Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Articulated Head pays attention

The Articulated Head (AH) is an artistic installation that consists of a LCD monitor mounted on an industrial robot arm (Fanuc LR Mate 200iC) displaying the head of a virtual human. It was conceived as the next step in the evolution of Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) transcending virtual reality into the physical space shared with the human interlocutor. Recently an attention module has been added as part of a behavioural control system for non-verbal interaction between robot/ECA and human. Unstructured incoming perceptual information (currently originating from a custom acoustic localisation algorithm and a commercial people tracking software) is narrowed down to the most salient aspects allowing the generation of a single motor response. The requirements of the current task determine what salient means at any point in time, that is, the rules and associated thresholds and weights of the attention system are modified by the requirements of the current task while the task itself is specified by the central control system depending on the overall state of the AH with respect to the ongoing interaction. The attention system determines a single attended event using a winner-takes-all strategy and relays it to the central control system. It also directly generates a motor goal and forwards it to the motor system. The video shows how the robot's attention system drives its behaviour, (1) when there is no stimulus over an extended period of time, (2) when a person moves within its visual field, and (3) when a sudden loud auditory event attracts attention during an ongoing visually-based interaction (auditory-visual attention conflict). The subtitles are direct mappings from numeric descriptions of the central control system's internal states to slightly more entertaining English sentences.
Rickettsial evolution in the light of comparative genomics

Rickettsia are best known as strictly intracellular vector‐borne bacteria that cause mild to severe diseases in humans and other animals. Recent advances in molecular tools and biological experiments have unveiled a wide diversity of Rickettsia spp. that include species with a broad host range and some species that act as endosymbiotic associates. Molecular phylogenies of Rickettsia spp. contain some ambiguities, such as the position of R. canadensis and relationships within the spotted fever group. In the modern era of genomics, with an ever‐increasing number of sequenced genomes, there is enhanced interest in the use of whole‐genome sequences to understand pathogenesis and assess evolutionary relationships among rickettsial species. Rickettsia have small genomes (1.1–1.5 Mb) as a result of reductive evolution. These genomes contain split genes, gene remnants and pseudogenes that, owing to the colinearity of some rickettsial genomes, may represent different steps of the genome degradation process. Genomics reveal extreme genome reduction and massive gene loss in highly vertebrate‐pathogenic Rickettsia compared to less virulent or endosymbiotic species. Information gleaned from rickettsial genomics challenges traditional concepts of pathogenesis that focused primarily on the acquisition of virulence factors. Another intriguing phenomenon about the reduced rickettsial genomes concerns the large fraction of non‐coding DNA and possible functionality of these “non‐coding” sequences, because of the high conservation of these regions. Despite genome streamlining, Rickettsia spp. contain gene families, selfish DNA, repeat palindromic elements and genes encoding eukaryotic‐like motifs. These features participate in sequence and functional diversity and may play a crucial role in adaptation to the host cell and pathogenesis. Genome analyses have identified a large fraction of mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, suggesting the possibility of lateral gene transfer in these intracellular bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses have identified several candidates for horizontal gene acquisition among Rickettsia spp. including tra, pat2, and genes encoding for the type IV secretion system and ATP/ADP translocase that may have been acquired from bacteria living in amoebae. Gene loss, gene duplication, DNA repeats and lateral gene transfer all have shaped rickettsial genome evolution. A comprehensive analysis of the entire genome, including genes and non‐coding DNA, will help to unlock the mysteries of rickettsial evolution and pathogenesis.
Multilevel Factorial Designs With Experiment-Induced Clustering

Factorial experimental designs have many applications in the behavioral sciences. In the context of intervention development, factorial experiments play a critical role in building and optimizing high-quality, multicomponent behavioral interventions. One challenge in implementing factorial experiments in the behavioral sciences is that individuals are often clustered in social or administrative units and may be more similar to each other than to individuals in other clusters. This means that data are dependent within clusters. Power planning resources are available for factorial experiments in which the multilevel structure of the data is due to individuals’ membership in groups that existed before experimentation. However, in many cases clusters are generated in the course of the study itself. Such experiment-induced clustering (EIC) requires different data analysis models and power planning resources from those available for multilevel experimental designs in which clusters exist prior to experimentation. Despite the common occurrence of both experimental designs with EIC and factorial designs, a bridge has yet to be built between EIC and factorial designs. Therefore, resources are limited or nonexistent for planning factorial experiments that involve EIC. This article seeks to bridge this gap by extending prior models for EIC, developed for single-factor experiments, to factorial experiments involving various types of EIC. We also offer power formulas to help investigators decide whether a particular experimental design involving EIC is feasible. We demonstrate that factorial experiments can be powerful and feasible even with EIC. We discuss design considerations and directions for future research.
Cholecystokinin‐immunoreactive cells form symmetrical synaptic contacts with pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons in the hippocampus

The ultrastructural features and synaptic relationships of cholecystokinin (CCK) Immunoreactive cells of rat and cat hippocampus were studied using the unlabeled antibody immunoperoxidase technique and correlated light and electron microscopy. CCK‐positive perikarya of variable shape and size were distributed in all layers and were particularly concentrated in stratum pyramidale and radiatum: the CCK‐immunoreactive neurons were nonpyramidal in shape and the three most common types had the morphological features of tufted, bipolar, and multipolar cells.
Pedulla the Job Application Process The Positive Consequences of Negative Stereotypes : Race , Sexual Orientation , and

How do marginalized social categories, such as being black and gay, combine with one another in the production of discrimination? While much extant research assumes that combining marginalized social categories results in a ‘‘double disadvantage,’’ I argue that in the case of race and sexual orientation the opposite may be true. This article posits that stereotypes about gay men as effeminate and weak will counteract common negative stereotypes held by whites that black men are threatening and criminal. Thus, I argue that being gay will have negative consequences for white men in the job application process, but that being gay will actually have positive consequences for black men in this realm. This hypothesis is tested using data from a survey experiment in which respondents were asked to evaluate resumes for a job opening where the race and sexual orientation of the applicants were experimentally manipulated. The findings contribute to important theoretical debates about stereotypes, discrimination, and intersecting social identities.
Oxidative Stress in Granulosa-Lutein Cells From In Vitro Fertilization Patients

Ovarian aging is associated with gradual follicular loss by atresia/apoptosis. Increased production of toxic metabolites such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species as well as external oxidant agents plays an important role in the process of ovarian senescence and in the pathogenesis of ovarian pathologies such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This review provides a synthesis of available studies of oxidative stress (OS) in the ovary, focusing on the most recent evidence obtained in mural granulosa-lutein (GL) cells of in vitro fertilization patients. Synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxiredoxin 4, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and OS damage response proteins such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 3, member A2 decreases with aging in human GL cells, favoring an unbalance in ROS/antioxidants that mediates molecular damage and altered cellular function. The increase in OS in the granulosa cell correlates with diminished expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and a dysregulation of the FSHR signaling pathway and may be implicated in disrupted steroidogenic function and poor response to FSH in women with aging. Women with endometriosis and PCOS have lower antioxidant production capacity that may contribute to abnormal follicular development and infertility. Further investigation of the signaling pathways involved in cellular response to OS could shed light into molecular characterization of these diseases and development of new treatment strategies to improve reproductive potential in these women.
Cellular interplay among Th17, Th1, and Treg cells in HIV‐1 subtype “C” infection

CD4 T cell depletion is central to HIV pathogenesis and disease progression. Different subsets of CD4 T cells cooperate to combat an infection. Therefore, the immune balance among Th17, Th1, and Treg cells may be critical in HIV immunopathogenesis which is not adequately defined yet. The impact of HIV‐1 infection on the interplay of Th17/Th1/Treg cells in HIV‐1 infected Indian individuals was examined in the present study and report that HIV‐1 Gag specific peripheral blood Th17 cells were significantly depleted in late infected subjects, compared to early infected subjects and slow progressors. Although, the gradual loss of Th1 cells was also reported during HIV‐1 disease progression but relative to Th17 cells, Th1 cells were found to be more resistant to HIV‐1 infection. Additionally, a significant and progressive gain in Treg cellular frequency was observed as disease progress from early to late stage of HIV‐1 infection. This study also indicate that slow progressors might have an intrinsic capacity to develop strong HIV‐1 specific Th17 and Th1 cell responses contrasted with a faint Treg cellular performance signifies the importance of these cellular subsets in progressive versus nonprogressive HIV‐1 infection. A significant gradual loss of Th17/Treg ratio was found to be associated with disease state, plasma viral load and immune activation. J. Med. Virol. 86:372–384, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction and Spot Sign in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance The computed tomographic angiography (CTA) spot sign is associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) expansion and may mark those patients most likely to benefit from intensive blood pressure (BP) reduction. Objective To investigate whether the spot sign is associated with ICH expansion across a wide range of centers and whether intensive BP reduction decreases hematoma expansion and improves outcome in patients with ICH and a spot sign. Design, Setting, and Participants SCORE-IT (Spot Sign Score in Restricting ICH Growth) is a preplanned prospective observational study nested in the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage II (ATACH-II) randomized clinical trial. Participants included consecutive patients with primary ICH who underwent a CTA within 8 hours from onset at 59 sites from May 15, 2011, through December 19, 2015. Data were analyzed for the present study from July 1 to August 31, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Patients in ATACH-II were randomized to intensive (systolic BP target, <140 mm Hg) vs standard (systolic BP target, <180 mm Hg) BP reduction within 4.5 hours from onset. Expansion of ICH was defined as hematoma growth of greater than 33%, and an unfavorable outcome was defined as a 90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 4 or greater (range, 0-6). The association among BP reduction, ICH expansion, and outcome was investigated with multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 133 patients (83 men [62.4%] and 50 women [37.6%]; mean [SD] age, 61.9 [13.1] years) were included. Of these, 53 (39.8%) had a spot sign, and 24 of 123 without missing data (19.5%) experienced ICH expansion. The spot sign was associated with expansion with sensitivity of 0.54 (95% CI, 0.34-0.74) and specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.53-0.72). After adjustment for potential confounders, intensive BP treatment was not associated with a significant reduction of ICH expansion (relative risk, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.27-2.51; P = .74) or improved outcome (relative risk of 90-day modified Rankin Scale score ≥4, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.53-2.91; P = .62) in spot sign–positive patients. Conclusions and Relevance The predictive performance of the spot sign for ICH expansion was lower than in prior reports from single-center studies. No evidence suggested that patients with ICH and a spot sign specifically benefit from intensive BP reduction. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01176565
Genetic analysis reveals the wild ancestors of the llama and the alpaca

The origins of South America's domestic alpaca and llama remain controversial due to hybridization, near extirpation during the Spanish conquest and difficulties in archaeological interpretation. Traditionally, the ancestry of both forms is attributed to the guanaco, while the vicuña is assumed never to have been domesticated. Recent research has, however, linked the alpaca to the vicuña, dating domestication to 6000–7000 years before present in the Peruvian Andes. Here, we examine in detail the genetic relationships between the South American camelids in order to determine the origins of the domestic forms, using mitochondrial (mt) and microsatellite DNA. MtDNA analysis places 80% of llama and alpaca sequences in the guanaco lineage, with those possessing vicuña mtDNA being nearly all alpaca or alpaca–vicuña hybrids. We also examined four microsatellites in wild known–provenance vicuña and guanaco, including two loci with non–overlapping allele size ranges in the wild species. In contrast to the mtDNA, these markers show high genetic similarity between alpaca and vicuña, and between llama and guanaco, although bidirectional hybridization is also revealed. Finally, combined marker analysis on a subset of samples confirms the microsatellite interpretation and suggests that the alpaca is descended from the vicuña, and should be reclassified as Vicugna pacos. This result has major implications for the future management of wild and domestic camelids in South America.
Blockchain-Based Data Sharing and Managing Sensitive Data

Bilgi teknolojilerindeki gelismeler kisisel ve hassas verilerde buyuk oranda artisa neden olmustur. Bireylerin kontrolleri disinda onlara ait olan veriler ucuncu taraf sahislar veya sistemler tarafindan mahremiyet hususu goz ardi ederek saklanabilmekte ve islenebilmektedir. Bu arada blokzincir teknolojisi arastirma ve yazilimlari kisisel verileri isleyen dijital ekonomi yonunde yonlendirme potansiyeline sahiptir. Bu calismada, kullanicilarin mahremiyetini korumak amaciyla Bitcoin’in de temelini olusturan blokzincir tabanli ornek bir erisim denetim mekanizmasi tanitilmistir. Blokzincir yapisi ard arda dagitik yapidaki kayitlarin birbiri ile kriptoloji araciligi ile iliskilendirilmesinden olusur. Blokzincir teknolojisinin temelinde iki ana karakteristik olan mutabakat ve anonimlik bulunur. Onerilen sistemin temel aldigi protokol blokzincir teknolojisini kullanarak arada ucuncu sahislar veya sistemler olmadan kullanici verilerine kontrollu erisimi saglamaktadir. IT advancements have produced huge amount of data including personal and sensitive information. People have no control on data that is stored, processed and controlled by third parties who could harm user privacy. Meanwhile blockchain technology has potential to drive research and applications and will weave together as we look at digital economy processing personal data. In this research work, a blockchain that is underlying technology behind Bitcoin based access control mechanism is introduced to protect users’ privacy. A blockchain is a growing list of distributed records that are connected to each other through the usage of crytography. The distributed consensus and anonymity form two major characteristics of the blockchain technology. The proposed system implements a protocol that utilizes blockchain technology to manage access control to users’ data without depending on a third party.
Household composition and school performance

Most children no longer spend their entire childhood in a family with both biological parents, as a sizable proportion of this period is spent in a single-parent family or living with a social parent, in particular a social father. In general, it is believed that children from divorced couples and living in single-parent families tend to perform less well at school than children living in intact two biological parents families, even after controlling for parental characteristics. I compared school performance in the fourth series (or fifth year) in Brazil of children living in six different household arrangements. The highest values for school performance were observed for households with both biological parents, although differences for households with mother and a social father were not large. Values for households with a mother showed intermediate results. The three household compositions without a mother father and a social mother, father (only or with aggregates) and other arrangements without a father or a mother had smaller values for school performance than others. These observed differences in school performance were mostly explained by observable heterogeneity in school inputs, location, household economic and learning resources and household’s interactions. The non-observable differences between households were sizable only for those with father and a social mother and father (only or with aggregates), suggesting mechanisms not captured by the controls of the econometric models.
Evaluation of human exposure in the vicinity of a base-station antenna using the multiple-region/FDTD hybrid method

In this paper, human exposure to the electromagnetic field radiated from a GSM radio-base station antenna operating in the 900-MHz frequency band has been analyzed. A hybrid multiple-region/FDTD method has been used to evaluate the field radiated by the antenna and the power absorbed in an accurate model of the exposed subject. The results show that field levels averaged on a surface equivalent to the left-to right vertical body section are well correlated with whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR), while local SAR values are influenced by local peaks in the incident field. A comparison between the computational costs of MR/FDTD and pure FDTD shows that, with the application of appropriate compression techniques, the hybrid method becomes convenient, in terms of memory occupation, when the distance between the subject and the antenna is greater than 80 cm.
A Generalized Computation Model for Plane Normal Reocery by Searching on Gaussian Hemisphere

Computation of plane normal is crucial for single view based vision computation, such as metrology, pose estimation, localization, motion analysis, etc. While most of existing algorithms are based some specific scene constraints, e.g., parallel lines, control points or lines, specific shape, texture, etc., it is difficult to combine all possible geometric constraints into one framework. This paper presents a novel generalized computation model to recover plane normal by incorporating different geometric constraints. In this paper, we formulate the problem of plane normal computation from a set of geometric constraints as to maximize the likelihood that these constraints are satisfied. The likelihood that each constraint is satisfied is modeled by using the Gaussian function to follow four basic rules that we define. Computing of the maximum likelihood is accomplished by searching on the Gaussian hemisphere. The proposed algorithm has been tested with both simulation data and real image data. The experimental results from both simulation and real image data show that the proposed algorithm is accurate and reliable, which demonstrate that the proposed computation model is very practical and useful for many single view based vision computation applications. KeywordsPlane normal recovery, generalized computation model, Gaussian model, Gaussian hemisphere
Macronutrient ratios in pollen shape bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) foraging strategies and floral preferences

Significance Bees pollinate the majority of flowering plant species, including agricultural crops. The pollen they obtain is their main protein and lipid source that fuels development and reproduction. Bee populations are declining globally, in large part because of landscape-level loss of host-plant species contributing to a nutritional shortage. To mitigate declines, we must understand how the nutritional requirements of bees influence foraging behavior. We demonstrate that bumble bees selectively collect pollen from host-plant species based on the protein:lipid ratios of pollen. Our research indicates that bees evaluate pollen quality and adjust foraging decisions to meet their nutritional needs. To be effective, conservation initiatives must include host-plant species that provide pollen that satisfies the nutritional demands of bees to support their populations. To fuel their activities and rear their offspring, foraging bees must obtain a sufficient quality and quantity of nutritional resources from a diverse plant community. Pollen is the primary source of proteins and lipids for bees, and the concentrations of these nutrients in pollen can vary widely among host-plant species. Therefore we hypothesized that foraging decisions of bumble bees are driven by both the protein and lipid content of pollen. By successively reducing environmental and floral cues, we analyzed pollen-foraging preferences of Bombus impatiens in (i) host-plant species, (ii) pollen isolated from these host-plant species, and (iii) nutritionally modified single-source pollen diets encompassing a range of protein and lipid concentrations. In our semifield experiments, B. impatiens foragers exponentially increased their foraging rates of pollen from plant species with high protein:lipid (P:L) ratios; the most preferred plant species had the highest ratio (∼4.6:1). These preferences were confirmed in cage studies where, in pairwise comparisons in the absence of other floral cues, B. impatiens workers still preferred pollen with higher P:L ratios. Finally, when presented with nutritionally modified pollen, workers were most attracted to pollen with P:L ratios of 5:1 and 10:1, but increasing the protein or lipid concentration (while leaving ratios intact) reduced attraction. Thus, macronutritional ratios appear to be a primary factor driving bee pollen-foraging behavior and may explain observed patterns of host-plant visitation across the landscape. The nutritional quality of pollen resources should be taken into consideration when designing conservation habitats supporting bee populations.