Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new web-based solver for combinatorial optimization problems under permutation property

Combinatorial optimization problems under permutation property (COPP) are generally NP-hard. To address such problems, metaheuristic approaches have increasingly captured the research interest due to their abilities to provide acceptable solutions in a reasonable time. This paper deals with a web based-solver destined for young researchers to solve COPP by metaheuristic approaches. This new tool will provide the opportunities to browse related works proposed for the COPP and metaheuristics. It will evaluate several versions of metaheuristic, and then, to give a best approximated solution to a studied COPP thanks to the design of experiment (DOE) module. As a first application, we will present a genetic solver tool for permutation flow shop scheduling problem.
Heimdallr: a dataset for sport analysis

In this paper, we present Heimdallr, a dataset that aims to serve two different purposes. The first purpose is action recognition and pose estimation, which requires a dataset of annotated sequences of athlete skeletons. We employed a crowdsourcing platform where people around the world were asked to annotate frames and obtained more than 3000 fully annotated frames for 42 different sequences with a variety of poses and actions. The second purpose is an improved understanding of crowdworkers, and for this purpose, we collected over 10000 written feedbacks from 592 crowdworkers. This is valuable information for crowdsourcing researchers who explore algorithms for worker quality assessment. In addition to the complete dataset, we also provide the code for the application that has been used to collect the data as an open source software.
Functional evaluation of sperm in Colombian fertile men.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate in 111 ejaculates from fertile men membrane integrity of spermatozoa before selection and sperm motility, and sperm concentration and chromatin integrity before and after selection of motile spermatozoo. METHODS We evaluated the membrane integrity (using hypoosmotic swelling test and Eosin-Y) before separation and chromatin integrity (using acridine orange), concentration and motility before and after separation by migration sedimentation technique. All individuals had pregnant wives or had procreated a baby during the last year. RESULTS The data of sperm membrane integrity by the eosin-Y and hypoosmotic swelling tests did not show significant statistical differences and the correlation between them was low. The percentage of motile sperm (grades a + b) increased from 57% to 87% (p < 0.001), the concentration decreased from 89 to 31 x 10(6) sperm/ mL (p < 0.001) and chromatin integrity increased significantly (p < 0.0001) after separation of semen. CONCLUSIONS The great variation in the values obtained in the functional test in fertile males requires a re-evaluation of the use of these tests in clinical practice of infertility.
Secondary Innovation: The Experience of Chinese Enterprises in Learning, Innovation and Capability Building

Nowadays enterprises have played an important role in China’s economic development and increasingly become the main force of China’s growing research and innovation activities. Different from some related work on developing countries’ innovation policy and strategy, the evolutionary model of secondary innovation, based on Chinese enterprises’ innovation practice, highlights the significant role of enterprises in systems of capability building and innovation, and opens the black box to uncover the dynamic process of enterprises’ organizational learning, knowledge accumulation and capability building. Moreover, since enterprises are considered as open systems and one important job of organizational learning is to address rapidly changing environments, interactions between systems of innovation inside and outside the enterprises are also highlighted in the model. In a word, the secondary innovation model provides a useful analytical framework for better understanding the micro-level systems of learning, innovation and capability building in developing countries.
Research of Mechanical Fault SVM Intelligent Recognition Based on EEMD Sample Entropy

The extraction of fault information is the key of fault intelligent recognition of support vector machine for rolling bearing. Because of the non-adaptive and mode mixture of wavelet transform and empirical mode decomposition, ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and sample entropy have been adopted to extract fault information of rolling bearing. For three kinds of conditions and pitting diameters, the vibration signal of rolling bearing has been acquired by experiment. Then by wavelet transform to reduce noise, the noise reduction signal has been decomposed into several intrinsic mode function components by EEMD, and the complexity of major components has been described by sample entropy. In addition, a SVM rolling bearing fault classification recognizer which EEMD sample entropy has been adopted as training and recognition samples is proposed. The experiment result shows that under small sample, the inner race, outer race and ball fault of bearing can be accurately recognized and the accuracy for reorganization enhance with the number of samples increasing. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
Using orthogonal least squares identification for adaptive nonlinear filtering of GSM signals

The miniaturization of GSM handsets creates nonlinear acoustical echoes between the microphone and the loudspeaker when the signal level is high. Nonlinear adaptive filtering can tackle this problem but the computational complexity has to be reduced by restricting the number of coefficients introduced by the nonlinear models. This paper compares the performance of different nonlinear models. In a first training stage we use the OLS (orthogonal least squares) identification method to find models using the fewest coefficients along with a good fitting accuracy. In a second filtering stage these parsimonious models are used to adaptively filter the GSM signals.
ENUMERATION OF END-LABELED TREES*

Labeled trees with unlabeled endpoints were counted by Harary, Mowshowitz and Riordan [3 ] , Moon [5] enumated connected labeled graphs with unlabeled endpoints. In the present note we examine the complementary problem of counting trees in which only the endpoints are labeled, and in so doing develop a general technique for counting certain classes of partially labeled graphs. Let G = (V,X) be a graph where V= \vu v2, ••> vp j is the set of points, and X its set of Sines; see [2] . Apart/a/ labeling of G is an injection f of N = iLZ —-,n\ into I/ for /? <p. A graph G together with a partial labeling f will be called partially labeled. Two partially labeled graphs (G, fj and (G, f2) are identical if there is an automorphism 7 of G such that f2 (i) = y(fx (i)) for ! < / < / ? A partially labeled tree (TJ) will be called end-labeled if f(N) is the set of endpoints of T. Let tip) and T(p) denote the number of end-labeled trees and end-labeled rooted trees, respectively, having p points. Theorem t (1) tip) = Blp-2) and (2) Tip) = B(p-1), where n
IL-15–PI3K–AKT–mTOR: A Critical Pathway in the Life Journey of Natural Killer Cells

Among numerous cytokines modulating natural killer (NK) cell function, interleukin 15 (IL-15) exerts a broad range of effect from development and homeostasis, to activation of mature NK cells during infection. Its significance is further highlighted by clinical trials in which IL-15 is being used to boost the proliferation and anti-tumor response of NK cells. Among the signal transduction pathways triggered by the engagement of IL-15 receptor with its ligand, the PI3K–AKT–mTOR pathway seems to be critical for the IL-15-mediated activation of NK cells, therefore being responsible for efficient anti-viral and anti-tumor responses. This review provides an overview of the role of IL-15 at multiple stages of NK cell life journey. Understanding the pathway by which IL-15 conveys critical signals for the generation of NK cells with efficient effector functions, in combination with established protocols for NK cell expansion ex vivo, will undoubtedly open new avenues for therapeutic applications for immunomodulation against infections and cancers.
Comparative Study of Three Two-Stage Hybrid Ecological Wastewater Treatment Systems for Producing High Nutrient, Reclaimed Water for Irrigation Reuse in Developing Countries

Abstract: In this study, three different two-stage hybrid ecological wastewater treatment systems (HEWTS) with combinations of horizontal flow (HF) constructed wetlands (CWs), vertical flow (VF) CWs and stabilization ponds (SP) were evaluated for the removal of Organic-N, NH 4+ , NO 3− , Total N, Total P, Total Coliforms (TCol) and Escherichia Coli , BOD, COD and TSS. The overall goal of the study was novel in comparison to most other studies in that we sought to evaluate and compare the efficiency of the three HEWTSs for water quality improvements, while minimizing nutrient removal from the wastewater in order to generate high quality reclaimed water for reuse for irrigation of crops. The most effective systems were those systems containing a vertical flow component, either HF-VF or VF-HF. In these two HEWTS, NH 4+ was reduced by 85.5% and 85.0% respectively, while NO 3− was increased to 91.4 ± 17.6 mg/L and to 82.5 ± 17.2 mg/L, respectively, an artifact of nitrification. At the same time,
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Probiotic and Synbiotic on Broiler Chickens Hematology and Intestinal Integrity

A total of 525 d-old male Ross 308 chicks, were obtained from a local hatchery (Jin hatchery, Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq) and randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, each with three replicates, 35 chickens per replicate. The birds were reared in floor pens. The five diet treatments were the control (no supplement), diets supplemented with probiotic at 2.5 or 5 g/kg and diets supplemented with synbiotic at 2.5 or 5 g/kg diet. The five treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Probiotic and synbiotic were supplemented throughout the 42 d experimental period. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic and synbiotic on some haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chicken at 42 d of age. Supplementation the broiler diet with probiotics and synbiotics resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase in the concentration of Hb. The H/L ratio also reduced due to the addition of supplements to the broiler diets. Supplementation of broiler diet with synbiotic significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentration of serum cholesterol and LDL of broiler chickens. Histological results showed that broiler chickens that fed on diets supplemented with probiotics and synbiotics have higher villi than control group. Supplementation of probiotic and synbiotics could have positive effects on the productive performance of broiler thereby improving their haematological and intestinal histological aspects.
Asymptotic Stabilization by State Feedback for a Class of Networked Control Systems

In this paper, state feedback stabilization problem for a class of networked control systems is studied. First, a discrete-time switching system model is presented to describe these networked control systems. Then the state feedback stabilization method of discrete systems with constant time delay is extended to the discrete-time switching system model. Main results are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities formulation. It provides an efficient numerical method to obtain a solution of state feedback gain for these systems.
Physics-based model of a rectangular garment for robotic folding

The ability to perform an accurate robotic fold is essential to obtain the properly folded garment. Available solutions rely on a rough folding surface or on a comprehensive simulation, both preventing the garment from slipping on the table during folding. This paper proposes a new algorithm for a folding path design respecting the garment material properties and preventing the garment slipping. The folding path is derived based on the equilibrium of forces under the simplifying assumptions of a rectangular and homogeneous garment. This approach allows folding the rectangular garment on a low friction table surface as we demonstrated in the experiments performed by a dual-arm robotic testbed.
PCA Learning for Non-brain Waves-Controlled Robotic Hand (Prosthesis): Grasp Stabilization and Control

This article is looking into some recent development that is taking place and being developed so far, for a thought controlled robotic hand, and to be used for prosthesis. Force and motion issues of such prosthesis and robotic hands, still remain a crucial problem that is to be looked into. Due to the impossibility of sensing and tactile feedback from a prosthesis to the brain, it is essential to have a local control to within the prosthesis to take care of unanticipated situation a hand should deal. In this sense, a signal generated algorithm will moreover be developed using patterns of hand motions and fingertips to spontaneously prevent a grasp of objects from being accidentally dropped once are disturbed. The article is proposing a learning mechanism for a grasp stabilization and control. The followed approach here is totally based on the use of Principle Components Analysis (PCA) to learn the massive patterns of prosthesis behaviors due to thought signals that are transmitted from the human brain to the hand mechanics.
Consumer choice, welfare reform and participation in Europe. A framework for analysis

The objective of this paper is to study the effects on solidarity, risk, and equity of the introduction of choice and competition into the provision of public services. Many European countries have embraced the choice agenda in welfare arrangements with a view of improving efficiency and/or quality. For example, citizens are freer to choose between health and education services than they were a decade ago. We first examine the motivations behind the consumer choice agenda, including the role of the European Union in enhancing choice within social and welfare institutions. Second, we analyze how the introduction of choice may introduce new trade-offs and affect the pooling of risks in European welfare states. Third, we outline the research methodology for our case studies on education, employment services and long-term care. The paper explores the possibility that rather than presenting a challenge to solidaristic welfare citizenship, the introduction of choice may in the longer term safeguard the public provision of services by providing the basis for a new political consensus.
Question Answering with QACTIS at TREC 2004

We provide a description of the QACTIS question-answering system and its application to and performance in the 2004 TREC question-answering evaluation. Since this was also QACTIS’s first year competing at TREC, we provide a complete overview of its purpose, development, structure, and its future directions.
The Method of Inferring Trust in Web-based Social Network using Fuzzy Logic

This paper proposes the approach for inferring trust between users in the web-based social network using fuzzy logic. User would construct social network making direct connection and indirect connection through the several users. If user make connection without any consideration in such social network, it should cause decreasing reliability of whole network. Consequently, this paper suggests the method of inferring trust between users in web-based social network information retrieval system using fuzzy logic for reliable information retrieval and user’s trust deduction.
The Effect of Audit Market Deregulation on the Pricing of Brand Name Reputation

Between 1982 and 1987, the Australian audit market experienced an increase in price competition resulting from changes in professional rules governing advertising and marketing practices as well as the introduction of widespread audit tendering. Because these changes are generally assumed to have reduced any alleged ability of the Big Eight to earn oligopoly profits, they provide an opportunity to test alternative explanations for the observed Big Eight audit-fee premia. If the market was not competitive, the Big Eight premium may be the result of market imperfections and the changes in professional rules could be expected to lead to a decline in the premia. Alternatively, if the market was competitive and the premia were attributable to product differentiation, it would be sustainable notwithstanding deregulation of the market. The initial analysis of panel data of publicly reported audit fees for a six-year period suggests that reductions in real audit fees are more marked among Big Eight clients and occur more quickly in response to a change of auditor. However, using seemingly unrelated regression it appears that structural adjustments were made to the audit-fee process and the Big Eight premium did not decline over the six year period. This result does not support allegations that Big Eight fee premia result from a relatively uncompetitive audit market.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Concepts of Electroporation Pulse Generation

Electroporator is a generator of electric pulses that is used for permeabilization of cells. There are five major concepts of electroporation design. Capacitor discharge, square wave generator, and analog generator are used to generate classical electroporation pulses that are longer than microsecond and pulse forming network, and resonant charging generator that are used to generate nanosecond electroporation pulses. The choice of an electroporator design is always driven by the biotechnological or biomedical application. Electroporators can be used for introduction of small (electrochemotherapy) and large molecules (gene electrotransfer), cell fusion, insertion of proteins into cell membrane, electroporation of organelles, pasteurization, tissue ablation etc. Basic concepts and foreseeable future developments in electroporator design are presented in this article.
Markets Technology shocks and financial bubbles

Bubbles are defined in this paper as a temporary period of asset mispricing during which prices diverge from Rational Expectations Equilibrium (REE) for a period that is too long to be justified by random mispricing about a fixed mean rate of return. We solve for the market price of the risky asset based on marginal supply and demand functions for quantities of shares, where the total issue is fixed. The marginal supply/demand functions are derived from the optimal asset allocation problem of rational agents who have HARA type utility functions with different risk aversion coefficients. It is sufficient to assume incomplete information in this model in order to obtain bubbles in a dynamic asset pricing setting; we maintain agents' rationality and homogeneous information. It appears that shares of new-technology companies are prone to exhibit bubbles more than old technology shares since investors lack an observable fundamental benchmark. As long as that benchmark is unavailable, bubbles might emerge if less risk-averse agents dominate the market.
Vacuolization, Dilatation, Hyaline Cast, Debris or Degeneration: Which One Is the Most Correlated Item to Score the Kidney Damage Pathologically in Cisplatin Induced Nephrotoxicity Model?

Background Nephrotoxicity is characterized and scored by many parameters such as vacuolization, dilatation, hyaline cast, debris or degeneration in injured renal tissue. In this short report, we attempt to find, the most correlated parameters with kidney tissue pathology damage score (PDS) in Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Method A total of 207 normal and toxic rats’ kidney tissue (induced by Cisplatin) were evaluated for toxicity intensity by two methods. In the first method, the tissue damage was scored from 0 to 4, and in the second method the percentage of vacuolization, dilatation, hyaline cast, debris or degeneration were determined. The data was analyzed using stepwise discriminant function and regression analysis. Results The variables having the higher discriminant function coefficient were hyaline cast, dilatation, and degeneration. The linear regression model and the prediction function to determine the kidney tissue PDS were generated as below. PDS = 0.445 + 0.035 × hyaline cast + 0.013 × dilatation + 0.020 × degeneration Conclusion According to this finding it is suggested that presence of hyaline cast and dilatation, and then degeneration in the sample of toxic renal tissue are the most important item to score the damage intensity.
Shared Effects of Genetic and Intrauterine and Perinatal Environment on the Development of Metabolic Syndrome

Genetic and environmental factors, including the in utero environment, contribute to Metabolic Syndrome. Exposure to high fat diet exposure in utero and lactation increases incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in offspring. Using GLUT4 heterozygous (G4+/−) mice, genetically predisposed to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and wild-type littermates we demonstrate genotype specific differences to high fat in utero and lactation. High fat in utero and lactation increased adiposity and impaired insulin and glucose tolerance in both genotypes. High fat wild type offspring had increased serum glucose and PAI-1 levels and decreased adiponectin at 6 wks of age compared to control wild type. High fat G4+/− offspring had increased systolic blood pressure at 13 wks of age compared to all other groups. Potential fetal origins of adult Metabolic Syndrome were investigated. Regardless of genotype, high fat in utero decreased fetal weight and crown rump length at embryonic day 18.5 compared to control. Hepatic expression of genes involved in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, oxidative stress and inflammation were increased with high fat in utero. Fetal serum glucose levels were decreased in high fat G4+/− compared to high fat wild type fetuses. High fat G4+/−, but not high fat wild type fetuses, had increased levels of serum cytokines (IFN-γ, MCP-1, RANTES and M-CSF) compared to control. This data demonstrates that high fat during pregnancy and lactation increases Metabolic Syndrome male offspring and that heterozygous deletion of GLUT4 augments susceptibility to increased systolic blood pressure. Fetal adaptations to high fat in utero that may predispose to Metabolic Syndrome in adulthood include changes in fetal hepatic gene expression and alterations in circulating cytokines. These results suggest that the interaction between in utero-perinatal environment and genotype plays a critical role in the developmental origin of health and disease.
Unsupervised Texture Segmentation Using Permutation Entropy and Grey-level Feature

A new method based on permutation entropy and grey level feature is provided in this paper. Permutation entropy is a new complexity measure for time series based on comparison of neighbouring values. The definition applies to describe the texture feature of image. The new complexity measure feature combines with the grey-scale mean and grey-scale deviation, construct multi-dimension feature vector. Then, apply the fuzzy c-means algorithm as the classifier to cluster the feature vectors, get the texture segmentation results. Experiments show that the method is particularly useful in the presence of dynamical or observational noise and the advantages of the method are its simplicity, extremely fast calculation, its robustness