Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FES-controlled co-contraction strategies for pathological tremor compensation

In this paper, a strategy for pathological tremor compensation based on co-contraction of antagonist muscles induced by Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is presented. Although one of the simplest alternatives to apply FES for reducing the effects of tremor, the contribution of different co- contraction levels for joint motion and impedance must be accurately estimated, specially since tremor itself is highly time-varying. In this work, a detailed musculoskeletalmodel of the human wrist actuated by flexor and extensor muscles is used for this purpose. The model takes into account different properties that affect muscle dynamics, such as proprioceptive feed- back and combined natural and artificial activation. The model, analysis of stiffness modulation due to FES-controlled co-contraction and simulation results are presented in the paper.
Performance study of synthetic AER generation on CPUs for Real-Time Video based on Spikes

Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a neuromorphic interchip communication protocol that allows for real-time virtual massive connectivity between huge number neurons located on different chips. When building multi-chip muti-layered AER systems it is absolutely necessary to have a computer interface that allows (a) to read AER interchip traffic into the computer and visualize it on screen, and (b) convert conventional frame-based video stream in the computer into AER and inject it at some point of the AER structure. This is necessary for test and debugging of complex AER systems. Previous work presented several software methods for converting digital frames into AER format. Those methods were not feasible for real-time conversion those days because the processor performance was insufficient. Nowadays, Multi-core processor architectures and cache hierarchies have evolved and the performance is much better than Pentium 4 Mobile of those years. In this paper we study frame-to-AER methods for real-time video applications (40ms per frame) using modern processor architectures, compilers, and processors oriented for stand-alone applications (mini-PC processors)
Reputation and Trust Mathematical Approach for Wireless Sensor Networks

In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), these sensor nodes cooperate with each other to form a network without using any infrastructure. WSNs has a wide application. But the security of WSNs is still an important issue. Some existing approaches mainly rely on cryptography to ensure data authentication and integrity. These approaches only address part of the problem of security in WSNs. However, these approaches are not sufficient for the unique characteristics and novel misbehaviors encountered in WSNs. Recently, the use of reputation systems has become an important mechanism in WSNs. In this paper we propose a reputation and trust mathematical framework for WSNs which borrows tools from probability, statistics and mathematics analysis. We have suggested a new term certainty used in trust system and we argued that the positive or negative outcomes for a certain event is not enough information to make a decision in WSNs. We build up a reputation space and trust space in WSNs, and define a transformation from reputation space to trust space. Finally, we discuss some important properties of them and provide a basement in the trust and reputation for future research in WSNs. And we point out some open problems in reputation and trust system in WSNs.
Increasing downlink cellular throughput with limited network MIMO coordination

Single-user, multiuser, and network MIMO performance is evaluated for downlink cellular networks with 12 antennas per site, sectorization, universal frequency reuse, scheduled packet-data, and a dense population of stationary users. Compared to a single-user MIMO baseline system with 3 sectors per site, network MIMO coordination is found to increase throughput by a factor of 1.8 with intra-site coordination among antennas belonging to the same cell site. Intra-site coordination performs almost as well as a highly sectorized system with 12 sectors per site. Increasing the coordination cluster size from 1 to 7 sites increases the throughput gain factor to 2.5.
A Hybrid Approach to Linked Data Query Processing with Time Constraints

In addition to RDF data within documents published according to the Linked Data principles, SPARQL endpoints are also a potential source of a great deal of Linked Data. The execution of queries using languages such as SPARQL can use utilise both of these types of data sources. In this paper we present a hybrid approach to answering SPARQL queries that makes use of both link traversal-based and distributed query processing-based approaches in order to combine query answering over the Web of Linked Data and SPARQL endpoints respectively. The technique diers from existing work in that link traversal and endpoint queries take place in parallel without a static query plan. It is demonstrated how, using a set of heuristics and optimisation techniques, this can be eective when answering queries with time constraints (incomplete answers are acceptable in order to minimise execution time). An evaluation of the technique is presented using the FedBench Linked Data queries with query execution time limited to 10 seconds, with an analysis of answers that can be provided within this time limit.
Discovery of cell-type specific regulatory elements in the human genome using differential chromatin modification analysis

Chromatin modifications have been comprehensively illustrated to play important roles in gene regulation and cell diversity in recent years. Given the rapid accumulation of genome-wide chromatin modification maps across multiple cell types, there is an urgent need for computational methods to analyze multiple maps to reveal combinatorial modification patterns and define functional DNA elements, especially those are specific to cell types or tissues. In this current study, we developed a computational method using differential chromatin modification analysis (dCMA) to identify cell-type-specific genomic regions with distinctive chromatin modifications. We then apply this method to a public data set with modification profiles of nine marks for nine cell types to evaluate its effectiveness. We found cell-type-specific elements unique to each cell type investigated. These unique features show significant cell-type-specific biological relevance and tend to be located within functional regulatory elements. These results demonstrate the power of a differential comparative epigenomic strategy in deciphering the human genome and characterizing cell specificity.
Location-aware click prediction in mobile local search

Users increasingly rely on their mobile devices to search, locate and discover places and activities around them while on the go. Their decision process is driven by the information displayed on their devices and their current context (e.g. traffic, driving or walking etc.). Even though recent research efforts have already examined and demonstrated how different context parameters such as weather, time and personal preferences affect the way mobile users click on local businesses, little has been done to study how the location of the user affects the click behavior. In this paper we follow a data-driven methodology where we analyze approximately 2 million local search queries submitted by users across the US, to visualize and quantify how differently mobile users click across locations. Based on the data analysis, we propose new location-aware features for improving local search click prediction and quantify their performance on real user query traces. Motivated by the results, we implement and evaluate a data-driven technique where local search models at different levels of location granularity (e.g. city, state, and country levels) are combined together at run-time to further improve click prediction accuracy. By applying the location-aware features and the multiple models at different levels of location granularity on real user query streams from a major, commercially available search engine, we achieve anywhere from 5% to 47% higher Precision than a single click prediction model across the US can achieve.
Immigrants as Symbolic Assailants

Despite little evidence of an immigration-crime nexus, many American jurisdictions have adopted a punitive approach to undocumented immigrants and an increasingly restrictive and exclusive system of immigration control. The extensive deployment of criminal justice measures to address the immigration “problem” led to the growth of a crimmigration apparatus—a mesh of immigration and criminal justice systems. Drawing on extant literature and applying the framework of the penal field, the article examines the social dynamics, processes, and consequences of crimmigration. It is argued that the portrayal of immigrants as “symbolic assailants” has facilitated the creation and operation of crimmigration under the guise of crime prevention rather than for addressing terrorism and national security—the presumed purpose of utilizing crimmigration practices. The current configuration of crimmigration across the United States is the interactive product of minority threat, partisan politics, and federalism of the American government system, which have jointly formed a “multilayered patchwork” of immigration control. The article first outlines the analytical framework; reviews the social construction of immigrant “criminality”; and describes the punitive and exclusive laws, policies, and enforcement practices established as responses to this “threat. ” The dilemmas, contradictions, and contestations associated with crimmigration, including collateral impacts on immigrants, their families and communities, and the criminal justice system, are analyzed; and policy implications are drawn and discussed.
P-SIGMA : A paging enabled transport layer mobility management scheme

Paging is a well established technique to reduce signalling cost in mobile devices. Different proposals in literature has shown the implementation and improvement of Mobile IP with paging. Here we propose P-SIGMA, an improved, more signalling cost effective version of SIGMA, an IP diversity based end to end transport layer mobility scheme. We show that with all the benefits of a transport layer mobility management scheme like SIGMA, P-SIGMA, as a mobility management scheme, is more efficient in terms of location management and is more cost effective in terms of signalling load.
Enhancement Of Transient Stability In Power System With Distributed Static Series Compensator ( Dssc ) And Fuzzy Controller

Here in this paper we proposed an improved technique to reduce the power quality problems in Long distance AC transmission system with fuzzy logic controller (FLC). Large power systems are often suffered from weakly damped swings between synchronous generators. This paper aims to enhance the transient stability of the power system with the use of Distributed Static Series Compensator (DSSC). The MATLAB/SIMULINK model of the proposed DSSC is presented with results. Index Terms – Distributed flexible ac transmission system (D-FACTS), series compensation, distributed static series compensator (DSSC), Fuzzy logic controller (FLC), transient stability enhancement.
Romantic Relationship-Oriented Facebook Activities and the Satisfaction of Belonging Needs

Facebook plays a role in the development and maintenance of romantic relationships. Theoretically, individuals are motivated to use Facebook in their relationships to increase feelings of belongingness, which is a fundamental human need. Yet, past studies have neither examined the perceptions of Facebook’s influence on increasing closeness in romantic relationships, nor simultaneously examined a wide range of Facebook behaviors that involve romantic partners. Using a belongingness/connection framework, 2 studies examined associations between romantic relationship-oriented Facebook activities, relationship satisfaction, and the perceived effects of Facebook on relationships. Study 1 (N = 93) and Study 2 (N = 255) both illustrated that relationship satisfaction was positively associated with publicly displaying one’s relationship on Facebook but was negatively correlated with displaying more affection on Facebook than the participants normally display offline (excessive displays). Study 2 showed that public displays and private communication on Facebook were positively associated with the perception that Facebook had improved the relationship, and excessive displays of the relationship were perceived as beneficial only for those reporting low relationship satisfaction. Additionally, for those who experienced low levels of jealousy, monitoring was associated with perceptions that Facebook had helped their relationships. For those who experienced high levels of jealousy on Facebook, monitoring was unrelated to perceptions that Facebook improved the relationship. Findings provide evidence that feelings of disconnection from one’s partner could motivate excessive relationship displays on Facebook and that the perceived effect of Facebook on romantic relationships depends on how Facebook is used, which could promote or hinder relationship quality.
Local Binary Pattern histogram based Texton learning for texture classification

Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Texton are both widely used texture analysis techniques. In this paper we propose a patch-based texture classification method that takes advantage of both LBP and Texton. Unlike the traditional LBP methods that describe a texture with the occurrence of local binary patterns in the entire image, we compute the LBP histogram in a small region around each pixel to capture the local structure information. The texton learning method is then performed on these LBP histograms, resulting in a texture classification algorithm that outperforms the traditional LBP-based methods due to its preservation of local structure information. It also outperforms the traditional filtering-based texton methods due to its robustness to orientation and illumination. Experimental results on two benchmark databases validate the advantages of the proposed method.
Molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma hyorhinis isolated from pigs using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA sequencing

Economic loss in pig breeding is common due to respiratory disorders, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis, namely, are the most common infectious agents. The aim of this study is to recover these mollicutes and detect their genotypic variations by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequencing the 16 s rRNA gene. One hundred and twenty-six swabs from tonsil and nasal mucus of pigs with respiratory disorders were analysed. A total of 78 lungs were sampled, as well as two trachea and two tonsils obtained from animals with respiratory disorder. A total of 59 isolates were obtained: 1 (1.70 per cent) of M hyopneumoniae, 2 (3.40 per cent) of Mycoplasma flocculare and 56 (94.90 per cent) of M hyorhinis. The PFGE for M hyorhinis showed 10 profiles with enzyme AvaI and 9 profiles with XhoI. A low polymorphism of the 16sRNS gene was detected in M hyorhinis isolates compared with the type strain in the GenBank. M hyorhinis isolates of different herds showed a large heterogenicity with enzymes AvaI and XhoI. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene allowed for analysing the interspecific and intraspecific variations of isolated mycoplasmas.
An Efficient Parallel Algorithm for Multiple Sequence Similarities Calculation Using a Low Complexity Method

With the advance of genomic researches, the number of sequences involved in comparative methods has grown immensely. Among them, there are methods for similarities calculation, which are used by many bioinformatics applications. Due the huge amount of data, the union of low complexity methods with the use of parallel computing is becoming desirable. The k-mers counting is a very efficient method with good biological results. In this work, the development of a parallel algorithm for multiple sequence similarities calculation using the k-mers counting method is proposed. Tests show that the algorithm presents a very good scalability and a nearly linear speedup. For 14 nodes was obtained 12x speedup. This algorithm can be used in the parallelization of some multiple sequence alignment tools, such as MAFFT and MUSCLE.
An analysis of execution plans in query optimization

A major task of query processor is to produce query results, as efficiently as possible. For efficient query result, query has to follow proper execution plan which minimizes the cost of query execution. The sequence in which source tables are accessed during query execution is very important. Query optimizer which is the core component of query processor gives the best execution plan from many possible plans for the same query. The paper is the extended version of previous work [12]. Paper describes four phases of query optimization along with their execution plan. It gives the analysis of access methods and different types of joins used in execution plan of the query.
A Novel Anti-data Mining Technique Based On Hierarchical Anti-clustering (HAC)

Data mining is a technique to search potential valuable information from databases. Preventing personal data and high security data therefore pose a difficult task to IT experts. In this paper, we propose a novel anti-data mining (ADM) database security scheme, that protect against data mining. The scheme makes use of hierarchical clustering where noise is added to change the cluster structure of data. The proposed hierarchical anti-clustering (HAC) scheme modifies the cluster structure of the original data. Experimented results show that data may be protected against during the HAC key can be used reverse the cluster structure to its original. At the meantime, HAC also designs the key value to restore correctly the protected database.
Antibiotic-Induced Perturbations of the Intestinal Microbiota Alter Host Susceptibility to Enteric Infection

ABSTRACT Intestinal microbiota comprises microbial communities that reside in the gastrointestinal tract and are critical to normal host physiology. Understanding the microbiota's role in host response to invading pathogens will further advance our knowledge of host-microbe interactions. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was used as a model enteric pathogen to investigate the effect of intestinal microbiota perturbation on host susceptibility to infection. Antibiotics were used to perturb the intestinal microbiota. C57BL/6 mice were treated with clinically relevant doses of streptomycin and vancomycin in drinking water for 2 days, followed by oral infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Alterations in microbiota composition and numbers were evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization, differential plating, and Sybr green staining. Antibiotics had a dose-dependent effect on intestinal microbiota composition. The chosen antibiotic regimen did not significantly alter the total numbers of intestinal bacteria but altered the microbiota composition. Greater preinfection perturbations in the microbiota resulted in increased mouse susceptibility to Salmonella serovar Typhimurium intestinal colonization, greater postinfection alterations in the microbiota, and more severe intestinal pathology. These results suggest that antibiotic treatment alters the balance of the microbial community, which predisposes the host to Salmonella serovar Typhimurium infection, demonstrating the importance of a healthy microbiota in host response to enteric pathogens.
Grain flow as a fluid-mechanical phenomenon

The behaviour of granular material in motion is studied from a continuum point of view. Insofar as possible, individual grains are treated as the ‘molecules’ of a granular ‘fluid’. Besides the obvious contrast in shape, size and mass, a key difference between true molecules and grains is that collisions of the latter are inevitably inelastic. This, together with the fact that the fluctuation velocity may be comparable to the flow velocity, necessitates explicit incorporation of the energy equation, in addition to the continuity and momentum equations, into the theoretical description. Simple ‘microscopic’ kinetic models are invoked for deriving expressions for the ‘coefficients’ of viscosity, thermal diffusivity and energy absorption due to collisions. The ‘coefficients’ are not constants, but are functions of the local state of the medium, and therefore depend on the local ‘temperature’ and density. In general the resulting equations are nonlinear and coupled. However, in the limit s [Lt ] d, where s is the mean separation between neighbouring grain surfaces and d is a grain diameter, the above equations become linear and can be solved analytically. An important dependent variable, in this formulation, in addition to the flow velocity u, is the mean random fluctuation (‘thermal’) velocity $\overline{v}$ of an individual grain. With a sufficient flux of energy supplied to the system through the boundaries of the container, $\overline{v}$ can remain non-zero even in the absence of flow. The existence of a non-uniform $\overline{v}$ is the means by which energy can be ‘conducted’ from one part of the system to another. Because grain collisions are inelastic, there is a natural (damping) lengthscale, governed by the value of d, which strongly influences the functional dependence of $\overline{v}$ on position. Several illustrative examples of static (u = 0) systems are solved. As an example of grain flow, various Couette-type problems are solved analytically. The pressure, shear stress, and ‘thermal’ velocity function $\overline{v}$ are all determined by the relative plate velocity U (and the boundary conditions). If $\overline{v}$ is set equal to zero at both plates, the pressure and stress are both proportional to U2, i.e. the fluid is non-Newtonian. However, if sufficient energy is supplied externally through the walls ($\overline{v} \ne 0$ there), then the forces become proportional to the first power of U. Some examples of Couette flow are given which emphasize the large effect on the grain system properties of even a tiny amount of inelasticity in grain–grain collisions. From these calculations it is suggested that, for the case of Couette flow, the flow of sand is supersonic over most of the region between the confining plates.
Contabilidade Gerencial: Análise Bibliométrica e Sistêmica da literatura científica internacional

Resumo: Esta pesquisa analisa a situacao atual de desenvolvimento da contabilidade gerencial sob o vies da comunidade cientifica, por meio do instrumento de pesquisa ProKnow-C para selecao dos artigos, analise bibliometrica e sistemica. Os principais resultados sao: (i) os autores mais prolificos foram Kari Lukka, Jonas Gerdin e Roger Burrit; (ii) Reino Unido e Australia sao as principais origens dos autores; (iii) Management Accounting Research e Accounting Organizations and Society sao os periodicos de maior destaque; (iv) na maioria dos estudos nao e explicitado o enquadramento metodologico; (v) planejamento estrategico, sistemas de informacoes gerenciais, teoria da pratica e teoria institucional foram as principais teorias/conceitos utilizados nos estudos; e (vi) 41% dos estudos analisados utilizam a abordagem economica, 39% a abordagem social e 20% a abordagem comportamental. Conclui-se que o trabalho apresenta um panorama sobre contabilidade gerencial e contribui com futuras pesquisas sobre o tema, importante para a gestao das organizacoes.