Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How can bottom-up information shape learning of top-down attention-control skills?

How does bottom-up information affect the development of top-down attentional control skills during the learning of visuomotor tasks? Why is the eye fovea so small? Strong evidence supports the idea that in humans foveation is mainly guided by task-specific skills, but how these are learned is still an important open problem. We designed and implemented a simulated neural eye-arm coordination model to study the development of attention control in a search-and-reach task involving simple coloured stimuli. The model is endowed with a hard-wired bottom-up attention saliency map and a top-down attention component which acquires task-specific knowledge on potential gaze targets and their spatial relations. This architecture achieves high performance very fast. To explain this result, we argue that: (a) the interaction between bottom-up and top-down mechanisms supports the development of task-specific attention control skills by allowing an efficient exploration of potentially useful gaze targets; (b) bottom-up mechanisms boast the exploitation of the initial limited task-specific knowledge by actively selecting areas where it can be suitably applied; (c) bottom-up processes shape objects representation, their value, and their roles (these can change during learning, e.g. distractors can become useful attentional cues); (d) increasing the size of the fovea alleviates perceptual aliasing, but at the same time increases input processing costs and the number of trials required to learn. Overall, the results indicate that bottom-up attention mechanisms can play a relevant role in attention control, especially during the acquisition of new task-specific skills, but also during task performance.
Wireless vehicular Accident Detection and Reporting System

In this paper, we suggest a method to intelligently detect an accident at any place and any time and report the same to the nearby ‘service provider’. The service provider arranges for the necessary help. Accident Detection and Reporting System (ADRS) which can be placed in any vehicle uses a sensor to detect the accident. The sensor output is monitored and processed by the PIC16F877A microcontroller. The microcontroller takes decision on the traffic accident based on the input from the sensors. The RF transmitter module which is interfaced with the microcontroller will transmit the accident information to the nearby Emergency Service Provider (ESP). This information is received by the RF receiver module at the ‘service provider’ control room in the locality. The RF transceiver module used has a range up to 100 meters under ideal conditions. The service provider can use this information to arrange for ambulance and also inform police and hospital. We used low cost RF modules, a microcontroller by Microchip, LCD module and an accelerometer. This system can be installed at accident prone areas to detect and report the same. MPLAB IDE and Proteus software are used to simulate part of the system. ADRS also implements an intelligent Accident Detection and Reporting Algorithm (ADRA) for the purpose.
Dynamic 2 D / 3 D Registration

Image and geometry registration algorithms are an essential component of many computer graphics and computer vision systems. With recent technological advances in RGB-D sensors, such as the Microsoft Kinect or Asus Xtion Live, robust algorithms that combine 2D image and 3D geometry registration have become an active area of research. The goal of this course is to introduce the basics of 2D/3D registration algorithms and to provide theoretical explanations and practical tools to design computer vision and computer graphics systems based on RGB-D devices. To illustrate the theory and demonstrate practical relevance, we briefly discuss three applications: rigid scanning, non-rigid modeling, and realtime face tracking. Our course targets researchers and computer graphics practitioners with a background in computer graphics and/or computer vision. An up-todate version of the course notes as well as slides and source code can be found at http://lgg.epfl. ch/2d3dRegistration.
Experimental mm wave 5G cellular system

Bolstered by the ever increasing processing power of smart devices and combined with the new innovative applications, cellular data traffic demand is expected to increase a 10000x by 2025. Simultaneously, the telecommunication industry is converging on a common set of 5G requirements specifying 10x peak rates, 10x reductions in latency and 100x increases in cell edge rates over 4G cellular. Researchers are now looking to higher frequencies to meet demand and achieve the new requirements. This paper describes an experimental 5G system designed to operate at 73.5 GHz with a 1 GHz BW. The system communicates using a 28 dB gain antenna having a narrow 3 degree half-power beamwidth serving fully mobile user devices moving at pedestrian speeds. This experimental system is implemented in collaboration with Nokia and NTT DOCOMO [1][2].
Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Nasopalatine Duct Cysts

Objectives/Hypothesis: Nasopalatine duct cysts are the most common cystic lesion of nonodontogenic origin of the maxilla. The purposes of the study were to review the epidemiology and clinical presentation, to describe the radiographic and pathological findings, and to discuss surgical management of this entity.
Nonequilibrium condensates and lasers without inversion: Exciton-polariton lasers.

We analyze elementary properties of exciton and polariton lasers --- devices that generate coherent optical and matter waves using final-state stimulation of exciton-phonon scattering. First we discuss the relation between the conditions for the onset of equilibrium and nonequilibrium excitonic condensates. Provided that the thermal de Broglie wavelength ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{T}}$ exceeds the exciton Bohr radius ${\mathit{a}}_{\mathit{B}}$, an exciton laser operates without electronic population inversion. In contrast to previous proposals, this is a different type of laser without inversion which utilizes many-body coherences. When the excitonic character of the polariton branch vanishes, a polariton laser becomes indistinguishable from a photon laser. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Virus-induced asthma attack: The importance of allergic inflammation in response to viral antigen in an animal model of asthma

Asthma exacerbation can be a life-threatening condition, and is most often triggered by common respiratory viruses. Poor asthma control and worsening of respiratory function is associated with increased airway inflammation, including eosinophilia. Prevention of asthma exacerbation relies on treatment with corticosteroids, which preferentially inhibit allergic inflammation like eosinophils. Human studies demonstrate that inactivated virus can trigger eosinophil activation in vitro through antigen presentation and memory CD4+ lymphocytes. We hypothesized that animals with immunologic memory to a respiratory virus would also develop airway hyperresponsiveness in response to a UV-inactivated form of the virus if they have pre-existing allergic airway inflammation. Guinea pigs were ovalbumin-sensitized, infected with live parainfluenza virus (PIV), aerosol-challenged with ovalbumin, and then re-inoculated 60 days later with live or UV-inactivated PIV. Some animals were either treated with dexamethasone prior to the second viral exposure. Lymphocytes were isolated from parabronchial lymph nodes to confirm immunologic memory to the virus. Airway reactivity was measured and inflammation was assessed using bronchoalveolar lavage and lung histology. The induction of viral immunologic memory was confirmed in infected animals. Allergen sensitized and challenged animals developed airway hyperreactivity with eosinophilic airway inflammation when re-exposed to UV-inactivated PIV, while non-sensitized animals did not. Airway hyperreactivity in the sensitized animals was inhibited by pre-treatment with dexamethasone. We suggest that the response of allergic inflammation to virus antigen is a significant factor causing asthma exacerbation. We propose that this is one mechanism explaining how corticosteroids prevent virus-induced asthma attack.
Design considerations for ELVDC power distribution system integrated directly with DC energy sources for LED lighting in high-rise built environment

With the recent focus on DC power distribution in the built environment due to ease of integration of DC energy sources such as solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage, the Extra Low Voltage DC (ELVDC) power distribution system suitable for high rise building with direct integrated DC energy sources and LED lighting loads is discussed in this paper. Design considerations and system level modeling are described. The architectural concept has high system level efficiency, and does not need complex re-design when retro-fitting into existing buildings. Simulations and experimental results are presented in this paper which supported our proposed design.
Design of LMI-based sliding mode controller with an exponential policy for a class of underactuated systems

In this article, a novel sliding mode control (SMC) approach is proposed for the control of a class of underactuated systems which are featured as in cascaded form with external disturbances. The asymptotic stability conditions on the error dynamical system are expressed in the form of linear matrix inequalities. The control objective is to construct a controller such that would force the state trajectories to approach the sliding surface with an exponential policy. The proposed SMC has a simple structure because it is derived from the associated first-order differential equation and is capable of handling system disturbances and nonlinearities. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is validated using intensive simulations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2014
Carbon dioxide protects the perinatal brain from hypoxic-ischemic damage: an experimental study in the immature rat.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Clinical investigations suggest that premature infants who require mechanical ventilation from respiratory distress syndrome are at increased risk for periventricular leukomalacia if hypocapnia occurs during respiratory management. The question remains as to the contribution of hypocapnia to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and whether or not hypercapnia is neuroprotective. METHODS Seven-day postnatal rats underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed thereafter by exposure to systemic hypoxia with 8% oxygen (O2) combined with either 0, 3, 6, or 9% carbon dioxide (CO2) for 2.5 hours at 37 degrees C. Survivors underwent neuropathologic examination at 30 days of postnatal age, and their brains were categorized as follows: 0 = normal; 1 = mild atrophy; 2 = moderate atrophy; 3 = atrophy with cystic cavitation < 3 mm; 4 = cystic cavitation > 3 mm of the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to the carotid artery ligation. The width of the ipsilateral hemisphere also was determined on a posterior coronal section and compared with that of the contralateral hemisphere to ascertain the severity of cerebral atrophy/cavitation. Data were analyzed by linear models. RESULTS CO2 tensions averaged 26, 42, 54, and 71 mm Hg in the 0, 3, 6, and 9% CO2 exposed animals, respectively, during systemic hypoxia. Blood O2 tensions during hypoxia were not different among the four groups and averaged 34.7 mm Hg. Neuropathologic results showed that 30/38 (79%) rats exposed to 3% CO2 showed either no or mild brain damage compared with 13/33 (39%) controls (0% CO2). Cystic cavitation occurred in only four CO2 exposed rat pups compared with 14 controls (P = .001). At 6% CO2 exposure, all of 20 rat pups showed either no damage or mild atrophy compared with controls (P < .001); and at 9% CO2 exposure, 19/23 (83%) rat pups showed no or mild damage compared with controls (P < .001). The data also showed that the greatest reduction in brain damage occurred in immature rats exposed to 6% CO2 with slightly less protection at 9% CO2 (P = .012), the latter comparable with the severity of brain damage sustained by animals inhaling 3% CO2. Analyses of coronal width ratios at each CO2 exposure provided results comparable with those of the gross neuropathology scores. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that in an immature rat model normocapnic cerebral hypoxia-ischemia is associated with less severe brain damage than in hypocapnic hypoxia-ischemia and that mild hypercapnia is more protective than normocapnia. The findings in an experimental model merit further animal investigations as well as a clinical reappraisal of the ventilatory management of sick newborn human infants.
Interventions for drooling in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND Drooling is a common problem for children with cerebral palsy (CP). This can be distressing for these children as well as for their parents and caregivers. The consequences of drooling include risk of social rejection, damp and soiled clothing, unpleasant odour, irritated chapped skin, mouth infections, dehydration, interference with speech, damage to books, communication aids, computers, and the risk of social isolation (Blasco 1992; Van der Burg 2006). A range of interventions exist that aim to reduce or eliminate drooling. There is a lack of consensus regarding which interventions are most effective for children with CP. OBJECTIVES (1) To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating drooling in children with cerebral palsy. (2) To provide the best available evidence to inform clinical practice. (3) To assist with future research planning. SEARCH METHODS We searched the following databases from inception to December 2010 : Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Medline via Ovid; EMBASE; CINAHL; ERIC; Psych INFO; Web of Science; Web of Knowledge; AMED; SCOPUS; Dissertation Abstracts.We searched for ongoing clinical trials in the Clinical Trials web site (http://clinicaltrials.gov.) and in the Current Controlled Trials web site (http://www.controlled-trials.com/). We hand searched a range of relevant journals and conference proceeding abstracts. SELECTION CRITERIA Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were extracted independently by MW, MS and LP and differences resolved through discussion. MAIN RESULTS Six studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Four of these studies were trials using botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) and two were trials on the pharmacological interventions, benztropine and glycopyrrolate. No RCTs or CCTs were retrieved on surgery, physical, oro-motor and oro-sensory therapies, behavioural interventions, intra-oral appliances or acupuncture. In the studies eligible for review, there was considerable heterogeneity within and across interventions and a meta-analysis was not possible. A descriptive summary of each study is provided. All studies showed some statistically significant change for treatment groups up to 1 month post intervention. However, there were methodological flaws associated with all six studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS It was not possible to reach a conclusion on the effectiveness and safety of either BoNT-A or the pharmaceutical interventions, benztropine and glycopyrrolate. There is insufficient evidence to inform clinical practice on interventions for drooling in children with CP. Directions for future research are provided.
High-Efficiency Active-Clamp Forward Converter With Transient Current Build-Up (TCB) ZVS Technique

In this paper, an active-clamp forward converter with transient current build-up zero-voltage switching (ZVS) technique is proposed. The proposed converter is suitable for the low-voltage and high-current applications. The structure of the proposed converter is the same as that of the conventional active-clamp forward converter. However, since it controls the secondary synchronous switch to build up the primary current during the very short period of time, the ZVS operation is easily achieved without any additional conduction losses of magnetizing current in the transformer and clamp circuit. Furthermore, there are no additional circuits required for the ZVS operation of power switches. Therefore, the proposed converter can achieve the high efficiency and low electromagnetic-interference noise resulting from the soft switching without any additional conduction losses and shows the high power density resulting from the high efficiency and no additional components added. The operational principle and design example are presented. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed converter can achieve an excellent ZVS performance throughout all load conditions and a significant improvement in the efficiency for the 100-W (5 V, 20 A) prototype converter
Menu Design with Visual Momentum for Compact Smart Products

Users of compact smart products with small screens often have trouble learning the menu structure. If they cannot master the menu structure, users are not able to fully utilize the products. It is argued in this paper that using visual momentum in menu representation design helps users develop effective mental maps of menu structures and promotes learning of the user interface. To assess the effect of visual momentum in this study, four types of menu representations were developed. Additionally, two menu hierarchies, two types of function key layout, and two types of function key labeling were assessed to examine the effects of menu dimension and compatibility. Experimental results indicated that participants using a partial menu map with visual momentum design performed the best, and participants using a partial menu map without visual momentum performed the poorest, even worse than those-using command-only representation. The results also showed that the menu navigation problem appeared to be particularly significant with a deep menu hierarchy. Actual or potential applications of this research include menu representation design for compact smart products.
A new hardware-in-the-loop simulation method and its applications

The paper presents two ways to solve the problem that S-Function could not call control algorithm function written in the m language to realize xPC target Simulation, then m function could be called in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. The use of the proposed HIL method will accelerate the pace of the conversion of algorithm from theoretical research to practical application and shorten the product development cycle obviously. Two examples, achieving xPC target Simulation by using PID controller and Explicit Model Predictive Controller (EMPC) written in m language, verify the feasibility of the methods at the end of the article.
An Efficient Two-Step Power Allocation Method for OFDM-Based Two-Way Full-Duplex Links

An efficient two-step method to allocate power for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-based full-duplex (FD) two-way communication links is proposed in this letter. We try to maximize sum data rate of the two-way link by allocating available power over each subcarrier at both FD transceivers with imperfect self-interference cancellation. This sum-rate optimization problem is formulated under total power constraint. In order to solve this problem, we first consider a one-subcarrier problem and derive the closed-form solution for power allocation. Based on this result, the multi-carrier optimization problem can be solved by our proposed two-step method. First, we allocate total power to each subcarrier optimally, and then we solve the power allocation problem for each subcarrier. Compared with direct dual decomposition method, numerical results indicate that our two-step method can obtain the same two-way link performance, however, with much lower computational complexity.
Impact and Challenges of Requirement Engineering in Agile Methodologies: A Systematic Review

Requirement Engineering is one of important stage in development life cycle. All requirements required for development of product is collected in this phase. A high standard product can be developed by agile methodology in less budget and time. Importance of agile practices have been enhanced since it offers assist cooperation too software engineering. Being basic phase of software engineering, requirement engineering has different processes. The elements of direct correspondence is one of spry way which not at all like to other conventional and traditional approaches . Although a lot of research has been done on agile practices and role of requirement in agile methodologies but still there is need of studies on change manage management ,requirement prioritization, prototyping and nonfunctional requirement in agile methodologies. Aim of this review paper is to present the limitations in presentation of requirement engineering phases in agile practices and what are the issues and challenges that agile person faces in implementation of agile practices. Many research studies from different sources have been reviewed on basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most RE activities has been discussed in review. Evidence helps to prove that how RE process was performed in scrums. Mostly research has been conducted on general agile methodologies, few authors specified RE practices in other methodologies of agile. Finding of this research is the work of researchers that will be beneficial for those who are interested in finding interesting area of research in this field because many techniques of agile (extreme programming, crystal methodology, lean ) requires further study and practical results as clarified by studies.
Elevation of superoxide dismutase in Halobacterium halobium by heat shock

Exposure of Halobacterium halobium to 50 degrees C for 2.5 h in an aerobic environment resulted in a greater than twofold increase in the activity of the manganese-containing superoxide dismutase. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels stained for enzymatic activity did not reveal any additional isozymes of superoxide dismutase induced by the heat shock. The maximal effect was observed at 50 degrees C, and the elevated levels of activity remained constant during 5 h of recovery at 40 degrees C. The induction of enzymatic activity was sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors. The results are discussed relative to heat shock and stress-related proteins as well as alterations in metabolism brought about by elevated temperatures.
An OMP-based T2 spectrum estimation algorithm for NMR logging data

This paper proposes a T2 spectrum estimation algorithm for low SNR nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging data with strong Gaussian and/or non-Gaussian noise. It have two key contributions. The first contribution is the introduction of the Tikhonov regularization method which provides an initial feasible solution for the SVD non-negative iteration process and can improve the accuracy of the final solution under white Gaussian noise. The second contribution is the implementation of the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm which can calculate the range of the nonzero T2 spectrum and can resolve the iteration divergence issue in the existence of non-Gaussian noise. To verify the effectiveness of our algorithm, multiple groups of NMR logging data are used to test its estimation performance. The estimation results confirm that our algorithm can yield good performance even under very low SNR.