Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Pairwise Ranking for Multi-label Image Classification

Learning to rank has recently emerged as an attractive technique to train deep convolutional neural networks for various computer vision tasks. Pairwise ranking, in particular, has been successful in multi-label image classification, achieving state-of-the-art results on various benchmarks. However, most existing approaches use the hinge loss to train their models, which is non-smooth and thus is difficult to optimize especially with deep networks. Furthermore, they employ simple heuristics, such as top-k or thresholding, to determine which labels to include in the output from a ranked list of labels, which limits their use in the real-world setting. In this work, we propose two techniques to improve pairwise ranking based multi-label image classification by solving the aforementioned problems: (1) we propose a novel loss function for pairwise ranking, which is smooth everywhere, and (2) we incorporate a label decision module into the model, estimating the optimal confidence thresholds for each visual concept. We provide theoretical analyses of our loss function from the point of view of the Bayes consistency and risk minimization, and show its benefit over existing pairwise ranking formulations. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on two large-scale datasets, NUS-WIDE and MS-COCO, achieving the best reported result in the literature.
Prevalence screening for ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women by CA 125 measurement and ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the performance of the sequential combination of serum CA 125 measurement and ultrasonography in screening for ovarian cancer. DESIGN--The serum CA 125 concentration of each subject was determined and those with a concentration > or = 30 U/ml were recalled for abdominal ultrasonography. If ultrasonography gave abnormal results surgical investigation was arranged. Volunteers were followed up by annual postal questionnaire. SETTING--General practice, occupational health departments, ovarian cancer screening clinic. SUBJECTS--22,000 women volunteers who were postmenopausal and aged over 45 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Apparent sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, years of cancer detected. RESULTS--41 women had a positive screening result and were investigated surgically. 11 had ovarian cancer (true positive result) and 30 had other disorders or no abnormality (false positive result). Of the 21,959 volunteers with a negative screening result, eight subsequently presented clinically with ovarian cancer (false negative result) and 21,951 had not developed ovarian cancer during follow up (apparent true negative result). The screening protocol achieved a specificity of 99.9%, a positive predictive value of 26.8%, and an apparent sensitivity of 78.6% and 57.9% at one year and two year follow up respectively. The estimated number of years of cancer detected by the prevalence screen was 1.4 years. CONCLUSIONS--This screening protocol is highly specific for ovarian cancer and can detect a substantial proportion of cases at a preclinical stage. Further investigation is required to determine the effect of the screening protocol on the ratio of early to late stage disease detected and on mortality from ovarian cancer.
Affect & Conflict 1 Pleasure and Displeasure in Reaction to Conflicting Picture Pairs : Examining Appealingness and Appallingness Appraisals

We examined affective reactions to conflicting (i.e., appealing and appalling) pairs of emotional pictures. In Studies 1 and 2, participants rated the intensity of pleasure and displeasure. Conflicting picture pairs elicited reports of both pleasure and displeasure (i.e., mixed feelings). However, the appalling picture reduced the intensity of pleasure and the appealing picture reduced the intensity of displeasure. We propose the Distributed Attention Theory of Emotion (DATE) to explain these findings. DATE assumes that affective reactions to conflicting picture pairs depend on the distribution of attention to the pictures. When attention is allocated to both pictures, people experience mixed feelings but at reduced intensities. Study 3 provided support for DATE with behavioral and neuropsychological measures.
An optimum ultra‐wideband microstrip filter

An ultra‐wideband (UWB) microstrip filter with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of more than 100% is designed and demonstrated. This UWB microstrip‐filter design is based on a circuit model for an optimum short‐circuited stub transmission‐line filter whose unit elements or connecting lines are nonredundant. A comparison study is carried out to show the advantages of this type of filter versus the conventional design, whose unit elements are redundant. The theoretical, simulated, and experimental results of the designed optimum UWB microstrip filter are presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 47: 230–233, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21133
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and Progression of Disease Over Time among Patients Enrolled in the Houston West Nile Virus Cohort

Introduction In experimental models of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, animals develop chronic kidney infection with histopathological changes in the kidney up to 8-months post-infection. However, the long term pathologic effects of acute infection in humans are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess renal outcomes following WNV infection, specifically the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods In a cohort of 139 study participants with a previous diagnosis of WNV infection, we investigated the prevalence of CKD using the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) criteria based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula and urinary abnormalities, and assessed various risk factors and biomarkers. Results Study participants were primarily male (60%) and non-Hispanic white (86%) with a mean age of 57 years. Most (83%) were four to nine years post-infection at the time of this study. Based on the KDOQI definition, 40% of participants had evidence of CKD, with 10% having Stage III or greater and 30% having Stage I–II. By urinary dipstick testing, 26% of patients had proteinuria and 23% had hematuria. Plasma NGAL levels were elevated in 14% of participants while MCP-1 levels were increased in 12%. Over 1.5 years, the average change in eGFR was −3.71 mL/min/1.73 m2. Only a history of Neuroinvasive WNV disease was independently associated with CKD following multivariate analysis. Discussion We found a high prevalence of CKD after long term follow-up in a cohort of participants previously infected with WNV. The majority of those with CKD are in Stage I-II indicating early stages of renal disease. Traditional risk factors were not associated with the presence of CKD in this population. Therefore, clinicians should regularly evaluate all patients with a history of WNV for evidence of CKD.
Facilitators of Maternal Affective Attachment Bonds in Various Family Contexts

The main objective of this thesis was to identify facilitators of strong maternal affective attachment bonds to children. First, a systematized review of the literature was conducted to gather and synthesize all the research over the last 25 years that has identified correlates and predictors of maternal affective attachment. The review found 26 articles relevant to the research question, and main findings from the existing literature were summarized. The main study of the thesis was built upon the findings of the review using data collected through an online survey of Canadian mothers. First, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to cluster mothers into maternal profiles based on their patterns of responses to measures of previously identified correlates and predictors of the maternal affective attachment; symptom distress related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety in mothers’ adult romantic attachment, and mothers’ sense of parental efficacy and satisfaction in the maternal role. Then, a MANOVA was conducted to determine whether profile membership would account for a significant portion of the variance in the maternal affective attachment bond to children. Results indicated that maternal profiles characterized by lower symptom distress, lower romantic attachment avoidance and anxiety, and higher efficacy and satisfaction in the parental role reported higher affective attachment, and perceived more closeness and less conflict in their relationships with their children. The results of this thesis help to inform the scholarship of motherhood by identifying salient maternal experiences associated with positive family outcomes.
Where have all the stem cells gone?

See related articles, pages 398–402 Acute myocardial infarction is the most generally accepted cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Despite rapid restoration of perfusion, postinfarction heart failure remains a major challenge. Considerable experimental and clinical evidence indicates the feasibility of therapeutic implantation of bone marrow–derived cells in reversing abnormal cardiac remodeling with the generation of cardiac myocytes, as well as the stimulation of neovascularization within the infarcted area.1–3 Although therapeutic delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction and heart failure is being explored in clinical trials (see http://www.clinicaltrials.gov for the list of ongoing trials), little is yet known about what determines the fate of stem cells and how they move into and within tissues to provide a regenerative effect. The acute fate of these cells in the microcirculation seems of particular interest, because the small blood vessels are the site of adhesion and migration of circulating cells, including systemically or locally administered stem cells, into the tissues. One would expect that an intimate interaction of stem cells with elements of the microcirculation plays a crucial role in integration and survival of cells, allowing for potential tissue repair. Among the various cell types investigated, bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing clonal precursors of nonhematopoietic stromal tissues.4,5 MSCs represent a type of adult stem cell that can easily be isolated from various tissues and expanded in vitro.4 Evidence indicates that MSCs give rise to osteoblasts and chondroblasts and that under appropriate conditions, they can also express phenotypic characteristics of endothelial, neural, and smooth muscle cells, as well as skeletal myoblasts and cardiac myocytes.4 The MSCs, with their ease of isolation, high expansion potential and genetic stability, and potential to promote tissue repair, appear to be an appealing source for stem cell therapy, …
Regression-based norming for psychological tests and questionnaires

Test norms enable determining the position of an individual test taker in the group. The most frequently used approach to obtain test norms is traditional norming. Regressionbased norming may be more efficient than traditional norming and is rapidly growing in popularity, but little is known about its technical properties. A simulation study was conducted to compare the sample-size requirements for traditional and regression-based norming by examining the 95% interpercentile ranges for percentile estimates as a function of sample size, norming method, size of covariate effects on the test score, test length, and number of answer categories in an item. Provided the assumptions of the linear regression model hold in the data, for a subdivision of the total group into eight equal-size subgroups we found that regression-based norming requires samples 2.5 to 5.5 times smaller than traditional norming. Sample-size requirements are presented for each norming method, test length, and number of answer categories. We emphasize that additional research is needed to establish sample-size requirements when the assumptions of the linear regression model are violated. This chapter has been published as Oosterhuis, H. E. M. , Van der Ark, L. A. , & Sijtsma, K. (2016). Sample size requirements for traditional and regression-based norms. Assessment, 23, 191-202.
Search Strategies in Practice: Movement Variability Affords Perception of Task Dynamics

ABSTRACT Practice has been conceptualized in terms of a search process through an evolving perceptual-motor workspace. The experiment was set up to examine whether the inherent variability of the system would influence perception of the relevant properties of the task space. We reanalyzed the data from Hsieh, Liu, Mayer-Kress, and Newell (2013) in which participants performed a speed-accuracy aiming task and feedback emphasized either temporal or spatial accuracy in different conditions. The maximum variability in spatial error during practice differentiated individual's best performance in the fast speed-accuracy conditions. Additionally, we found that a threshold of variability predicted discontinuities during practice within individuals. The findings support the proposition that inherent variability affords perception of the relevant dimension of the task. The search motion through the perceptual-motor workspace was continuous or discontinuous depending on the constraints of the movement speed-accuracy condition.
Parallel implementation of the split-field FDTD method for the analysis of periodic structure

The periodic structure can be analyzed by using the split-field FDTD method. But when the very fine grid is involved, more memory and time are required, sometimes it even canpsilat be calculated on single PC machine. In this paper we present the parallel implementation of the split-field FDTD method based on the message passing interface(MPI), which solves the memory and speed problems, and give out a new method based on the conversation of energy, so as to verify the accuracy and the efficiency. We also compare the results of the serial split-field method with the proposed method.
Elephant conservation: Reviewing the need and potential impact of cognition-based education

Conservation education programs centered on animal cognition seem to be effective in bringing humans closer to non-human species and thereby, influencing their conservation attitudes. Systematic evaluation of the impact of cognition-based education programs on the attitudes of participants has revealed positive feedback and an appreciation towards the species of interest. However, such evaluations are rare for species like elephants, who suffer severe conservation challenges such as high degrees of conflict with the local community. In this paper, we review the need for cognition-based education programs in elephant conservation as well as the need to evaluate these programs to assess their impact on conservation attitudes. In particular, we emphasize the need for such programs in the native ranges of elephants, which are more prone to human-elephant conflict, and argue that exposure to such programs may potentially increase the collaboration of the local community towards conservation efforts.
The influence of faith on entrepreneurial emotions

Entrepreneurs tend to have emotional fluctuations in entrepreneurial process because of the incredible uncertainties embedded in the process (Judge and Douglas, 2013). The negative emotions such as stress, fear of failure and hopelessness may arouse and exert detrimental effects on entrepreneurs. Besides, there are also positive EEs (entrepreneurial emotions) such as satisfaction, passion, hopefulness and self-assurance. The relation between faith and EEs has been indicated in some research works (e.g. Bellu and Fiume, 2007; Tombaugh et al., 2011). With a further literature review, we found the gap between the two fields- FAW (faith at work) and EEs. Accordingly, we came up with our research purpose which is to explore the influence of faith on EEs at the individual level. In order to fulfill the research purpose, a qualitative study based on abduction is conducted. Empirical data is collected from seven entrepreneurs from Sweden in the form of semi-structured interviews. Bycombining the Four E’s model – four integrated dimensions of faith manifestation with seven identified EEs from the literature, the empirical research is conducted. Our empirical findings confirmed the theories, and additional findings are acquired regarding EEs. The outcome indicates the positive impact of faith on EEs. More specifically, faith orientation in entrepreneurial process does not only promote positive emotions such as satisfaction, passion and altruistic love, but also helps overcome the negative emotions such as stress, fear of failure and doubts or withdraw their negative effects. It comes to the conclusion that faith-oriented entrepreneurs tend to have a stable state of their emotions during entrepreneurial process.
Migraine in cervical artery dissection and ischemic stroke patients

Objective: Several small to medium-sized studies indicated a link between cervical artery dissection (CeAD) and migraine. Migrainous CeAD patients were suggested to have different clinical characteristics compared to nonmigraine CeAD patients. We tested these hypotheses in the large Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients (CADISP) population. Methods: A total of 968 CeAD patients and 653 patients with an ischemic stroke of a cause other than CeAD (non-CeAD IS) were recruited. CeAD patients with stroke (CeADstroke, n = 635) were compared with non-CeAD IS patients regarding migraine, clinical characteristics, and outcome. CeAD patients with and without migraine were compared in terms of clinical characteristics and outcome. Results: Migraine was more common among CeADstroke patients compared to non-CeAD IS patients (35.7 vs 27.4%, p = 0.003). The difference was mainly due to migraine without aura (20.2 vs 11.2%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in prevalence of strokes, arterial distribution, or other clinical or prognostic features between migrainous and nonmigrainous CeAD patients. Conclusion: Migraine without aura is more common among CeADstroke patients compared to non-CeAD IS patients. The mechanisms and possible causative link remain to be proved. Although CeAD is often complicated by stroke, our data do not support increased risk of stroke in migrainous CeAD patients.
Three Fast Algorithms for Four Problems in Stable Marriage

The stable marriage problem is a well-known problem of matching n men to n women to achieve a certain type of “stability;” the $O(n^2 )$ time Gale-Shapley [GS] algorithm for finding two particular, but extreme, stable marriages (out of a possibly exponential number of stable marriages) is also well known. In this paper we consider four problems concerned with finding information about the set of all stable marriages, and with finding stable marriages other than those obtained by the Gale-Shapley algorithm. In particular, we give an $O(n^2 )$ time algorithm which, for any problem instance of n men and n women, finds every man–woman pair that is contained in at least one stable marriage; we show that the same algorithm finds all the “rotations” for the problem instance in $O(n^2 )$ time; we give an $O(n^2 + n|S|)$ time and $O(n^2 )$ space bounded algorithm (which is time and space optimal) to enumerate all stable marriages, where S is the set of them; and we give an $O(n^2 )$ time algorithm to find the mini.
Optimal scheduling over fading broadcast channels with an energy harvesting transmitter

We consider an energy harvesting transmitter sending messages to two users over a fading AWGN broadcast channel. Energy required for communication arrives (is harvested) at the transmitter and a finite capacity battery stores it before being consumed for transmission. Based on a deterministic energy arrival and fading model, we obtain the maximum departure region in a given interval. We obtain the transmission policies that achieve the boundary of the maximum departure region by a directional waterfilling algorithm.
Nitric Oxide Decreases the Permselectivity of the Paracellular Pathway in Thick Ascending Limbs by Elevating cGMP Levels and Activating PKG

The thick ascending limb (TAL) reabsorbs 25‐30% of the filtered load of NaCl. About 70% is reabsorbed via the transcellular pathway and 30% is reabsorbed through the Na‐selective paracellular pathway. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits net transepithelial and transcellular Na reabsorption, but its effects on the paracellular pathway are unknown. We hypothesized that NO decreases the permselectivity of the paracellular pathway for Na in TALs via cGMP and cGMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKG). To assess relative Na/Cl permeability ratios (PNa/PCl), we perfused TALs from Sprague Dawley rats and measured dilution potentials with and without NO donors (spermine NONOate: SPM, nitroglycerin: NTG) and dibutyryl cGMP (db‐cGMP). Dilution potentials were generated by reducing the bath NaCl concentration from 141 to 32 mM and PNa/PCl was calculated using the Goldman‐Hodgkin‐Katz equation. During the control period, the dilution potential was ‐11.1 ± 2.1 mV and PNa/PCl was 2.2 ± 0.4. After SPM (200 μM) treatment, they were ‐6.5 ± 1.6 mV (n = 9; p < 0.04) and 1.5 ± 0.2 (p < 0.03), respectively. NTG produced a similar effect on both dilution potential and PNa/PCl. Time controls showed no significant changes. Db‐cGMP changed the dilution potential from ‐13.4 ± 2.9 to ‐7.5 ± 1.8 mV (n = 6; p < 0.01). In the presence of PKG inhibition with KT5823 (4 μM), SPM had no significant effect on dilution potentials (KT5823 alone: ‐8.6 ± 0.1 mV vs KT5823 + SPM: ‐7.1 ± 0.1 mV, N.S.; n = 6). KT5823 alone had no effect on dilution potentials. Phosphodiesterase 2 inhibition with BAY607550 (10 μM) did not block the effect of NO. We conclude that NO reduces the permselectivity of the paracellular pathway in TALs via cGMP and PKG. Funded by NIH HL28982.
Evaluating Lightweight Dependable Adaptation in 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Networks

To achieve dependable real-time operation in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) we previously proposed a general technique based on non-parametric stochastic analysis. Such technique allows one to overcome the communication uncertainties that are intrinsic to wireless and dynamic environments, and to offer probabilistic real-time guarantees, by continually monitoring and adapting to environment conditions. An underlying assumption of the proposed technique is that the system can recognize changes in the state of the environment quickly enough, compared to the rate at which those changes occur. In this paper we effectively evaluate the validity of such an assumption, in WSNs based on the 802.15. 4 networking standard. We present results from various simulation scenarios, as well as from a real network, and conclude that monitoring and adaptation can dependably provide probabilistic real-time guarantees in 802.15. 4-based WSNs, in the presence of realistic network dynamics. Keywords-Wireless Sensor Networks; dependability; adaptation; real-time; 802.15. 4; non-parametric; lightweight; QoS;
A budget for Europe's monetary union

The four main options for stabilisation of regional shocks to the euro area are - unemployment insurance, payments related to deviations of output from potential, the narrowing of large spreads, and discretionary spending. The common resource would need to be well-designed to be distributionally neutral, avoid free-riding behaviour and foster structural change while be of sufficient size to have an impact. Linking budget support to large deviations of output from potential appears to be the best option. A borrowing capacity equipped with a structural balanced budget rule could address area-wide shocks. It could serve as the fiscal backstop to the bank resolution authority. Resources amounting to 2 percent of euro-area GDP would be needed for stabilisation policy and financial stability.