Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Style Appropriation, Intimacy, and Expressiveness

This paper is about style appropriation: the use by someone of stylistic cultural innovations distinctive of a cultural group that is not her own. While I agree with the key insight of C. Thi Nguyen and Matthew Strohl (Philosophical Studies 176 (2019): 981-1002) – namely, that style appropriation is sometimes found objectionable because group intimacy is believed to have been breached – I disagree with their core claim that the settled beliefs of the group cannot be wrong about whether its group intimacy has, in fact, been compromised in this way. I accept that facts about group intimacy can generate normative reasons concerning style appropriation, but develop a distinctive account of how this comes to be so: one which holds that such facts are independently grounded, rather than being decided by group opinion (as Nguyen and Stroll think). This alternative picture of how group intimacy grounds normative reasons does better justice to the intuitive thought that reality, including its normative regions, is belief-independent. The paper ends with some replies to potential objections.
Dual formulation of causal gain-scheduled output feedback controller design using parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions

This paper is concerned with the design problem of causal gain-scheduled output feedback controllers for linear parameter-varying systems using parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions. This research topic has already been addressed by several researchers, and several effective methods have been correspondingly proposed in terms of parametrically dependent matrix inequalities. This paper addresses the dual formulation of one of the methods, and successfully derives the counterpart result in continuous-time case but points out the intractability of deriving the counterpart result in discrete-time case. It is also shown, in discrete-time case, that the intractability disappears and a design method similar to an existing method is successfully derived if the causality with respect to scheduling parameters is abandoned, namely, if one-step ahead scheduling parameters are available. A toy example is introduced to confirm that, in continuous-time case, the derived dual formulation gives the same performance as the previously proposed method for the dual state-space representation of the example.
Spectral properties of hermitian-preserving maps, generalized matricial ranges, and positive definiteness

The numerical range has been a subject of study for over a century. Over the years, this object has seen several generalizations including a matricial extension defined in terms of completely positive maps. A linear map φ between matrix algebras is completely positive if and only if its Choi matrix C(φ) is positive semidefinite. In this dissertation, we give a unified treatment of the numerical and matricial ranges by extending to some joint matricial ranges defined by those maps φ for which C(φ) is a Hermitian matrix with a specific spectrum. We then prove some convexity theorems which extend previous results on the generalized joint numerical ranges and matricial ranges. We also extend Bohnenblust’s result on joint positive definiteness of Hermitian matrices and Friedland and Loewy’s result on the existence of a nonzero matrix with multiple first eigenvalue in subspaces of Hermitian matrices.
Improving the technology of chilled semi-finished products from Japanese mackerel with an extended shelf life

Abstract One of the actual areas of processing the aquatic biological resources is the production of chilled fish semi-finished products, the most prepared for heat treatment. Such products have a very limited shelf life, because fish raw materials have high enzymatic activity. This research work aimed to improve the technology of chilled fish semi-finished products from Japanese mackerel with an extended shelf life. To achieve this goal, Japanese mackerel was injected with multicomponent salting media, containing food additives that slow down microbial contamination, have a bacteriostatic effect and assist in improving the organoleptic characteristics of the finished product. New receptions of salting multicomponent compositions provide faster salting and ripening of raw materials compared to the control sample. Salt concentration in fish, amine nitrogen and peroxide value were determined by titration methods. The total number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (КMAFAnM) in fish semi-finished products was determined by identifying the number of grown colonies of microorganisms on nutrient media from agar. The treatment of Japanese mackerel with developed salting media, including moisture-retaining components, organic acids and flavoring additives with anti-bactericidal properties, improves the organoleptic characteristics of the finished product, promotes more salting and maturation of fish, as well as reducing the number of microorganisms (KMAFAnM). The increase in amine nitrogen content ranged from 1.4 g/kg (at the beginning of the salting) to 1.55 g/kg in the control and up to 3.05 g/kg in the test samples by the end of the salting. Salt concentration in Japanese mackerel treated with control salting media amounted to 1.19%, new developed salting media - from 2.84% to 3.17%. The total abundance of microorganisms in Japanese mackerel was 2.0 x 102 CFU/g, after salting it decreased to 0.1 to 3.0 x 101 CFU/g depending on the formulation of media for salting. According to the research results, the rational duration of the salting of Japanese mackerel, with new media for salting was 4 to 5 h at a temperature of 6 °С to 8 °С. Along with the salting media developed by us, the use of modern packaging materials in the technology provided chilled culinary semi – finished products from Japanese mackerel with longer shelf life of up to 20 days at a temperature of 0 °С to 5 °C, and humidity 95% to 98%.
Outcome of surgical treatment for bone metastases caused by colorectal cancer.

Background Cancer of the lower intestinal tract, although relatively common, rarely metastasizes to the skeleton. The treatment of metastatic bone disease due to colorectal cancer has thus been poorly described and treatment decisions are therefore difficult. The aim of this study was to describe the outcome of orthopedic surgery in patients with pathological fractures from colorectal cancer and investigate factors that correlate with patient survival, since it influences treatment decisions. Methods Retrospective review of data collected in a prospectively collected database. 36 patients (38 fractures) who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2019 for metastatic bone disease caused by colorectal cancer were included. Results Most metastases were localized in the axial skeleton and 33/36 patients already had visceral metastases. Patients with pathological fractures from colorectal cancer had poor prognosis, with only 5/36 surviving more than 1 year, median survival being 3 months. Patients presenting with a single skeletal metastasis had a superior overall survival (P≤0.001). Post-operative complications were common, noted in 11 patients, and the surgical failure rate was considerable. Conclusions Although relatively rare, bone metastases should be suspected in patients with colorectal cancer presenting with signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression or skeletal pain. In this case, the presence of a solitary skeletal lesion is a favorable prognostic sign. Awareness for local complications after surgery should be high.
SCMA-Based Multiaccess Edge Computing in IoT Systems: An Energy-Efficiency and Latency Tradeoff

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a kind of code-domain nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme, which can support the increasing requirements for high spectral efficiency and massive connections. Meanwhile, multiaccess edge computing (MEC) is a promising technology for providing resource-constrained users with computing resources. In this article, we propose a novel optimization scheme in the SCMA-based MEC network from the perspective of energy and latency for the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Specifically, a system utility is first used to calculate the weighted energy consumption and task execution latency. The initial utility minimization problem is nonconvex and then can be subdivided into two tractable subproblems by fixing task offloading decisions, namely, optimal local computing via CPU frequency scheduling and optimal edge computing via the SCMA codebook assignment, subcarrier power allocation, and MEC server computing resources distribution. Primarily, a joint SCMA codebook assignment based on the bidirectional matching principle and optimal power allocation algorithm is proposed. Moreover, we come up with CPU frequency scheduling strategies utilizing convex optimization to optimize the computing resources allocation (CRA) of local devices and the MEC server. Finally, a low-complexity task offloading policy based on simulated annealing is presented. Numerical results show that our proposed joint optimization algorithm for resource allocation and task offloading can achieve a good compromise between time delay and energy consumption for IoT devices. It is demonstrated that the proposed strategy has a remarkable advantage compared to the previous SCMA-MEC schemes.
Evaluación Semicuantitativa de los Microelementos del Esmalte en un Modelo de Obesidad inducido por Glutamato Monosódico en Ratas

RESUMEN: En la actualidad, existen múltiples modelos experimentales de obesidad, unos de ellos es la utilización de glutamato monosódico (GMS), un potenciador del sabor ampliamente utilizado en industria alimentaria. Este GMS ha sido relacionado con ob esidad, diabetes, insulino resistencia, así como en alteraciones en múltiples órganos, tales como testículos, riñón e hígado, entre otr os. Ha sid reportado el efecto del GMS en estructuras orales, tales como las glándulas salivales, alterando su morfología y función. La r ela del efecto del GMS frente a tejidos dentarios no ha sido reportada, siendo esto relevantes debido a la información que proporciona a disci plinas tales como arqueología científica, identificación forense, paleoecología y odontología. El objetivo del estudio fue observar la modif icación e los elementos en la superficie dental, en un modelo de obesidad inducida por GMS, en ratas. Se utilizaron 12 ratas neonatas Sprague D wley machos, divididas en dos grupos según exposición a GMS (Grupo Control y Grupo GMS 1: 4 mg/g peso de GMS , 5 dosis, mantenidas 16 semanas. Fue calculado el índice de masa corporal (IMC) e Índice de Lee, además de ser analizados el porcentaje de masa de los elementos C, O, Na, P, Ca, Fe y K en la superficie dental, mediante análisis semicuantitativo. Los resultados indican que GMS indujo obesida d en las rat s, así como alteraciones en los porcentajes de masa de los elementos en la superficie dental, evidenciándose disminución de Ca, P y O, además de aumentos en C y Fe. Según reportes previos, la obesidad inducida por GMS, causa alteraciones en secreción y composición sali val, elemento íntimamente relacionado con la composición del esmalte, lo que vendría a explicar nuestros resultados. Entender la com posición superficial del esmalte superficial podría ayudarnos a comprender de mejor manera la relación entre caries dentaria y obesidad.
Effective Indexes and Classification Algorithms for Supervised Link Prediction Approach to Anticipating Technology Convergence: A Comparative Study

This article conducts a comparative analysis to investigate the effects of different classification algorithms and structural proximity indexes on the performance of the supervised link prediction approach to anticipating technology convergence at different forecast horizons. For this, we identify relationships between technologies of interest for different time periods and compute 10 structural proximity indexes among unconnected technologies at each period. We develop a set of classification models that identify potential convergence among unconnected technologies where each model is configured differently by a classification algorithm and a combination of the proximity indexes. We compare the performance of the classification models to investigate effective combinations of classification algorithms and proximity indexes at different forecast horizons. The empirical analysis on Wikipedia articles about artificial intelligence technology indicates that random forest outperforms others in short-term forecasting while support vector machine outperforms others in mid-term forecasting. We also identify structural proximity indexes that produce higher performance when combined with the most effective algorithm at each forecast horizon. The results of this article are expected to offer guidelines for choosing classification algorithms and indexes when applying the supervised link prediction approach in anticipating technology convergence.
Air Modal Perishable Cargo Dispatch: Case Study of a Sustainable Proposal Assisted by Process Modelling and Simulation

The importance of perishable transport is clearly observed in research to agile logistic techniques and fragile cargos. This case study evaluates a project that considers a sustainable option for cooling perishable fillers using Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles (PET bottles) as cooling elements. The analysis was supported by modeling and simulation technologies based on stochastically timed Petri nets for strategic management of the material supply chain (boxes and PET bottles) for the air modal dispatch process. The optimization process of this straightforward method was submitted to more than 10,500 dispatches of perishable cargo in a logistics operator from Minas Gerais (Brazil) and was considered the evaluation of the following parameters during this study: temperature variation, delivery time and compliance with customer requirements. As most prominent results, there is a dispatch methodology that yielded a monthly saving of more than R$ 36,000 (Brazilian reais) and an open-source tool for supply chain simulation. The simulations were able to evaluate the supply of raw material for the process based on PET bottles for a horizon of approximately 2 years, allowing the forecast of unmet demands, and identify which shortages caused the process interruption.
Commodity Shocks and Exchange Rate Regimes: Implications for the Caribbean Commodity Exporters

Declining commodity prices during mid-2014-2016 posed significant challenges to commodity-exporting economies. The severe terms of trade shock associated with a sharp fall in world commodity prices have raised anew questions about the viability of pegged exchange rate regimes. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures needed to contain its spread have been associated with a significant disruption in several economic sectors, in particular, travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, adding to the downward pressure on commodity prices, a sharp fall in foreign exchange earnings, and depressed economic activity in most commodity exporters. This paper reviews country experiences with different exchange rate regimes in coping with commodity price shocks and explores the role of flexible exchange rates as a shock absorber, analyzing the macroeconomic impact of adverse term-of-trade shocks under different regimes using event study and panel vector autoregression techniques. It also analyzes, conceptually and empirically, policy and technical considerations in making exchange rate regime choices and discusses the supporting policies that should accompany a given regime choice to make that choice sustainable. It offers lessons that could be helpful to the Caribbean commodity-exporters.
Implementation of MPC-Based Trajectory Tracking Considering Different Fidelity Vehicle Models

In order to investigate how model fidelity in the formulation of model predictive control(MPC) algorithm affects the path tracking performance, a bicycle model and an 8 degrees of freedom(DOF) vehicle model, as well as a 14-DOF vehicle model were employed to implement the MPC-based path tracking controller considering the constraints of input limit and output admissibility by using a lower fidelity vehicle model to control a higher fidelity vehicle model. In the MPC controller, the nonlinear vehicle model was linearized and discretized for state prediction and vehicle heading angle, lateral position and longitudinal position were chosen as objectives in the cost function. The wheel step steering and sine wave steering responses between the developed vehicle models and the Carsim model were compared for validation before implementing the model predictive path tracking control. The simulation results of trajectory tracking considering an 8-shaped curved reference path were presented and compared when the prediction model and the plant were changed. The results show that the trajectory tracking errors are small and the tracking performances of the proposed controller considering different complexity vehicle models are good in the curved road environment. Additionally, the MPC-based controller formulated with a high-fidelity model performs better than that with a low-fidelity model in the trajectory tracking.
A scalable workflow for the human exposome

Complementing the genome with an understanding of the human exposome is an important challenge for contemporary science and technology. Tens of thousands of chemicals are used in commerce, yet cost for targeted environmental chemical analysis limits surveillance to a few hundred known hazards. To overcome limitations which prevent scaling to thousands of chemicals, we developed a single-step express liquid extraction (XLE), gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) analysis and computational pipeline to operationalize the human exposome. We show that the workflow supports quantification of environmental chemicals in small human plasma (200 µL) and tissue (≤ 100 mg) samples. The method also provides high resolution, sensitivity and selectivity for exposome epidemiology of mass spectral features without a priori knowledge of chemical identity. The simplicity of the method can facilitate harmonization of environmental biomonitoring between laboratories and enable population level human exposome research with limited sample volume.
The Pandemic Techno-Solutionist Dilemma

This commentary identifies a key dilemma in immediate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: the persistent foregrounding of digital technologies as “silver-bullet” solutions to overcoming tensions between surveillance and privacy. It illustrates the pandemic techno-solutionist dilemma by pointing to global efforts to harness blockchain technologies for “squaring the circle” between privacy and surveillance. It then concludes that further investigating the persistence and possible inevitability of this dilemma requires overcoming solitudes both within international political economy and between international political economy and interdisciplines such as surveillance studies.
Use of a Smartphone Self-assessment App for a Tobacco-Induced Disease (COPD, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cancer) Screening Strategy and to Encourage Smoking Cessation: Observational Study

Background Patient self-assessment via a mobile app detects actionable symptoms and has been shown to detect lung cancer relapses early, thereby lengthening survival. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of chief symptoms associated with the main tobacco-induced pathologies in both current and ex-smokers through a self-assessment smartphone app and to evaluate the app’s capacity to encourage users to quit smoking or reduce consumption, as well as its impact on early lung cancer stages at the time of diagnosis. Methods Current and ex-smokers were recruited through an advertising campaign in Sarthe county (France) proposing the free download of a smartphone app. App users were asked to answer 13 questions related to symptoms associated with tobacco-induced diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], cardiovascular diseases, cancer). In the event of any positive answer, a message was displayed recommending the user to consult a physician. In addition, they were asked about smoking cessation intention before and after answering these 13 questions. Finally, incidence of stage 1 or 2 lung cancers diagnosed during the launch period of our application was evaluated by comparing data from various sources to those from the same period during the previous year. Results Of the 5671 users who were eligible for evaluation, an alert was sent to the majority (4118/5671, 72.6%), with a higher incidence for current smokers (2833/3679, 77.0% vs 1298/1992, 65.2%; P<.001). The most frequent symptoms triggering the notifications were fatigue (2023/5671, 35.7%), cough (1658/5671, 29.2%), dyspnea (1502/5671, 26.5%), and persistent chest pain (1286/5671, 22.7%). Of the current smokers, 14.0% (515/3679) showed symptoms suggesting COPD, 15.5% (571/3679) showed symptoms suggesting stable angina, 12.4% (455/3679) probably had lower extremity artery disease, and 6.8% (249/3679) had possible cancer. Of the users, 36.5% (1343/3679) claimed that they thought about quitting smoking, and 48.7% (1795/3679) had thought about reducing their consumption. Surgery-eligible stage 1 and 2 lung cancer incidence was 24% (14/58) during the study period versus 9% (5/54) during the previous year in Sarthe county (P=.04), whereas it remained unchanged in the neighboring county of Maine-et-Loire. Conclusions A majority of current and ex-smokers showed worrying symptoms, and the use of a self-assessment smartphone app may drive a majority of smokers toward the intention of smoking cessation or decreasing consumption. A randomized study should be performed to confirm this intention and to support the potential increase of symptomatic lung cancer detection at early, surgery-accessible stages. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04048954; https://www.clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/NCT04048954
Co-Existing Preamble and Data Transmissions in Random Access for MTC With Massive MIMO

In this article, a Co-existing Preamble and Data (CoPD) random access approach for machine-type communications (MTC) is proposed and studied in massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. Unlike conventional grant-free random access in which preambles are time-multiplexed with data, the proposed approach enables CoPD transmissions by different groups of devices, which leverages favourable propagation of massive MIMO and successive interference cancellation (SIC) technique. To fully understand the performance behavior of the proposed approach, the error characteristics of channel estimation (CE) due to SIC error propagation are investigated. To avoid the CE error variance growing arbitrarily with time that leads to data transmission failure, key conditions, with respect to preamble length <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, traffic intensity <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and average number of data packets per active device <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\bar b$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, are derived. Under the conditions, we demonstrate that the throughput of the proposed CoPD approach cannot be arbitrarily high by increasing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\bar b$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula> even though the antenna array size, denoted by <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, grows arbitrarily in massive MIMO. Accordingly, its maximum throughput and success probability are theoretically obtained. Simulation results verify our analysis results and confirm that the maximum throughput of the proposed CoPD approach can be at least 4 times than that of the conventional one. Furthermore, its success probability approaches 1 when <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> as long as the derived conditions are met.