Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial load forecasting based on unstructured information processing and multi — Attribute deep learning

A spatial load forecasting method based on unstructured information processing and multi — attribute depth learning is proposed. In order to solve the problem that the unstructured attributes have great influence on the load density but can't be directly put into calculation, the natural language processing (NLP) technique is used to structure those attributes. In view of the on characterization of the high dimension attributes by traditional method, Stacked Denoising Auto Encoder (SDAE) deep learning network is used to forecast the spatial load density. And the Rectified Linear Unit(ReLU) function is used as the excitation function of the network as well as the network structure gets improved to overcome the gradient disappearance and over-fitting. The results of case study show that the method of spatial load forecasting is effective and feasible.
Encoding of Tactile Stimulus Location by Somatosensory Thalamocortical Ensembles

The exquisite modular anatomy of the rat somatosensory system makes it an excellent model to test the potential coding strategies used to discriminate the location of a tactile stimulus. Here, we investigated how ensembles of simultaneously recorded single neurons in layer V of primary somatosensory (SI) cortex and in the ventral posterior medial (VPM) nucleus of the thalamus of the anesthetized rat may encode the location of a single whisker stimulus on a single trial basis. An artificial neural network based on a learning vector quantization algorithm, was used to identify putative coding mechanisms. Our data suggest that these neural ensembles may rely on a distributed coding scheme to represent the location of single whisker stimuli. Within this scheme, the temporal modulation of neural ensemble firing rate, as well as the temporal interactions between neurons, contributed significantly to the representation of stimulus location. The relative contribution of these temporal codes increased with the number of whiskers that the ensembles must discriminate among. Our results also indicated that the SI cortex and the VPM nucleus may function as a single entity to encode stimulus location. Overall, our data suggest that the representation of somatosensory features in the rat trigeminal system may arise from the interactions of neurons within and between the SI cortex and VPM nucleus. Furthermore, multiple coding strategies may be used simultaneously to represent the location of tactile stimuli.
Contribution to condition monitoring of Silicon Carbide MOSFET based Power Module

L’avion plus electrique demande des modules de puissances de plus en plus performants dans les domaines de la fiabilite et de la maitrise de la duree de vie restante. Le remplacement des systemes hydrauliques et pneumatiques par des actionneurs electriques et leurs convertisseurs associes est, aujourd’hui, un moyen efficace de reduire les couts de maintenance et la consommation de carburant. L’ajout de composantes electriques est egalement un bon moyen d’augmenter la fiabilite des systemes. La fiabilite est toujours etudiee a partir de contraintes cycliques accelerees. La tendance actuelle est d’embarquer des fonctions de suivi de l’etat de sante dans les modules de puissance pour permettre la prediction de la duree de vie restante. Cette approche implique des modifications du circuit afin de mettre en place des capteurs et est souvent dediee a un mode de defaillance en particulier. Cette these propose une approche par apprentissage du suivi de l’etat de sante de modules de puissance a base de MOSFET en carbure de silicium. Une large etude bibliographique a permis de creer et de realiser un banc de test instrumente permettant de mettre en œuvre des defaillances attendues dans les modules de puissance mais aussi d’enregistrer un grand nombre de parametres electriques au cours de la vie du module. Ces parametres montrent une evolution au cours du vieillissement du module en fonction des modes de defaillances. Un modele de reseaux neuronaux s’appuie sur la derive de ces parametres pour etablir le pronostic de duree de vie restante d’un module de puissance a chaque instant de son utilisation normale
Real-time depth estimation for immersive 3D videoconferencing

The interest in immersive 3D video conference systems exists now for many years from both sides, the commercialization point of view as well as from a research perspective. Still, one of the major bottlenecks in this context is the computational complexity of the required algorithmic modules. This paper discusses this problem from a hardware point of view. We use new fast graphics board solutions, which allow high algorithmic parallelization in consumer PC environments on one hand and look at state-of-the-art powerful multi-core CPU processing capabilities on the other hand. We propose a novel scalable and high performance 3D acquisition framework for immersive 3D videoconference systems which takes benefit from both sides. In this way we are able to integrate complex computer vision algorithms, such as Visual Hull, multi-view stereo matching, segmentation, image rectification, lens distortion correction and virtual view synthesis as well as data encoding, network signaling and capturing for 16 HD cameras in one real-time framework. This paper is based on results and experiences of the European FP7 research project 3DPresence which aims to build a real-time three party and multi-user 3D videoconferencing system.
The impact of different power dividers used in a non-uniform planar antenna array

Wireless communications are widely used for various applications, requiring antennas with different features. Often, to achieve the desired radiation pattern, is necessary to employ antenna arrays, using non-uniform excitation on its elements. Power dividers can be used and the best known are the T-junction and the Wilkinson power divider, whose main advantage is the isolation between output ports. In this paper the impact of this isolation on the overall performance of a circularly polarized planar antenna array using non-uniform excitation is investigated. Results show a huge decrease of the array bandwidths either in terms of return loss or in polarization, without resistors.
Linear Spectral Clustering Superpixel

In this paper, we present a superpixel segmentation algorithm called linear spectral clustering (LSC), which is capable of producing superpixels with both high boundary adherence and visual compactness for natural images with low computational costs. In LSC, a normalized cuts-based formulation of image segmentation is adopted using a distance metric that measures both the color similarity and the space proximity between image pixels. However, rather than directly using the traditional eigen-based algorithm, we approximate the similarity metric through a deliberately designed kernel function such that pixel values can be explicitly mapped to a high-dimensional feature space. We then apply the conclusion that by appropriately weighting each point in this feature space, the objective functions of the weighted K-means and the normalized cuts share the same optimum points. Consequently, it is possible to optimize the cost function of the normalized cuts by iteratively applying simple K-means clustering in the proposed feature space. LSC possesses linear computational complexity and high memory efficiency, since it avoids both the decomposition of the affinity matrix and the generation of the large kernel matrix. By utilizing the underlying mathematical equivalence between the two types of seemingly different methods, LSC successfully preserves global image structures through efficient local operations. Experimental results show that LSC performs as well as or even better than the state-of-the-art superpixel segmentation algorithms in terms of several commonly used evaluation metrics in image segmentation. The applicability of LSC is further demonstrated in two related computer vision tasks.
Attractiveness Is Multimodal: Beauty Is Also in the Nose and Ear of the Beholder

Attractiveness plays a central role in human non-verbal communication and has been broadly examined in diverse subfields of contemporary psychology. Researchers have garnered compelling evidence in support of the evolutionary functions of physical attractiveness and its role in our daily lives, while at the same time, having largely ignored the significant contribution of non-visual modalities and the relationships among them. Acoustic and olfactory cues can, separately or in combination, strongly influence the perceived attractiveness of an individual and therefore attitudes and actions toward that person. Here, we discuss the relative importance of visual, auditory and olfactory traits in judgments of attractiveness, and review neural and behavioral studies that support the highly complex and multimodal nature of person perception. Further, we discuss three alternative evolutionary hypotheses aimed at explaining the function of multiple indices of attractiveness. In this review, we provide several lines of evidence supporting the importance of the voice, body odor, and facial and body appearance in the perception of attractiveness and mate preferences, and therefore the critical need to incorporate cross-modal perception and multisensory integration into future research on human physical attractiveness.
Practical Solutions to Polarization-Mode-Dispersion Emulation and Compensation

Polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) still remains a challenge for high-data-rate optical-communication systems. Practical solutions are desirable for PMD emulation, monitoring, and compensation. The authors review and compare various techniques for PMD emulation and compensation, with an emphasis on the application of programmable differential-group-delay (DGD) elements for manipulating PMD effects. The authors pay special attention to advanced emulation techniques, such as importance sampling and the hinge model, for practical applications. The tunability of programmable DGD elements proves to be attractive for both system performance evaluation and overall optimization
High-frequency transformation of Brevibacterium lactofermentum protoplasts by plasmid DNA

An efficient polyethylene glycol-assisted method for transformation of Brevibacterium lactofermentum protoplasts that uses plasmid vectors has been developed. Two small plasmids, pUL330 (5.2 kilobases) and pUL340 (5.8 kilobases), both containing the kanamycin resistance gene from transposon Tn5 and the replication origin of the natural plasmid pBL1 of B. lactofermentum, were selected as vectors. Supercoiled forms of the plasmids yielded a 100-fold higher transformation frequency than did linear forms. The optimal transformation frequency was achieved with 10 ng of DNA in 1 ml of transformation buffer. Higher concentrations of plasmid DNA resulted in a decrease in transformation frequency per microgram of DNA. Optimal transformation was obtained with 25 to 35% polyethylene glycol 6000. Under optimal conditions, 10(6) transformants per microgram of DNA were obtained.
Large Eddy Simulation of Distillation Sieve Tray Hydrodynamics using Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) Multiphase Model

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to predict the hydrodynamics and hydraulics of industrial-scale distillation sieve tray. Three-dimensional two-phase flow of gas and liquid is considered in which the interaction was modeled based on the concept of phasic volume defined in the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase model through Large Eddy Simulation (LES). All governing equations including surface tension and wall adhesion are solved simultaneously using the FLUENT code. This preliminary work focuses on the improvement of the existing Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based models in term of accuracy relative to experimental data. The computational domain and operating conditions were adapted from experimental study (1) where liquid velocity profiles, clear liquid height, and flow patterns were among the important quantities monitored. Gas-liquid interfaces and the existence of froth regime are clearly visualized via VOF model. The predicted quantities are found out to be in very good agreement with experimental data having discrepancies of less than 1.0%. Mesh resolutions above the bubbling area is identified as the key factor in accurate modeling of sieve tray hydrodynamics. The present model can be utilized with high confidence as the basis for the optimization of sieve tray mechanical design.
Compositional model of coherence and NUMA effects for optimizing thread and data placement

On today's multi-socket systems, the parallel performance is hampered by remote cache and memory access. There is much prior work on thread and data placement to curb remote access. However, the number of possible placements is large, and heuristic-based techniques only examines a fraction of the entire solution space. This paper presents a compositional model to analyze the effect of thread and data placement choices. The model includes an analysis for cache coherence and (remote) memory access. It has the property of being compositional, meaning the performances of all the placements can be composed from the results of one profiling pass. Based on this model, this paper further introduces a prototype tool called Tapas to optimize parallel programs for non-uniform memory access (NUMA) platforms.
Cooperation without communication: Multiagent schema-based robot navigation

Multiagent robotics affords the opportunity to solve problems more efficiently and effectively than any single agent could achieve. Nonetheless, communication bottlenecks between agents pose potentially serious drawbacks in coordinated behavior. In this research, we demonstrate the efficiency of multiagent schema-based navigation for object retrieval. Primitive motor behaviors are specified for each of the individual robotic agents, which produce safe task-achieving action in an unstructured environment. When implemented over several identical units, retrieval is facilitated in the absence of interagent communication as evidenced by spontaneous recruitment of several agents to accomplish a task. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate these effects. Extensions to other task-achieving behaviors are also feasible.
Localization of p21-activated Protein Kinase γ-PAK/Pak2 in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Is Required for Induction of Cytostasis*

The intracellular localization and physiological functions of the p21-activated protein kinase γ-PAK have been examined in human embryonic kidney 293T and COS-7 cells. At 1–4 days post-transfection, cell division is inhibited by the expression of wild type (WT) γ-PAK and the mutant S490A, whereas cells expressing S490D and the inactive mutants K278R and T402A grow exponentially, indicating a role for γ-PAK in the induction of cytostasis. WT γ-PAK and S490A are localized in a region surrounding the nucleus identified as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), as determined by immunofluorescence, whereas K278R, T402A, and S490D lack localization. As shown by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, WT γ-PAK, S490A, and endogenous γ-PAK are distributed among the high density (ER-associated), intermediate density, and low density fractions, whereas the mutants that do not inhibit cell division are present only as soluble enzyme. The amount of endogenous γ-PAK associated with the particulate fractions is increased 4-fold when cell division is inhibited by ionizing radiation. γ-PAK in the ER and intermediate density fractions has high specific activity and is active, whereas the soluble form of γ-PAK has low activity and is activable. The importance of localization of γ-PAK is supported by data with the C-terminal mutants S490D and Δ488; these mutants have high levels of protein kinase activity but do not induce cytostasis and are not bound to the ER. A model for the induction of cytostasis by γ-PAK through targeting of γ-PAK to the ER is presented in which γ-PAK activity and Ser-490 are implicated in the regulation of cytostasis.
A shoe-integrated tactile display for directional navigation

This paper proposes a novel wearable interface for the foot: an on-shoe tactile display that enables users to obtain information through the sense of touch of their feet. A 16-point array of actuators stimulates the sole of the foot by inducing different vibration frequencies. Experiments to study how people understand information through their feet were conducted with 20 voluntary subjects. Results show that some shapes and patterns are discriminable and that tactile-foot stimulation could be used for a wide number of applications in human-machine interaction. In particular, results show that it is possible to exploit podotactile information for navigation in space.
Within-Field Spatial Distribution of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Soybean (Fabales: Fabaceae)

ABSTRACT The recently introduced plataspid Megacopta cribraria (F.) can infest fields of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in the southeastern United States. Grid sampling in four soybean fields was conducted in 2011 and 2012 to study the spatial distribution of M. cribraria adults, nymphs, and egg masses. Peak oviposition typically occurred in early August, while peak levels of adults occurred in mid-late September. The overall sex ratio was slightly biased at 53.1 ± 0.2% (SEM) male. Sweep samples of nymphs were biased toward late instars. All three life stages exhibited a generally aggregated spatial distribution based on Taylor's power law, Iwao's patchiness regression, and spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE). Interpolation maps of local SADIE aggregation indices showed clusters of adults and nymphs located at field edges, and mean densities of adults were higher in samples taken from field edges than in those taken from field interiors. Adults and nymphs were often spatially associated based on SADIE, indicating spatial stability across life stages.
An LPS based method to stimulate the inflammatory response in growing rabbits

Reliable indicators are needed to study the relationship between the inflammatory response of the growing rabbit and breeding factors such as feeding practices. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of the inflammatory response is a valid model of bacterial infection in laboratory animals, but no data on the growing rabbit has yet been obtained. The aim of our study was to determine an adequate dose of LPS to inject in growing rabbits in order to elicit a measurable inflammatory response in terms of plasmatic TNF-α and rise in rectal temperature. Three trials were carried out in this study: 2 development trials, the first (n=18) testing 3 doses of LPS (2, 10, 50 μg/kg) on the plasmatic TNF-α concentration at 90 and 180 min post injection, and the second trial (n=36) testing 4 doses of LPS (50, 75, 100 and 150 μg/kg) on the TNF-α concentration 90 min post injection and the rectal temperature. The third trial was designed as an application of the method in a large number of animals (n=32) to study the effect of feed restriction and dietary increase in digestible fibre to starch ratio on the LPS inflammatory challenge response of growing rabbits. In development trials 1 and 2, animals had measurable TNF-α responses for doses higher than 10 μg/kg at 90 min post injection, with an increase in the number of responsive animals along with the dose. High variability was observed in TNF-α concentrations in responsive animals (coefficient of variation from 44 to 94%). Animals demonstrated an increase in rectal temperature for all doses injected in the range of 50-150 μg/kg from 90 min post injection with a peak at 180 min (Δ Tr =1.9±0.7°C). Our observations led us to choose a dose of 100 μg/kg of LPS for our following studies, as the responses in terms of temperature and TNF-α were the most satisfactory. The application of our LPS injection protocol to our nutritional study enabled us to validate our protocol (Δ Tr =1.1±0.7°C at 180 min and 15/32 TNF-α responsive animals) even though we were not able to demonstrate any effect of the feeding level or diet on the inflammatory response to an LPS injection.
Association between early-onset Parkinson's disease and mutations in the parkin gene.

BACKGROUND Mutations in the parkin gene have recently been identified in patients with early-onset Parkinson's disease, but the frequency of the mutations and the associated phenotype have not been assessed in a large series of patients. METHODS We studied 73 families in which at least one of the affected family members was affected at or before the age of 45 years and had parents who were not affected, as well as 100 patients with isolated Parkinson's disease that began at or before the age of 45 years. All subjects were screened for mutations in the parkin gene with use of a semiquantitative polymerase-chain-reaction assay that simultaneously amplified several exons. We sequenced the coding exons in a subgroup of patients. We also compared the clinical features of patients with parkin mutations and those without mutations. RESULTS Among the families with early-onset Parkinson's disease, 36 (49 percent) had parkin mutations. The age at onset ranged from 7 to 58 years. Among the patients with isolated Parkinson's disease, mutations were detected in 10 of 13 patients (77 percent) with an age at onset of 20 years or younger, but in only 2 of 64 patients (3 percent) with an age at onset of more than 30 years. The mean (+/-SD) age at onset in the patients with parkin mutations was younger than that in those without mutations (32+/-11 vs. 42+/-11 years, P<0.001), and they were more likely to have symmetric involvement and dystonia at onset, to have hyperreflexia at onset or later, to have a good response to levodopa therapy, and to have levodopa-induced dyskinesias during treatment. Nineteen different rearrangements of exons (deletions and multiplications) and 16 different point mutations were detected. CONCLUSIONS Mutations in the parkin gene are a major cause of early-onset autosomal recessive familial Parkinson's disease and isolated juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease (at or before the age of 20 years). Accurate diagnosis of these cases cannot be based only on the clinical manifestations of the disease.
BRCA1/2 associated cancer susceptibility: a clinical overview

Abstract The most frequently identified genetic cause of breast cancer is the germline mutation of BRCA1 and 2 genes. The carriers of these mutations are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancers and increased risk for pancreatic and prostate cancers. Personal and family history are routinely used to identify individuals at risk for carrying such mutations. Genetic counselling is required to guide them through genetic testing and risk management. Positive testing corresponds to a deleterious mutation, whereas negative testing is considered as uninformative; variants of unknown clinical significance are also classified as uninformative. The most effective risk reduction strategy involves bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, eliminating 90% of breast and 97% of ovarian cancer risks, respectively. Before and until such surgery, surveillance with physical examination, mammography and magnetic resonance mammography, starting at 25–30 years of age, are recommended for the early diagnosis of breast cancer; semi-annual surveillance with physical examination, transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA-125 is recommended for women who have not had prophylactic surgery. Carriers diagnosed with breast cancer run a high risk for a new breast primary and this information should be used accordingly. PARP inhibitors is a new class of antineoplastic agents, already approved for advanced BRCA1/2 mutant (germline or somatic) ovarian cancer. Multigene panel testing may follow a negative BRCA genetic test, often identifying other genetic causes of cancer, expanding its role in oncology. Further adoption of PARP inhibitors, refinement in estimation of BRCA-associated cancer risks and wider population testing, through NGS technology, may become available in the near future.