Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive dynamic TSKCMAC neural networks for prediction and identification

In this paper, a dynamic Takagi-Sugeno-Kang type cerebellar model articulation controller (TSKCMAC) neural network is developed for solving the prediction and identification problem. A dynamic TSKCMAC is combines both the merits of TSK fuzzy model and conventional cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC). The proposed dynamic TSKCMAC has superior capability to the conventional CMAC in efficient learning mechanism, guaranteed system stability and dynamic response. The recurrent unit is embedded in the TSKCMAC by adding feedback connections in the membership functions space so that the TSKCMAC captures the dynamic response, where the feedback units act as memory elements. The dynamic gradient descent method is adopted to adjust TSKCMAC parameters on-line. Moreover, the analytical method based on a Lyapunov function is proposed to determine the learning-rates of dynamic TSKCMAC so that the variable optimal learning-rates are derived to achieve most rapid convergence of identifying error. Finally, the dynamic TSKCMAC is applied in two computer simulations. Simulation results show that accurate identifying response and superior dynamic performance can be obtained because of the powerful on-line learning capability of the proposed dynamic TSKCMAC.
Reconexp: a way to reduce the data loss of the experiencing sampling method

This paper presents Reconexp, a diary method supported by a distributed application, which partly runs on a mobile device and partly on a website, enabling us to survey user attitudes, experiences and requirements in field studies. Reconexp combines aspects of the Experience Sampling Method and the Day Reconstruction Method aiming to reduce data loss, improve data quality and reduce burden put upon participants. We discuss our first experiences of using this method in the context of a study of communication needs of working parents with young children.
Vehicle detection segmentation based on adaboost and Grabcut

Segmentation of moving regions in image sequences is a fundamental step in many vision systems including automated visual surveillance, human-machine interface. In this paper, we combine background subtraction algorithm with adaboost classifier to obtain exact moving areas. Grabcut segmentation is then used to further accurately segment the moving target areas. Our experiments show that our algorithm can achieve high reliability target detection with low false positive rate in complex situations.
Trans‐splicing of organelle introns – a detour to continuous RNAs

In eukaryotes, RNA trans‐splicing is an important RNA‐processing form for the end‐to‐end ligation of primary transcripts that are derived from separately transcribed exons. So far, three different categories of RNA trans‐splicing have been found in organisms as diverse as algae to man. Here, we review one of these categories: the trans‐splicing of discontinuous group II introns, which occurs in chloroplasts and mitochondria of lower eukaryotes and plants. Trans‐spliced exons can be predicted from DNA sequences derived from a large number of sequenced organelle genomes. Further molecular genetic analysis of mutants has unravelled proteins, some of which being part of high‐molecular‐weight complexes that promote the splicing process. Based on data derived from the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model is provided which defines the composition of an organelle spliceosome. This will have a general relevance for understanding the function of RNA‐processing machineries in eukaryotic organelles.
Image-based sexual abuse.

Advances in technology have transformed and expanded the ways in which sexual violence can be perpetrated. One new manifestation of such violence is the non-consensual creation and/or distribution of private sexual images: what we conceptualise as ‘image-based sexual abuse’. This article delineates the scope of this new concept and identifies the individual and collective harms it engenders. We argue that the individual harms of physical and mental illness, together with the loss of dignity, privacy and sexual autonomy, combine to constitute a form of cultural harm, impacting directly on individuals, as well as on society as a whole. While recognizing the limits of law, we conclude by considering the options for redress and the role of law, seeking to justify the deployment of the expressive and coercive powers of the criminal and civil law as a means of encouraging cultural change.
Joint Source-Channel Optimization over Wireless Relay Networks

Cooperative communications have received considerable attention for wireless multimedia applications as a technique to improve reliability and service coverage. To apply such cooperation over slow fading channels, we consider exploiting the spatial diversity in multiple relay networks. In this paper, we focus on amplify-and-forward relaying schemes, namely, orthogonal amplify-and-forward, selective relaying, and distributed beamforming, for the cooperative wireless multimedia transmission. Furthermore, the successive refinement source coding is exploited such that the multimedia signal is encoded into multiple layers and the quality of its reconstruction at the receiver is improved when more layers are received correctly. We study two strategies for the layered source transmission, namely, progressive transmission and superposition coding. With our developed framework, we propose suboptimal resource allocation algorithms to efficiently assign rate, power, and channel uses to different layers so as to maximize the quality of the multimedia signal reconstructed at the receiver. The proposed optimization methodology is simple and only requires the knowledge of the channel statistics compared to the existing algorithms. As a result, the receiver only requires to feedback the determined rate, power, and channel uses to the transmitter whenever the channel statistics or the layered source transmission strategy changes.
Evolution and Learning in Neural Networks

Learning can increase the rate of evolution of a population of biological organisms (the Baldwin effect). Our simulations show that in a population of artificial neural networks solving a pattern recognition problem, no learning or too much learning leads to slow evolution of the genes whereas an intermediate amount is optimal. Moreover, for a given total number of training presentations, fastest evoution occurs if different individuals within each generation receive different numbers of presentations, rather than equal numbers. Because genetic algorithms (GAs) help avoid local minima in energy functions, our hybrid learning-GA systems can be applied successfully to complex, high-dimensional pattern recognition problems.
Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Differentiation into Oligodendrocyte Progenitors and Transplantation in a Rat Model of Optic Chiasm Demyelination

Background This study aims to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into oligodendrocyte precursors and assess their recovery potential in a demyelinated optic chiasm model in rats. Methodology/Principal Findings We generated a cell population of oligodendrocyte progenitors from hiPSCs by using embryoid body formation in a defined medium supplemented with a combination of factors, positive selection and mechanical enrichment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence analyses showed that stage-specific markers, Olig2, Sox10, NG2, PDGFRα, O4, A2B5, GalC, and MBP were expressed following the differentiation procedure, and enrichment of the oligodendrocyte lineage. These results are comparable with the expression of stage-specific markers in human embryonic stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Transplantation of hiPSC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitors into the lysolecithin-induced demyelinated optic chiasm of the rat model resulted in recovery from symptoms, and integration and differentiation into oligodendrocytes were detected by immunohistofluorescence staining against PLP and MBP, and measurements of the visual evoked potentials. Conclusions/Significance These results showed that oligodendrocyte progenitors generated efficiently from hiPSCs can be used in future biomedical studies once safety issues have been overcome.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus RNA Present in Commercial Spray-Dried Porcine Plasma Is Not Infectious to Naïve Pigs

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus emerged in North America in April 2013 and has since been identified in 30 U.S. States, Canada and Mexico. The rapid spread of PEDV has raised concerns about the role of feed and particularly pork-by-product components such as spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in PEDV transmission. The aim of this study was to determine the infectivity of PEDV RNA present in commercial SDPP. Specifically, 40 3-week-old PEDV naïve pigs were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups. At day post inoculation (dpi) 0, NEG-CONTROL pigs were sham-inoculated, PEDV-CONTROL pigs received cell culture propagated PEDV, and SDPP-CONTROL pigs were switched to a diet with 5% SDPP containing 5.1±0.1 log10 PEDV RNA copies/g. To evaluate a potential positive effect of anti-PEDV antibodies in SDPP on PEDV challenge, four days prior to PEDV challenge the pigs in the SDPP-PEDV group were switched to and remained on a 5% SDPP diet through dpi 28. Another group, EGG-PEDV, was orally administered a commercial egg-derived liquid PEDV globulin product from dpi -4 through 6. All PEDV-CONTROL pigs began shedding PEDV in feces by dpi 3 and seroconverted between dpi 7 and 14, whereas pigs in NEG-CONTROL and SDPP-CONTROL groups remained PEDV RNA negative and did not seroconvert to PEDV for the study duration. This indicates no evidence of infectivity of the PEDV RNA in the SDPP lot utilized. Furthermore, under the study conditions SDPP or egg-derived liquid PEDV globulin addition did not significantly alter PEDV-shedding or overall disease course after experimental challenge.
Interactive Non-photorealistic Technical Illustration Final Reading Approval Approved for the Major Department Approved for the Graduate Council

Current interactive modeling systems allow users to view models in wireframe or Phong-shaded images. However, the wireframe is based on the model's parameterization, and a model's features may get lost in a nest of lines. Alone, a fully rendered image may not provide enough useful information about the structure or model features. Human technical illustrators follow certain visual conventions that are unlike Phong-shaded or wireframe renderings, and the drawings they produce are subjectively superior to conventional computer renderings. This thesis explores lighting, shading, and line illustration conventions used by technical illustrators. These conventions are implemented in a modeling system to create a new method of displaying and viewing complex NURBS models. In particular, silhouettes and edge lines are drawn in a manner similar to pen-and-ink drawings, and a shading algorithm is used that is similar to ink-wash or air-brush renderings for areas inside the silhouettes. This shading has a low intensity variation so that the black silhouettes remain visually distinct, and it has a cool-to-warm hue transition to help accent surface orientation. Applying these illustration methods produces images that are closer to human-drawn illustrations than is provided by traditional computer graphics approaches. To Bruce, for all of the love and support.
On Boredom and Perceptions of Heroes: A Meaning-Regulation Approach to Heroism

We propose that boredom, a state associated with a sense of meaninglessness, leads to a psychological search for meaning in life, which, in turn, elevates affirmation of heroes. This hypothesis builds on the notion that heroes function, in part, as sources of meaning in life. Using a correlational model, we found that boredom proneness predicted more positive perceptions of heroes via searches for meaning in one’s own life. In addition, hero perceptions seemed to prevent boredom by offering a sense of meaning in life. These findings contribute to an understanding of the psychologically existential qualities of boredom and functions of heroes. The results are consistent with the assumption that boredom triggers the existential process of searching for meaning in life. It is this search that influences perceptions of heroes as vehicles for a sense of meaning in life. Our data suggest that heroes grant a sense of meaningfulness, and in so doing, may serve as a tool to counteract the lack of meaning signaled by boredom. These findings implicate novel avenues for future research on boredom and on heroes, and more precisely, they shed light on perception and affirmations of heroes as part of existential self-regulatory processes.
Model like an Egyptian

When the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, they built them with a strong sturdy base, and then added layers in gradually smaller increments until the top came to a point. We visit these monuments today and marvel at their architectural ingenuity. Imagine—they had advanced to such a stage, that they were able to determine that the pyramids would stand a lot longer if they were built with the point at the top, instead of at the bottom. Why hasn't the software development community been able to achieve this same level of advancement? One of the big questions facing many software organizations today is choosing between Object-Oriented or Structured Analysis as the method for analyzing requirements. While many make this choice based on being trendy, or building on past experience, etc., they fail to realize that the result of their choice may be the equivalent of building an upside-down pyramid. The key to making the right choice is based on an in-depth understanding of the patterns that exist in the designs of systems in specific application groups. Our experience applying The Practical Ada Design Method (PAdaDM) across a variety of applications has identified that Communication Systems, Database Systems, and Control Systems have distinguishing patterns in how they aggregate Ada design objects. When analyzing the requirements for these systems, knowledge of these patterns is fundamental for choosing an analysis method that aggregates its information in ways that map to those of the final design. All systems will contain a mixture of data (object), process (function), and state (behavior) characteristics, but certain analysis methods choose one of these characteristics as its base, and then build the rest on top. If your system characteristics aren't distributed with the same percentages as the method expects, you're building an upside-down pyramid. So, lets stop choosing the trendiest method, and look for the one that lets us model like the Egyptians!
The exclusive rare decays B → K ( K ∗ ) l̄l and B c → D ( D ∗ ) l̄l in a relativistic quark model

We study the exclusive rare decay B → K(K∗)l̄l with special emphasis on the cascade decay B → K∗(→ Kπ)l̄l. We derive a four-fold angular decay distribution for this process in terms of helicity amplitudes including lepton mass effects. The four-fold angular decay distribution allows to define a number of physical observables which are amenable to measurement. We calculate the relevant form factors within a relativistic constituent quark model, for the first time without employing the impulse approximation. The calculated form factors are used to evaluate differential decay rates and polarization observables. We present results on the q2-dependence of a set of observables with and without long-distance contributions. A similar analysis is done for the exclusive rare decays Bc → D(D∗)l̄l. We compare our results with the ones of other studies. PACS: 12.15. Hh, 12.39. Ki, 13.20. He, 14.40. Nd
(Re)Grounding grounded theory: a close reading of theory in four schools

The debate over what counts as theory has dominated methodological conversations in grounded theory research for decades. Four of the schools of thought in that debate – Glaserian, Straussian, Charmazian, and Clarkeian – hold different assumptions about what theory is and how it is made. The first two schools understand theory as an abstraction that exactingly accounts for exceptions. The second two schools understand theory as a process of describing voices hidden from public view. While Glaserian and Straussian coding processes focus on coding exceptions, Charmazian and Clarkeian coding processes focus on building a story of the participants or social phenomenon. This article attempts to clarify the goals of the schools in an effort to overcome the debate about which kinds of research count as grounded theory and which do not.
Why Variability Facilitates Spinal Learning

Spinal Wistar Hannover rats trained to step bipedally on a treadmill with manual assistance of the hindlimbs have been shown to improve their stepping ability. Given the improvement in motor performance with practice and the ability of the spinal cord circuitry to learn to step more effectively when the mode of training allows variability, we examined why this intrinsic variability is an important factor. Intramuscular EMG electrodes were implanted to monitor and compare the patterns of activation of flexor (tibialis anterior) and extensor (soleus) muscles associated with a fixed-trajectory and assist-as-needed (AAN) step training paradigms in rats after a complete midthoracic (T8–T9) spinal cord transection. Both methods involved a robotic arm attached to each ankle of the rat to provide guidance during stepping. The fixed trajectory allowed little variance between steps, and the AAN provided guidance only when the ankle deviated a specified distance from the programmed trajectory. We hypothesized that an AAN paradigm would impose fewer disruptions of the control strategies intrinsic to the spinal locomotor circuitry compared with a fixed trajectory. Intrathecal injections of quipazine were given to each rat to facilitate stepping. Analysis confirmed that there were more corrections within a fixed-trajectory step cycle and consequently there was less coactivation of agonist and antagonist muscles during the AAN paradigm. These data suggest that some critical level of variation in the specific circuitry activated and the resulting kinematics reflect a fundamental feature of the neural control mechanisms even in a highly repetitive motor task.
Simulating Clusters of Galaxies: A Brief History of ``N

I review four decades of numerical simulations of galaxy clusters focussing on the attempts to resolve their internal structure. Overmerging describes the numerical or physical disruption of dark matter halos within dense environments. This problem was inherent in simulations prior to 1998 but can be completely overcome with current algorithms and hardware. We can now resolve many thousands of subhalos within clusters and we may have converged on their inner structure, allowing several new tests of the hierarchical structure formation model and the nature of dark matter.
A New Approach to Improve the Vote-Based Classifier Selection

In the past decade many new methods were proposed for combining multiple classifiers. Neural network ensemble is a learning paradigm where many neural networks are jointly used to solve a problem. We propose a GA-based method for constructing a neural network ensemble using a weighted vote-based classifier selection approach. Main presumption of this method is that the reliability of the predictions of each classifier differs among classes. During testing, the classifiers whose votes are considered as being reliable are combined using weighted majority voting. This method of combination outperforms the ensemble of all classifiers almost 2.26% and 4.00% on Hoda and Wine data sets, respectively.
A Riemannian Framework for Shape Analysis of Subcortical Brain Structures

3 Dedication . 5 Acknowledgments . 6 List of Tables . 10 List of Figures . 11
Preliminary Investigation of Executive Functions in Elite Ice Hockey Players

Elite level ice hockey places high demands on player’s physical and technical attributes as well as on cognitive and executive functions. There is, however, a notable lack of research on these attributes and functions. The present study investigated executive function with selected tests from the D-KEFS test battery among 48 ice hockey players and compared them to a standardized sample. Results show that ice hockey players’ scores were significantly higher on Design Fluency (DF) compared with the standardized sample score. Elite players’ scores were not significantly higher than those of lower-league hockey players. A significant correlation was found between on-ice performance and Trail Making Test (TMT) scores. Exploratory analysis showed that elite-level center forwards scored significantly higher on DF than did players in other positions. Future research should investigate whether assessment of executive function should be taken into account, in addition to physical and technical skills, when scouting.
PROGRAMMER ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN STRATEGIC SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY

article explores the vulnerability of business organizations to unethical, unprofessional, and even vengeful acts by employees who seek to damage a critical class of information systems: corporate strategic information systems. The case of Bogart Engineers and Constructors Inc. (disguised name) is presented. In this case, two programmer employees tried to claim ownership of a Bogart strategic information system and also sought to destroy the functional integrity of Bogart's copy of the system. Computing systems that provide a business enterprise with competitive advantage demand senior management attention. Rigorously enforced standards in the selection and training of staff and in the management and monitoring of work performed on strategic systems is essential. This article provides recommendations for reducing business exposures associated with employee malfeasance relating to information systems technology. CR Classifications: K.5. 1 (Legal Aspects of Computing): Software Protection -proprietary rights; K.6. 1 (Management of Computing and Information systems): Project and People Management - staffing, systems development, training; K.6. 3 (Management of Computing and Information systems) software Management - software development; K.6. 4 (Management of Computing and systems): system Management - management audit, quality assurance; K.6. m (Management of Computing and Information systems): Miscellaneous - security. CR General Terms: Legal Aspects, Management, Security. Additional Keywords and Phrases: Management Control, Strategic Information Systems, Information Technology.
Different Visual Preference Patterns in Response to Simple and Complex Dynamic Social Stimuli in Preschool-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Eye-tracking studies in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shown a visual attention preference for geometric patterns when viewing paired dynamic social images (DSIs) and dynamic geometric images (DGIs). In the present study, eye-tracking of two different paired presentations of DSIs and DGIs was monitored in a group of 13 children aged 4 to 6 years with ASD and 20 chronologically age-matched typically developing children (TDC). The results indicated that compared with the control group, children with ASD attended significantly less to DSIs showing two or more children playing than to similar DSIs showing a single child. Visual attention preference in 4- to 6-year-old children with ASDs, therefore, appears to be modulated by the type of visual stimuli.