Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From perception to action and vice versa: A new architecture showing how perception and action can modulate each other simultaneously

Artificial vision systems can not process all the information that they receive from the world in real time because it is highly expensive and inefficient in terms of computational cost. However, inspired by biological perception systems, it is possible to develop an artificial attention model able to select only the relevant part of the scene, as human vision does. From the Automated Planning point of view, a relevant area can be seen as an area where the objects involved in the execution of a plan are located. Thus, the planning system should guide the attention model to track relevant objects. But, at the same time, the perceived objects may constrain or provide new information that could suggest the modification of a current plan. Therefore, a plan that is being executed should be adapted or recomputed taking into account actual information perceived from the world. In this work, we introduce an architecture that creates a symbiosis between the planning and the attention modules of a robotic system, linking visual features with high level behaviours. The architecture is based on the interaction of an oversubscription planner, that produces plans constrained by the information perceived from the vision system, and an object-based attention system, able to focus on the relevant objects of the plan being executed.
Dynamic Scheduling of Skippable Periodic Tasks in Weakly-Hard Real-Time Systems

This paper deals with dynamic scheduling in real-time systems that have quality of service requirements. We assume that tasks are periodic and may miss their deadlines, occasionally, as defined by the so-called Skip-Over model. In this paper, we present a dynamic scheduling algorithm, called RLP (Red as Late as possible), a variant of earliest deadline to make slack stealing and get better performance in terms of ratio of periodic task instances which complete before their deadline. Simulation results show that RLP outperforms the two conventional skip-over algorithms, namely RTO (Red Tasks Only) and BWP (Blue When Possible), introduced about ten years ago. Finally, we present the integration of these QoS scheduling services into CLEOPATRE, a free open-source library which offers selectable real-time facilities on shelves
Correlations between ERG, OCT, and Anatomical Findings in the rd10 Mouse

Background. To evaluate the correlation between ERG, OCT, and microscopic findings in the rd10 mouse. Methods. C57BL/6J wild type mice and rd10 mice were compared at the age of 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 24, and 48 weeks (each age group n = 3) using full-field electroretinography (ERG), spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography (sd-OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), Hematoxylin & Eosin histology (HE), and immunohistology (IH). Results. While in wild type mice, the amplitude of a- and b-wave increased with light intensity and with the age of the animals, the rd10 mice showed extinction of the ERG beginning with the age of 5 weeks. In OCT recordings, the thickness of the retina decreased up to 9 weeks of age, mainly based on the degradation of the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Afterwards, the ONL was no longer visible in the OCT. HE staining and immunohistological findings confirmed the in vivo data. Conclusion. ERG and OCT are useful methods to evaluate the retinal function and structure in vivo. The retinal changes seen in the OCT closely match those observed in histological staining.
Hyperinsulinemia enhances interleukin-17-induced inflammation to promote prostate cancer development in obese mice through inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3-mediated phosphorylation and degradation of interleukin-17 receptor

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays important roles in inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and some cancers. Obese people are in a chronic inflammatory state with increased serum levels of IL-17, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). How these factors contribute to the chronic inflammatory status that promotes development of aggressive prostate cancer in obese men is largely unknown. We found that, in obese mice, hyperinsulinemia enhanced IL-17-induced expression of downstream proinflammatory genes with increased levels of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), resulting in development of more invasive prostate cancer. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) constitutively bound to and phosphorylated IL-17RA at T780, leading to ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of IL-17RA, thus inhibiting IL-17-mediated inflammation. IL-17RA phosphorylation was reduced, while the IL-17RA levels were increased in the proliferative human prostate cancer cells compared to the normal cells. Insulin and IGF1 enhanced IL-17-induced inflammatory responses through suppressing GSK3, which was shown in the cultured cell lines in vitro and obese mouse models of prostate cancer in vivo. These findings reveal a mechanism underlying the intensified inflammation in obesity and obesity-associated development of aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting that targeting GSK3 may be a potential therapeutic approach to suppress IL-17-mediated inflammation in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, particularly in obese men.
AN ALGORITHM TO REDUCE THE TRACKING ERROR IN TS FUZZY MODELS: A NUMERICAL APPROACH

Abstract We address the problem of tracking references generated by an exosystem when the plant is described by a Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy model. We propose the inclusion of a discontinuous term into the control law to improve the performance of the controller, and in those terms, we give a numerical algorithm based on the use of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, in order to reduce systematically the tracking error.
NAMBU TENSORS AND COMMUTING VECTOR FIELDS

Takhtajan has recently studied the consistency conditions for Nambu brackets (1994 Commun. Math. Phys. 160 295 - 315), and suggested that they have to be skew-symmetric, and satisfy the Leibnitz rule and the fundamental identity (FI, a generalization of the Jacobi identity). If the nth-order Nambu brackets in dimension N are written as (where the summations range over ), the FI implies two conditions on the Nambu tensor , one algebraic and one differential. The algebraic part of FI implies decomposability of and in this letter we show that the Nambu bracket can then be written as , where is the usual totally antisymmetric n-dimensional tensor, the summations range over , and are n vector fields. Our main result is that the differential part of the FI is satisfied iff the vector fields commute. Examples are provided by integrable Hamiltonian systems. It turns out that then the Nambu bracket itself guarantees that the motions stays on the manifold defined by the constants of motion of the integrable system, while the n - 1 Nambu Hamiltonians determine the (possibly non-integrable) motion on this manifold.
Menopause knowledge and attitude among Iranian women

Objective: The present study was done to assess the effects of training on knowledge and attitude level promotion of post menopause women about menopause. Methods & Material: The research communication included 100 menopausal women aged 45-60 years, who were selected in a stratified manner (according to the economic status: poor, average, and good). The tool used was an examiners-made questionnaire, which contained 3 parts: demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitude measurement. Results: Eleven percent of the studied women had a low knowledge regarding menopause and 1% was good. After training, 27% got a good knowledge and no one remained at the low level. The attitude of 59% of the studied women regarding menopause was positive and 80% got a positive attitude after training. A significant relation was found between knowledge and attitude, before and after training. Conclusion: Despite the fact that the majority of women judge menopause as a positive incident, it seems that paying attention to their training caused the bringing to their knowledge of the natural menopause and having a healthy and jolly life.
Link State Prediction based Topology Maintenance in multi-channel MANET

The random movement of nodes in multi-channel MANETs has significant impact upon the stability of network topology due to connection loss and co-channel interference. To solve this problem, a Link State Prediction based Topology Maintenance algorithm (LSPTM) is proposed, which adjusts nodes' power levels and transmission channels according to the link state predicted by a probabilistic network, so as to maintain the stability of links and network topology. Simulation results show that the algorithm effectively reduces the chances of connection loss or co-channel interference.
Learning Accurate TSK Models Based on Local Fuzzy Prototyping

This work presents the use of local fuzzy prototypes as a first approximation to obtain accurate local semantics-based TakagiSugeno-Kang rules. A two-stage evolutionary algorithm considering the interaction between input and output variables has been developed. Firstly, it performs a local identification of prototypes, and then, a post-processing stage is considered to refine them. The proposal has been tested with a real-world problem achieving good results.
Digital filter implementation based on the RNS with diminished-1 encoded channel

A technique, based on the residue number system (RNS) with diminished-1 encoded channel, has being used for implementing a finite impulse response (FIR) digital filter. The proposed RNS architecture of the filter consists of three main blocks: forward and reverse converter and arithmetic processor for each channel. Architecture for residue to binary (reverse) convertor with diminished-1 encoded channel has been proposed. Besides, for all RNS channels, the systolic design is used for the efficient realization of FIR filter. A numerical example illustrates the principles of diminished-1 residue arithmetic, signal processing, and decoding for FIR filters.
The relationship between α-synuclein and the proteasome and its role in Parkinson ’ s pathology

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder characterized by the appearance of inclusions known as Lewy bodies, most prominently in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The synaptic protein α-synuclein (α-syn) and polyubiquitin are major components of Lewy bodies. The objective of this study was, firstly, to evaluate whether α-syn inhibits proteolytic function of the proteasome and, secondly, to determine the effects of proteasome inhibition on α-syn solubility and localization. α-Syn inhibited 20S proteasome activity reversibly in vitro, while α-syn overexpression did not affect activity in neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y and SK-N-BE) or HEK293 cells nor in α-syn transgenic mice in vivo. A reciprocal approach was used to analyze the effects of pharmacological proteasome inhibition (with MG132 and epoxomicin) on α-syn solubility in SHSY5Y cells. This treatment did not lead to α-syn aggregation, as seen in PD. However, it induced a shift from more soluble α-syn toward more membrane bound α-syn in endogenous (mock) and WT α-syn transfected cells. This treatment also led to the clearing of nuclei of αsyn and ubiquitin, as well as to cytoplasmic α-syn inclusions devoid of polyubiquitin in a small percentage of the cells. The combination of proteasome inhibition with serum deprivation, which is known to produce oxidative dysfunction, caused the appearance of high molecular weight α-syn species, such as those found in Lewy bodies. So far these data suggest that, although not observed in our in vivo models, high concentrations of α-syn can interfere with proteasome function under certain conditions, while proteasome inhibition leads to structural changes in α-syn that may precede neurodegeneration. However, more than one condition (e.g. oxidative stress and proteasome inhibition) needs to be met to induce pathological changes.
Changes in Employees' Job Characteristics During an Enterprise System Implementation: A Latent Growth Modeling Perspective

Enterprise system implementations often create tension in organizations. On the one hand, these systems can provide significant operational and strategic benefits. On the other hand, implementation of these systems is risky and a source of major disruptions. In particular, employees experience significant changes in their work environment during an implementation. Although the relationship between ES implementations and employees' jobs has been noted in prior research, there is limited research on the nature, extent, determinants, and outcomes of changes in employees' job characteristics following an ES implementation. This paper develops and tests a model, termed the job characteristics change model (JCCM), that posits that employees will experience substantial changes in two job characteristics (i.e., job demands and job control) during the shakedown phase (i.e., immediately after the rollout) of an ES implementation. These changes are theorized to be predicted by work process characteristics, namely perceived process complexity, perceived process rigidity, and perceived process radicalness, that in turn will be influenced by technology characteristics (i.e., perceived technology complexity, perceived technology reconfigurability, and perceived technology customization). JCCM further posits that changes in job characteristics will influence employees' job satisfaction. Longitudinal field studies conducted in two organizations (N = 281 and 141 respectively) provided support for the model. The scientific and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Active route-maintenance protocol for signal-based communication path in ad-hoc networks

Ad-hoc wireless networks consist of mobile hosts in a network without of base stations and are characterized by a highly dynamic network topology. The network topology changes frequently due to host migration, signal interference and power outages. This makes routing maintenance challenging for routing protocol design. We present an active route maintenance protocol to prevent the existing route from disconnecting. By monitoring the status of signal strength and the stability of individual hosts, an active node that causes the route to have a weak connection actively issues a route reestablishing process in which the active host selects one of its neighbors as the candidate for partial reconstruction of the weak connection. An enhanced active route maintenance protocol is also proposed to reduce the probability of route breakage and enhance the route efficiency. Performance simulation results show that the proposed route maintenance protocol effectively reduces both the overhead and route maintenance, as well as alleviating the route-break phenomenon.
A Novel Path Selection and Recovery Mechanism for MANETs P2P File Sharing Applications

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) is becoming an important area of research nowadays because of the constantly escalating demands from consumers to go mobile and the need to share contents between users. Current P2P file sharing protocols for MANETs use either aggressive or reactive flooding techniques for their path selection and recovery. Both techniques represent extreme measures to deal with path failures and they either do too much or very little work in response to path failures. In this paper we present a new path selection and recovery mechanism (reactive with unicast probing messages) that is a balance between the above two techniques in terms of its control overhead and the resulting path quality. By introducing a new unicast messaging mechanism to the reactive flooding technique, a requesting node can probe its set of available paths for their roundtrip times and use the best one for its file transfer. Our new technique is based on unicast messaging which proves to be effective and requires low control overhead as per the results of our simulations.
V-BLAST map detection in correlated channel condition

Wireless communication is the fastest growing area of communication industry. To keep pace with the growing demands for high data rates MIMO systems were proposed. MIMO systems offers high data rate and successive interference cancellation V-BLAST ZF MAP and V-BLAST MMSE MAP symbol detection method assures reliable transmission at the receiver. However, most of the research in this area assumed that the antennas are uncorrelated to each other at both ends. But practically certain correlation exists between transmitter and receiver antennas. In this paper performance of V-BLAST ZF MAP and V-BLAST MMSE MAP symbol detection method is observed and compared with the other V-BLAST symbol detection methods under correlated channel condition.
Towards efficient discrete Gaussian sampling for lattice-based cryptography

Modern lattice-based public key cryptosystems usually require sampling from discrete Gaussian distributions. In this paper, we propose a novel implementation of cumulative distribution function (CDF) inversion sampler with high precision and large tail bound. It has maximum statistical distance of 2-90 to a theoretical discrete Gaussian distribution. Our CDF inversion sampler exploits piecewise comparison to save more than 90% random bits and reduce the required large comparators to two small comparators. We speed up the sampler by using a small lookup table, and the hit rate of the lookup table is as high as 94%. With these optimizations, our sampler takes on average 9.44 random bits and 2.28 clock cycles to generate a sample. It consumes 1 block RAM and 17 slices on a Spartan-6 FPGA. With additional 13 slices, our sampler is able to generate n samples within around 1.14n clock cycles.
Ground-based observations of O and B stars

Ground-based observations are a strong tool for asteroseismic studies and even in the era of asteroseismic space missions they continue to play an important role. I will report on the activities of the CoRoT/SWG Ground-Based Observations Working Group, discuss the observational efforts of the Open Cluster campaigns and the search for the origin of extra line-broadening in massive OB stars
Myristoylated CIL-7 regulates ciliary extracellular vesicle biogenesis

Extracellular vesicle (EV) shedding from ciliated cells is an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon. Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent in vivo model with which to address fundamental questions regarding the biology of ciliary EVs. The myristoylated protein CIL-7 regulates EV biogenesis, and the myristoylation motif is essential for EV cargo association and function.
X Inactivation as a Source of Behavioural Differences in Monozygotic Female Twins

Abstract Although members of monozygotic twin pairs are identical in genome sequence, they may differ in patterns of gene expression. One early and irreversible process affecting gene expression, which can create differences within pairs of female monozygotic twins, is X inactivation — one twin can express mainly paternally-received genes on the X chromosome while the other twin expresses mainly maternally-received genes. It follows that non-identical X chromosome expression may cause female monozygotic twins to correlate less strongly than male monozygotic twins on complex behavioural traits affected by X-linked loci. We tested this hypothesis using data from around 4000 same-sex twin pairs on 9 social, behavioural and cognitive measures at ages 2, 3 and 4. Consistent with our hypothesis, monozygotic males were generally more similar than monozygotic females. Three of four significant differences were in traits showing higher correlations in males than females, and these traits — prosocial behaviour, peer problems, and verbal ability — have all been proposed previously in the literature as being influenced by genes on the X chromosome. Interestingly, dizygotic twins showed the reverse pattern of correlations for similar variables, which is also consistent with the X inactivation hypothesis; taken together, then, our monozygotic and dizygotic results suggest the presence of quantitative trait loci on the X chromosome.
Programação de Expressão Genética : um Novo Algoritmo Adaptável para Resolver Problemas Cândida

A programação de expressão genética (PEG) é, à semelhança dos algoritmos genéticos (AGs) e da programação genética (PG), um algoritmo genético pois usa populações de indivíduos, selecciona os indivíduos de acordo com a sua aptidão e introduz variação genética usando um ou mais operadores genéticos [1]. A diferença fundamental entre os três algoritmos reside na natureza dos indivíduos: nos AGs os indivíduos são cadeias lineares de tamanho fixo (cromossomas); na PG os indivíduos são entidades não-lineares de diferentes tamanhos e formas (árvores analíticas); e na PEG os indivíduos são codificados em cadeias lineares de tamanho fixo (o genoma ou cromossoma) que são expressas posteriormente como entidades não-lineares com diferentes tamanhos e formas (representações esquemáticas simples ou árvores de expressão). Se tivermos em conta a história da vida na Terra [2], podemos ver que a diferença entre os AGs e a PG é superficial: ambos os sistemas utilizam somente um tipo de entidade que funciona tanto como genoma como corpo (fenoma). Estes sistemas estão condenados a ter uma de duas limitações: se são fáceis de manipular geneticamente, perdem em complexidade funcional (o caso dos AGs); se possuem um certo grau de complexidade funcional, são extremamente difíceis de reproduzir com modificação (o caso da PG). Os GAs, com o seu genoma simples e uma diversidade estrutural e funcional limitadas, assemelham-se a um Programação de Expressão Genética: um Novo Algoritmo Adaptável para Resolver Problemas
Inventory Rationing for Multiple Class Demand under Continuous Review

We consider how a firm should ration inventory to multiple classes in a stochastic demand environment with partial, class‐dependent backlogging where the firm incurs a fixed setup cost when ordering from its supplier. We present an infinite‐horizon, average cost criterion Markov decision problem formulation for the case with zero lead times. We provide an algorithm that determines the optimal rationing policy, and show how to find the optimal base‐stock reorder policy. Numerical studies indicate that the optimal policy is similar to that given by the equivalent deterministic problem and relies on tracking both the current inventory and the rate that backorder costs are accumulating. Our study of the case of non‐zero lead time shows that a heuristic combining the optimal, zero lead time policy with an allocation policy based on a single‐period profit management problem is effective.
Quantitative framework for managing software life cycle

The paper presents a rigorous and practical way of managing the quantitative yields of new (improved) software engineering methods in the software life cycle. A meaningful set of metrics and models is used to measure the value of applying tailored methods. The value-based framework is proposed as a system of integrated models (such as cost models, productivity models, quality-related models, benefit models, and value-related models) that combine project data and expert opinion. The framework is proactive, as it allows to estimate the value-based metrics of a software engineering method in order to monitor it, improve software quality and convince developers and managers that the method and related investment are worthwhile. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework, the results of a case study are presented and used as an initial validation of the framework. In this paper we use the model system concept to address the problem of quantifying the yields of new (improved) software engineering methods and suggest a value-based framework (VF). VF entails the application of interrelated metrics and models from (3-7) for estimating the relevant costs, the benefits translated into software quality management and improvement, as well as the resulting value-related metrics evaluated during the software system life cycle. The framework is applicable at a high level of abstraction and offers useful results from a practical point of view, as our case study indicates.