Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex-Valued Reinforcement Learning: a Context-Based Approach for POMDPs

Reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms are representative active learning algorithms that can be used to decide suitable actions on the basis of experience, simulations, and searches (Sutton & Barto, 1998; Kaelbling et al., 1998). The use of RL algorithms for the development of practical intelligent controllers for autonomous robots and multiagent systems has been investigated; such controllers help in realizing autonomous adaptability on the basis of the information obtained through experience. For example, in our previous studies on autonomous robot systems such as an intelligent wheelchair, we used RL algorithms for an agent in order to learn how to avoid obstacles and evolve cooperative behavior with other robots (Hamagami & Hirata, 2004; 2005). Furthermore, RL has been widely used to solve the elevator dispatching problem (Crites & Barto, 1996), air-conditioning management problem (Dalamagkidisa et al., 2007), process control problem (S.Syafiie et al., 2008), etc. However, in most cases, RL algorithms have been successfully used only in ideal situations that are based on Markov decision processes (MDPs). MDP environments are controllable dynamic systemswhose state transitions depend on the previous state and the action selected. On the other hand, because of the limited number of dimensions and/or low accuracy of the sensors used, real-world environments are considered to be partially observable MDPs (POMDPs). In a POMDP environment, the agent faces a serious problem called perceptual aliasing, i.e., the agent cannot distinguish multiple states from one another on the basis of perceptual inputs. Some representative approaches have been adopted to solve this problem (Mccallum, 1995; Wiering & Schmidhuber, 1996; Singh et al., 2003; Hamagami et al., 2002). The most direct representative approach involves the use of the memory of contexts called episodes to disambiguate the current state and to keep track of information about the previous state (Mccallum, 1995). The use of this memory-based approach can ensure high learning performance if the environment is stable and the agent has sufficient memory. However, since most real-world environments belong to the dynamic class, the memory of experience has to be revised frequently. Therefore, the revised algorithm often becomes complex and task-dependent. Another approach for addressing perceptual aliasing involves treatment of the environment as a hierarchical structure (Wiering & Schmidhuber, 1996). In this case, the environment is divided into small sets without perceptual aliasing, so that the agent can individually learn each small set. This approach is effective when the agent knows how to divide the environment into sets with non-aliasing states. However, the agent must learn to divide the 14
Genetic programming in database query optimization

Database query optimization is a hard research problem. Exhaustive techniques are adequate for trivial instances only, while combinatorial optimization techniques are vulnerable to the peculiarities of specific instances. We propose a model based on genetic programming to address this problem, motivated by its robustness and efficiency in a wide area of search problems. We adapt the genetic programming paradigm to the requirements of the query optimization problem, showing that the nature of the problem makes genetic programming a particularly attractive approach to it.
Protein Changes Contributing to Right Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Diastolic Dysfunction in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background Right ventricular (RV) diastolic function is impaired in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our previous study showed that elevated cardiomyocyte stiffness and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity underlie diastolic dysfunction in PAH. This study investigates protein modifications contributing to cellular diastolic dysfunction in PAH. Methods and Results RV samples from PAH patients undergoing heart‐lung transplantation were compared to non‐failing donors (Don). Titin stiffness contribution to RV diastolic dysfunction was determined by Western‐blot analyses using antibodies to protein‐kinase‐A (PKA), Cα (PKCα) and Ca2+/calmoduling‐dependent‐kinase (CamKIIδ) titin and phospholamban (PLN) phosphorylation sites: N2B (Ser469), PEVK (Ser170 and Ser26), and PLN (Thr17), respectively. PKA and PKCα sites were significantly less phosphorylated in PAH compared with donors (P<0.0001). To test the functional relevance of PKA‐, PKCα‐, and CamKIIδ‐mediated titin phosphorylation, we measured the stiffness of single RV cardiomyocytes before and after kinase incubation. PKA significantly decreased PAH RV cardiomyocyte diastolic stiffness, PKCα further increased stiffness while CamKIIδ had no major effect. CamKIIδ activation was determined indirectly by measuring PLN Thr17phosphorylation level. No significant changes were found between the groups. Myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity is mediated by sarcomeric troponin I (cTnI) phosphorylation. We observed increased unphosphorylated cTnI in PAH compared with donors (P<0.05) and reduced PKA‐mediated cTnI phosphorylation (Ser22/23) (P<0.001). Finally, alterations in Ca2+‐handling proteins contribute to RV diastolic dysfunction due to insufficient diastolic Ca2+ clearance. PAH SERCA2a levels and PLN phosphorylation were significantly reduced compared with donors (P<0.05). Conclusions Increased titin stiffness, reduced cTnI phosphorylation, and altered levels of phosphorylation of Ca2+ handling proteins contribute to RV diastolic dysfunction in PAH.
Can the two mechanisms of tumor cell killing by radiation be exploited for therapeutic gain?

The radiation killing of tumor cells by ionizing radiation is best described by the linear–quadratic (LQ) model. Research into the underlying mechanisms of α- and β-inactivation has suggested that different molecular targets (DNA in different forms) and different microdosimetric energy deposits (spurs versus electron track-ends) are involved. Clinical protocols with fractionated doses of about 2.0 Gy/day were defined empirically, and we now know that they produce cancer cures mainly by the α-inactivation mechanism. Radiobiology studies indicate that α and β mechanisms exhibit widely different characteristics that should be addressed upfront as clinical fractionation schemes are altered. As radiation treatments attempt to exploit the advantages of larger dose fractions over shorter treatment times, the LQ model can be used to predict iso-effective tumor cell killing and possibly iso-effective normal tissue complications. Linking best estimates of radiobiology and tumor biology parameters with tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models will enable us to improve and optimize cancer treatment protocols, delivering no more fractions than are strictly necessary for a high therapeutic ratio.
The INCINERATE data model

In this article, we present an extended relational algebra with universally or existentially quantified classes as attribute values. The proposed extension can greatly enhance the expressive power of relational systems, and significantly reduce the size of a database, at small additional computational cost. We also show how the proposed extensions can be built on top of a standard relational database system.
Autonomous model-free landing control of small-scale flybarless helicopters

This paper proposes an autonomous landing scheme for a small-scale flybarless helicopter equipped with low-cost navigation sensors. The main contribution of this paper is the design of a model-free motion controller that guarantees autonomous landing with prescribed transient and steady state response, despite the presence of external disturbances acting on the vehicle. The proposed control scheme is of low complexity and does not require any knowledge of the helicopter dynamic parameters. Hence, it can be easily implemented in embedded control platforms integrated on small-scale helicopters. In order to provide the controller with accurate estimation of the vehicle's state vector during the landing procedure, an asynchronous sensor fusion and state estimation algorithm, based on an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), has been also implemented. The performance and the efficiency of the overall scheme are experimentally verified using a small-scale flybarless helicopter in a real autonomous landing process.
Simultaneous HPLC determination of Enalapril and Hydrochlorothiazide in Human Plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

A sensitive and specific HPLC method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma using C18 reversed-phase column.The average recoveries range from 0.005-0. 1μg/ml and 0.01-0.2 μg/ml for each drug were 92.7% and 93.3 % respectively. The limit of detection were 2.5 and 0.14 ng /ml for enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide respectively. the validated method has been used successfully to study enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide pharmacokinetic, bioavailability and bioequivalence in 24 adult volunteers.
Image Sequence Super-resolution based on Learning using Feature Descriptors

There is currently a growing demand for high-resolution images and videos in several domains of knowledge, such as surveillance, remote sensing, medicine, industrial automation, microscopy, among others. High resolution images provide details that are important to tasks of analysis and visualization of data present in the images. However, due to the cost of high precision sensors and the limitations that exist for reducing the size of the image pixels in the sensor itself, high-resolution images have been acquired from super-resolution methods. This work proposes a method for super-resolving a sequence of images from the compensation residual learned by the features extracted in the residual image and the training set. The results are compared with some methods available in the literature. Quantitative and qualitative measures are used to compare the results obtained with super-resolution techniques considered in the experiments.
Ising spin glasses with ferromagnetic interactions

We consider the thermodynamics of an infinite-range Ising p-spin glass model with an additional r-spin ferromagnetic interaction. For r = 2 there is a continuous transition to a ferromagnetic phase, while for r > 2 the transition is first order. We find both glassy and non-glassy ferromagnetic phases, with replica symmetry breaking of both the one step and full varieties. We obtain new results for the case where r = p > 2, demonstrating the existence of a non-glassy ferromagnetic phase, of significance to error-correcting codes.
Tsetse Flies (Glossina) as Vectors of Human African Trypanosomiasis: A Review

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) transmitted by the tsetse fly continues to be a public health issue, despite more than a century of research. There are two types of the disease, the chronic gambiense and the acute rhodesiense-HAT. Fly abundance and distribution have been affected by changes in land-use patterns and climate. However, disease transmission still continues. Here, we review some aspects of HAT ecoepidemiology in the context of altered infestation patterns and maintenance of the transmission cycle as well as emerging options in disease and vector control.
Diagnostic-test evaluation of immunoassays for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in a random sample of Mexican population.

INTRODUCTION There are few articles on evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii serological tests. Besides, commercially available tests are not always useful and are expensive for studies in open population. The aim of this study was to evaluate in-house ELISA and western blot for IgG antibodies in a representative sample of people living in Mexico. METHODOLOGY Three hundred and five serum samples were randomly selected from two national seroepidemiological survey banks; they were taken from men and women of all ages and from all areas of the country. ELISA cut-off was established using the mean plus three standard deviations of negative samples. Western blots were analysed by two experienced technicians and positivity was established according to the presence of at least three diagnostic bands. A commercial ELISA kit was used as a third test. Two reference standards were built up: one using concordant results of two assays leaving the evaluated test out and the other in which the evaluated test was included (IN) with at least two concordant results to define diagnosis. RESULTS the lowest values of diagnostic parameters were obtained with the OUT reference standards: in-house ELISA had 96.9% sensitivity, 62.1% specificity, 49.6% PPV, 98.1% NPV and 71.8% accuracy, while western blot presented 81.8%, 89.7%, 84.0%, 88.2% and 86.6% values and the best kappa coefficient (0.72-0.82). CONCLUSIONS The in-house ELISA is useful for screening people of Mexico, due to its high sensitivity, while western blot may be used to confirm diagnosis. These techniques might prove useful in other Latin American countries.
Pension Reserve Funds: Aligning Form and Function

In an era of population aging and increasing fiscal pressures on nation-states, pension reserve funds (PRFs) have been mooted as effective investment vehicles for realizing future liabilities and achieving some balance between generations. However, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impacts of politicizing PRFs. This article considers the design, governance, and management of PRFs with respect to holding partisan politics and bureaucratic encroachment at bay, and suggests a set of principles and policies that the authors believe are essential to functional PRF performance. Inspiration is drawn from previous research on pension fund governance and detailed case studies of four leading PRF exemplars.
Institutions, property-aware programming and testing

The institution notion is a general model theoretic framework, explaining how specifications (algebraic axioms) relate to models (mathematical models or even software constructions) in a formalism-independent manner. There is a large set of institution-independent structuring mechanisms for specifications. Property aware programming, as e.g. supported by concepts in C++0X, provides algebraic axioms as part of the code to ensure correctness of generic software composition. Testing is very important for the validation of software, but tests are all too often developed on an ad hoc basis. Here we present a library testing framework, with a basis in structured specifications. The approach will be demonstrated on Sophus, a medium-sized software library for coordinate-free numerics. Sophus was developed using (informal) algebraic specifications in order to improve reusability and reduce development costs.
Decimations of l-Sequences and Permutations of Even Residues mod p

Goresky and Klapper conjectured that for any prime $p>13$ and any $\ell$-sequence ${\bf a}$ based on $p$, every pair of allowable decimations of ${\bf a}$ is cyclically distinct. The conjecture is essentially equivalent to the statement that the mapping $x\to Ax^d$, with $(d,p-1)=1$, $p\nmid A$, is a permutation of the even residues $\! \pmod p$ if and only if $d=1$ and $A\equiv1\pmod p$ for $p>13$. We prove the conjecture for $p>2.26\cdot10^{55}$ and establish it in a number of other special cases such as when $-. 000274p
Seasonal Variation of Denitrification Rate in Estuary Sediments of Liaohe, China

The regulatory effects of environmental factors and denitrifying bacteria on denitrification were studied in the estuary sed iments of L ia oh e. Seasonal variation of denitrification rates over a one-year period were measured using the acetylene inhibition technique (AIT). Denitrification rates ranged at 2.4116. 75 μmol/ (m2·h) in spring (May), 0.61113. 14 μmol/ (m2 ·h) in summer (August), and 2.11106. 87 μmol/ (m2·h) in fall (November), indicating an apparent seasonal variation. Sediment denitrification rates were greatest in the spring and lowest in the summer and early autumn, primarily due to seasonal differences in nitrate concentration and water temperature. Of various environmental factors on denitrification that we assessed, nitrate was determined to be the key factor limiting denitrification rates in the sediments of Liaohe. In addition, at the two sites denitrification rates were also regulated by DO. Positive and linear relationships were regularly observed between denitrification rate and the number of denitrifying bacteria.
Strength of investor protection and competition in ICT industry: A focus on internet and telephony markets in Asian countries

Investor protection is controversial in ICT industry such that the high investor protection may harm the industry, prevent new comers to enter into the market and induce collusions among dominant firms. This study provides another evidence of the relationship between strength of investor protection and competition in ICT industry. It uses OLS and Tobit to analyze the data from 144 countries. The findings reveal that the higher investor protection will induce higher competition. It means that potential investors prefer to enter into a market where they are well protected. Therefore, the number and quality of investors in these markets are high. They tend to compete rather than collude with other firms in the same market. However, this relationship is weakened in Asian countries. It means that even though the investor protection is good but the Asian markets are still risky by other uncontrollable factors such as politics. Therefore, quality investors may hesitate to enter into these markets and consequently the competition is not so high.
Teachers' Perceptions of Leadership Training for Site-Based Decision Making.

Seven elementary, junior high, and high schools participate in the Memphis City Deregulation Program (MCDP), a school-based decision making program in which the principle of shared leddership is a key concept. Shared leadership requires a shift from traditional roles, responsibilities, and power relationships. This study focuses on 49 teachers in this program who assumed new roles as educational leaders, serving as department and grade-level chairs. Through semi-structured interviews, data were collected from these teachers and their principals (N=6) on their perceptions of the skills and training needed for teachers effectively to fill leadership positions in a school-based decision making program. Content analysis procedures were used to identify the perceptions of the principals and teachers about various aspects of school-b4sed decision making. Specific topics examined included: skills, abilities, and attitudes teacher leaders brought to the job; skills, abilities, and attitudes that teachers involved in site-based decision making had to learn while on the job; areas in which these teachers needed to improve; extent to which teachers had been prepared to assume leadership roles in a site-based decision making structure; and how training for leadership and site-based decision making could be improved. (40 references) (IAR) **********************V********************************%*************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ****************f****************************************************** TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING Toni Bellon Jeff Beaudry St. John's University Jamaica, New York Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting o the American Educational Research Association Li S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Othk e c Eductelionst Rasea,ch and moro.vernen EDUCAT.ONAL RESOURCES INFORMATON CENTER (ERIC! Inrs documerq Nits tven reprochK thi as ,escee,s,e.d th,rh the. pertao.1 orgarThriston nr.gngtng C. M. nor Changes na.e teen mode ,rnpIC.e ,eprofluctsOn ch,sio), POirst ot ochn,ons sLrifed,,,th,s doc,, men. Lio ot nercessartiv retpresprn othr,a) OE RI DOS,4,C,IN Or 00i,CY April 20-24, 1992 San Francisco, California PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC). " Acknowledgement/Disclaimer Statement Support for this study was provi&d by the Center for Research in Educational Policy, College of Education, Memphis State University. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Center, the College. or the University. The Center for Research in Educational Policy is a Center of Excellence for the State of Tennessee.
Nonradial Pulsations in Classical Cepheids of the Magellanic Clouds

We have performed systematic frequency analysis of the LMC Cepheids observed by OGLE project. Several new types of pulsation behaviour are identified, including triple-mode and amplitude-modulated double-mode pulsations. In ∼ 10% of the first overtone Cepheids we find low amplitude secondary periodicities corresponding to nonradial modes. This is the first evidence for excitation of nonradial oscillations in Classical Cepheid variables.
Rough Sets in Data Warehousing Extended Abstract

Thetheoryofroughsets[15,16],basedontheuniversalframeworkofinformationsystems, provides a powerful model for representing patterns and dependenciesboth in databases and in data mining. On the one hand, although there are nu-merous rough set applications to data mining and knowledge discovery [10,18],the usage of rough sets inside the database engines is still quite an unchartedterritory. On the other hand, however, this situation is not so exceptional giventhat even the most well-known paradigms of machine learning, soft comput-ing, artiﬁcial intelligence, and approximate reasoning are still waiting for morerecognition in the database research, with huge potential in such areas as, e.g.,physical data model tuning or adaptive query optimization [2,3]. Rough set-based algorithms and similar techniques can be applied to improvedatabase performance by employing the automatically discovered dependenciesto better deal with query conditions [5,9]. Another idea is to use available infor-mation to calculate rough approximations of data needed to resolve queries andto assist the database engine in accessing relevant data [20,24]. In our approach,we partition data onto
Implementation of Block Scheduling in a Four-Year High School: A Literary Review and a Handbook for Administrators, Teachers and Parents.

High schools today face problems of culturally diverse student populations, diversity of student learning styles, and a growing public perception that high schools do not adequately prepare their graduates for either work or college. This paper offers an extensive review of literature on block scheduling as well as a handbook for gaining support for implementing block scheduling at a 4-year high school. It provides tips for moving to a schedule of 90-minute block classes that provide the time needed for student-centered instruction, which is essential for meeting the needs of students in today's global society. The handbook is comprised of six sections, the first of which contains an annotated bibliography of five items--a journal article and four Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) documents on block scheduling. Sect;ons 2 through 5 present strategies for building support among the teaching staff, students, parents and community members, and the school board. A chronology of steps and a timeline for block scheduling a*-e provided in the sixth section. (Ccntains 47 references.) (LMI) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ************************************************AAA********* c******** IMPLEMENTATION OF BLOCK SCHEDULING IN A FOUR-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL: A LITERARY REVIEW AND A HANDBOOK FOR ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS