Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Redes Neurais Convolucionais Aplicadas à Preensão Robótica

Resumo A preensão robótica é um importante ramo de pesquisa no campo da robótica inteligente que envolve a percepção, planejamento e controle de um manipulador mecânico para efetuar a captura autônoma de objetos. Entretanto, a percepção do ambiente permanece um desafio visto que a forma do objeto pode ser desconhecida, além dos ruídos presentes no ambiente e do elevado custo computacional de processamento. Neste trabalho é proposto o projeto de um modelo computacional, baseado em Redes Neurais Profundas, capaz de detectar uma região de preensão para garras robóticas a partir da imagem RGB do objeto. Na proposta é avaliada o emprego de uma arquitetura mais simples (i.e., menor quantitativo de parâmetros da rede) àquelas comumente utilizadas, buscando-se reduzir o custo computacional do projeto aliado a uma maior capacidade de detecção para objetos inéditos. Dessa forma, foi desenvolvida uma rede composta por menos camadas, propondo também uma redução na dimensão dos parâmetros (resolução de imagem, filtros, etc.). A metodologia proposta foi validada a partir da base de imagens Cornell Grasp Detection, a partir da qual o modelo obteve uma acurácia média de 85,3% na detecção da preensão para objetos inéditos, mostrando um desempenho superior ao estado da arte.
Nutritional evaluation of berseem. 2. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on berseem fed as silage to goats.

Eighteen male goats were used to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 23.8 and 47.6 kg N ha -1 ) on intake, nutritive values, nitrogen balance and blood hematology of silages made from berseem of the 1 st and 2 nd cuts with sugar can bagasse (70:30 on DM basis). The contents of DM, OM, CF and NFE decreased, but CP, EE and ash contents of fresh berseem increased with increasing the rate of N fertilizer. The pH value decreased, however TVFA's and NH 3 -N concentrations increased with increasing the rate of N fertilizer for both the 1 st and 2 nd cuts of berseem silages. The contents of DM, OM, CF and NFE decreased, but CP, EE and ash contents of silages increased with increasing the rate of N fertilizer. The digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE and TDN and DCP values of berseem silages by goats increased significantly (P 0.05). The counts of red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) and hemoglobin concentration in blood of goats fed the different silages increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing the rate of N fertilizer. The DM intake and nitrogen excretion in feces were higher, however, ruminal NH 3 -N, nitrogen excretion in urine and red blood cells were lower when goats fed silages of the 2 nd cut compared with feeding 1 st cut silage. (Mohsen MK, El-Santiel GS, Gaafar HMA, El-Gendy HM, El-Beltagi EA. Nutritional evaluation of berseem. 2- Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on berseem fed as silage to goats. Researcher. 2011;3(5):25-30). (ISSN: 1553-9865). http://www.sciencepub. net .
Reversible Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Adhesive of PS-b-PNIPAAm Copolymer Brush Nanopillar Arrays for Mimicking the Climbing Aptitude of Geckos

Inspired by the adjustable adhesive ability of the gecko foot pad, alternately attaching to and detaching from where they climb, we used a fabrication process to generate well-defined pillar patterns of polymerized styrene and successively grafted n-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) as thermally responsive terminating of the pillars. By varying the geometry of the patterns including aspect ratio and duty ratio (solid fraction), the respective roles of the geometry the pattern features on the static water contact angle (WCA), hysteresis, adhesive, and friction force at 25 and 50 °C have been systemically investigated. The fabrication strategy exploits surface textures of polystyrene (PS) and thermally responsive terminating of PNIPAAm as the artificial foot pad surface, which could generate alternately ca. 93.9 and 8.7 nN of adhesive force at 25 and 50 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the adjustable adhesive ability of the copolymer brushes could approach the climbing aptitude of a gecko much more cl.
Job Satisfaction and Physiological Health ( HRQOL ) Malaysian Government Sector

The purposes of this study were to determine the level of job satisfaction amongst administrative employees and to examine the differences between job satisfaction level by gender, age, salary and working years in selected government organizations in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The study is aimed to measure the relationship between job satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life domain physiological health. Instruments used were the DSP Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire. Job satisfaction was measured through the dimensions of meaning, professionalization, financial, competence, orientation, work-related stress and supervision. Findings showed EPUS (Economic Planning Unit of Selangor) scored highest satisfaction level among government organizations surveyed and ANOVA revealed there were significant differences between job satisfaction and age, salary and working years. The study also proved that physiological health among administrative employees is strongly influenced by job satisfaction. This indicated that individuals feeling of satisfied at their job somehow influence their health condition (physiological health). Other factors such as age, salary earned and years of working also moderate the results. For future studies, replication to other all other regions within Malaysia is suggested to represent the whole population findings and thus comparisons between regions can also be made. The use of different models, theories and instruments are also recommended to allow for examination of the results using such alternative instrumentation.
MOLDS IN MUSEUM ENVIRONMENTS: BIODETERIORATION OF ART PHOTOGRAPHS AND WOODEN SCULPTURES

Pieces of art stored in museum depots and display rooms are subject to fungal colonization that leads to bio- deterioration processes. Deteriorated wooden sculptures and art photographs temporarily stored in the quarantine room of the Cultural Center of Belgrade were subject to mycological analyses. Twelve fungal species were identified on the wooden substratum and five species were detected on photograph surfaces. Trichoderma viride, Chaetomium globosum and Alternaria sp. were the fungi with proven cellulolytic activity detected on the examined cellulose substrata. Indoor air mycobiota were estimated to 210.09 ± 8.06 CFU m -3 , and the conidia of fungus Aspergillus niger were the dominant fungal propagules in the air of the examined room.
Extensive HST ultraviolet spectra and multiwavelength observations of SN 2014J in M82 indicate reddening and circumstellar scattering by typical dust

SN 2014J in M82 is the closest detected Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) in at least 28 years and perhaps in 410 years. Despite its small distance of 3.3 Mpc, SN 2014J is surprisingly faint, peaking at V = 10.6 mag, and assuming a typical SN Ia luminosity, we infer an observed visual extinction of AV = 2.0 ± 0.1 mag. But this picture, with RV = 1.6 ± 0.2, is too simple to account for all observations. We combine 10 epochs (spanning a month) of HST/STIS ultraviolet through near-infrared spectroscopy with HST/WFC3, KAIT, and FanCam photometry from the optical to the infrared and 9 epochs of high-resolution TRES spectroscopy to investigate the sources of extinction and reddening for SN 2014J. We argue that the wide range of observed properties for SN 2014J is caused by a combination of dust reddening, likely originating in the interstellar medium of M82, and scattering off circumstellar material. For this model, roughly half of the extinction is caused by reddening from typical dust (E(B V ) = 0.45 mag and RV = 2.6) and roughly half by scattering off LMC-like dust in the circumstellar environment of SN 2014J.
Enhancement of Paclitaxel Oral Bioavailability in Swiss Mice by Four Consecutive Days of Pre-Treatment with Curcumin

Objective: Poor water solubility, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux property and substrate of CYP3A lead to low oral bioavailability that limit the oral use of paclitaxel, a key anticancer drug. Though several formulation approaches were tried to combat this low absorption profile but effect of pre-treatment with curcumin, a naturally occurring CYP3A and P-gp inhibitor on augmentation of paclitaxel plasma level is not reported till now. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to asses any change in oral pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel. Materials and Methods: curcumin was administered orally to the Swiss mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg for four days and on the fifth day, pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel was carried out at dose of 35 mg/kg orally alone and curcumin pre-treated animals. Results: There is enhancement of Cmax and AUC by 1.4 to 1.5 fold when compared with oral paclitaxel alone treatment that leads to improve in oral bioavailability of paclitaxel. Conclusion: Curcumin can be an ideal candidate for regular use to improve the bioavailability of paclitaxel followed by decrease in dose related side effects. Furthermore, anticancer effect of Curcumin itself as well as with paclitaxel could clinically manage cancer promisingly.
A New Keynesian Model of the Armenian Economy

This paper develops a small open economy dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model of the Armenian economy. The structure of the model is largely motivated by recent developments in DSGE modeling, with key extensions to incorporate specific structural characteristics of the Armenian economy. The resultant model can be used to simulate monetary policy paths and help analyze the robustness of policy conclusions. The paper tests the model’s properties on Armenian data, demonstrating that the main stylized features relevant for monetary policy making are well captured by the model.
Hydroxylation-induced half-metallicity in graphitic ZnO sheet

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the hydroxylated graphitic Zinc oxide (ZnO) sheet were studied using the density functional theory. We found that the hydroxylation can induce a magnetic moment of 1.0 μB per unit cell and turn graphitic ZnO sheet from semiconductor into half metal for the three studied hydroxylated configurations with a half-metal gap up to 0.60 eV. The relative stability of each situation was also discussed and the structure for hydroxyl absorbed above the hexagonal ring of ZnO sheet was the most steady. The prominent electronic and magnetic properties may endow 2D ZnO sheet great opportunity in future spintronics.
Polarization‐dependent electromagnetic band gap (PDEBG) structures: Designs and applications

EBG structures exhibit an in‐phase reflection coefficient, which makes them desirable for low‐profile antenna designs. However, a conventional EBG structure has an identical reflection phase for a normally incident plane wave in spite of its polarization state. This paper presents novel polarization‐dependent EBG (PDEBG) structures whose reflection phases are different, depending upon the polarization state of the incident plane wave. This polarization‐dependent reflection‐phase feature is realized by changing the unit geometries, for example, by using a rectangular patch to replace the square patch, by cutting slots into the patch, or by offsetting the vias. By properly tailoring the phase difference between different polarizations, a useful EBG reflector is introduced, which can control the polarization state of the reflected wave. One attractive application of this reflector is that the reflected wave of a circularly polarized incident plane wave can maintain its polarization sense. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 41: 439–444, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20164
Gastric Schwannoma: A Rare Case with Preoperative Diagnosis by EUS-FNB

Schwannomas are benign neurogenic tumors. Gastric schwannomas is the most common digestive tract. It account only for 0.2% of all gastric tumors and principally involve the submucosa and muscularis propria [1]. The preoperative differentiation between gastric schwannomas and gastrointestinal submucosal tumors Figure 1: EUS images (A, B) and pathologic findings (C-H) of EUS-FNB. The tissue was composed of broad bundles of elongated cells (C, H&E stain). In immunohistochemistry (D-H), the tumor strongly stains for S-100 (G) and moderately positive for SOX-10(H). Staining for CD-117(D), DOG-1(E) and smooth muscle desmin (F) are negative. (GISTs) can be difficult. None of the imaging studies have shown any distinct features unique to these neoplasms [2]. Final diagnosis of gastric schwannomas is made by surgical pathology. Both EUS-guided fine needle aspiration and EUS-guided biopsy (EUSFNB) can be used for tissue sampling. However only Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Biopsy (EUS-FNB) allows core biopsy sufficient for histopathologic processing. With the advent of immunohistochemical staining techniques and ultrastructural evaluation, it is now possible to identify these neoplasms based on their distinct immunophenotypes [3].
Dissipative self-assembly: A novel self-healing mechanism for functional materials

Self-assembled systems formed of micelles or vesicles have frequently been discussed as model systems for self-healing materials because their structure is dictated by thermodynamics and hence they quickly restore upon perturbation. In this aspect, they mimic many natural systems such as biological cells. However, in contrast to most synthetic self-assembling systems the natural systems are not equilibrium processes. Attention is therefore now focusing on dissipative selfassembling systems where energy input is required to sustain the self-assembled state. These systems have the potential to adapt themselves and enter into different self-assembled states depending on the rates of environmental reactions whereas their equilibrium counterparts can only assemble or disassemble depending on the environmental equilibrium condition. Recently, we have constructed some dissipative self-assembling systems using chemical fuels and presently more examples are being worked on. During this presentation some important aspects of these systems will be discussed in relation to their capabilities of being self-healing.
Spatio-Temporal Metabolite and Elemental Profiling of Salt Stressed Barley Seeds During Initial Stages of Germination by MALDI-MSI and µ-XRF Spectrometry

Seed germination is the essential first step in crop establishment, and can be severely affected by salinity stress which can inhibit essential metabolic processes during the germination process. Salt stress during seed germination can trigger lipid-dependent signalling cascades that activate plant adaptation processes, lead to changes in membrane fluidity to help resist the stress, and cause secondary metabolite responses due to increased oxidative stress. In germinating barley (Hordeum vulgare), knowledge of the changes in spatial distribution of lipids and other small molecules at a cellular level in response to salt stress is limited. In this study, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to determine the spatial distribution of metabolites, lipids and a range of elements, such as K+ and Na+, in seeds of two barley genotypes with contrasting germination phenology (Australian barley varieties Mundah and Keel). We detected and tentatively identified more than 200 lipid species belonging to seven major lipid classes (fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, prenol lipids, sterol lipids, and polyketides) that differed in their spatial distribution based on genotype (Mundah or Keel), time post-imbibition (0 to 72 h), or treatment (control or salt). We found a tentative flavonoid was discriminant in post-imbibed Mundah embryos under saline conditions, and a delayed flavonoid response in Keel relative to Mundah. We further employed MSI-MS/MS and LC-QToF-MS/MS to explore the identity of the discriminant flavonoid and study the temporal pattern in five additional barley genotypes. ICP-MS was used to quantify the elemental composition of both Mundah and Keel seeds, showing a significant increase in Na+ in salt treated samples. Spatial mapping of elements using µ-XRF localized the elements within the seeds. This study integrates data obtained from three mass spectrometry platforms together with µ-XRF to yield information on the localization of lipids, metabolites and elements improving our understanding of the germination process under salt stress at a molecular level.
(Dis-)respectful public discussions online: insights on audience polarization and formation of radical hate or support groups

Debates related to the quality of online discussions are quickly engaging scholars from different fields, but still, there is no single answer if we can expect online discussions to be deliberative enough for the establishment and maintenance of a well-functioning public sphere online. In this paper, I presume that respect is an essential category determining overall quality of online public discussions. Therefore, I assess if discussions from a preselected Facebook page on climate change are respectful. I find that in comparison to similar face-to-face settings, members of preselected discussions are quite respectful to each other. On the other hand, foul language is often used to address outside actors or groups. In turn, I link these results to the phenomenon of audience polarization online and conclude that in my sample, discussions cannot be of good quality because they are dominated by similarly thinking members, which possibly leads to polarization and generation of support
esponse of grapevine ( Cabernet Sauvignon cv ) to above ground and ubsurface drip irrigation under arid conditions

The response of wine grapes to irrigation systems was investigated in a Cabernet Sauvignon/140 Ru vineyard in sandy loam soil in Sicily during a two-year study. Two different drip irrigation systems were evaluated: one surface drip and two subsurface drip irrigation systems, with the trickle line located at different distances from vine trunks. Vegetative and quantitative parameters, must quality and root distribution were compared among irrigation treatments. During the two study years, irrigation of grapevines via a subsurface drip system resulted in greater water use efficiency without affecting must composition. Establishing the trickle line near the trunk positively influenced trunk growth and total root contact while establishing the trickle line 1.20 m from the trunk increased yield. Dry mass partitioning was modified
Municipal Road Infrastructure Assessment Using Street View Images

Road quality assessment is a crucial part in Municipalities’ work to maintain their infrastructure, plan upgrades, and manage their budgets. Properly maintaining this infrastructure relies heavily on consistently monitoring its condition and deterioration over time. This can be a challenge, especially in larger towns and cities where there is a lot of city property to keep an eye on. Municipalities rely on surveyors to keep them up to date on the condition of their infrastructure to prevent this failure before it happens. This is both to prevent injuries and further damage from occurring as a result of infrastructure failure, and since it is can be more cost effective to maintain property rather than have to replace it. Surveying can either be done manually or automatically, but it is not done frequently as it is expensive and also time consuming. Manual surveying can be inaccurate, while a large portion of automatic surveying techniques rely on expensive equipment. To solve this problem, we propose an automated infrastructure assessment method that relies on Street View images for its input and uses various computer vision and pattern recognition methods to generate its assessments. First, we segment the image into ‘road’ and ‘background’ regions. We propose a road segmentation algorithm specifically aimed at segmenting roads from street view images. We use Fisher vectors calculated on SIFT descriptors to encode small windows extracted from the main image at multiple scales. Then we classify these patches using an SVM and utilize a Gaussian voting scheme to obtain a segmentation. We additionally utilize a spatial prior to improve this segmentation. Optionally, we improve the segmentation further by making use of a weighted contour map calculated on a shadow-free intrinsic image, and a find an optimal segmentation by utilizing a purity tree. Our algorithm performs well and outputs a good segmentation for further use in road evaluation. We test our method on the KITTI road dataset, and compare it to the state-of-the-art on this dataset, along with a manually annotated subset of Google Street View. After segmenting the road, we describe an algorithm aimed at identifying distressed road regions and pinpointing cracks within them. We predict distressed regions by reusing the computed Fisher vectors and classifying them with a different SVM trained to distinguish between road qualities. We follow this step with a comparison to the weighed contour map within these distressed regions to identify exact crack and defect locations, and use the contour weights to predict the crack severity. Promising results are obtained on our manually annotated dataset, which indicate the viability of using this cost-effective system to perform road quality assessment at a municipal level.
The Evolutionary Biology of Species

‘Species’ are central to understanding the origin and dynamics of biological diversity; explaining why lineages split into multiple distinct species is one of the main goals of evolutionary biology. However, the existence of species is often taken for granted, and precisely what is meant by species and whether they really exist as a pattern of nature has rarely been modelled or critically tested. This novel book presents a synthetic overview of the evolutionary biology of species, describing what species are, how they form, the consequences of species boundaries and diversity for evolution, and patterns of species accumulation over time. The central thesis is that species represent more than just a unit of taxonomy; they are a model of how diversity is structured as well as how groups of related organisms evolve. The author adopts an intentionally broad approach to consider what species constitute, both theoretically and empirically, and how we detect them, drawing on a wealth of examples from microbes to multicellular organisms.