Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ghost on the Shell: An Expressive Representation of General 3D Shapes

The creation of photorealistic virtual worlds requires the accurate modeling of 3D surface geometry for a wide range of objects. For this, meshes are appealing since they 1) enable fast physics-based rendering with realistic material and lighting, 2) support physical simulation, and 3) are memory-efficient for modern graphics pipelines. Recent work on reconstructing and statistically modeling 3D shape, however, has critiqued meshes as being topologically inflexible. To capture a wide range of object shapes, any 3D representation must be able to model solid, watertight, shapes as well as thin, open, surfaces. Recent work has focused on the former, and methods for reconstructing open surfaces do not support fast reconstruction with material and lighting or unconditional generative modelling. Inspired by the observation that open surfaces can be seen as islands floating on watertight surfaces, we parameterize open surfaces by defining a manifold signed distance field on watertight templates. With this parameterization, we further develop a grid-based and differentiable representation that parameterizes both watertight and non-watertight meshes of arbitrary topology. Our new representation, called Ghost-on-the-Shell (G-Shell), enables two important applications: differentiable rasterization-based reconstruction from multiview images and generative modelling of non-watertight meshes. We empirically demonstrate that G-Shell achieves state-of-the-art performance on non-watertight mesh reconstruction and generation tasks, while also performing effectively for watertight meshes.
3M-TRANSFORMER: A Multi-Stage Multi-Stream Multimodal Transformer for Embodied Turn-Taking Prediction

Predicting turn-taking in multiparty conversations has many practical applications in human-computer/robot interaction. However, the complexity of human communication makes it a challenging task. Recent advances have shown that synchronous multi-perspective egocentric data can significantly improve turn-taking prediction compared to asynchronous, single-perspective transcriptions. Building on this research, we propose a new multimodal transformer-based architecture for predicting turn-taking in embodied, synchronized multi-perspective data. Our experimental results on the recently introduced EgoCom dataset show a substantial performance improvement of up to 14.01% on average compared to existing baselines and alternative transformer-based approaches. The source code, and the pre-trained models of our 3M-Transformer will be available upon acceptance.
Towards LLM-driven Dialogue State Tracking

Dialogue State Tracking (DST) is of paramount importance in ensuring accurate tracking of user goals and system actions within task-oriented dialogue systems. The emergence of large language models (LLMs) such as GPT3 and ChatGPT has sparked considerable interest in assessing their efficacy across diverse applications. In this study, we conduct an initial examination of ChatGPT's capabilities in DST. Our evaluation uncovers the exceptional performance of ChatGPT in this task, offering valuable insights to researchers regarding its capabilities and providing useful directions for designing and enhancing dialogue systems. Despite its impressive performance, ChatGPT has significant limitations including its closed-source nature, request restrictions, raising data privacy concerns, and lacking local deployment capabilities. To address these concerns, we present LDST, an LLM-driven DST framework based on smaller, open-source foundation models. By utilizing a novel domain-slot instruction tuning method, LDST achieves performance on par with ChatGPT. Comprehensive evaluations across three distinct experimental settings, we find that LDST exhibits remarkable performance improvements in both zero-shot and few-shot setting compared to previous SOTA methods. The source code is provided for reproducibility.
Fresh water fish intake and dishes preferences among local community: a preliminary study of tourists attraction in traditional dishes for Homestay Kampung Batu Ring, Beng, Lenggong, Perak.

Local foods is a vital element that helping and creating a sense of ‘place’ and heighten destination appeal. Local foods produce adds authenticity to the tourists for sharing experience and attract them to come to those place. Traditional food or local food is a parts of variety culture in Malaysia. It shows that the local community has its own uniqueness. Therefore it should be opened and sharing together either between the local community from other states or from the tourist views for attractions the places. An objective of the study were ; (1) To identify the type of freshwater fish intake, (2) To determine dishes preference using freshwater fish among villagers at Homestayed Kampung Batu Ring, Beng, Lenggong. The study was conducted through questionnaires to 25 respondents in the village. The result showed that common freshwater fish consumed are Tengalan (Puntius wool), Loma (Thynnichthys thynnoides), Terbol (Osteochilus hasselti) and others fish such as Catfish, Tilapia, Kaloi, Baung and Patin. The most popular fresh water fish is responds for Tengalan fish. This fish when cooked with coconut gravy (masak lemak) is the most preference dishes indicated by respondents. Therefore, fresh water fish and traditional dishes that already exist there and has been a natural culture among villagers shall point out for promoting Lenggong city for tourism such as homestay program. These finding is important in branding Lenggong as a World Heritage Site.
European Capitals of Culture: Success Strategies and Long Term Effects

The European City/Capital of Culture Programme was launched in 1985 and the ECoC title has been awarded to nearly 60 cities in 30 countries. The Programme has become a key platform for city positioning and a catalyst for economic and cultural regeneration. Immediate cultural, social and economic impacts are common and the capacity to secure long-term effects, though harder to evidence, has grown in key areas such as urban image change and tourism development. The latter is evidence of the stronger commitment towards sustainable legacy planning and ever more defined and locally sensitive vision statements. This report documents common approaches and success strategies, highlights the strongest claims of long-term effect and analyses recurrent challenges that limit the Programme’s ability to reach its full potential. Key recommendations are the establishment of a standardised evaluation framework, greater emphasis on comparative research and the creation of a formal knowledge transfer programme so that future hosts can better benefit from the wealth of experience developed in the last three decades.
ALGD-ORB: An improved image feature extraction algorithm with adaptive threshold and local gray difference

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology is crucial for achieving spatial localization and autonomous navigation. Finding image features that are representative presents a key challenge in visual SLAM systems. The widely used ORB (Oriented FAST and Rotating BRIEF) algorithm achieves rapid image feature extraction. However, traditional ORB algorithms face issues such as dense, overlapping feature points, and imbalanced distribution, resulting in mismatches and redundancies. This paper introduces an image feature extraction algorithm called Adaptive Threshold and Local Gray Difference-ORB(ALGD-ORB) to address these limitations. Specifically, an adaptive threshold is employed to enhance feature point detection, and an improved quadtree method is used to homogenize feature point distribution. This method combines feature descriptors generated from both gray size and gray difference to enhance feature descriptor distinctiveness. By fusing these descriptors, their effectiveness is improved. Experimental results demonstrate that the ALGD-ORB algorithm significantly enhances the uniformity of feature point distribution compared to other algorithms, while maintaining accuracy and real-time performance.
Transboundary transport and deposition of Hg emission from springtime biomass burning in the Indo‐China Peninsula

Biomass burning from the Indo‐China Peninsula region is an important source of atmospheric mercury (Hg). We isolated 18 unique transport events over 2 years using observations of Hg and CO at a high‐altitude background site in southwestern China (Mount Ailao Observatory Station) to assess the transport and impact of Hg emissions from biomass burning. The quantity of Hg emission and the source regions were determined using ΔTGM/ΔCO slopes coupled with backward trajectory analysis and CO emission inventories. The slopes of ΔTGM/ΔCO appeared to be a useful chemical indicator for source identification. Industrial emission sources exhibited slopes in the range of 5.1–61.0 × 10−7 (parts per trillion by volume, pptv/pptv), in contrast to a slope of 2.0–6.0 × 10−7 for typical biomass burning. Transboundary transport of Hg from biomass burning led to episodically elevated atmospheric Hg concentrations during springtime. Hg emissions from biomass burning in the Indo‐China Peninsula region from 2001 to 2008 were estimated to be 11.4 ± 2.1 Mg yr−1, equivalent to 40% of annual anthropogenic emissions in the region. In addition, Hg emissions from biomass burning contained a substantial fraction of particulate bound Hg (PBM). Assuming that PBM readily deposits locally (within 50 km), the local Hg deposition caused by the PBM was estimated to be 2.2 ± 0.4 Mg yr−1, up to 1 order of magnitude higher than the PBM deposition caused by anthropogenic emissions during springtime in the region. The strong springtime emissions potentially pose a threat to the ecosystems of the Indo‐China Peninsula and southwest China.
Mechanism of the 1992 Nicaragua Tsunami Earthquake

The 1992 Nicaragua earthquake generated larger tsunamis than expected from its surface wave magnitude (Ms 7.2) and is known as a ‘tsunami earthquake’. Seismological studies showed that the duration was very long for its size, about 100 s. Other studies have shown that the seismic moment estimated from tsunamis is an order of magnitude larger than that from seismic waves, even after the long duration is accounted for. Numerical computations of tsunamis from various fault models are made to reconcile this discrepancy. Comparison of calculated waveforms with tide gauge records shows that the fault width is 40 km, much narrower than the aftershock area, and extends only into the upper 10 km of the ocean bottom. Slip amount on the fault is estimated to be 3 m from amplitude comparisons. The fault length is estimated to be 250 km, slightly longer than the aftershock area, from comparison of the tsunami height distribution. The rigidity around the shallow fault may be smaller than that of a standard underthrust fault, and the seismic moment is estimated as 3×1020 Nm, consistent with the seismic observations. A slow rupture on the shallow fault, presumably in the subducted sediments, is responsible to the unusually large tsunami excitation.
Adipocyte retinoic acid receptor α prevents obesity and steatohepatitis by regulating energy expenditure and lipogenesis

The adipose tissue–liver axis is a major regulator of the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Retinoic acid signaling plays an important role in development and metabolism. However, little is known about the role of adipose retinoic acid signaling in the development of obesity‐associated NAFLD. In this work, the aim was to investigate whether and how retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) regulated the development of obesity and NAFLD.
Visual search strategies of performance monitoring used in action anticipation of basketball players

Numerous studies have found that expert players anticipate better than novices. If more accurate prediction represents performance monitoring of experts, what are the advantages of elite basketball players in identifying and processing available cues? There is still a lack of sufficient evidence. This study examined the visual search in basketball players and explored the performance monitoring of action anticipation, adopting an expert–novice paradigm and eye‐movement technology.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods among children aged 6 to 23 months as per the Second National Survey on Nutrition and Health of Argentina.

Introduction. The availability of data on the consumption of ultra-processed foods among children is important for planning public policies. Objectives. To describe the prevalence of consumption of ultra-processed foods in children under 2 years of age and identify associated factors. To describe the proportion that ultra-processed foods represent out of the total number of foods consumed in a day. Methods. Secondary analysis of data from children aged 6-23 months with at least a 24-hour recall of food consumption based on the Second National Survey on Nutrition and Health of Argentina (2018). The following primary variables were studied: "consumption of ultra-processed foods" (according to the NOVA system) categorized into yes/no and "proportion of ultra-processed out of total foods consumed. " The following associated factors were studied: breastfeeding, sex, age, and number of non-ultra-processed foods consumed. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed and an expansion factor was applied to weight the data. Results. A total of 4224 children were included (weighed: 908 104). The prevalence of ultra-processed food consumption was 90.8% (95% CI: 89.5-92) and was associated with an older age (OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 2.28-4.52) and the number of non-ultra-processed foods consumed (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.13-1.23). Ultra-processed foods accounted for a median 20% (IQR: 12.5-28.6%) of all foods consumed in a day. Conclusions. This study highlights the high penetration of ultra-processed foods in complementary feeding.
Climate records from corals

Understanding the nature and causes of climate variability and change in the tropical oceans—the heat engine of the global climate system—is limited by the relatively short length of instrumental records. Certain massive reef‐building corals contain a wealth of historical proxy climate and environmental information locked in their calcium carbonate skeletons. This information is available from living corals that can be up to several hundred years old and from fossil corals, often well preserved after death, for well‐dated windows of the more distant past. Continuous, high‐resolution (annual to seasonal) information from such corals is provided by a range of measures that include growth characteristics which can document coral responses to unusual environmental conditions and various geochemical tracers whose incorporation into the skeleton is mediated by ambient seawater characteristics. The stable oxygen isotope ratio, δ18O, has been the most commonly measured coral environmental tracer and, although reflecting both sea surface temperature and seawater salinity, long records of this variable are providing new insights into interannual (e.g., El Niño‐Southern Oscillation), decadal, and longer time‐scale variability in the tropical oceans—information not accessible from the instrumental records—which complements other sources of high‐resolution proxy climate information (e.g., tree rings, ice cores, documentary records). The contribution of proxy climate records in corals to the global picture of past climates is being enhanced through efforts to reduce the various sources of uncertainty that can confound the interpretation of any source of proxy climate information. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depositional Topography and Cyclic Deposition in West-Central Texas

The terminology introduced by Rich (1951) can be applied to the subsurface, post-Canyon rocks of west-central Texas. Rich's term "unda" denotes an environment within the zone of wave action; "clino" denotes a slope environment, and "fondo" denotes an environment in the deepest part of a sea. West-east cross sections in the subject area show a cyclic development of the unda, clino, and fondo environments advancing generally westward as the Midland basin was filled. The filling of the Midland basin was accomplished by repeated, alternating phases of deposition; a clastic or sand-shale phase and a carbonate-black shale phase. The term "cyclo-phase" is used to describe such deposition and includes rocks formed in all three environments: unda, clino, and fondo. Each phase of d position was probably related to sea-level. Turbidity currents were possibly responsible for transporting material that was formerly of unda origin to a topographically lower environment. Several oil fields of west-central Texas produce from cyclo-phase sandstones. These sandstones are locally called "Canyon sands" but it can be shown that they are actually Cisco or younger in age. Stratigraphic, structural, and depositional conditions are variously responsible for hydrocarbon accumulation in certain cyclo-phase fields of west-central Texas. Anticlinal conditions are responsible for trapping in the undaform sandstone of the Group 4,000^prime pool. An updip extension of the sand body is responsible for accumulation in the clino-fondoform sandstones of the Lake Trammel and Sweetwater "Canyon Sand" fields. The configuration of the undaform edge encouraged migration of oil into the clinofondoform sandstone of the Flowers field. Local thickening of an undaform sandstone forms a trap in the North Hamlin field. Because of the cyclic nature of the upper Pennsylvanian-lower Permian deposition, many more fields of the types discussed may be anticipated in the cyclo-phase sandstones of west and west-central Texas.
Attention-deficit/hyperactive-impulsive disorder symptoms among grade 1 students with reading disorder in Thailand

Background Reading disorder is the most common comorbid condition with attention-deficit/hyperactive-impulsive disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children. Purpose This study compared symptoms of ADHD among children in grade 1 at risk of reading disorder with children not at risk. Methods This cross-sectional study included 703 students in grade 1 aged 6–8 years from 8 schools in Pathumthani Province, Thailand, in 2019. Reading disorder was assessed using tools developed by Vibulpatanavong and Evans for Thai teachers, whereas the Thai parent and teacher versions of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV Rating Scale (SNAP-IV) was used to evaluate ADHD symptoms. Demographic data were collected from parents using a self-reported questionnaire. Results Among the 703 students with almost equal number of male (n=350) and female (n=353), and the average age of 6.56±0.57 years, 95 (13.51%) were classified (significantly male) at risk of reading disorder. The mean SNAP-IV scores of children with reading disorder reported by parents and teachers (20.23±10.95 and 20.75±15.08, respectively) were significantly higher than those of neurotypical children (16.04 ±8.59 and 9.00±10.14, respectively, P<0.05). Of the 95 students with reading disorder reported by parents and teachers, 29 (30.53%) and 20 (21.05%) respectively, were defined as having ADHD according to the standard cutoff SNAP-IV scores, which were significantly higher than 608 neurotypical students at 108 (17.76%) and 20 (5.59%) (P<0.05). The odds ratios of children with reading disorder having ADHD symptoms according to teacher reports were 3.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–9.67; P<0.05), 3.75 (95% CI, 1.60–8.79; P<0.05), and 4.41 (95% CI, 1.20–16.15; P<0.05) for inattentive, hyperactive, and combined presentations, respectively. Conclusion Grade 1 students with reading disorder had a significantly higher prevalence of ADHD symptoms than neurotypical students. Therefore, children with reading disorders should undergo ADHD assessments and receive proactive intervention.
Paraquat and glyphosate resistance in Conyza bonariensis in the Western Cape in the Republic of South Africa

Conyza bonariensis (flaxleaf fleabane) was reported for the first time, as a weed in California in 1893-1896. The first report of the occurrence of this weed in South Africa was made in May 1895 in Franschoek, South Africa. Paraquat resistance in C. bonariensis was first reported in the 1970s and early 1980s when resistance was observed from vineyards and citrus plantations in Egypt. More recently a report of herbicide resistance in South Africa was made in January 2003 when resistance occurred in C. bonariensis in the Breede Valley, South Africa. The resistance was to glyphosate, but recently reports of resistance to glyphosate and paraquat were received. C. bonariensis seeds were found to be positively photoblastic and germinated only under unfiltered white light and red light whilst no germination occurred under far-red light and in the dark. The optimum temperature range for C. bonariensis seed was found to be between 15 and 30°C, with no germination occurring at 0-5°C and at 3540°C. Optimum germination occurred at the soil surface. No germination occurred at depths of 2 cm and deeper. Although the optimum temperature range was found to be the same for the different biotypes tested. However, germination was highest in the susceptible biotype. Since farmers first reported paraquat and glyphosate resistance in C. bonariensis in the Breede Valley, South Africa, reports of resistance increase every year. Seed collected from populations suspected of being resistant to paraquat and glyphosate were obtained from the Breede Valley and screened for resistance. To determine the easiest, quickest, and most effective method to screen for paraquat and glyphosate resistance, two tests were evaluated viz. the petri dish assay method and the whoIeplant dose-response method. Both screening methods identified paraquat and glyphosate resistant biotypes. The petri dish assay method was found to be a more rapid method of screening for resistance in C. bonariensis. During this study it was found that both paraquat and glyphosate resistance does occur in the Breede Valley. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Serum Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone and Incidence and Progression of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Results From the REDUCE Study

Purpose: Though the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia is unclear, it was previously believed that increasing androgen levels contributed, though not all data support this idea. We tested if elevated serum testosterone or dihydrotestosterone were risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms incidence in asymptomatic men and for lower urinary tract symptoms progression in symptomatic men. Materials and Methods: A post hoc analysis of REDUCE was performed in 3009 asymptomatic men and in 2145 symptomatic men. REDUCE was a randomized trial of dutasteride for prostate cancer prevention in men with an elevated prostate-specific antigen and negative prestudy biopsy. We estimated multivariable adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals using Cox models to test the association between quintiles of serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone at baseline and lower urinary tract symptoms incidence and progression and tested for interaction by treatment arm (dutasteride vs placebo). Results: In asymptomatic men, there was no evidence serum testosterone or dihydrotestosterone were related to lower urinary tract symptoms incidence (P = .9, P = .4). In symptomatic men, there was no evidence serum testosterone or dihydrotestosterone were related to lower urinary tract symptoms progression (P = .9, P = .7). Results were similar in both placebo and dutasteride arms (all P interaction ≥ .3). Conclusions: In REDUCE, higher serum testosterone and higher serum dihydrotestosterone were not associated with either lower urinary tract symptoms incidence in asymptomatic men or lower urinary tract symptoms progression in symptomatic men. These data do not support the hypothesis that serum androgens in middle-aged men are associated with lower urinary tract symptoms.