Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fault-Tolerant Learning for Term Extraction

This paper presents the Fault-Tolerant Learning approach for term extraction. The approach extract s terms using automatically generated seeds instead of prior domain knowledge or annotated corpora. Thus it is applicable to any domain specific corpus and it is especially useful for resource-limited domains. Two classifiers are separately trained for prediction and verification to ensure the performance of the proposed approach. Evaluations conducted on two different domains for Chinese term extraction show significant improvements over existing techniques and also verify the efficiency and relative domain independent nature of the approach.
Disruption of Murine mp29/Syf2/Ntc31 Gene Results in Embryonic Lethality with Aberrant Checkpoint Response

Human p29 is a putative component of spliceosomes, but its role in pre-mRNA is elusive. By siRNA knockdown and stable overexpression, we demonstrated that human p29 is involved in DNA damage response and Fanconi anemia pathway in cultured cells. In this study, we generated p29 knockout mice (mp29GT/GT) using the mp29 gene trap embryonic stem cells to study the role of mp29 in DNA damage response in vivo. Interruption of mp29 at both alleles resulted in embryonic lethality. Embryonic abnormality occurred as early as E6.5 in mp29GT/GT mice accompanied with decreased mRNA levels of α-tubulin and Chk1. The reduction of α-tubulin and Chk1 mRNAs is likely due to an impaired post-transcriptional event. An aberrant G2/M checkpoint was found in mp29 gene trap embryos when exposed to aphidicolin and UV light. This embryonic lethality was rescued by crossing with mp29 transgenic mice. Additionally, the knockdown of zfp29 in zebrafish resulted in embryonic death at 72 hours of development postfertilization (hpf). A lower level of acetylated α-tubulin was also observed in zfp29 morphants. Together, these results illustrate an indispensable role of mp29 in DNA checkpoint response during embryonic development.
Online Character Recognition System using Elastic Matching

In this work we are presenting a simple online character recognition system using elastic matching. In our system, we collected our test data from twenty different writes for uppercase, lowercase and digits. We used the nearest neighbor classifier with elastic matching as between patterns distance measure. We achieved very good recognition accuracy 95.99% for uppercase letters, 92.21% for lowercase letters and 99.11% for digits. We have also shown that putting a rejection threshold may improve the reliability of the recognition system
Integration of imaging and systems biology to study treatment of medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant childhood brain tumor and is often characterized by alterations in cell cycle regulatory pathways and genes. Using FDA-approved arsenic trioxide (ATO) treated ND2-SmoAl mouse model, we present an integrated imaging and systems biology approach to assess tumor responses to ATO and to uncover the complexity of therapeutic molecular biology. Kaplan-Meier survival and MRI tumor growth analyses established the effectiveness of ATO treatment. Differential analysis of protein data identified biologically plausible gene markers. Differential dependence network analyses further revealed novel rewiring “hubs” of biological networks triggered by ATO at systems level. Functional analyses on statistically significant networked molecular markers confirmed ATO's role as an effective anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic drug, in vivo.
Development of a MEMS microsystem to study the effect of mechanical tension on cerebral cortex neurogenesis

A clamp-and-ratchet microstructure based on poly crystalline silicon (polysilicon) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology has been designed to exert mechanical tension along radial glial processes between groups of neural stem cells to study the effect of tension on cerebral cortex neurogenesis. FEA analysis shows that the design should not fail under expected loading conditions. Preliminary studies show that embryonic brain tissue survives under tension for at least six days. Neurospheres have been successfully cultured on Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for eight days and exhibit radial extensions which appear to support neuronal migration. Stretching the PDMS using the clamp and ratchet will produce tension in these radial extensions which may modulate neuronal migration, a key process in cerebral cortex development.
Impact of Age and Gender on the Prevalence and Prognostic Importance of the Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Europeans. The MORGAM Prospective Cohort Project

Objective To investigate the influence of age and gender on the prevalence and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Europeans presenting with the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Methods Using 36 cohorts from the MORGAM-Project with baseline between 1982–1997, 69094 men and women aged 19–78 years, without known CVD, were included. During 12.2 years of follow-up, 3.7%/2.1% of men/women died due to CVD. The corresponding percentages for fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were 8.3/3.8 and 3.1/2.5. Results The prevalence of MetS, according to modified definitions of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII), increased across age groups for both genders (P<0.0001); with a 5-fold increase in women from ages 19–39 years to 60–78 years (7.4%/7.6% to 35.4%/37.6% for IDF/NCEP-ATPIII) and a 2-fold increase in men (5.3%/10.5% to 11.5%/21.8%). Using multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions, the associations between MetS and all three CVD events were significant (P<0.0001). For IDF/NCEP-ATPIII in men and women, hazard ratio (HR) for CHD was 1.60/1.62 and 1.93/2.03, for CVD mortality 1.73/1.65 and 1.77/2.06, and for stroke 1.51/1.53 and 1.58/1.77. Whereas in men the HRs for CVD events were independent of age (MetS*age, P>0.05), in women the HRs for CHD declined with age (HRs 3.23/3.98 to 1.55/1.56; MetS*age, P = 0.01/P = 0.001 for IDF/NCEP-ATPIII) while the HRs for stroke tended to increase (HRs 1.31/1.25 to 1.55/1.83; MetS*age, P>0.05). Conclusion In Europeans, both age and gender influenced the prevalence of MetS and its prognostic significance. The present results emphasise the importance of being critical of MetS in its current form as a marker of CVD especially in women, and advocate for a redefinition of MetS taking into account age especially in women.
Multimodal interaction in augmented reality

With the boost of computing power in mobile devices and availability of cloud APIs in recent years, mobile augmented reality (AR) applications have become increasingly embedded in people's everyday life. However, effective and intuitive interaction between virtual and real worlds in these AR applications is still an open question. In this paper, we make one step towards an answer by exploring the possibility of incorporating two input modalities, gesture and speech, for enhancing user experience in AR applications.
Optimal Fault Diagnosis in Comparison Models

In comparison models for system-level fault diagnosis, pairs of units are given the same job and results are compared. The result of such a comparison test can be 0 (match) or 1 (mismatch) and diagnosis is based on the collection of test results. Two such models have been studied, among others: the symmetric model of K.Y. Chwa and S.L. Hakimi (Inform. Control, 49, p.212-38, 1981) and the asymmetric model of M. Malek (Proc. 7th Symp. Comput. Architecture, p.31-35, May 1980). The worst-case optimal testing algorithms for t-fault detection, sequential t-fault diagnosis, and one-step t-fault diagnosis in both models are presented. Nonadaptive and adaptive testing is discussed and it is shown that the latter often enables one to decrease the number of tests. >
Learning Through Noticing: Theory and Experimental Evidence in Farming

Existing learning models attribute failures to learn to a lack of data. We model a different barrier. Given the large number of dimensions one could focus on when using a technology, people may fail to learn because they failed to notice important features of the data they possess. We conduct a field experiment with seaweed farmers to test a model of "learning through noticing. " We find evidence of a failure to notice: On some dimensions, farmers do not even know the value of their own input. Interestingly, trials show that these dimensions are the ones that farmers fail to optimize. Furthermore, consistent with the model, we find that simply having access to the experimental data does not induce learning. Instead, farmers change behavior only when presented with summaries that highlight the overlooked dimensions. We also draw out the implications of learning through noticing for technology adoption, agricultural extension, and the meaning of human capital.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Marginal Pairwise Associations with Multiple Source Predictors

Researchers interested in the association of a predictor with an outcome will often collect information about that predictor from more than one source. Standard multiple regression methods allow estimation of the effect of each predictor on the outcome while controlling for the remaining predictors. The resulting regression coefficient for each predictor has an interpretation that is conditional on all other predictors. In settings in which interest is in comparison of the marginal pairwise relationships between each predictor and the outcome separately (e.g., studies in psychiatry with multiple informants or comparison of the predictive values of diagnostic tests), standard regression methods are not appropriate. Instead, the generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach can be used to simultaneously estimate, and make comparisons among, the separate pairwise marginal associations. In this paper, we consider maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of these marginal relationships when the outcome is binary. ML enjoys benefits over GEE methods in that it is asymptotically efficient, can accommodate missing data that are ignorable, and allows likelihood‐based inferences about the pairwise marginal relationships. We also explore the asymptotic relative efficiency of ML and GEE methods in this setting. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Weight status among Iranian adolescents: Comparison of four different criteria

Background: Obesity or being overweight is a major health problem in Iran. Only few studies are available that compare the obesity prevalence by four different available criteria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Isfahani adolescents based on four different definitions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3002 Isfahani students (1377 males; 1625 females) aged 11-18 years. Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Sex-specific BMI-for-age reference data of the Iranian national data, Center for Disease Control data (CDC2000), International Obesity taskforce data (IOTF), and recent World Health Organization (WHO) data was used to define overweight and obesity. Results: The mean age of the studied population was 14.8 years and the mean BMI was 20.3 kg/m2. Girls were on an average 1.4 years older and had almost one unit higher BMI than boys. Underweight was prevalent among almost 38.5% and 25.5% of adolescents as per WHO2007 and national Iranian cut-off points, respectively. The prevalence rates reached 39.5% and 45.8% by IOTF and CDC2000 criteria, respectively. The highest prevalence of overweight was obtained by IOTF cut-points (30.5%), while CDC2000 criteria, WHO2007, and national Iranian cut-points gave similar prevalence results (4.7%, 4.0%, and 4.4%); 2.4% of the studied population were found to be obese by WHO2007 definition, while this rate was 0.8%, 0.5%, and 0.8% by IOTF, CDC2000, and national Iranian cut-points. Conclusion: Almost all definitions revealed coexistence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Isfahani adolescents. Huge differences exist between different criteria for assessing weight status among children. To understand the best appropriate criteria for Iranian adolescents, future studies should focus on the predictability of obesity related co-morbidities by these criteria.
Low-Waste Recycling of CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 Spent Catalysts

CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts are designed for the low-temperature conversion in the process of hydrogen and ammonia synthesis gas production. The paper presents the results of research on recovery of copper and zinc from spent catalysts using pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods. Under reducing conditions, at high temperature, having appropriately selected the composition of the slag, more than 66% of copper in metallic form and about 70% of zinc in the form of ZnO can be extracted from this material. Hydrometallurgical processing of the catalysts was carried out using two leaching solutions: alkaline and acidic. Almost 62% of the zinc contained in the catalysts has been leached to the alkaline solution and about 98% of copper has been leached to the acidic solution. After the hydrometallurgical treatment of the catalysts, insoluble residue was also obtained in the form of pure ZnAl2O4. This compound can be reused to produce catalysts, or it can be processed under reducing conditions at high temperature to recover zinc. The recovery of zinc and copper from such a material is consistent with the policy of sustainable development and helps to reduce the environmental load of stored wastes.
Aging of oil-impregnated paper in power transformers

The effects of moisture, oxygen, and acidity upon the aging of Kraft and thermally upgraded ("Insuldur/spl reg/") papers have been studied in detail. The results for Kraft are consistent with the kinetic model and parameters proposed earlier by Emsley et al., and with the principle that moisture promotes acid-hydrolysis by causing carboxylic acids to dissociate. Moisture is released during the aging of Kraft and, hence, its aging is auto-acceleratory. In contrast, Insuldur consumed moisture under the same conditions, aged more slowly, and its aging was less accelerated by added moisture. 2-Furfuraldehyde (2FAL), which is a dehydration product of pentosans and, hence, an index of moisture production, is also released from Kraft during aging, but not from Insuldur. Acids are, however, produced from both types of paper. Theoretical explanations for these findings are proposed, and their practical implications for transformer maintenance are discussed.
Exposure of Toll‐like receptors 4 to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) impairs human colonic smooth muscle cell function

Endotoxemia by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to affect gut motility specifically depending on Toll‐like receptor 4 activation (TLR4). However, the direct impact of LPS ligation to TLR4 on human smooth muscle cells (HSMC) activity still remains to be elucidated. The present study shows that TLR4, its associated molecule MD2, and TLR2 are constitutively expressed on cultured HSMC and that, once activated, they impair HSMC function. The stimulation of TLR4 by LPS induced a time‐ and dose‐dependent contractile dysfunction, which was associated with a decrease of TLR2 messenger, a rearrangement of microfilament cytoskeleton and an oxidative imbalance, i.e., the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) together with the depletion of GSH content. An alteration of mitochondria, namely a hyperpolarization of their membrane potential, was also detected. Most of these effects were partially prevented by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin or the NFκB inhibitor MG132. Finally, a 24 h washout in LPS‐free medium almost completely restored morphofunctional and biochemical HSMC resting parameters, even if GSH levels remained significantly lower and no recovery was observed in TLR2 expression. Thus, the exposure to bacterial endotoxin directly and persistently impaired gastrointestinal smooth muscle activity indicating that HSMC actively participate to dysmotility during infective burst. The knowledge of these interactions might provide novel information on the pathogenesis of infection‐associated gut dysmotility and further clues for the development of new therapeutic strategies. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 442–450, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of Sound Textures by Learning and Resampling of Wavelet Trees

In this paper we present a statistical learning algorithm for synthesizing new random instances of a sound texture given an example of such a texture as input. A large class of natural and artificial sounds such as rain, waterfall, traffic noises, people babble, machine noises, etc., can be regarded as sound textures — sound signals that are approximately stationary at some scale. Treating the input sound texture as a sample of a stochastic process, we construct a tree representing a hierarchical wavelet transform of the signal. From this tree, new random trees are generated by learning and sampling the conditional probabilities of the paths in the original tree. Transformation of these random trees back into signals results in new sound textures that closely resemble the sonic impression of the original sound source but without exactly repeating it. Applications of this method are abundant and include, for example, automatic generation of sound effects, creative musical and sonic manipulations, and virtual reality sonification. Examples are visually demonstrated in the paper and acoustically demonstrated in an accompanying web site.
Efficacy and Safety of Memantine in Patients With Mild to Moderate Vascular Dementia: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial (MMM 300)

Background and Purpose— Based on the hypothesis of glutamate-induced neurotoxicity (excitotoxicity) in cerebral ischemia, this study examined the efficacy and tolerability of memantine, an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist, in the treatment of mild to moderate vascular dementia. Methods— In this multicenter, 28-week trial carried out in France, 321 patients received 10 mg/d memantine or placebo twice a day; 288 patients were valid for intent-to-treat analysis. Patients had to meet the criteria for probable vascular dementia and have a Mini-Mental State (MMSE) score between 12 and 20 at inclusion. The 2 primary end points were the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the global Clinician’s Interview Based Impression of Change (CIBIC-plus). Results— After 28 weeks, the mean ADAS-cog scores were significantly improved relative to placebo. In the intention-to-treat population, the memantine group mean score had gained an average of 0.4 points, whereas the placebo group mean score had declined by 1.6 points, ie, a difference of 2.0 points (95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 3.60). The response rate for CIBIC-plus, defined as improved or stable, was 60% with memantine compared with 52% with placebo (P =0.227, intention to treat). Among the secondary efficacy parameters, which were analyzed in the per-protocol subset, MMSE was significantly improved with memantine compared with deterioration with placebo (P =0.003). The Gottfries-Brane-Steen Scale intellectual function subscore and the Nurses’ Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients disturbing behavior dimension also showed differences in favor of memantine (P =0.04 and P =0.07, respectively). Memantine was well tolerated with a frequency of adverse events comparable to placebo. Conclusions— In patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia, memantine 20 mg/d improved cognition consistently across different cognitive scales, with at least no deterioration in global functioning and behavior. It was devoid of concerning side effects.
Data extraction and label assignment for web databases

Many tools have been developed to help users query, extract and integrate data from web pages generated dynamically from databases, i.e., from the Hidden Web. A key prerequisite for such tools is to obtain the schema of the attributes of the retrieved data. In this paper, we describe a system called, DeLa, which reconstructs (part of) a "hidden" back-end web database. It does this by sending queries through HTML forms, automatically generating regular expression wrappers to extract data objects from the result pages and restoring the retrieved data into an annotated (labelled) table. The whole process needs no human involvement and proves to be fast (less than one minute for wrapper induction for each site) and accurate (over 90% correctness for data extraction and around 80% correctness for label assignment).
Surgical Treatment of Drooling by Bilateral Parotid Duct Ligation and Submandibular Gland Resection

We have followed 14 patients for up to 6 years after they had submaxillary gland resections and parotid duct ligations for drooling. Good to excellent results were found in more than 85 percent of them in the control saliva, and there have been no recurrences or fistulae. This procedure is technically simple to do, and it is associated with less morbidity than surgical relocation of the parotid ducts.
A cost-benefit analysis of low latency via added utilization

Several recently proposed techniques achieve latency reduction by trading it off for some amount of additional bandwidth usage. But how would one quantify whether the tradeoff is actually beneficial in a given system? We develop an economic cost vs. benefit analysis for answering this question. We use the analysis to derive a benchmark for wide-area client-server applications, and demonstrate how it can be applied to reason about a particular latency saving technique --- redundant DNS requests.
Supplementary Information: Quantifying Generalization from Trial-by-Trial behavior of Adaptive Systems that Learn with Basis Functions

Where r is robot, s is subject, p is robot joint angles, q is subject joint angles, I is an inertial matrix, G is a coriolis-centripetal matrix, and E and C are forces actively generated by the robot and subject respectively. Fhandle is a coupling term that represents the force that the robot and subject apply to each other. The active subject torques, called the controller, are governed by both the actual position and velocity and the desired trajectory q(t). The desired trajectories we used were minimum-jerk for displacements of 10cm of 0.5s (Flash and Hogan, 1985).
Model-based belief merging without distance measures

Merging operators try to define the beliefs of a group of agents according to the beliefs of each member of the group. Several model-based propositional belief merging operators have been proposed which use distance measures and aggregation functions. This paper introduces the notion of Partial Satisfiability which is an alternative way of measuring the satisfaction of a formula since this notion lets us have satisfaction values in the interval [0,1]. Partial Satisfiability allows us to define model-based merging operator. The proposal produces similar results to other merging approaches, but while other approaches require many merging operators in order to achieve satisfactory results for different scenarios this proposal obtains similar results for all these different scenarios with a unique operator. Moreover, unlike most of model-based approaches, this approach considers the case where the belief bases are inconsistent. The framework presented is in a preliminary state and further analysis of its properties is needed in order to characterize the proposed merging operator in terms of postulates.