fidelity.

A complete understanding of the kinetic mechanism of fidelity requires comparison of correct and incorrect dNTP incorporation pathways in both the forward and reverse directions. The studies presented here focus on the dNTP-induced conformational step, which has historically been proposed by many to be the major determinant of fidelity. As it was recently highlighted [Tsai, Y. C. , and Johnson, K. A. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 9675-9687], chemistry can be the slowest step in the forward direction of the correct dNTP incorporation pathway, yet the corresponding microscopic rate constant would not contribute toward fidelity in the case when the reverse rate of the conformational step is slower than chemistry. Here we use a stopped-flow technique to directly measure the reverse rate of the conformational step in the DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) kinetic pathway. Extensive pre-steady-state kinetic studies presented include the utilization of 2-aminopurine-labeled DNA substrates, 2-aminopurine nucleotide triphosphate, a nonhydrolyzable nucleotide analogue dAMPCPP, and a rapid sequential mixing reaction scheme. Additionally, the effect of mismatched dNTPs, various metal ions, and the presence of the 3'-terminal hydroxyl group of the primer on the rate of the reverse "opening" conformational step were analyzed. Our analyses indicate that reverse "opening" is drastically facilitated in the presence of mismatched ternary complexes, which is in agreement with the hypothesis that the ternary complex is destabilized by the presence of incorrect dNTP. By analysis of the relative magnitudes of chemistry and reverse "opening" in the presence of both matched and mismatched matched ternary complexes, this work further validates that, for Pol beta, fidelity is dictated by the differences in free energy required to reach the highest energy transition state of the chemical step.
Aging, Pension Reform, and Capital Flows: A Multi-Country Simulation Model

We present a quantitative analysis of the effects of population aging and pension reform on international capital markets. First, demographic change alters the time path of aggregate savings within each country. Second, this process may be amplified when a pension reform shifts old-age provision towards more pre-funding. Third, while the patterns of population aging are similar in most countries, timing and initial conditions differ substantially. Hence, to the extent that capital is internationally mobile, population aging will induce capital flows between countries. All three effects influence the rate of return to capital and interact with the demand for capital in production and with labor supply. In order to quantify these effects, we develop a computational general equilibrium model. We feed this multi-country overlapping generations model with detailed long-term demographic projections for seven world regions. Our simulations indicate that capital flows from fast-aging regions to the rest of the world will initially be substantial but that trends are reversed when households decumulate savings. We also conclude that closed-economy models of pension reform miss quantitatively important effects of international capital mobility
CPG-based locomotion control of a snake-like robot for obstacle avoidance

This paper presents a biomimetic approach based on central pattern generator (CPG), to control turning motion of a snake-like robot. One of the interesting features of a biological snake is its ability to avoid obstacles or a barrier by turning its whole body from its trajectory. This special obstacle avoidance motion is different from other types of animal, and thus, it is worth to be analyzed and realized into a snake-like robot. The paper first briefly explains: 1) the phase oscillator model which represents the CPG model and 2) the CPG network. Next, we address several issues related to the existing/typical turning control of a snake-like robot. We then propose the phase transition method utilizing the phase difference control parameter to realize the turning motion of a snake-like robot. We also introduce a new parameter to control the turning of the robot, where it provides a way to incorporate sensory feedback into the CPG model. Simulation results show that the proposed turning method can be used efficiently as an obstacle avoidance method for a snake-like robot.
Meson synchrotron radiation threshold for ultra-high energy cosmic ray protons

High energy protons in uniform circular motion can emit the e quivalent of synchrotron radiation composed by mesons. Her e, we consider this process in an astrophysical context. We sho w, in particular, that astrophysical sources of cosmic rays endowed with a magnetic fieldB > 1012 Gauss cannot accelerate protons to energies higher than E ∼ 1015 eV since, in this situation, the threshold for meson production is attained, yielding the nu cleons unstable and allowing the intense decay by the strong channel. This conclusion exclude any acceleration mechanism for ult ra-high energy cosmic rays which involves environments fill ed with magnetic fieldsB > 1012 Gauss.
Context-based assessment: creating opportunities for resonance between classroom fields and societal fields

ABSTRACT There is on-going international interest in the relationships between assessment instruments, students’ understanding of science concepts and context-based curriculum approaches. This study extends earlier research showing that students can develop connections between contexts and concepts – called fluid transitions – when studying context-based courses. We provide an in-depth investigation of one student’s experiences with multiple contextual assessment instruments that were associated with a context-based course. We analyzed the student’s responses to context-based assessment instruments to determine the extent to which contextual tests, reports of field investigations, and extended experimental investigations afforded her opportunities to make connections between contexts and concepts. A system of categorizing student responses was developed that can inform other educators when analyzing student responses to contextual assessment. We also refine the theoretical construct of fluid transitions that informed the study initially. Implications for curriculum and assessment design are provided in light of the findings.
Distributed Implementation of Latent Rating Pattern Sharing Based Cross-domain Recommender System Approach

Latent rating pattern sharing based approaches for cross-domain recommendations can alleviate the data sparsity problem by pulling the knowledge available from other domains and are faster in prediction. However, since the prediction quality depends on number of chosen user and item classes for given data-set, the model training time becomes prohibitively large even for medium size data-sets. In this paper, we propose a MapReduce based distributed implementation of the cross domain recommendation algorithm. Our implementation has the capability to run on modern distributed computing frameworks, such as Hadoop and Twister, that utilize commodity machines. The experimental results show that the training time increases only linearly with user and item classes when compared to the exponential increase in case of its sequential counterpart.