Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning, specialization, efficiency and task allocation in social insects

One of the most spectacular features of social insect colonies is their division of labor. Although individuals are often totipotent in terms of the labor they might perform, they often persistently work as scouts, fighters, nurses, foragers, undertakers, or cleaners with a repetitiveness that might resemble an assembly line worker in factory. Perhaps because of this apparent analogy, researchers have often assumed a priori that such labor division must be efficient, but empirical proof is scarce. New work on Themnothorax ants shows that there might be no link between an individual's propensity to perform a task, and their efficiency at that task, nor are task specialists more efficient than generalists. Here we argue that learning psychology might provide the missing link between social insect task specialization and efficiency: just like in human societies, efficiency at a job specialty is only in small parts a result of "talent", or innate tendency to engage in a job: it is much more a result of perfecting skills with experience, and the extent to which experience can be carried over from one task to the next (transfer), or whether extensive experience at one task might actually impair performance at another (interference). Indeed there is extensive circumstantial evidence that learning is involved in almost any task performed by social insect workers, including food type recognition and handling techniques, but also such seemingly basic tasks as nest building and climate control. New findings on Cerapachys ants indicate that early experience of success at a task might to some extent determine the “profession” an insect worker chooses in later life.
Theoretical aspects of scheduling coupled-tasks in the presence of compatibility graph

This paper presents a generalization of the coupled-task scheduling problem introduced by Shapiro, where considered tasks are subject to incompatibility constraint depicted by an undirected graph. The motivation of this problem comes from data acquisition and processing in a mono-processor torpedo used for underwater exploration. As we add the compatibility graph, we focus on complexity of the problem, and more precisely on the border between P and NP-completeness when some other input parameters are restricted (e.g. the ratio between the durations of the two sub-tasks composing a task): we adapt the global visualization of the complexity of scheduling problems with coupled-task given by Orman and Potts to our problem, determine new complexity results, and thus propose a new visualization including incompatibility constraint. In the end, we give a new polynomial-time approximation algorithm result which completes previous works.
BARS, OVALS, AND LENSES IN EARLY-TYPE DISK GALAXIES: PROBES OF GALAXY EVOLUTION

The origin of S0 galaxies is discussed in the framework of early mergers in a cold dark matter cosmology, and in a scenario where S0s are assumed to be former spirals stripped of gas. From an analysis of 127 early-type disk galaxies (S0–Sa), we find a clear correlation between the scale parameters of the bulge (reff) and the disk (hR), a correlation which is difficult to explain if these galaxies were formed in mergers of disk galaxies. However, the stripping hypothesis, including quiescent star formation, is not sufficient to explain the origin of S0s either, because it is not compatible with our finding that S0s have a significantly smaller fraction of bars (46% ± 6%) than their assumed progenitors, S0/a galaxies (93% ± 5%) or spirals (64%–69%). Our conclusion is that even if a large majority of S0s were descendants of spiral galaxies, bars and ovals must play an important role in their evolution. The smaller fraction particularly of strong bars in S0 galaxies is compensated by a larger fraction of ovals/lenses (97% ± 2% compared to 82%–83% in spirals), many of which might be weakened bars. We also found massive disklike bulges in nine of the S0 galaxies, which might have formed at an early gas-rich stage of galaxy evolution.
Analysis and Design of Model-Based User Interfaces: An Approach to Refining Specifications towards Implementation

This paper proposes a method for user interface development where a model for analysis (Just-UI) and a model for design (DiaMODL) are conveniently combined into an integrated method. Just-UI currently supports automatically refining analysis models, through conceptual patterns to concrete user inter- face designs. Integrating a dialog modelling language (DiaMODL) into the method, will let the designers take part in the refinement process, hence gain- ing control and allowing a greater variety of designs. The method encourages the use of code generation for rapid prototyping of the UI. The ultimate objec- tive is to provide a suitable software engineering and user interface design method with coverage to cross through requirements to final implementation of core application code and user interface.
Navigating the human hippocampus without a GPS

The award of the Nobel Prize to Professors John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard Moser brings global recognition to one of the most significant success stories in modern neuroscience. Here, we consider how their findings, along with related studies of spatial cognition in rodents, have informed our understanding of the human hippocampus. Rather than identifying a “GPS” in the brain, we emphasize that these researchers helped to establish a fundamental role for cortico-hippocampal networks in the guidance of behavior based on a representation of the current place, time, and situation. We conclude by highlighting the major questions that remain to be addressed in future research. VC 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Rat's Life benchmark: competing cognitive robots

This paper describes Rat's Life: a complete cognitive robotics benchmark that was carefully designed to be easily reproducible in a research lab with limited resources. It relies on two e-puck robots, some LEGO bricks and the Webots robot simulation software. This benchmark is a survival game where two robots compete against each other for resources in an unknown maze. Like the rats in cognitive animal experimentation, the e-puck robots look for feeders which allow them to live longer than their opponent. Once a feeder is reached by a robot, the robot draws energy from it and the feeder becomes unavailable for a while. Hence, the robot has to further explore the maze, searching for other feeders while remembering the way back to the first ones. This allows them to be able to refuel easily again and again and hopefully live longer than their opponent.
Preserving chaos: Control strategies to preserve complex dynamics with potential relevance to biological disorders.

This paper considers the situation in which an originally chaotic orbit would, in the absence of intervention, become periodic as a result of slow system drift through a bifurcation. In the biological context, such a bifurcation is often undesirable: there are many cases, occurring in a wide variety of different situations, where loss of complexity and the emergence of periodicity are associated with pathology (such situations have been called dynamical disease''). Motivated by this, we investigate the possibility of using small control perturbations to preserve chaotic motion past the point where it would otherwise bifurcate to periodicity.
Patterns of and mechanisms for shock-induced polarization in the heart: a bidomain analysis

This paper examines the combined action of cardiac fiber curvature and transmural fiber rotation in polarizing the myocardium under the conditions of a strong electrical shock. The study utilizes a three-dimensional finite element model and the continuous bidomain representation of cardiac tissue to model steady-state polarization resulting from a defibrillation-strength uniform applied field. Fiber architecture is incorporated in the model via the shape of the heart, an ellipsoid of variable ellipticity index, and via an analytical function, linear or nonlinear, describing the transmural fiber rotation. Analytical estimates and numerical results are provided for the location and shape of the "bulk" polarization (polarization away from the tissue boundaries) as a function of the fiber field, or more specifically, of the conductivity changes in axial and radial direction with respect to the applied electrical field lines. Polarization in the tissue "bulk" is shown to exist only under the condition of unequal anisotropy ratios in the extraand intracellular spaces. Variations in heart geometry and, thus, fiber curvature, are found to lead to change in location of the zones of significant membrane polarization. The transmural fiber rotation function modulates the transmembrane potential profile in the radial direction. A higher gradient of the transmural transmembrane potential is observed in the presence of fiber rotation as compared to the no rotation case. The analysis presented here is a step forward in understanding the interaction between tissue structure and applied electric field in establishing the pattern of membrane polarization during the initial phase of the defibrillation shock.
A Preliminary Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of Korean case particles in a Korean–English bilingual child with specific language impairment (SLI). The child’s production of four types of Korean case particles were compared to those of three typically developing children during probe and storytelling tasks. The Korean–English bilingual child with SLI produced the vocative and the nominative for person case particles similar to children matched on age and mean length of utterance (MLU). He produced the nominative for object and accusative case particles similar to the MLU-matched child but exhibited lower performance than that of his age-matched peers. The results suggest that longer duration of Korean case particles in the phrase-final position may provide perceptual salience and not pose particular difficulty for the Korean–English bilingual with SLI. Frequent omission of the accusative by the child with SLI and his MLU-matched peer, however, supports the argument that frequency effect in linguistic input influences morphological development.
Thromboprophylaxis after minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: A comparison of rivaroxaban and enoxaparin

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) carries a substantial rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The blood-saving of effect of tranexamic acid (TEA) in TKA using enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis has been well known. However, the routine use of chemoprophylaxis in TKA remains controversial because of postoperative bleeding complications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the incidence of VTE, and postoperative blood loss and wound-related complications in minimally invasive (MIS)-TKA patients who received rivaroxaban or enoxaparin prophylaxis. Methods: A total of 113 patients who underwent primary unilateral MIS-TKA between 2009 and 2012 were studied. Of these, 61 patients (study group) received rivaroxaban prophylaxis between 2011 and 2012 and a control group of 52 patients received enoxaparin prophylaxis between 2009 and 2010. All patients received one intraoperative injection of TEA (10 mg/kg). We compared the changes in hemoglobin (Hb) level, postoperative drainage amount, total blood loss, transfusion rate, and incidence of postoperative wound complications and VTE between the two groups. Results: No differences in postoperative Hb levels, blood drainage amount, total blood loss, and transfusion rate were observed between the two groups. No deep-vein thrombosis of the leg or pulmonary embolism was noted in both groups. There were no major wound complications including hematoma and infection requiring surgical intervention for open irrigation or debridement. Conclusions: Our retrospective study demonstrated a low rate of VTE in MIS-TKA patients who received rivaroxaban or enoxaparin when TEA was used for bleeding prophylaxis. No increased perioperative bleeding or postoperative wound-related complications were observed in the rivaroxaban group compared with the enoxaparin group.
Continuous-time safety-first portfolio selection with jump-diffusion processes

This article is concerned with continuous-time portfolio selection based on a safety-first criterion under discontinuous price processes (jump-diffusion processes). The solution of the corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation of the problem is demonstrated. The analytical solutions are presented when there does not exist any riskless asset. Moreover, the problem is also discussed while there exists one riskless asset.
Addendum: A Brief Note on Privacy from a Technological Perspective

Le jugement de la Cour suprême du Canada dans l'affaire R. c. Tessling (2004) est devenu une décision paradigmatique en raison de ses conséquences sur la technologie et l'observance de la vie privée. Dans l'article, on affirme que M. Tessling aurait eu une attente raisonnable en matière de protection de sa vie privée pour ce qui est de la chaleur émanant de son domicile si on eut adopté une perspective technologique. Plus précisément, on suppose, à partir d'une description du point de vue de la technologie visant un public sans grandes connaissances technologiques à priori, que si les émanations de chaleur provenant des murs de la maison d'une personne étaient considérées comme un « réseau de communication », la régulation de la protection de la vie privée pourrait être imposée par des mécanismes technologiques et sociétaux. En d'autres mots, si on considère les émanations de chaleur comme un élément ou une composante d'une communication donnée, ces émanations peuvent être protégées par des procédures de protection de la vie privée. Aux fins de cette discussion, on présente d'abord brièvement les technologies de base en communication, puis on évalue les résultats d'une communication efficace. Enfin, on décrit un schéma de classification pour les techniques pouvant aider à protéger les renseignements personnels dans n'importe quelle communication.
Reevaluation of projections from the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus to the medulla and spinal cord: New projections. A combined retrograde and anterograde horseradish peroxidase study

Microinjection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the medullary parvocellular reticular formation (NPvc) resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons throughout the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Mes V). Labeled cells were large and ovoid and were distributed primarily in the expanded pontine part of the nucleus. However, none of the small neurons in Mes V were labeled. Injections of HRP made into adjacent brainstem structures including the nucleus gigantocellularis, ventrolateral reticular formation, vestibular complex, and the spinal trigeminal nucleus failed to label neurons in Mes V. Injections made into the medullary raphe and into regions reported to receive inputs from Mes V–spinal cord, nucleus tractus solitarius, hypoglossal nucleus, and facial nucleus–were also not followed by transport to Mes V. Anterograde axonal transport of HRP from the region of reticular formation innervated by Mes V also labeled axons projecting to Mes V and to visceral and somatic sensorimotor nuclei in the lower brainstem. Recent reports of afferents from the amygdala to Mes V suggest that reflexes involving the mesencephlic trigeminal nucleus might be modulated by signals from limbic and autonomic as well as somatic centers in the brain.
The impact of leadership and management on the construction of professional identity in school learning mentors

This paper explores the perceptions of school learning mentors with respect to their professional development and emerging professional identity. Although tentative, the emergence of two distinct professional identities is reported in this study: first, an instrumental technical identity characterized by compliance; and second, a creative professional identity characterized by an active involvement in the creation of one’s own professionality. Emerging differences in identity appear to be influenced by feelings of security in school learning mentors’ role definition and sense of purpose and by the power differential they perceive between themselves and qualified teaching staff. The findings have implications for the present workforce remodelling agenda in England and Wales, intended, in part, to facilitate the work of teachers via greater professionalization of learning support assistants. It is suggested that the leadership and management of schools hosting learning mentors and other learning support assistants should further consider their approach to the professionality of this important group of workers if frustrated identity claims, dissatisfaction, poor morale and their exit from the education service is to be avoided.
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology Direct Torque Control for Matrix Converter-fed Three Phase Induction Motor with Hybrid Pso

Direct Torque Control (DTC) for Induction Motors using Matrix Converters is a high performance motor control scheme with fast torque and flux responses. This paper presents a new control scheme based on hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO). The main advantages of the matrix converter are combines with those of the DTC technique, generating the required voltage vectors under 0.9 input power factor operations. The results demonstrate the good quality and robustness in the system dynamic response and reduction in the steady-state and transient motor ripple torque.
Happiness: A Review of Evidence Relevant to Occupational Science

Occupational scientists must synthesise and apply knowledge generated within related disciplines to ensure the continued development of the discipline. This paper reviews the evidence available to occupational scientists on human happiness. This body of knowledge can be utilised by occupational scientists to better understand the subjective experience of occupational engagement. Two key philosophical traditions in happiness studies, hedonism and eudaimonia, are presented and theories of human happiness, including set-point theory, are described. A number of thematic areas of research on human happiness are reviewed. The relationships between happiness and health, living situation, personal goals, work, volunteering, flow, religiosity and relationships are reviewed. The reviewed studies underscore the centrality of occupation to current understandings of human happiness.
Detection and characterization of placental microRNAs in maternal plasma.

BACKGROUND The discovery of circulating fetal nucleic acids in maternal plasma has opened up new possibilities for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs, have been intensely investigated recently because of their important regulatory role in gene expression. Because nucleic acids of placental origin are released into maternal plasma, we hypothesized that miRNAs produced by the placenta would also be released into maternal plasma. METHODS We systematically searched for placental miRNAs in maternal plasma to identify miRNAs that were at high concentrations in placentas compared with maternal blood cells and then investigated the stability and filterability of this novel class of pregnancy-associated markers in maternal plasma. RESULTS In a panel of TaqMan MicroRNA Assays available for 157 well-established miRNAs, 17 occurred at concentrations >10-fold higher in the placentas than in maternal blood cells and were undetectable in postdelivery maternal plasma. The 4 most abundant of these placental miRNAs (miR-141, miR-149, miR-299-5p, and miR-135b) were detectable in maternal plasma during pregnancy and showed reduced detection rates in postdelivery plasma. The plasma concentration of miR-141 increased as pregnancy progressed into the third trimester. Compared with mRNA encoded by CSH1 [chorionic somatomammotropin hormone 1 (placental lactogen)], miR-141 was even more stable in maternal plasma, and its concentration did not decrease after filtration. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated the existence of placental miRNAs in maternal plasma and provide some information on their stability and physical nature. These findings open up a new class of molecular markers for pregnancy monitoring.
Imitez, imitez, il en restera toujours quelque chose : le statut développemental de l'imitation dans le cas d'autisme

L’imitation n’est pas un phenomene unitaire. Si on la concoit comme sous-tendue par une hierarchie de mecanismes impliques differemment selon ses formes et ses niveaux, elle devient une matiere petrissable au service de deux fonctions adaptatives essentielles : l’apprentissage et la communication. Son developpement represente donc un enjeu majeur pour tout enfant, et particulierement pour les petits a diagnostic d’autisme. Nous avons mene une etude avec 23 enfants de 3 a 7 ans, de niveaux cognitifs divers et pour lesquels a ete porte un diagnostic d’autisme. Nous avons utilise une echelle que nous avons creee pour explorer divers niveaux d’imitation spontanee ou induite et de reconnaissance d’etre imite. Les resultats montrent que le niveau de developpement des capacites d’imitation et de reconnaissance de l’imitation est etroitement correle au niveau de developpement cognitif, et suit une sequence analogue au developpement chronologique de ces capacites chez les jeunes enfants typiques. La reconnaissance d’etre imite est etroitement liee aux niveaux plus elabores d’imitation. Un entrainement a l’imitation et a la reconnaissance d’etre imite est en cours d’elaboration, destine a stimuler la sequence developpementale de facon personnalisee.
Hydrophobic and electrostatic cell surface properties of Cryptosporidium parvum

Microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons and microelectrophoresis were investigated in order to characterize the surface properties of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocysts exhibited low removal rates by octane (only 20% on average), suggesting that the Cryptosporidium sp. does not demonstrate marked hydrophobic properties. A zeta potential close to -25 mV at pH 6 to 6.5 in deionized water was observed for the parasite. Measurements of hydrophobicity and zeta potential were performed as a function of pH and ionic strength or conductivity. Hydrophobicity maxima were observed at extreme pH values, with 40% of adhesion of oocysts to octane. It also appeared that ionic strength (estimated by conductivity) could influence the hydrophobic properties of oocysts. Cryptosporidium oocysts showed a pH-dependent surface charge, with zeta potentials becoming less negative as pH was reduced, starting at -35 mV for alkaline pH and reaching 0 at isoelectric points for pH 2.5. On the other hand, variation of surface charge with respect to conductivity of the suspension tested in this work was quite small. The knowledge of hydrophobic properties and surface charge of the parasite provides information useful in, for example, the choice of various flocculation treatments, membrane filters, and cleaning agents in connection with oocyst recovery.