Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Double-Dot Network for Antipodal Grasp Detection

This paper proposes a new deep learning approach to antipodal grasp detection, named Double-Dot Network (DD-Net). It follows the recent anchor-free object detection framework, which does not depend on empirically pre-set anchors and thus allows more generalized and flexible prediction on unseen objects. Specifically, unlike the widely used 5-dimensional rectangle, the gripper configuration is defined as a pair of fingertips. An effective CNN architecture is introduced to localize such fingertips, and with the help of auxiliary centers for refinement, it accurately and robustly infers grasp candidates. Additionally, we design a specialized loss function to measure the quality of grasps, and in contrast to the IoU scores of bounding boxes adopted in object detection, it is more consistent to the grasp detection task. Both the simulation and robotic experiments are executed and state of the art accuracies are achieved, showing that DD-Net is superior to the counterparts in handling unseen objects.
Inference via sparse coding in a hierarchical vision model

Abstract Sparse coding has been incorporated in models of the visual cortex for its computational advantages and connection to biology. But how the level of sparsity contributes to performance on visual tasks is not well understood. In this work, sparse coding has been integrated into an existing hierarchical V2 model (Hosoya & Hyvärinen, 2015), but replacing its independent component analysis (ICA) with an explicit sparse coding in which the degree of sparsity can be controlled. After training, the sparse coding basis functions with a higher degree of sparsity resembled qualitatively different structures, such as curves and corners. The contributions of the models were assessed with image classification tasks, specifically tasks associated with mid-level vision including figure–ground classification, texture classification, and angle prediction between two line stimuli. In addition, the models were assessed in comparison with a texture sensitivity measure that has been reported in V2 (Freeman et al., 2013) and a deleted-region inference task. The results from the experiments show that although sparse coding performed worse than ICA at classifying images, only sparse coding was able to better match the texture sensitivity level of V2 and infer deleted image regions, both by increasing the degree of sparsity in sparse coding. Greater degrees of sparsity allowed for inference over larger deleted image regions. The mechanism that allows for this inference capability in sparse coding is described in this article.
Deep GAN-Based Cross-Spectral Cross-Resolution Iris Recognition

In recent years, cross-spectral iris recognition has emerged as a promising biometric approach to establish the identity of individuals. However, matching iris images acquired at different spectral bands (i.e., matching a visible (VIS) iris probe to a gallery of near-infrared (NIR) iris images or vice versa) shows a significant performance degradation when compared to intraband NIR matching. Hence, in this paper, we have investigated a range of deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCGAN) architectures to further improve the accuracy of cross-spectral iris recognition methods. Moreover, unlike the existing works in the literature, we introduce a resolution difference into the classical cross-spectral matching problem domain. We have developed two different novel techniques using the conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) as a backbone architecture for cross-spectral iris matching. In the first approach, we simultaneously address the cross-resolution and cross-spectral matching problem by training a cGAN that jointly translates cross-resolution as well as cross-spectral tasks to the same resolution and within the same spectrum. In the second approach, we design a coupled generative adversarial network (cpGAN) architecture consisting of a pair of cGAN modules that project the VIS and NIR iris images into a low-dimensional embedding domain to ensure maximum pairwise similarity between the feature vectors from the two iris modalities of the same subject. To assure the efficacy of our methods, we perform several experiments considering multiple real-life scenarios on three publicly-available cross-spectral iris datasets. Our best experimental results obtained from the cpGAN network outperform the existing benchmark convolutional neural network (CNN) with a supervised discrete hashing (SDH) approach [1] by as much as 1.67%, and 2.22% GAR at FAR of 0.01, while our cGAN provides recognition accuracy with significantly lower EER value of 1.5%, and 1.54% for PolyU bi-spectral dataset, and Cross-eyed-cross-spectral iris recognition database, respectively. It indicates the superiority of our approaches over results previously published in the literature.
Multi-scale model of clogging in microfluidic devices with grid-like geometries

We propose a coarse-grained theoretical model to capture the ageing of microfluidic devices under different conditions including constant applied flow rate and constant applied pressure gradient. Microfluidic devices that sort cells by their deformability hold significant promise for medical applications. However, clogging in these microfluidic systems causes their properties to change over time and potentially limits their reliability. We compare the results of the coarse-grained model with those of stochastic simulations and with existing theoretical studies. Lastly, we apply the model to experimental data on the clogging of sickle red blood cells and discuss its wider applicability.
Numerical investigation of turbulence of surface gravity waves

Abstract In this paper, we numerically study the wave turbulence of surface gravity waves in the framework of Euler equations of the free surface. The purpose is to understand the variation of the scaling of the spectra with wavenumber $k$ and energy flux $P$ at different nonlinearity levels under different forcing/free-decay conditions. For all conditions (free decay and narrow-band and broad-band forcing) that we consider, we find that the spectral forms approach the wave turbulence theory (WTT) solution $S_\eta \sim k^{-5/2}$ and $S_\eta \sim P^{1/3}$ at high nonlinearity levels. With a decrease of nonlinearity level, the spectra for all cases become steeper, with the narrow-band forcing case exhibiting the most rapid deviation from WTT. We investigate bound waves and the finite-size effect as possible mechanisms causing the spectral variations. Through a tri-coherence analysis, we find that the finite-size effect is present in all cases, which is responsible for the overall steepening of the spectra and the reduced capacity of energy flux at lower nonlinearity levels. The fraction of bound waves in the domain generally decreases with the decrease of nonlinearity level, except for the narrow-band case, which exhibits a transition at a critical nonlinearity level below which a rapid increase is observed. This increase serves as the main reason for the fastest deviation from WTT with the decrease of nonlinearity in the narrow-band forcing case.
Blue Straggler Stars in open clusters using Gaia: Dependence on cluster parameters and possible formation pathways

Blue straggler stars (BSSs) are the most massive stars in a cluster formed via binary or higher-order stellar interactions. Though the exact nature of such formation scenarios is difficult to pin down, we provide observational constraints on the different possible mechanism. In this quest, we first produce a catalogue of BSSs using Gaia DR2 data. Among the 670 clusters older than 300 Myr, we identified 868 BSSs in 228 clusters and 500 BSS candidates in 208 clusters. In general, all clusters older than 1 Gyr and massive than 1000 M⊙ have BSSs. The average number of BSSs increases with cluster age and mass, and there is a power-law relation between the cluster mass and the maximum number of BSSs in the cluster. We introduce the term fractional mass excess ( $\mathcal {M}_{e}$) for BSSs. We find that at least 54 per cent of BSSs have $\mathcal {M}_{e}$ < 0.5 (likely to have gained mass through a binary mass transfer (MT)), 30 per cent in the 1.0 < $\mathcal {M}_{e}$ <0.5 range (likely to have gained mass through a merger) and up to 16 per cent with $\mathcal {M}_{e}$ > 1.0 (likely from multiple mergers/MT). We also find that the percentage of low $\mathcal {M}_{e}$ BSSs increases with age, beyond 1–2 Gyr, suggesting an increase in formation through MT in older clusters. The BSSs are radially segregated, and the extent of segregation depends on the dynamical relaxation of the cluster. The statistics and trends presented here are expected to constrain the BSS formation models in open clusters.
Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulceras Using Technology with A C-Boot Device

Introduction: It is known that the application of Radiofrequency in wounds, improves vascularization and oxygenation of tissues, it has also been shown to increase the Epidermal and Vascular Growth Factors. It is known to be a safe and well tolerated treatment by the patient. In order to know the effect of this treatment on the Diabetic Foot Ulcers, this study was carried out, incorporating a C-Boot, designed to apply the radiofrequency treatment with a C 100 CAPENERGY for application in the foot ulcers. Methodology: Four patients were treated with one or several ulcers where 10 minutes of capacitive electrode treatment was first applied in the area of the ulcer at a power of 50% of that delivered by the team. Then it was applied 20 minutes using the C-Boot with active and passive plate. The treatment was applied once a week. Ecosonography was performed to evaluate subcutaneous edema and a Visual Analogue Pain Scale. Results: All patients noticed a decrease in the symptoms of edema and a decrease in pain from the first weeks, at the end of the treatment the ulcers were closed, improving the quality of life of these patients. Conclusions: The application of Tecarterapia with the use of C-Boot has proven to be an effective treatment for the treatment of ulcer in the Diabetic Foot.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Framing politics

A growing amount of research is devoted to the question which individual and contextual variables enhance, limit or obliterate news framing effects. However, the fundamental question whether framing effects vary depending on the issue at stake has not been addressed. Based on two experimental studies (n = 1,821), this article investigates the extent to which framing effects differ in magnitude as well as process, depending on how important an issue is. The studies show that a high-importance issue yielded no effects and a low-importance issue resulted in large effects. This moderating function of issue importance operates both at the contextual and at the individual level. The implications for future framing effects research are discussed.
Decline in Functional Short-term Sperm Storage anD reproDuction in two oviparouS Sceloporine lizarDS From FloriDa , uSa

—Oviductal sperm storage occurs in most squamate lineages, as well as in Tuatara. It is hypothesized to confer fitness benefits by increasing opportunities for reproductive success. These opportunities are specific to each selective landscape, but all are constrained by an underlying requisite phenotype, the duration that sperm can be stored and remain viable. Functional sperm storage durations are generally estimated by field observations of reproductive ecology or the presence of sperm in the oviduct, with few direct tests of sperm viability over time or reproductive events. In sceloporine lizards of the family Phrynosomatidae, functional sperm storage has been examined in many viviparous species with asynchronous reproduction, but oviparous species with synchronous reproduction have not been examined. We assessed functional sperm storage in two oviparous sceloporine lizards with synchronous reproduction, the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and the Florida Scrub Lizard (S. woodi). Over a 4-mo period of isolation, we found reproductive success of gravid females declined in both species (3.9% per week in S. undulatus and 6.7% in S. woodi), although moderate levels of fertility and hatching success were observed for up to 12 weeks in S. undulatus and 14 weeks in S. woodi. Our data suggest, for these populations, that functional sperm storage occurs across the reproductive season, but is unlikely to continue into the next year.
E(cid:14)cient Retrieval of Abstract Cases for Case-Based Planning

Recently, the use of abstraction in case-based reasoning (CBR) is getting more and more popular. The basic idea is to supply a CBR system with cases at many di(cid:11)erent levels of abstraction. When a new problem must be solved, one (or several) 'appropriate' concrete or abstract case are retrieved from the case base and the solution that the case contains is reused to derive a solution for the current problem, e.g. by (cid:12)lling in the details that a retrieved case at some higher level of abstraction does not contain. A major problem that occurs when using this approach is, that for a given new problem, usually several cases, e.g., from di(cid:11)erent levels of abstraction could be reused to solve the new problem. Choosing a wrong abstract case can slow down the problem solving process or even prevents the problem from being solved. This paper presents a new approach for selecting abstract cases from a case base within in the context of the case-based planning system Paris. Based on a general analysis of the e(cid:11)orts involved in abstraction-based CBR, the new retrieval technique is developed. Cases are organized in an abstraction hierarchy that is constructed during the retain phase. Abstract cases at higher levels of abstraction are located above abstract cases at lower levels. The leaf nodes of this hierarchy contain the concrete cases. Further, this abstraction hierarchy is pruned based on a cost model of the expected problem solving time in order to optimze the retrieval structure. Several experiments conducted in the domain of manufacturing planning shows clearly the advantage of the presented retrieval approach.
Plan Abstraction with Change of Representation Language

Abstraction is one of the most promising approaches to improve the performance of problem solvers. Abstraction by dropping sentences of a domain description - as used in most hierarchical planners - is known to be very representation dependent. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a more general view of abstraction involving the change of representation language. We have developed a new abstraction methodology and a related sound and complete learning algorithm that allows the complete change of representation language of planning cases from concrete to abstract.
Effects of quercetin on cell differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Adipocytes undergo angiogenesis to receive nutrients and oxygen needed for adipocyte' growth and differentiation. No study relating quercetin with angiogenesis in adipocytes exists. Therefore, this study investigated the role of quercetin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, acting through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MATERIALS/METHODS After proliferating preadipocytes into adipocytes, various quercetin concentrations were added to adipocytes, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was investigated as an indicator of fat accumulation. The mRNA expressions of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)-γ, and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), were investigated. The mRNA expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, were investigated. Enzyme activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also measured. RESULTS Quercetin treatment suppressed fat accumulation and the expressions of adipocyte differentiation-related genes (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, PPAR-γ, and aP2) in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. Quercetin treatments reduced the mRNA expressions of VEGF-α, VEGFR-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in 3T3-L1 cells. The activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also decreased significantly as the concentration of quercetin increased. CONCLUSIONS The results confirm that quercetin inhibits adipose tissue differentiation and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, which could occur through inhibition of the angiogenesis process related to MMPs.
Multiparametric MRI assessment of response to convection-enhanced intratumoral delivery of MDNA55, an interleukin-4 receptor targeted immunotherapy, for recurrent glioblastoma

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and carries a dismal prognosis. Attempts to develop biologically targeted therapies are challenging as the blood–brain barrier can limit drugs from reaching their target when administered through conventional (intravenous or oral) routes. Furthermore, systemic toxicity of drugs often limits their therapeutic potential. To circumvent these problems, convection-enhanced delivery (CED) provides direct, targeted, intralesional therapy with a secondary objective to alter the tumor microenvironment from an immunologically “cold” (nonresponsive) to an “inflamed” (immunoresponsive) tumor. Case Description: We report a patient with right occipital recurrent GBM harboring poor prognostic genotypes who was treated with MRI-guided CED of a fusion protein MDNA55 (a targeted toxin directed toward the interleukin-4 receptor). The patient underwent serial anatomical, diffusion, and perfusion MRI scans before initiation of targeted therapy and at 1, 3-month posttherapy. Increased mean diffusivity along with decreased fractional anisotropy and maximum relative cerebral blood volume was noted at follow-up periods relative to baseline. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that diffusion and perfusion MRI techniques may be useful in evaluating early response to CED of MDNA55 in recurrent GBM patients.
Coaches’ attitudes to injury and injury prevention: a qualitative study of Irish field hockey coaches

Translating injury prevention research into practice has been challenging, which may be due to a poor understanding of the contextual factors influencing the occurrence of injury. Coaches are key figure in sporting environments and hold pivotal roles in preventing injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of field hockey coaches to injury and injury prevention. Thirteen field hockey coaches from the amateur Irish Hockey League were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis led to three general dimensions comprised five higher-order themes, categorised from 16 lower-order themes. Coaches had positive beliefs regarding the benefits of injury prevention over injury management. However, they lacked the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully implement injury prevention strategies with players. Coaches recognised the importance of empowering players to self-manage training loads to promote injury prevention but acknowledged the need to protect younger players from increased loads. Many barriers to injury prevention were not controllable by coaches including fixture congestion and poor structuring of the sport’s domestic calendar. While coaches can play a key role in the implementation of injury prevention strategies, there is also a requirement to examine how system level barriers to injury prevention can be reduced.
Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Mortality of Cardiac Arrest Survivors in Brazil: A Large Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. OBJECTIVES: Data on cardiac arrest survivors from developing countries are scarce. This study investigated clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality in resuscitated patients following cardiac arrest in Brazil. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Ninety-two general ICUs from 55 hospitals in Brazil between 2014 and 2015. PATIENTS: Adult patients with cardiac arrest admitted to the ICU. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We analyzed 2,296 patients (53% men; median 67 yr (interquartile range, 54–79 yr]). Eight-hundred patients (35%) had a primary admission diagnosis of cardiac arrest suggesting an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; the remainder occurred after admission, comprising an in-hospital cardiac arrest cohort. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 83%, with only 6% undergoing withholding/withdrawal-of-life support. Random-effects multivariable Cox regression was used to assess associations with survival. After adjusting for age, sex, and severity scores, mortality was associated with shock (adjusted odds ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.11–1.39]; p < 0.001), temperature dysregulation (adjusted odds ratio for normothermia, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76–0.95]; p = 0.007), increased lactate levels above 4 mmol/L (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.1–1.6; p = 0.009), and surgical or cardiac cases (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.6–0.86]; p = 0.002). In addition, survival was better in patients with probable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, unless ICU admission was delayed (adjusted odds ratio for interaction, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.21–2.21]; p = 004). CONCLUSIONS: In a large multicenter cardiac arrest cohort from Brazil, we found a high mortality rate and infrequent withholding/withdrawal of life support. We also identified patient profiles associated with worse survival, such as those with shock/hypoperfusion and arrest secondary to nonsurgical admission diagnoses. Our findings unveil opportunities to improve postarrest care in developing countries, such as prompt ICU admission, expansion of the use of targeted temperature management, and implementation of shock reversal strategies (i.e., early coronary angiography), according to modern guidelines recommendations.
Dietary modulation of gut microbiota for the relief of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a frequently diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in the stool form or frequency without any structural changes and overt inflammation. It is not a life-threatening condition but causes a considerable level of discomfort and distress. Among the many pathophysiologic factors, such as altered GI motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and low-grade mucosal inflammation, as well as other immunologic, psychologic, and genetic factors, gut microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis), which is frequently found in IBS, has been highlighted as an etiology of IBS. Dysbiosis may affect gut mucosal homeostasis, immune function, metabolic regulation, and even visceral motor function. As diet is shown to play a fundamental role in the gut microbiota profile, this review discusses the influence of diet on IBS occurring through the modulation of gut microbiota. Based on previous studies, it appears that dietary modulation of the gut microbiota may be effective for the alleviation of IBS symptoms and, also an effective IBS management strategy based on the underlying mechanism; especially because, IBS currently has no specific treatment owing to its uncertain etiology.