Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the landscape of accelerators for vision

Visual analytics applications are becoming ubiquitous and embedded in various systems that we interact with daily. Limited power budgets and the need for high performance for cognitive visual analytics have led to a three-pronged approach of integrating advances in algorithms, architectures and technology towards designing next generation vision accelerators. Vision applications benefit from increasing processor customization, emerging devices and technologies such as Tunnel-FETs and Resistive- RAMs, and trends in non-Boolean computing such as Cellular Neural Networks (CNNs) and neuromorphic architectures. This paper provides an overview of the evolving landscape of vision accelerators.
Averaged and single-trial brain responses in the assessment of human sound detection

We investigated sound detection in humans with magnetoencephalography and behavioural measurements. Sounds with intensity increasing smoothly over 125–1000 ms elicited a transient response in auditory cortex with a peak latency in the 200–600 ms range. Importantly, peak latency accurately predicted behavioural reaction time and was unaffected by attentional engagement. Peak amplitude was augmented when the study participants attended to the stimuli and when stimulus duration was decreased. For investigating the cause of these amplitude variations in the averaged response we designed a wavelet-based method for analysing single-trial responses. We found that attention affects the amplitude of the single-trial responses whereas the intensity slope of the stimulus modifies their latency distribution. The transient response reported here holds promise for rapid, objective hearing assessment not requiring a behavioural task.
Quantitative Analysis of Learning Object Repositories

This paper conducts the first detailed quantitative study of the process of publication of learning objects in repositories. This process has been often discussed theoretically, but never empirically evaluated. Several question related to basic characteristics of the publication process are raised at the beginning of the paper and answered through quantitative analysis. To provide a wide view of the publication process, this paper analyzes four types of repositories: Learning Object Repositories, Learning Object Referatories, Open Courseware Initiatives, and Learning Management Systems. For comparison, Institutional Repositories are also analyzed. Three repository characteristics are measured: size, growth, and contributor base. The main findings are that the amount of learning objects is distributed among repositories according to a power law, the repositories mostly grow linearly, and the amount of learning objects published by each contributor follows heavy-tailed distributions. The paper finally discusses the implications that this findings could have in the design and operation of Learning Object Repositories.
Development of technology acceptance research for mobile services

This paper presents a framework to analyze the state-of-the-art of technology acceptance research for mobile services. Current research dealing with the topic was categorized concerning theoretical base, success factors and main results. The method used for categorization is based on a full text analysis of all papers published in main Information Systems journals since 2004. Results of this study deliver insight into the development of this research field that is critical to all activities of mobile commerce.
European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies

Background Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a clinically heterogeneous disease. Clear consensual treatment guidance focused on the musculoskeletal manifestations of PsA would be advantageous. The authors present European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the treatment of PsA with systemic or local (non-topical) symptomatic and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). Methods The recommendations are based on evidence from systematic literature reviews performed for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), glucocorticoids, synthetic DMARD and biological DMARD. This evidence was discussed, summarised and recommendations were formulated by a task force comprising 35 representatives, and providing levels of evidence, strength of recommendations and levels of agreement. Results Ten recommendations were developed for treatment from NSAID through synthetic DMARD to biological agents, accounting for articular and extra-articular manifestations of PsA. Five overarching principles and a research agenda were defined. Conclusion These recommendations are intended to provide rheumatologists, patients and other stakeholders with a consensus on the pharmacological treatment of PsA and strategies to reach optimal outcomes, based on combining evidence and expert opinion. The research agenda informs directions within EULAR and other communities interested in PsA.
Visual Perception of Features and Objects

Abstract : This period of grant support was used to continue experiments on the preattentive processing of features, focusing on the role of attention in the integration of information across opposite directions of contrast. While unicontrast dots can be integrated in parallel across space and time to give rise to preattentive perception of either orientation or motion, attention seems to be required when the dots are of opposite contrast, consistent with the predictions of feature integration theory. A new method of dissociating preattentive and attentive processing through selective adaptation was explored. The second main area of research concerned perception and visual memory for novel objects, using priming tasks to discover the nature of the representations formed either automatically or with attention. We discovered a surprising combination of plasticity and persistence in implicit memory: Unattended novel patterns apparently leave memory traces that are formed in a single presentation but persist across at least 200 intervening trials with other similar patterns. Yet no conscious explicit memory is available even immediately after the presentation. Features, Objects, Attention, Vision.
NANOTECHNOLOGIES IN FOOD AND MEAT PROCESSING

This paper highlights the evolution of nanoscience and nanotechnologies from the global perspective and their potential application in food systems including meat proc- essing. Nanotechnology has its roots in a talk delivered in 1959 by physicist Richard Feynman to the American Physical Society. Nanoscience refers to components properties at nanoscale and nanotechnology refers to process or processes used in the manufacture and/or biofabrication of new materials measured at nanoscale. Nanotechnology offers a wide range of opportunities for the development of innovative products and applications in food system. Functional foods, nutraceuticals, bioactives, farmafoods, etc. are very re- cent example of it. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials are a natural part of food process- ing and conventional foods, because the characteristic properties of many foods rely on nanometer sized components. Some of the areas where nanotechnologies are set to make a difference in meat processing in near future relate to intelligent packaging of meat and meat products, meat derived bioactive peptides, pro- and pre-biotics inclusion in processed meat products, fat based nanoemulsions for antioxidant delivery, nanosensors and nanotracers for meat biosecurity tracing and nanostructured meat products with de- fined functions. New horizons for nanotechnology in meat science may be achieved by further research on nanoscale structures and methods to control interactions between sin- gle molecules. However, it shall be mentioned that nanotechnologies and nanomaterials are calling for their regulations and safety assessment as some of the materials are new and their safety never tested before.
PREDICTION OF HIGH-PRESSURE VAPOR LIQUID EQUILIBRIUM OF SIX BINARY SYSTEMS , CARBON DIOXIDE WITH SIX ESTERS , USING AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK MODEL

Artificial neural networks are applied to high-pressure vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) related literature data to develop and validate a model capable of predicting VLE of six CO2-ester binaries (CO2-ethyl caprate, CO2-ethyl caproate, CO2-ethyl caprylate, CO2-diethyl carbonate, CO2-ethyl butyrate and CO2isopropyl acetate). A feed forward, back propagation network is used with one hidden layer. The model has five inputs (two intensive state variables and three pure ester properties) and two outputs (two intensive state variables). The network is systematically trained with 112 data points in the temperature and pressure ranges (308.2-328.2 K), (1.665-9.218 MPa) respectively and is validated with 56 data points in the temperature range (308.2-328.2 K). Different combinations of network architecture and training algorithms are studied. The training and validation strategy is focused on the use of a validation agreement vector, determined from linear regression analysis of the plots of the predicted versus experimental outputs, as an indication of the predictive ability of the neural network model. Statistical analyses of the predictability of the optimised neural network model show excellent agreement with experimental data (a coefficient of correlation equal to 0.9995 and 0.9886, and a root mean square error equal to 0.0595 and 0.00032 for the predicted equilibrium pressure and CO2 vapor phase composition respectively). Furthermore, the comparison in terms of average absolute relative deviation between the predicted results for each binary for the whole temperature range and literature results predicted by some cubic equation of state with various mixing rules and excess Gibbs energy models shows that the artificial neural network model gives far better results.
Anti-Proliferative Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Extract on Human Melanoma A375 Cells

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used since ancient times in traditional medicine, while nowadays various rosemary formulations are increasingly exploited by alternative medicine to cure or prevent a wide range of health disorders. Rosemary’s bioproperties have prompted scientific investigation, which allowed us to ascertain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic, and cytotoxic activities of crude extracts or of pure components. Although there is a growing body of experimental work, information about rosemary’s anticancer properties, such as chemoprotective or anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells, is very poor, especially concerning the mechanism of action. Melanoma is a skin tumor whose diffusion is rapidly increasing in the world and whose malignancy is reinforced by its high resistance to cytotoxic agents; hence the availability of new cytotoxic drugs would be very helpful to improve melanoma prognosis. Here we report on the effect of a rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on the viability of the human melanoma A375 cell line. Main components of rosemary extract were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) and the effect of the crude extract or of pure components on the proliferation of cancer cells was tested by MTT and Trypan blue assays. The effect on cell cycle was investigated by using flow cytometry, and the alteration of the cellular redox state was evaluated by intracellular ROS levels and protein carbonylation analysis. Furthermore, in order to get information about the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity, a comparative proteomic investigation was performed.
Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nanomaterials for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Imaging Applications

Nanotechnology offers outstanding potential for future biomedical applications. In particular, due to their unique characteristics, hybrid nanomaterials have recently been investigated as promising platforms for imaging and therapeutic applications. This class of nanoparticles can not only retain valuable features of both inorganic and organic moieties, but also provides the ability to systematically modify the properties of the hybrid material through the combination of functional elements. Moreover, the conjugation of targeting moieties on the surface of these nanomaterials gives them specific targeted imaging and therapeutic properties. In this review, we summarize the recent reports in the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials and their applications in biomedical areas. Their applications as imaging and therapeutic agents in vivo will be highlighted.
Fast computation of the time domain diffusion forward model for optical tomography in the Born approximation

Diffuse optical tomography is an emerging technique for non-invasively measuring in vivo tissue optical properties. The next generation of DOT time domain imaging systems will allow researchers to create three-dimensional (3D) images of blood volume and oxygenation with unprecedented spatial resolution. We consider common semi-infinite and slab geometries, in the Born approximation to the diffusion equation. Current techniques for computing the 3D time-domain forward problem are computationally intensive: evaluating the required sensitivity matrix involves a numerical convolution in time. We present analytical results for this convolution, for both absorption and diffusion 3-point Green’s functions. This accelerates calculation by up to two orders of magnitude, while improving accuracy.
Evolving Ensemble-Clustering to a Feedback-Driven Process

Data clustering is a highly used knowledge extraction technique and is applied in more and more application domains. Over the last years, a lot of algorithms have been proposed that are often complicated and/or tailored to specific scenarios. As a result, clustering has become a hardly accessible domain for non-expert users, who face major difficulties like algorithm selection and parameterization. To overcome this issue, we develop a novel feedback-driven clustering process using a new perspective of clustering. By substituting parameterization with user-friendly feedback and providing support for result interpretation, clustering becomes accessible and allows the step-by-step construction of a satisfying result through iterative refinement.
Modulation of radula opener muscles in Aplysia.

We observed fibers immunoreactive (IR) to serotonin (5-HT), the myomodulins (MMs), and FMRFamide on the I7-I10 complex in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica. The I7-I10 muscle complex, which produces radula opening, is innervated primarily by one motor neuron, B48. B48 is MM-IR and synthesizes authentic MM(A). When B48 is stimulated in a physiological manner, cAMP levels are increased in opener muscles. cAMP increases also are seen when the MMs are applied to opener muscles but are not seen with application of the B48 primary neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Possible physiological sources of 5-HT and FMRFamide are discussed. When modulators are applied to resting opener muscles, changes in membrane potential are observed. Specifically, 5-HT, MM(B), and low concentrations of MM(A) all depolarize muscle fibers. This depolarization is generally not sufficient to elicit myogenic activity in the absence of neural activity under "rest" conditions. However, if opener muscles are stretched beyond rest length, stretch- and modulator-induced depolarizations can summate and elicit contractions. This only occurs, however, if "depolarizing" modulators are applied alone. Thus other modulators (i.e., FMRFamide and high concentrations of MM(A)) hyperpolarize opener muscle fibers and can prevent depolarizing modulators from eliciting myogenic activity. All modulators tested affected parameters of motor neuron-elicited contractions of opener muscles. MM(B) and 5-HT increased contraction size over the range of concentrations tested, whereas MM(A) potentiated contractions when it was applied at lower concentrations but decreased contraction size at higher concentrations. FMRFamide decreased contraction size at all concentrations and did not affect relaxation rate. Additionally, the MMs and 5-HT increased muscle relaxation rate, decreased contraction latency, and decreased the rate at which tension was developed during motor neuron-elicited muscle contractions. Thus these modulators dramatically affect the ability of opener muscles to follow activity in the opener motor neuron B48. The possible physiological significance of these findings is discussed.
The asymmetry and temporal dynamics of incidental letter–location bindings in working memory

Verbal–spatial bindings are integral to routine cognitive operations (e.g., reading), yet the processes supporting them in working memory are little understood. Campo and colleagues [Campo, P., Poch, C. , Parmentier, F. B. R. , Moratti, S. , Elsley, J. V. , Castellanos, N. , … Maestú, F. (2010). Oscillatory activity in prefrontal and posterior regions during implicit letter-location binding. Neuroimage, 49, 2807–2815] recently reported data suggesting obligatory letter–location binding when participants were directed to remember the letters in a display (of letters in locations), but no evidence for binding when instructed to remember the filled locations. The present study contrasted two explanations for this binding asymmetry. First, it may result from an obligatory dependence on “where” during the representation of “what” information, while “where” information may be held independently of its contents (the strong asymmetry hypothesis). Second, it may constitute a snapshot of a dynamic feature inhibition process that had partially completed by test: the asymmetrical inhibition hypothesis. Using Campo and colleagues’ task with a variable retention interval between display and test, we presented four consonants in distinct locations and contrasted performance between “remember letters” and “remember locations” instructions. Our data supported the strong asymmetry hypothesis through demonstrating binding in the verbal task, but not in the spatial task. Critically, when present, verbal–spatial bindings were remarkably stable, enduring for at least 15 seconds.
Planning, Governance and Spatial Strategy in Britain: An Institutionalist Analysis

PART I: RESEARCHING PLANNING PRACTICE AND THEORY Planning Systems and Territorial Governance Constructing Accounts of Planning Practices: Theories and Concepts PART II: PLANNING, GOVERNANCE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY Planning and Governance in Three Localities Cascading Numbers: Finding New Space for Housing Jobs, Sites and Portfolio: Allocating Large Sites for Economic Development Purposes Transport at a Metaphorical Crossroads: The Gradual Penetration of a Sustainable Development Discourse Managing Waste: An Emerging Discourse in the Planning System? PART III: THE DISCOURSES AND INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF THE PLANNING SYSTEM Planning Discourses in Transition The Policy Communities of Spatial Strategy-making: The Emergence of a Regional Corporatism? PART IV: CONCLUSIONS: TOWARDS A POLITICS OF PLACE? Spatial Regulation or Spatial Planning: The Emergence of a New Politics of Place?
Pseudo-Word for Phrase-Based Machine Translation

The pipeline of most Phrase-Based Statistical Machine Translation (PB-SMT) systems starts from automatically word aligned parallel corpus. But word appears to be too fine-grained in some cases such as non-compositional phrasal equivalences, where no clear word alignments exist. Using words as inputs to PB-SMT pipeline has inborn deficiency. This paper proposes pseudo-word as a new start point for PB-SMT pipeline. Pseudo-word is a kind of basic multi-word expression that characterizes minimal sequence of consecutive words in sense of translation. By casting pseudo-word searching problem into a parsing framework, we search for pseudo-words in a monolingual way and a bilingual synchronous way. Experiments show that pseudo-word significantly outperforms word for PB-SMT model in both travel translation domain and news translation domain.
Competence development and work-family conflict

Purpose – This study aims to understand how the development of teaching and research competencies affects graduate (MS and PhD level – called stricto sensu courses in Brazil) management professors' work-family relations. Design/methodology/approach – This research is a case study about work-family conflicts in academic careers. The data collection and analysis occurred during the period between June 2009 and January 2012. The population is composed of 45 professors: 33 men and 12 women, corresponding, respectively, to 73 and 27 per cent of the professors in the programs. Eleven female professors and 26 male professors were interviewed in this research. Analysis of work-family conflicts was performed by means of open questions based on three conflict dimensions: time, strain and behavior. Findings – Investment in the development of teaching competencies brings conflicts into work-family relations. Among the three conflict dimensions considered, time stood out. When the conflict dimension was analyzed, more.
Monitoring Change in Vertebrate Abundance: the Living Planet Index

Abstract: The task of measuring the decline of global biodiversity and instituting changes to halt and reverse this downturn has been taken up in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity's 2010 target. It is an undertaking made more difficult by the complex nature of biodiversity and the consequent difficulty in accurately gauging its depletion. In the Living Planet Index, aggregated population trends among vertebrate species indicate the rate of change in the status of biodiversity, and this index can be used to address the question of whether or not the 2010 target has been achieved. We investigated the use of generalized additive models in aggregating large quantities of population trend data, evaluated potential bias that results from collation of existing trends, and explored the feasibility of disaggregating the data (e.g., geographically, taxonomically, regionally, and by thematic area). Our results show strengths in length and completeness of data, little evidence of bias toward threatened species, and the possibility of disaggregation into meaningful subsets. Limitations of the data set are still apparent, in particular the dominance of bird data and gaps in tropical‐species population coverage. Population‐trend data complement the longer‐term, but more coarse‐grained, perspectives gained by evaluating species‐level extinction rates. To measure progress toward the 2010 target, indicators must be adapted and strategically supplemented with existing data to generate meaningful indicators in time. Beyond 2010, it is critical a strategy be set out for the future development of indicators that will deal with existing data gaps and that is intricately tied to the goals of future biodiversity targets.