nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
NUClear: A Loosely Coupled Software Architecture for Humanoid Robot Systems
Venue: Front. Robot. AI

This paper discusses the design and interface of NUClear, a new hybrid message passing architecture for embodied humanoid robotics. NUClear is modular, low latency and promotes functional and expandable software design. It greatly reduces the latency for messages passed between modules as the messages routes are established at compile time. It also reduces the number of functions that must be written using a system called co messages which aids in dealing with multiple simultaneous data. NUClear has primarily been evaluated on a humanoid robotic soccer platform and on a robotic boat platform, with evaluations showing that NUClear requires fewer callbacks and cache variables over existing message passing architectures. NUClear does have limitations when applying these techniques on multi processed systems. It performs best in lower power systems where computational resources are limited. Future work will focus on applying the architecture to new platforms, including a larger form humanoid platform and a virtual reality platform and further evaluating the impact of the novel techniques introduced.
A nuclear replicating viroid antagonizes infectivity and accumulation of a geminivirus by upregulating methylation related genes and inducing hypermethylation of viral DNA
Venue: Scientific reports

DNA methylation and post transcriptional gene silencing play critical roles in controlling infection of single stranded (ss) DNA geminiviruses and ssRNA viroids, respectively, but both pathogens can counteract these host defense mechanisms and promote their infectivity. Moreover, a specific role of DNA methylation in viroid host interactions is not yet confirmed. Here, using an experimental system where two nuclear replicating agents, the geminivirus tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) and potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) co infect their common host tomato, we observed that PSTVd severely interferes with TYLCSV infectivity and accumulation, most likely as a consequence of strong activation of host DNA methylation pathways. In fact, PSTVd alone or in co infection with TYLCSV significantly upregulates the expression of key genes governing DNA methylation in plants. Using methylation sensitive restriction and bisulfite conversion assays, we further showed that PSTVd infection promotes a strong hypermethylation of TYLCSV DNA, thus supporting a mechanistic link with the antagonism of the viroid on the virus in co infected tomato plants. These results describe the interaction between two nuclear replicating pathogens and show that they differentially interfere with DNA methylation pathways.
70/41 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction

Preamble The State Parties to this Convention, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction, Desiring to contribute to the realization of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly condemned all actions contrary to the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17June 1925 (the Geneva Protocol of 1925) Recognizing that this Convention reaffirms principles and objectives of and obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction signed at London, Moscow and Washington, on 10 April 1972, Bearing in mind the objective contained in Article IX of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, Determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, through the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, thereby complementing the obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925, Recognizing the prohibition, embodied in the pertinent agreements and relevant principles of international law, of the use of herbicides as a method of warfare, Considering that achievements in the field of chemistry should be used exclusively for the benefit of mankind, Desiring to promote free trade in chemicals as well as international cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention in order to enhance the economic and technological development of all States Parties, Convinced that the complete and effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer and use of chemical weapons, and their destruction, represent a necessary step towards the achievement of these common objectives, Have agreed as follows:
Pressure pain thresholds in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Venue: Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation

The lumbar back and hip muscles are important for a normal functioning of the human spine and they are considered to be of etiological significance in chronic nonspecific low back pain (nCLBP) Inactivity and a lower level of physical activity in patients with nCLBP may change muscle characteristics and may be associated with pain and disability. Pressure algometry has been found to be non invasive, efficient and reliable in the exploration of physio pathological mechanisms involved in muscle pain syndromes. The subjective characteristic of the pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) cannot be avoided once it is the very objective of the measurement, i.e. the minimum pain perceptible by the person, is a subjective factor. Most studies have revealed gender differences between PPTs, with females showing lower thresholds. OBJECTIVE to determine whether demographic variables and PPTs, are related pain intensity and a disability in patients with nCLBP.  One hundred and twenty four patients with nCLBP were included in the study. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Roland Morris Questionnaire for Low Back Pain (RM) were used to evaluate the intensity of pain and degree of disability. The PPT was performed from L1 up to S2 dermatomes, at the muscles over the Gluteus medius, minimus and maximus, including a point located at the level of the piriformis, at the Quadratus lumborum, at the Iliopsoas and points of reference located at the level of the L1 up to L5 ligaments. The pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the lumbar function by Roland Morris questionnaire (RM) Multiple linear regression models were used for both the VAS and the RM.  No significant differences were found between the PPTs measured at either left or right limb. The mean VAS value was 7.3 1.5) and the RM score was 14.2 5.3) The PPT values showed significant negative correlations to the VAS and the RM. The highest correlation between the mean VAS and PPT values were found at the level of the Gluteus medius (r= 0.34, p< 0.001) which was the only measurement correlated to the intensity of pain (r2 0.11, p< 0.001) The RM was correlated to the BMI, the level of education and the PPT values at the level of the Iliopsoas muscle and the L4 L5 supraspinous ligament.  This study showed that most PPT values are correlated to the VAS and the RM. Nevertheless, the variability explained by PPT values and demographic characteristics was low for pain intensity and function.
Recommendations From Parents to Improve Health Services for Managing Pediatric Obesity in Canada.
Venue: Academic pediatrics

Although parents are uniquely positioned to offer first hand insights that can be used to improve health services for managing pediatric obesity, their perspective is underexplored. Our objective was to characterize parents' recommendations for enhancing tertiary level health services for managing pediatric obesity in Canada.  Semistructured, one on one interviews were conducted with parents of children who initiated treatment at 1 of 4 Canadian tertiary level, multidisciplinary weight management clinics. Parent perspectives were elicited regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the health services they received as well as areas for potential improvement. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used qualitative description as the methodological framework and manifest content analysis as the analytical strategy.  Parents (n 65; 88% female; 72% Caucasian; 74% with at least some postsecondary education; 52% $50,000 CDN household income) provided a range of recommendations that were organized according to health care: 1) accessibility, 2) content, and 3) delivery. The most common recommendations included increasing scheduling options (44% n 29) tailoring services to families' needs and circumstances (29% n 19) placing greater emphasis on physical activity (29% n 19) altering program duration (29% n 19) incorporating interactive elements (25% n 16) information provision (25% n 16) and providing services at sites closer to participants' homes (24% n 15) CONCLUSIONS Parents' recommendations to enhance health services for managing pediatric obesity concerned modifiable factors related to accessibility, content, and delivery of care. Further research is needed to evaluate whether implementing suggested recommendations improves clinically relevant outcomes including attrition, quality of care, and success in weight management.
Building Financial Knowledge Is Not Enough: Financial Self Efficacy as a Mediator in the Financial Capability of Low Income Families

Policymakers in many countries have taken an interest in population level financial capability. Limited empirical work has examined how constructs that makeup financial capability relate and how they function for individuals with low incomes. Using a national sample of low income Canadians, we investigate relationships between financial knowledge, financial self efficacy, and savings outcomes. Overall, we find that financial self efficacy fully mediated the relationship between objective financial knowledge and postsecondary education saving. The association between objective financial knowledge and retirement saving and emergency saving passed through financial self efficacy. Efforts to promote financial capability need to focus on more than objective financial knowledge.
"Everything Is Different the Second Time Around"

Orange Is the New Black (OITNB) offers Netflix viewers the chance to go behind bars and see the Prison Industrial Complex from the inside. Described by creator Jenji Kohan as "my activism," OITNB showcases the reprehensible treatment of elderly female prisoners, while simultaneously adhering to age old tropes of femininity as manipulative. Using Goffman's work on stigma as a framework, we examine representations of elderly women on OITNB, while also considering "binge watching" (the process of consuming mass amounts of television) as a method of analysis. Binge watching, or "marathon viewing," a temporal phenomenon laden with feelings of guilt and shame, works to highlight the stigma of temporality aging women on OITNB face. Thus, we offer "marathon viewing" as an alternative, stigma free method of critical feminist media analysis. This article suggests marathon viewing is a product of media convergence, reliant on today's streaming services and a highly productive method of media critique.
Visual Access in Interpreter Mediated Learning Situations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing High School Students Where an Artifact Is in Use.
Venue: Journal of deaf studies and deaf education

This article highlights interpreter mediated learning situations for deaf high school students where such mediated artifacts as technical machines, models, and computer graphics are used by the teacher to illustrate his or her teaching. In these situations, the teacher's situated gestures and utterances, and the artifacts will contribute independent pieces of information. However, the deaf student can only have his or her visual attention focused on one source at a time. The problem to be addressed is how the interpreter coordinates the mediation when it comes to deaf students' visual orientation. The presented discourse analysis is based on authentic video recordings from inclusive learning situations in Norway. The theoretical framework consists of concepts of role, footing, and face work (Goffman, E. (1959) The presentation of self in everyday life. London, UK: Penguin Books) The findings point out dialogical impediments to visual access in interpreter mediated learning situations, and the article discusses the roles and responsibilities of teachers and educational interpreters.
Accelerometer based online reconstruction of fast telescope vibrations from delayed measurements
Venue: Astronomical Telescopes Instrumentation

A feedforward vibration cancellation system can be used to compensate for fast wind induced telescope vibrations. Crucial is the position reconstructors ability to provide the compensation mirror with an accurate online estimate of the vibrational displacement. The authors have developed and presented a position reconstructor based on adaptive resonators. However, network data transmission of the acceleration signals introduces a time delay into the measurement chain. Any feedforward compensation setup can only function well if a delay free estimate of the disturbance signal is provided. Three delay compensating extensions of the developed position reconstructor are presented and analyzed.
Temporal binding within and across events
Venue: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Remembering the order in which events occur is a fundamental component of episodic memory. However, the neural mechanisms supporting serial recall remain unclear. Behaviorally, serial recall is greater for information encountered within the same event compared to across event boundaries, raising the possibility that contextual stability may modulate the cognitive and neural processes supporting serial encoding. In the present study, we used fMRI during the encoding of consecutive face and object stimuli to elucidate the neural encoding signatures supporting subsequent serial recall behavior both within and across events. We found that univariate BOLD activation in both the middle hippocampus and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) was associated with subsequent serial recall of items that occur across event boundaries. By contrast, successful serial encoding within events was associated with increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and ventromedial PFC, but not with univariate activation in these or other regions. These findings build on evidence implicating hippocampal and PFC processes in encoding temporal aspects of memory. They further suggest that these encoding processes are influenced by whether binding occurs within a stable context or bridges two adjacent but distinct events.
THE RENIN ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM AND THE BIOLOGY OF SKELETAL MUSCLE: MECHANISMS OF MUSCLE WASTING IN CHRONIC DISEASE STATES.
Venue: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association

Sarcopenia and cachexia are muscle wasting syndromes associated with aging and with many chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and renal failure. While mechanisms are complex, these conditions are often accompanied by elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) We found that Ang II infusion in rodents leads to skeletal muscle wasting via alterations in insulin like growth factor 1 signaling, increased apoptosis, enhanced muscle protein breakdown via the ubiquitin proteasome system, and decreased appetite resulting from downregulation of hypothalamic orexigenic neuropeptides orexin and neuropeptide Y. Furthermore, Ang II inhibits skeletal muscle stem cell proliferation, leading to lowered muscle regenerative capacity. Distinct stem cell Ang II receptor subtypes are critical for regulation of muscle regeneration. In ischemic mouse congestive heart failure model skeletal muscle wasting and attenuated muscle regeneration are Ang II dependent. These data suggest that the renin angiotensin system plays a critical role in mechanisms underlying cachexia in chronic disease states.
A new classification approach based on source separation and feature extraction
Venue: 2016 International Symposium on Signal, Image, Video and Communications (ISIVC)

Pattern recognition for multispectral data aims to identify land cover thematics for environmental monitoring and disaster risk reduction. Multispectral images contain data acquired from different channels within the frequency spectrum. They represent a mixture of latent signals. This paper represents a pattern recognition contribution for remote sensing. We propose a new classification framework based on nonlinear source separation and linear feature fusion. The first stage performs a nonlinear separation model based on multilayer neuron network. The underlying sources are Gaussians and a misfit function between the approximated source distributions and their prior's will be minimized iteratively. The second stage performs feature extraction and fusion. The linear feature model considers that feature descriptors allow cooperative description for land pattern recognition. Classification tasks are performed by Support Vector Machine. Experimentation results demonstrate that the proposed classification method enhances the recognition accuracy and provides a powerful tool for land identification.
The effects of perceived enjoyment and perceived risks on trust formation and intentions to use online payment systems: New perspectives from an Arab country
Venue: Electron. Commer. Res. Appl.

Electronic payments systems (EPS) still have a low adoption rate in Arabic countries.We study EPS in Kuwait using a trust based model.We find customer trust and enjoyment influence Kuwait EPS adoption.We find risk has no influence on EPS adoption.Enjoyment, third party seals, familiarity, trust propensity, and personal innovativeness positively influence trust. Although there is a large body of research on trust in e commerce, a crucial gap is that extant studies have not examined the role of perceived enjoyment on trust in the presence of risk perception in Arab countries. In this paper, an online trust model is presented that exhibits the impact of four external factors (personal innovativeness, propensity to trust, familiarity, and presence of third party seals) on the intention to use an online payment via the mediation of three endogenous variables (enjoyment, risk, and customer trust) The data was collected from Kuwait, an Arab country, with a mixed of data collection survey methods of 150 online questionnaires and 200 paper based questionnaires. The data was then analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) regression. The findings revealed that customer trust and enjoyment are two important drivers of the online payment adoption, which neutralized risk perceptions. This study discusses these results as well as research and a managerial perspectives that could assist in enhancing online payment acceptance in Kuwait.
R Susceptibility: An IR Centric Approach to Assessing Privacy Risks for Users in Online Communities
Venue: SIGIR

Privacy of Internet users is at stake because they expose personal information in posts created in online communities, in search queries, and other activities. An adversary that monitors a community may identify the users with the most sensitive properties and utilize this knowledge against them (e.g. by adjusting the pricing of goods or targeting ads of sensitive nature) Existing privacy models for structured data are inadequate to capture privacy risks from user posts. This paper presents a ranking based approach to the assessment of privacy risks emerging from textual contents in online communities, focusing on sensitive topics, such as being depressed. We propose ranking as a means of modeling a rational adversary who targets the most afflicted users. To capture the adversary's background knowledge regarding vocabulary and correlations, we use latent topic models. We cast these considerations into the new model of R Susceptibility, which can inform and alert users about their potential for being targeted, and devise measures for quantitative risk assessment. Experiments with real world data show the feasibility of our approach.
How do university teachers combine different approaches to teaching in a specific course? A qualitative multi case study

Teaching approaches in higher education are at the general level well researched and have identified not only the two broad categories of content focused and learning focused approaches to teaching but also consonance and dissonance between the aspects of teaching. Consonance means that theoretically coherent teaching practices are employed, but dissonance occurs when two broad approaches are combined. Previous studies researched teaching approaches at the general level, whereas the present study, researched approaches to teaching at the course level. Three university teachers were interviewed in depth about their teaching approach to one particular course. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. While previous studies have found that dissonance occurs between different aspects of teaching, this multi case study revealed that dissonance can also be found within a single aspect. The present study suggests that neither content nor learning focused approaches to teaching are mutually exclusive and therefore may co exist in individual teachers' practices.
Development of a framework for a circulation control based unmanned aerial vehicle
Venue: 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference

The focus of this paper is on the design, development and evaluation of a framework for a fixed wing UAV to achieve efficient Circulation Control based (CC) flights. The research presented in this paper is the natural outgrowth of results reported in  related to the design and development of an Air Supply Unit (ASU) and plenum design for CC based Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) The framework consists of a light weight Air Supply Unit (ASU) and an Air Delivery System (ADS) integrated with a plenum capable of distributing air uniformly across the wingspan. The ASU, which is a centrifugal compressor, is experimentally tested and the results are validated using CFD. The ASU is capable of providing the ADS with the required mass flow (0.03 kg/s) at the maximum tested RPM. Airflow is delivered with low losses. The use of a vaned straight walled wide angle diffuser (plenum) results in uniform spanwise flow.
Wireless communications with unmanned aerial vehicles: opportunities and challenges
Venue: IEEE Communications Magazine

Wireless communication systems that include unmanned aerial vehicles promise to provide cost effective wireless connectivity for devices without infrastructure coverage. Compared to terrestrial communications or those based on high altitude platforms, on demand wireless systems with low altitude UAVs are in general faster to deploy, more flexibly reconfigured, and likely to have better communication channels due to the presence of short range line of sight links. However, the utilization of highly mobile and energy constrained UAVs for wireless communications also introduces many new challenges. In this article, we provide an overview of UAV aided wireless communications, by introducing the basic networking architecture and main channel characteristics, highlighting the key design considerations as well as the new opportunities to be exploited.