Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Implicit Community from Rating Behaviors and Social Connections for Recommender Systems

In recommender systems, different users may have similar preferences on a set of items, modeling such information may help improve recommendation performances in collaborate filtering. Since the groups of users and items are not explicitly given, these naturallyformed similar-preferences groups are called as implicit communities. Implicit communities can be detected based on users’ rating behaviors. Social connections also help. Although the preferences of a user may be influenced by some others socially connected with him, not all of their friends share similar favors. Hence social connections should be jointly considered with rating information. In this paper, we propose a unified model to discover the implicit communities with rating behaviors and social connections simultaneously. Following the spirit of Latent Factor Model, we design a bayesian probabilistic graphical model which generates the implicit communities, where the latent vectors of users/items inside the same community follow the same distribution. First, an implicit community model is proposed based on rating behaviors. Second, the model is extended to incorporate social connections. Furthermore, Gibbs sampling based algorithms are proposed for corresponding parameter inferences. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to integrate both rating and social information into implicit community detection for recommendation. Extensive experiments on six real-world datasets have been conducted in comparison with 13 state-of-art recommendation algorithms. Besides popular collaborative filtering algorithms, co-clustering based approaches and social-aware ones are included. Statistically significant improvements verify the effectiveness of the proposed implicit community based models. They also show superior performances in cold-start scenarios, which contributes to the application of real-life recommender systems. ACM Reference format: Xiao Lin, Min Zhang, Yongfeng Zhang, Zhaoquan Gu. 2016. Modeling Implicit Community from Rating Behaviors and Social Connections for Recommender Systems. In Proceedings of ACM Conference, Washington, DC, USA, July 2017 (Conference’17), 11 pages. DOI: 10.1145/nnnnnnn.nnnnnnn Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from permissions@acm.org. Conference’17, Washington, DC, USA © 2016 ACM. 978-x-xxxx-xxxx-x/YY/MM. $15.00 DOI: 10.1145/nnnnnnn.nnnnnnn
COMPARISONS OF CUMULUS PARAMETERIZATION SCHEMES AND ENSEMBLE FORECASTING

Precipitation is one of the most difficult parameters to forecast in numerical weather prediction (NWP). Despite substantial reductions in forecast errors for wind, temperature, sea level pressure, and geopotential heights as model improves, progress in precipitation forecast has been slow (Olson et al. 1995). One of the problems involves the representation of subgrid-scale convection and precipitation process, or the cumulus parameterization, in a NWP model. Many cumulus parameterization schemes (CPSs) have been developed and implemented into NWP models. However, most of CPSs are developed in specific convective environments and are evaluated in a limited number of cases (Yang et al. 2000). None of CPSs are specifically designed for the precipitating systems in the East Asia, or the Taiwan area in particular. Therefore, the first part of this paper presents a comparison study of a few CPSs for the heavy rainfall events in Taiwan. Wang and Seaman (1997) performed a comparison study of four CPSs, the Anthes-Kuo, Betts-Miller, Grell, and Kain-Fritsch schemes, using the Penn State/NCAR MM5 model. Performance of these CPSs was examined using six precipitation events over the continental United States for both cold and warm seasons. They found that no one CPS always outperformed the others. The general 6-h precipitation forecast skill for these schemes was fairly good in predicting four out of six cases examined in the study, even for higher threshold. The forecast skill was generally higher for cold-season events than for warm-season events. There was an increase in the forecast skill with the increase of horizontal resolution, and the gain was most obvious in predicting heavier rainfall amounts. __________________________________ *Corresponding author address: Dr. Min-Jen Yang, Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences, Chinese Culture University, 55 Hwa Kang Road, Yang Ming Shan, Taipei, Taiwan, 111, ROC. Email: mingjen@twister.atmos. pccu.edu. tw This first part of this study follows Wang and Seaman (1997) to evaluate the performance of four CPSs in the MM5 model, using six rainfall events in four seasons over the Taiwan area. Precipitation forecast is then evaluated statistically over the MM5 grid points in the Taiwan area using the threat score and bias score for different threshold values based on island-wide raingauge observations.
Chapter 2 Antitumor Necrosis Factor Agents in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that results in ulceration of the colonic mucosa, resulting in symptoms that classically include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and hematochezia. UC has a relapsing, remitting natural history, and active UC increases the risk of stricture formation, dysplasia, colorectal cancer, and a poor quality of life when disease is not adequately controlled. While the majority of UC patients are managed with medical therapies, 20–30% of UC patients undergo colectomy for medically refractory disease [1, 2]. Treatment paradigms for UC are based on disease severity and the extent of disease involvement. Biologic therapies, including those that antagonize tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα), are indicated to treat moderately to severely active UC. These therapies are frequently prescribed in combination with other medications with the goal of steroid-free clinical and endoscopic remission. Anti-TNFα therapies currently approved for the treatment of UC include infliximab (Remicade®), adalimumab (Humira®), and golimumab (Simponi®). Biosimilars are now available and FDA approved, and biologics with an alternative mechanism of action are available; however neither of these will be discussed in this chapter.
Effect of chitosan and thymol essential oil on quality maintenance and shelf life extension of peach fruits cv. ‘Zaferani’

Purpose: Peach is a climacteric fruit which have rapid ripening. An alternative to maintain quality and extend the shelf life of this fruit could be the use of edible coatings. Research Method: In the present study, the effect of three different coatings; 0.5% chitosan, 200 mg L-1 thymol essential oil and their combined use on postharvest quality of peach fruits cv. ‘Zaferani’ were investigated. Dipping fruits in distilled water was used as a control. Changes in weight loss, fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), sensory attributes, decay incidence, anthocyanin and carotenoid content of fruits were evaluated after 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days of storage at 6 °C. Findings: The results showed that the combination treatment of chitosan and thymol presented more effective preservative effect than chitosan or thymol coatings alone. The coated fruits with 0.5% chitosan + 200 mg L-1 thymol showed significantly lower weight loss, fungal decay and TSS than control treatment. Furthermore, the coated fruits with 0.5% chitosan + 200 mg L-1 thymol exhibited significantly higher firmness, anthocyanin and carotenoid content and sensory characteristics than untreated control. In addition, the highest shelf life (28.33 days) was recorded in combination treatment of chitosan and thymol. Research limitations: No limitations were founded. Originality/Value: The coating composed of chitosan and thymol essential oil can provide an efficient alternative for quality maintenance and shelf life extension of peach fruits.
Simulation Environments for Space Robot Design and Verification

An important characteristic of space robots is their inability to support their own weight. Design, testing and training for these space robots represent a challenge since we cannot use these robots in oneg environment. Therefore, simulation tools coupled with hardware components are essential in design, testing and training. In this paper, we will cover two specific applications: the SPDM Task Verification Facility (STVF) and the generic training of astronauts on robotics system using real-time simulation. These two applications rely on SYMOFROS, a tool developed at the Canadian Space Agency for modeling, simulation (in non real-time (NRT) and in realtime (RT) ) and control of robots with flexible links and elastic joints.
Sticky Aspirations: Organizational Time Perspective and Competitiveness

Managers evaluate the organizational performance by comparing it with historical aspiration levels, and are more likely to make strategic changes when the performance falls below the aspiration level. Historical aspiration levels can be updated with different speed, because a focus on current performance will lead to quickly adjusting aspiration levels where historical performance has low weight, while a focus on past performance will lead to slowly adjusting performance levels where the current performance has low weight. A simulation model of aspiration-level learning and strategic change under uncertainty yields the following findings: (1) Slow adjustments of an aspiration level gives higher performance across different levels of environmental uncertainty, (2) slow adjustments of aspirations will dominate in populations with different adjustment levels if low-performing organizations are removed and replaced by organizations of the form currently performing best, and (3) stronger selection leads to faster domination by slow adjusters. Empirical analysis of format changes in radio stations finds slow adjustment of aspiration levels to be prevalent, and finds slower adjustment in competitive markets, as predicted.
Estimating the Effect of Higher Order Modes in Spherical Near-Field Probe Correction

This paper extends a previous simulation study (1, 2) of the effect of higher order probe modes when the spherical numerical software uses the orthogonality approach to solve for the spherical modes of the AUT. In this commonly used approach, the probe is assumed to have only modes for μ = ±1, and if the probe has higher order modes, errors will be present in the calculated AUT spherical coefficients and the resulting far-field parameters. In the previous studies, a computer simulation was developed to calculate the output response for an arbitrary AUT/probe combination when the probe is placed at arbitrary locations on the measurement sphere. The planar transmission equation was used to calculate the probe response using the plane wave spectra for actual AUTs and probes derived from either planar or spherical near-field measurements. The positions and orientations of the AUT and probe were specified by a combination of rotations of the antenna’s spectra and the x, y, z position of the probe used in the transmission equation. The simulation was carried out for rectangular Open Ended Waveguide (OEWG) probes using all of the higher order modes and also for the same probe where only the μ = ±1 modes were used to calculate the probe patterns. The parameter that was used to estimate the error in the measured near-field data was the RMS combination of the complex differences between near-field polarization curves over a χ rotation span of 100o. This RMS combination represented the estimated error signal level relative to the peak near-field amplitude. Using two different AUTs, different measurement radii and a sequence of θ-positions on the measurement sphere, the error signal levels were between -35 and -80 dB and the initial conclusion was that the effect of the higher order modes on typical measurements using OEWG probes would be smaller than other typical measurement errors and therefore have little practical effect on far-field results. In this phase of the study the goal was to develop general guidelines to predict the error signal level for a given AUT/probe/measurement radius combination. The same simulation software was used in this study with the following changes and additions. Rather than use all of the points in the polarization curves to derive an RMS error signal level, only the χ-rotation angles of 0o and 90o were used since these are the only two probe rotation angles used in a typical spherical near-field measurement. In addition to deriving the error estimates for specific spherical angles and measurement radii, complete sets of near-field data were derived for some cases, the far-fields calculated and compared to derive estimates of far-field error levels. The results of these simulations are presented and guidelines developed to aid in the choice of spherical near-field probes and measurement radii for typical antennas.
Static magnetic field expose enhances neurotransmission in crayfish nervous system

Purpose: To investigate the effects of static magnetic field (SMF) exposure on the synaptic transmission in a tail-flip circuit of crayfish. Materials and methods: An O-shaped permanent magnet (35 mT intensity) was placed under the isolated nerve cord of crayfish to provide static magnetic field exposure. Using electrophysiological methods, the excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP) before and after field exposure in the lateral giant interneuron were measured and compared. Results: The EPSP produced via electrical and chemical synapses in the lateral giant neuron were enhanced after 30 min of SMF exposure (8.08 mT). Perfusion of field-exposed crayfish bath solution or preloading of Ca2+ chelator and intracellular Ca2+ release blocker failed to observe the SMF-induced enhancement on EPSP. Conclusions: Exposure of SMF increases the efficacy of synaptic-transmission in crayfish tail-flip escape circuit and this SMF-induced potentiation is a Ca2+ dependent phenomenon.
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of biopterin, nitric oxide metabolites, and immune activation markers and the clinical course of human cerebral malaria.

Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 130 children who presented with cerebral malaria were investigated to elucidate the impact of biopterin production, NO formation, and local immune activation on the clinical course of this disease. Biopterin levels were significantly lower in patients who were in a deeper coma (P = .02). Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of NO were significantly higher in children who died than in survivors (P = .037); however, this was not the case for macrophage activation markers, neopterin, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor p75 (sTNFR-75). Biopterin, neopterin, and sTNFR-75 but not NO concentrations were significantly related to each other. Low biopterin levels in deep coma are compatible with an impaired local Th1 response, but the low levels could also be due to the scavenging of radicals or to decreased neurotransmitter synthesis. Local production of NO, most likely by nonimmune mechanisms, may be detrimental in cerebral malaria; however, this appears not to be the case for local Th1-mediated immune pathways.
Unexpected repeat immature oocyte response after IVF stimulation: a case report

Abstract The purpose of ovarian stimulation in IVF is to recover mature oocytes at metaphase II stage which are capable of fertilization either when mixed with sperm or after ICSI. However, there have been instances when even after controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and correct administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) trigger for final oocyte maturation, the oocytes were found to be arrested at germinal vesicle (GV) or metaphase I (MI) stage. Similar dilemma is faced in cases of empty follicle syndrome (either genuine or due to inadequate response), however, in this condition, there is no retrieval of oocytes despite presence of mature looking follicles. We present an interesting case where despite presence of normally growing follicles and documentation of correct response to trigger and rise in estradiol levels, two subsequent IVF cycles; one triggered with recombinant hCG and second with GnRH agonist, hCG failed to yield mature oocytes. Both cycles yielded expected number of oocytes but all at immature MI stage even after dual trigger.
Cold adaptation and the human face.

A framework is suggested within which the evolutionary biology of the human head and face can be explored; it includes several channels of natural and behavioral selection as well as modes of “plasticity” change. One aspect of the model is then examined by means of physiological and anthropometric experimentation. A cold room study of 33 Japanese and 25 whites, all born and raised in the tropics, was conducted at Hawaii's Pacific Biomedical Research Center. Thermal response during 70 minutes of exposure (face and hand) to moving 0°C air was electrically recorded. Assuming skin and body temperature is partially dependent upon morphology, detailed anthropometric measurements were taken and employed in thermal-morphological correlation analysis. Though results are not yet thoroughly analyzed, it appears that head surface temperatures relate to sub-cutaneous fat thickness, but not clearly to other form factors; the oriental face, supposedly a product of selection by cold, seems to respond little differently than any other.
Experimental Hydraulic Investigation of Angled Fish Protection Systems—Comparison of Circular Bars and Cables

The requirements for fish protection at hydro power plants have led to a significant decrease of the bar spacing at trash racks as well as the need of an inclined or angled design to improve the guidance effect (fish-friendly trash racks). The flexible fish fence (FFF) is a new developed fish protection and guidance system, created by horizontally arranged steel cables instead of bars. The presented study investigated experimentally the head loss coefficient of an angled horizontal trash rack with circular bars (CBTR) and the FFF with identical cross sections in a flume (scale 1:2). Nine configurations of different bar and cable spacing (blockage ratio) and rack angles were studied for CBTR and FFF considering six different stationary flow conditions. The results demonstrate that head loss coefficient is independent from the studied Bar–Reynolds number range and increases with increasing blockage ratio and angle. At an angle of 30 degrees, a direct comparison between the two different rack options was conducted to investigate the effect of cable vibrations. At the lowest blockage ratio, head loss for both options are in similar very low ranges, while the head loss coefficient of the FFF increases significantly compared to the CBTR with an increase of blockage. Further, the results indicate a moderate overestimation with the predicted head loss by common head loss equations developed for inclined vertical trash racks. Thus, an adaption of the design equation is proposed to improve the estimation of head loss on both rack options.
Pheromone-based disruption of Eucosma sonomana and Rhyacionia zozana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) using aerially applied microencapsulated pheromone

Two aerial applications of microencapsulated pheromone were conducted on five 20.2 ha plots to disrupt western pine shoot borer (Eucosma sonomana Kearfott) and ponderosa pine tip moth (Rhyacionia zozana (Kearfott); Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) orientation to pheromones and oviposition in ponderosa pine plantations in 2002 and 2004. The first application was made at 29.6 g active ingredient (AI)/ha, and the second at 59.3 g AI/ha. Baited sentinel traps were used to assess disruption of orientation by both moth species toward pheromones, and E. sonomana infestation levels were tallied from 2001 to 2004. Treatments disrupted orientation by both species for several weeks, with the first lasting 35 days and the second for 75 days. Both applications reduced infestation by E. sonomana, but the lower application rate provided greater absolute reduction, perhaps because prior infestation levels were higher in 2002 than in 2004. Infestations in treated plots were reduced by two-thirds in both years, suggesting that wh.
A structural forecasting model for New Zealand : NZSIM ∗

We describe the underlying structure of the new forecasting model used at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The model is a parsimonious, flexible dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. It is deliberately kept small so that it is easily understood and applied by a range of users. For this reason, we provide both a non-technical overview and a more complete description of the model’s micro-foundations. We also outline how the model’s parameters are estimated, evaluate its ability to explain New Zealand data and discuss its key transmission channels. JEL Classification: E40, E47, E52, C11
Interaction of Candida albicans Biofilms with Antifungals: Transcriptional Response and Binding of Antifungals to Beta-Glucans

ABSTRACT Candida albicans can form biofilms that exhibit elevated intrinsic resistance to various antifungal agents, in particular azoles and polyenes. The molecular mechanisms involved in the antifungal resistance of biofilms remain poorly understood. We have used transcript profiling to explore the early transcriptional responses of mature C. albicans biofilms exposed to various antifungal agents. Mature C. albicans biofilms grown under continuous flow were exposed for as long as 2 h to concentrations of fluconazole (FLU), amphotericin B (AMB), and caspofungin (CAS) that, while lethal for planktonic cells, were not lethal for biofilms. Interestingly, FLU-exposed biofilms showed no significant changes in gene expression over the course of the experiment. In AMB-exposed biofilms, 2.7% of the genes showed altered expression, while in CAS-exposed biofilms, 13.0% of the genes had their expression modified. In particular, exposure to CAS resulted in the upregulation of hypha-specific genes known to play a role in biofilm formation, such as ALS3 and HWP1. There was little overlap between AMB- or CAS-responsive genes in biofilms and those that have been identified as AMB, FLU, or CAS responsive in C. albicans planktonic cultures. These results suggested that the resistance of C. albicans biofilms to azoles or polyenes was due not to the activation of specific mechanisms in response to exposure to these antifungals but rather to the intrinsic properties of the mature biofilms. In this regard, our study led us to observe that AMB physically bound C. albicans biofilms and beta-glucans, which have been proposed to be major constituents of the biofilm extracellular matrix and to prevent azoles from reaching biofilm cells. Thus, enhanced extracellular matrix or beta-glucan synthesis during biofilm growth might prevent antifungals, such as azoles and polyenes, from reaching biofilm cells, thus limiting their toxicity to these cells and the associated transcriptional responses.