Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building bridges for web query classification

Web query classification (QC) aims to classify Web users' queries, which are often short and ambiguous, into a set of target categories. QC has many applications including page ranking in Web search, targeted advertisement in response to queries, and personalization. In this paper, we present a novel approach for QC that outperforms the winning solution of the ACM KDDCUP 2005 competition, whose objective is to classify 800,000 real user queries. In our approach, we first build a bridging classifier on an intermediate taxonomy in an offline mode. This classifier is then used in an online mode to map user queries to the target categories via the above intermediate taxonomy. A major innovation is that by leveraging the similarity distribution over the intermediate taxonomy, we do not need to retrain a new classifier for each new set of target categories, and therefore the bridging classifier needs to be trained only once. In addition, we introduce category selection as a new method for narrowing down the scope of the intermediate taxonomy based on which we classify the queries. Category selection can improve both efficiency and effectiveness of the online classification. By combining our algorithm with the winning solution of KDDCUP 2005, we made an improvement by 9.7% and 3.8% in terms of precision and F1 respectively compared with the best results of KDDCUP 2005.
Initialization in Scratch: Seeking Knowledge Transfer

With the growing movement to use visual block-based languages (VBBLs) in elementary and middle school classrooms, questions arise about the learning outcomes of such activities. While some schools are content to use VBBLs to spark interest and motivation for the future pursuit of computing, others are asking, "Does this early exposure produce knowledge that transfers to traditional text-based languages (TBLs)? " If transfer is a goal, then a corollary is, "How do we design the transition to maximize the transfer? " This paper focuses on initialization of state and variables, exploring the differences between Scratch and two TBLs: C and Java. Based on observations of 9-12 year old students in a VBBL curriculum, we identify four "pieces of knowledge" that are critical for C and Java but are not nearly as obvious in Scratch, including whether, when, and how to perform initialization. We conclude with suggestions for instruction and development environment that may improve transfer.
Media prosumers in political communication: Politainment on YouTube

This article analyzes the role of the political «infotainment» prosumer on Internet. In the second half of the XX century, telecracy was the predominant one-way communication model that not only popularized politics but also transformed politics into entertainment or «politainment». The XXI century began with the conviction that the Internet would lead to a bidirectional communication model in which true dialogue between political power and citizens would emerge. This research explores a new field of study: Web 2.0 «politainment» and prosumers’ attitudes and actions within this new communication sphere. The objective of the study is to identify the kind of political content Internet users consume and produce. To achieve this, we made a case study of the political information produced and consumed on YouTube, and in particular of a speech given by Ana Botella, the Mayor of Madrid, before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September 2013. The 40 most-watched videos on YouTube during the week of the Mayor’s appearance as well as those viewed in the month that followed have been analyzed, in addition to the 3,000 comments on these videos. The conclusion shows that the prosumption of «politainment» on Internet is characterized by massive consumption of information but passive reaction with regard to production and participation.
A novel approach for water quality management in water distribution systems by multi-objective booster chlorination

Compared to conventional chlorination methods which apply chlorine at water treatment plant, booster chlorination has almost solved the problems of high dosages of chlorine residuals near water sources and lack of chlorine residuals in the remote points of a water distribution system (WDS). However, control of trihalomethane (THM) formation as a potentially carcinogenic disinfection by-product (DBP) within a WDS has still remained as a water quality problem. This paper presents a two-phase approach of multi-objective booster disinfection in which both chlorine residuals and THM formation are concurrently optimized in a WDS. In the first phase, a booster disinfection system is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem in which the location of booster stations is determined. The objectives are defined as to maximize the volumetric discharge with appropriate levels of disinfectant residuals throughout all demand nodes and to minimize the total mass of disinfectant applied with a specified number of booster stations. The most frequently selected locations for installing booster disinfection stations are selected for the second phase, in which another two-objective optimization problem is defined. The objectives in the second problem are to minimize the volumetric discharge avoiding THM maximum levels and to maximize the volumetric discharge with standard levels of disinfectant residuals. For each point on the resulted trade-off curve between the water quality objectives optimal scheduling of chlorination injected at each booster station is obtained. Both optimization problems used NSGA-II algorithm as a multi-objective genetic algorithm, coupled with EPANET as a hydraulic simulation model. The optimization problems are tested for different numbers of booster chlorination stations in a real case WDS. As a result, this type of multi-objective optimization model can explicitly give the decision makers the optimal location and scheduling of booster disinfection systems with respect to the tradeoff between maximum safe drinking water with allowable chlorine residual levels and minimum adverse DBP levels.
ANTICIPATING INJURY & DEATH: CONTROLLING FOR NEW VARIABLES ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGHWAYS

This study investigates the relationship between occupant injury and a host of other factors, including traffic and weather conditions present at the time of crash, road design, vehicle type, and occupant characteristics. Crash and traffic-detector data from six Orange County freeways were used in an ordered probit model. Crash outcomes were classified for each occupant, as no injury, non-visible injury, visible injury, severe injury, and fatal injury. Higher design speeds (holding speed limits fixed) and speeding contribute to injury severity, while lighting and pavement surface conditions appear to play no role. Consistent with the literature, sideswipe and rear-end collisions result in less severe injury, relative to other collision types (such as broadside, hit-object, and rollover), while females and older persons are at higher risk of injury. Information on current traffic conditions proved very valuable for injury severity prediction. And a variety of design and policy recommendations can be drawn, to enhance highway design and roadway safety.
International Services Outsourcing and Innovation: An Empirical Investigation

We provide a comprehensive empirical analysis of the links between international services outsourcing, wages and innovation using plant level data covering the period 2000 to 2004. Somewhat consistent with the predictions of recent theory, we observe a positive relationship between international outsourcing of services and innovative activity, measured in terms of R&D, at the plant level. However, we only find evidence for such positive effects for plants in manufacturing, not in services sectors. Furthermore, this positive effect of international services outsourcing on innovation does not appear to be mediated through wages as proposed by theory.
Reconstructing the Three-dimensional Structure of Underlying Triaxial Dark Halos from X-Ray and Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect Observations of Galaxy Clusters

While the use of galaxy clusters as tools to probe cosmology is established, their conventional description still relies on spherical and/or isothermal models that were proposed more than 20 years ago. We present, instead, a deprojection method for extracting their intrinsic properties from X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect observations in order to improve our understanding of cluster physics. First, we develop a theoretical model for the intracluster gas in hydrostatic equilibrium in a triaxial dark matter halo with a constant axis ratio. In this theoretical model, the gas density profiles are expressed in terms of the intrinsic properties of the dark matter halos. Then, we incorporate the projection effect into the gas profiles and show that the gas surface brightness profiles are expressed in terms of the eccentricities and the orientation angles of the dark halos. For the practical purpose of our theoretical model, we provide several empirical fitting formulae for the gas density and temperature profiles and also for the surface brightness profiles relevant to X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect observations. Finally, we construct a numerical algorithm to determine the halo eccentricities and orientation angles using our model and demonstrate that it is possible in principle to reconstruct the three-dimensional structures of the dark halos from the X-ray and/or Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect cluster data alone, without requiring priors, such as weak-lensing information, and without relying on such restrictive assumptions as halo axial symmetry about the line of sight.
Investigation on the Torrance-Sparrow specular BRDF model

To describe the directional reflectance characteristics of a specularly reflecting rough surface, Torrance and Sparrow (1967) developed a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model based on geometrical optics. In this study their model is confirmed by a ray-tracing-like simulation, using the same assumptions as in the analytical derivation. The authors also present a simple empirical function that captures the basic features of the analytical model quite well and has been used successfully in BRDF inversion problems including surfaces like roof cover materials and grass canopy.
Seasonal variation of circulating plasma carotenoids in Mediterranean Great Tit males Parus major

Capsule Mediterranean Great Tits showed a marked increase in levels of circulating carotenoids during moult and autumn. Aims To study seasonal variation in plasma carotenoid content during a whole annual cycle for Great Tits Parus major inhabiting a Mediterranean woodland. Methods We used a sample of 71 adult male Great Tits captured in NE Spain during a whole year. Data were organized into four seasons (winter, breeding, moult and autumn). We sampled blood to extract plasma. Carotenoid plasma concentrations were analysed by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Lutein and zeaxanthin content varied seasonally, with a marked increase in levels during moult and autumn. Within the moulting period, levels increased gradually as the season progressed. This pattern differed significantly from that previously described in northern European populations, where high values appear mainly in the breeding season. Carotenoid concentrations (lutein: 1.2 ± 0.25, zeaxanthin: 0.07 ± 0.03 µg mL−1) were also lower than in northern Europe. Conclusion Mediterranean Great Tits show a very different pattern of circulating carotenoids and lower levels than northern European populations. The increasing pattern of carotenoid availability found within the moulting period raises the need to control for the effect of sampling date when analysing data on carotenoid concentrations at different times of year.
Uroplakin Peptide-Specific Autoimmunity Initiates Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome in Mice

The pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is enigmatic. Autoimmunity and impaired urothelium might lead the underlying pathology. A major shortcoming in IC/PBS research has been the lack of an appropriate animal model. In this study, we show that the bladder specific uroplakin 3A-derived immunogenic peptide UPK3A 65–84, which contains the binding motif for IAd MHC class II molecules expressed in BALB/c mice, is capable of inducing experimental autoimmune cystitis in female mice of that strain. A highly antigen-specific recall proliferative response of lymph node cells to UPK3A 65–84 was observed, characterized by selectively activated CD4+ T cells with a proinflammatory Th1-like phenotype, including enhanced production of interferon γ and interleukin-2. T cell infiltration of the bladder and bladder-specific increased gene expression of inflammatory cytokines were observed. Either active immunization with UPK3A 65–84 or adoptive transfer of peptide-activated CD4+ T cells induced all of the predominant IC/PBS phenotypic characteristics, including increased micturition frequency, decreased urine output per micturition, and increased pelvic pain responses to stimulation with von Frey filaments. Our study demonstrates the creation of a more specific experimental autoimmune cystitis model that is the first inducible model for IC/PBS that manifests all of the major symptoms of this debilitating condition.
Joint Adaptation of Code Length and Modulation Formats in OFDM Systems

In order to reduce the signaling overhead in adaptive OFDM transmission systems being designed for B3G and 4G wireless communications, the basic resource unit, referred to as chunk, comprises a number of adjacent sub-carriers and OFDM symbol periods. A consequent open issue is the mapping of long codewords onto limited size chunks, especially when link adaptation per chunk is carried out. This paper proposes a new method for joint coding and modulation. A data packet, independently of its length, is encoded without any segmentation into a single codeword spanning different chunks employing different signal constellations. The parameters of the underlying error correction code are chosen independently of the signal constellation and no puncturing is required. Moreover, a joint adaptation of the code length and the modulation format is proposed to optimise the number of chunks allocated for transmission
QoS probability distribution estimation for web services and service compositions

In this paper, we propose an approach to model the probability density function (PDF) of the QoS of a web service (QoWS) based on non-parametric statistical method. Mathematical formulas are designed to calculate the QoS distributions for service compositions (QoCS). Experiment has been done to show that the proposed QoWS distribution modeling approach is much more accurate than exiting methods. An accurate PDF estimation can be obtained for the QoCS if the PDF of the component QoWSs are modeled by the proposed method.
Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil: report of a case and review of the literature

The most common type of malignancy affecting the upper aerodigestive tract is squamous cell carcinoma. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rarely seen, high-grade, bimorphic variant of squamous cell carcinoma, which displays distinct histological features. This entity was first described by Wain et al. in 1986. Since then, approximately 170 cases of head and neck basaloid squamous cell carcinoma have been reported. Tonsils are an uncommon site of occurrence of basaloid cell carcinoma. Only 10 cases of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma arising in the tonsils have been described in current English literature. Histopathologically, these carcinomas are characterised by the presence of a basaloid component in close association with squamous cell carcinoma. In this article, a case of BSCC of the tonsil is reported. The clinical and histopathological features of this tumour are discussed. Relevant literature has been reviewed and differential diagnosis of this tumour is discussed.
Accuracy of Pelvic Flexion Measurements from Lateral Radiographs

Variations in pelvic orientation affect preoperative planning decisions, intraoperative navigation, and postoperative measurements. By providing the means to measure pelvic flexion at low cost and reporting pelvic flexion using the standard reference system, a lateral radiograph technique based on the pubic tubercles and anterior superior iliac spines may be useful for studying functional pelvic orientation and functional alignment and for improving accuracy of postoperative measurement. We evaluated the accuracy of this method by synthesizing 50 lateral pelvic radiographs. Six observers performed manual landmark-based pelvic flexion measurements on the resultant radiographs. Pelvic flexion measurement errors were small (0.004º ± 1.38º). Apart from one outlier with an error of 12. 4º, the errors ranged from −4. 0º to 3. 0º. The data suggest that accurate measurements of pelvic flexion can be made from lateral radiographs with respect to the standard anatomic reference system. However, failure to correctly observe a landmark can introduce large errors. Therefore, the clarity of the relevant landmarks should be considered carefully before applying this technique. Lateral radiographs can be easily acquired and analyzed, making this technique convenient and inexpensive.
The influence of flexible work arrangements on employee engagement: An exploratory study

Orientation: The influence of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) on employee engagement. Research purpose: This research was conducted to explore the influence of FWAs on employee engagement in order to gain a richer understanding than what is offered in pre-existing literature, and to provide practical recommendations to practitioners through a proposed framework. Motivation for the study: Flexible work arrangements are becoming increasingly popular management practices within the business landscape. Significant research has been conducted to understand the influence of FWAs on various employee engagement constructs; however, these findings still show considerable variations and are highly inconsistent. Research approach/design and method: This study used a qualitative mono method to explore the influence of FWAs on employee engagement. Qualitative, exploratory data allowed the researchers to gain new insights. A total of 23 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted. Respondents comprised eight subject matter experts and 15 employees from six different organisations, across six different industries. Interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Main findings: This study found a positive relationship between FWAs and employee engagement. It also revealed that FWAs were positively associated with various employee engagement constructs found in the literature, with the most prominent finding showing positive influence of FWAs on employee well-being. Practical/managerial implications: This study further developed a proposed framework for the successful implementation of FWAs to improve employee engagement. Contribution/value-add: This study offers theoretical, methodological and practical implications for employee engagement and human resource development scholars and practitioners motivated to find ways to better manage FWAs and improve employee engagement.
It Is Not Just What We Say, But How We Say Them: LDA-based Behavior-Topic Model

Textual information exchanged among users on online social network platforms provides deep understanding into users’ interest and behavioral patterns. However, unlike traditional text-dominant settings such as offline publishing, one distinct feature for online social network is users’ rich interactions with the textual content, which, unfortunately, has not yet been well incorporated in the existing topic modeling
Experiential Empathy: The Impact of Service-Learning Immersion Experiences on College Students' Cross-Cultural Empathy

The purpose of the study is to understand the impact of service-learning immersion experiences on college students’ expression of cross-cultural empathy. The research question states: “How do intercultural service-learning programs impact a college student’s expression of cross-cultural empathy? ” The research represented insights about a shared experience from eight participants who attended a small, faith-based, liberal arts institution in the Midwest. These students are part of a living-learning community; however, they participated in four different programs in domestic and international locations that allowed them to work with orphans and vulnerable children in an intercultural context. The researcher employed a phenomenological approach and derived three distinct themes based on the essence of the participants’ experiences. The three themes are as follows: the development of interpersonal relationships, the deconstruction of a savior complex, and fostering a sense of curiosity about other cultures. The study supports higher education’s focus on globalization efforts and diversity initiatives. Furthermore, it implies that institutions need to implement, emphasize, and strengthen service-learning programs as a way to encourage the development of cross-cultural empathy in their students in order to help them understand themselves and others in the context of the larger world.
Analysis of yam marketable surplus in Imo state, Nigeria

This study was conducted in Imo State in the southeastern agricultural zone of Nigeria, to determine socio-economic characteristics of farmers; cost and return of farmers and factors that determine the marketable surplus of farmers. Among the farm enterprises in the state, yam has high- income elasticity of demand by consumers when compared to other root and tuber crops cultivated in the state. Multistage sampling technique was employed while well-structured questionnaire and oral interview were used to collect field data from respondents. Both descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression model were used to analyze the data from the field. Results of the study showed that the farmer realized N318150 ha-1 from 3030 kgh-1of yam tubers in marketable surplus. It was implied from the results that increase in the farmer‟s age, transportation cost and household size will significantly lead to decrease in the yam marketable surplus in the study area. Increase in non-traded yam will lead to increase in yam marketable surplus if the quantity of yam produced per hectare increases. Increase in farming experience, marketing experience, and cost of seed yam will significantly lead to increase in the yam marketable surplus of the farmer. These results call for promulgation of policies to improve farm production efficiency in the study area. Keywords : yam, marketable surplus, production, roots and tubers
Causal Relationships between Current Account Imbalances and Budget Deficits in Pacific Island Countries: A Panel Cointegration Study

Resorting to panel data investigation, this study seeks to test the causal relationships between current account imbalances and budget deficits in Pacific island countries. The study findings are that current account imbalances and budget deficits are cointegrated, although there is no long run causality relationship between current account deficit and budget deficit and money supply. However, in the short run, there is a bidirectional relationship between current account deficit and budget deficit. The study suggests some policy measures.