Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QASA: Advanced Question Answering on Scientific Articles

Reasoning is the crux of intellectual thinking. While question answering (QA) tasks are prolific with various computational models and benchmark datasets, they mostly tackle factoid or shallow QA without asking deeper understanding. Dual process theory asserts that human reasoning consists of associative thinking to collect relevant pieces of knowledge and logical reasoning to consciously conclude grounding on evidential rationale. Based on our intensive think-aloud study that revealed the three types of questions: surface, testing, and deep questions, we first pro-pose the Q ASA benchmark that consists of 1798 novel question answering pairs that require full-stack reasoning on scientific articles in AI and ML fields. Then we propose the Q ASA approach that tackles the full-stack reasoning with large language models via associative selection, evidential rationale-generation, and systematic composition. Our experimental results show that Q ASA ’s full-stack inference outperforms the state-of-the-art I NSTRUCT GPT by a big margin. We also find that rationale-generation is critical for the performance gain, claiming how we should rethink advanced question answering. The dataset is available at https://github.com/lgresearch/QASA.
On the Functional Similarity of Robust and Non-Robust Neural Representations

Model stitching—where the internal representations of two neural networks are aligned linearly— helped demonstrate that the representations of different neural networks for the same task are surprisingly similar in a functional sense. At the same time, the representations of adversarially robust networks are considered to be different from non-robust representations. For example, robust image classifiers are invertible, while nonrobust networks are not. Here, we investigate the functional similarity of robust and non-robust representations for image classification with the help of model stitching. We find that robust and non-robust networks indeed have different representations. However, these representations are compatible regarding accuracy. From the point of view of robust accuracy, compatibility decreases quickly after the first few layers but the representations become compatible again in the last layers, in the sense that the properties of the front model can be recovered. Moreover, this is true even in the case of cross-task stitching. Our results suggest that stitching in the initial, preprocessing layers and the final, abstract layers test different kinds of compatibilities. In particular, the final layers are easy to match, because their representations depend mostly on the same abstract task specification, in our case, the classification of the input into n classes.
Thompson Sampling with Less Exploration is Fast and Optimal

We propose ϵ -Exploring Thompson Sampling ( ϵ - TS), a modified version of the Thompson Sampling (TS) algorithm (Agrawal & Goyal, 2017) for multi-armed bandits. In ϵ -TS, arms are selected greedily based on empirical mean rewards with probability 1 − ϵ , and based on posterior samples obtained from TS with probability ϵ . Here, ϵ ∈ (0 , 1) is a user-defined constant. By reducing exploration, ϵ -TS improves computational efficiency compared to TS while achieving better regret bounds. We establish that ϵ -TS is both minimax optimal and asymptotically optimal for various popular reward distributions, including Gaussian, Bernoulli, Poisson, and Gamma. A key technical advancement in our analysis is the relaxation of the requirement for a stringent anti-concentration bound of the posterior distribution, which was necessary in recent analyses that achieved similar bounds (Jin et al., 2021b; 2022). As a result, ϵ -TS maintains the posterior update structure of TS while minimizing alterations, such as clipping the sampling distribution or solving the inverse of the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence between reward distributions, as done in previous work. Furthermore, our algorithm is as easy to implement as TS, but operates significantly faster due to reduced exploration. Empirical evaluations confirm the efficiency and optimality of ϵ -TS.
Beyond Lipschitz Smoothness: A Tighter Analysis for Nonconvex Optimization

Negative and positive curvatures affect optimization in different ways. However, a lot of existing optimization theories are based on the Lipschitz smoothness assumption, which cannot differentiate between the two. In this paper, we propose to use two separate assumptions for positive and negative curvatures, so that we can study the different implications of the two. We analyze the Lookahead and Local SGD methods as concrete examples. Both of them require multiple copies of model parameters and communication among them for every certain period of time in order to prevent divergence. We show that the minimum communication frequency is inversely proportional to the negative curvature, and when the negative curvature becomes zero, we recover the existing theory results for convex optimization. Finally, both experimentally and theoretically, we demonstrate that modern neural networks have highly unbalanced positive/negative curvatures. Thus, an analysis based on separate positive and negative curvatures is more pertinent.
IRNeXt: Rethinking Convolutional Network Design for Image Restoration

We present IRNeXt, a simple yet effective convolutional network architecture for image restoration. Recently, Transformer models have dominated the field of image restoration due to the powerful ability of modeling long-range pixels interactions. In this paper, we excavate the potential of the convolutional neural network (CNN) and show that our CNN-based model can receive comparable or better performance than Transformer models with low computation overhead on several image restoration tasks. By re-examining the characteristics possessed by advanced image restoration algorithms, we discover several key factors leading to the performance improvement of restoration models. This motivates us to develop a novel network for image restoration based on cheap convolution operators. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that IRNeXt delivers state-of-the-art performance among numerous datasets on a range of image restoration tasks with low computational complexity, including image dehazing, single-image defocus/motion de-blurring, image deraining, and image desnowing.
Using fetal nuchal translucency to screen for major congenital cardiac defects at 10-14 weeks of gestation: population based cohort study

Abstract Objectives: To examine the utility of measuring fetal nuchal translucency thickness in screening for major defects of the heart and great arteries at 10-14 weeks of gestation. Design: Population based cohort study. Subjects: 29 154 singleton pregnancies with chromosomally normal fetuses at 10-14 weeks of gestation. Setting: Fetal medicine centre in London. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of major defects of the heart and great arteries. Results: Of 50 cases with major defects of the heart and great arteries (prevalence 1.7 per 1000 pregnancies) 28 (56%, 95% confidence interval 42% to 70%) were in the subgroup of 1822 pregnancies with fetal nuchal translucency thicknesses above the 95th centile of the normal range. The positive and negative predictive values for this cut off point of nuchal translucency thickness were 1.5% and 99.9% respectively. Conclusions: Measurement of fetal nuchal translucency thickness—traditionally used to identify fetuses at high risk of aneuploidy—at 10-14 weeks of gestation can identify a large proportion of fetuses with major defects of the heart and great arteries.
Search for Light Scalars Produced in Association with a Z boson at the 250 GeV stage of the ILC

In many models with extended Higgs sectors, e.g. Two Higgs Doublet Model, Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and Randall Sundrum model, there exists a light scalar $S^{0}$, lighter than the Standard Model (SM) like Higgs, and the coupling of $S^{0}ZZ$ can be very small, as expected from the likeness of the 125 GeV Higgs boson measured at the LHC to the SM Higgs boson. Such a light scalar with suppressed couplings to the Z boson would have escaped detection at LEP due to its limited luminosity. With a factor of 1000 higher luminosity and polarized beams, the International Linear Collider (ILC) is expected to have substantial discovery potential for such states. Furthermore, searches for additional scalars at LEP and LHC are usually dependent on the model details, such as decay channels. Thus, it is necessary to have a more general analysis with model-independent assumptions. In this work, we perform a search for a light higgs boson produced in association with Z boson at the ILC with a center-of-mass energy of 250 GeV, using the full Geant4-based simulation of the ILD detector concept. In order to be as model-independent as possible, the analysis is performed using the recoil technique, in particular with the Z boson decaying into a pair of muons. As a preliminary result, exclusion cross-section limits for different higgs masses between 10 and 120 GeV are given in terms of a scale factor k with respect to the Standard Model Higgs-strahlung process cross section.
The relationship between the perception of distributed leadership and the degree of participation in ministry decision on teachers' organizational commitment in the state of Kuwait

This study investigated Kuwait secondary school teachers’ perspectives toward five leadership distribution dimensions: cooperation within the leadership team, participative decision making in school, teachers’ cooperation within departments, maximum leadership support, and leadership distribution. It investigated teachers’ perceptions toward their actual and desired level of participation in Ministry of Education (MoE) decisions as well as their organizational commitment to both schools and the MoE as a central organization. This study further explored how perspectives toward each of the five dimensions of distributed leadership and level of participation in MoE decisions influence teachers’ organizational commitment. This study utilized a quantitative methodological approach. Data were collected using a survey comprising items from the Distributed Leadership Inventory (DLI) (Hulpia, 2009), Ferrara’s (1994) Shared Education Decision Survey, and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (Mowday, Steers, and Porter, 1979). The researcher selected items suitable for Kuwait’s cultural setting. A total of 777 teachers from 24 secondary schools in Kuwait participated in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and percentages, to analyze teachers’ responses. Regression and structural linear modeling were used to determine the influence of distributed leadership in school and the level of participation in MoE decisions on teachers’ organizational commitment.
Polaris: a system for query, analysis and visualization of multi-dimensional relational databases

In the last several years, large multi-dimensional databases have become common in a variety of applications such as data warehousing and scientific computing. Analysis and exploration tasks place significant demands on the interfaces to these databases. Because of the size of the data sets, dense graphical representations are more effective for exploration than spreadsheets and charts. Furthermore, because of the exploratory nature of the analysis, it must be possible for the analysts to change visualizations rapidly as they pursue a cycle involving first hypothesis and then experimentation. The authors present Polaris, an interface for exploring large multi-dimensional databases that extends the well-known Pivot Table interface. The novel features of Polaris include an interface for constructing visual specifications of table based graphical displays and the ability to generate a precise set of relational queries from the visual specifications. The visual specifications can be rapidly and incrementally developed, giving the analyst visual feedback as they construct complex queries and visualizations.
The origins of pig domestication with particular reference to the Near East

The purpose of this research is to shed light on the question of the origin of pig domestication, at least as regards the Near East. To find out when and where the domestication of this animal first occurred, whether the origin of its domestication was a single event occurring in one part of the world and spreading from there to other regions, or whether it was an event which occurred several times in several places in the world, is clearly an interesting matter for debate. In order to be able to answer these questions in relation to the Near East, large numbers of modern samples of known age and sex are first examined and discriminating criteria elucidated for application to archaeological material. Then, pig remains from a large archaeological sequence are examined on the basis of these well tested criteria. Metrical studies based on a large modern wild pig sample from Hakel in East Germany show that some measurements are more variable than others and suggest which measurements to select to investigate the origin of pig domestication. Among the measurements tried in this current research, tooth width measurements are the most reliable dimensions since they show low sexual dimorphism, low age-related variation and low individual variability. The examination of modern populations from various parts of the world on the basis of the well tested criteria shows that there is a range of variation in size between the samples of wild pig (Sus scrofa). Reliable measurements from several archaeological sites of different periods and regions are compared with those of modern wild pig samples and pig remains from different archaeological periods from the same region. The result of the comparisons suggests that pigs were domesticated during the 7th millennium BC in different regions of the Old World; at least in the Near East, in eastern Europe and in the Far East. The present research draws special attention to the southeastern Taurus in Turkey as this area provides the earliest evidence for the domestication of this animal, possibly sometime between 7250-6750 BC at Cayonu and certainly around 6500-6250 BC at Gritille and Hayaz.
Urban and Regional Planning

Noise prediction models are very useful for urban planning and environmental management. As a result researchers are always searching for methods that are practically applicable in predicting noise levels accurately. It therefore became paramount to implement special systems that could to predict noise levels accurately for an urban area. In this study two land-use regression methods, were used to formulate two noise level prediction models namely, multiple linear regression (MLR) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP)-multiple linear regression for the Tarkwa Mining Community (TMC). The performances of the two models were evaluated using statistical indicators. The MLR model performed better than that of a hybrid model of AHP-MLR with RMSE of 1.569, standard deviation of 1.585, R 2 of 0.961 and R of 0.980. The performance of the hybrid AHP-MLR was also RMSE of 1.774, standard deviation of 1.758, R 2 of 0.955 and R of 0.977. Plotted box-andwhisker and range plots further confirmed the performances of the two models. The resulting map from the noise prediction gave insight suggested that with the appropriate data and useful tools noise pollution levels of an urban area could be well predicted and mapped for urban planning and environmental management.
that share item and

The hippocampus generalizes across memories context information ABSTRACT Episodic memory is known to rely on the hippocampus, but how the hippocampus organizes different episodes to permit their subsequent retrieval remains controversial. According to one view, hippocampal coding differentiates between similar events to reduce interference, whereas an alternative view is that the hippocampus assigns similar representations to events that share item and context information. Here, we used multivariate analyses of activity patterns measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to characterize how the hippocampus distinguishes between memories based on similarity of their item and/or context information. Hippocampal activity patterns discriminated between events that shared either item or context information, but generalized across events that shared similar item-context associations. The current findings provide novel evidence that, whereas the hippocampus can resist mnemonic interference by separating events that generalize along a single attribute dimension, overlapping hippocampal codes may support memory for events with overlapping item-context relations. In the current study, we used multivoxel pattern similarity analysis to investigate event representation in the hippocampus and MTL cortical areas during episodic retrieval. Anterior hippocampal voxel activity patterns were similar for events that involved similar items that had been associated with the same study context, but not for events with similar item or context information in isolation. These findings provide novel insight into the neural basis of memory for episodic details, suggesting that, although neural coding in the hippocampus may differentiate between events with some overlapping attributes, it generalizes across events that share similar item-context relations.
Newcastle University E-prints Citation for Published Item: Publishers Copyright Statement: Early Life Adversity Programs Changes in Central 5-ht Neuronal Function in Adulthood

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Introduction: occupational stress is a recognized health problem among nurses. Globally, its prevalence varies between 9.2% and 68.0%. It detracts from nurses' quality of life and efficiency of job performance. In Ghana, we do not know the important contri butory factors to this problem. Our study sought to identify the important predictors of occupational stress among nurses. Methods: in January 2016, we conducted an institutionalbased survey among nurses of Salaga Government Hospital. They completed a five-point Likert type questionnaire adopted from the British Psychological Working Conditions Survey, and the Nurse Stress Index. Across 30 predictor variables, a mean score of 4.00 to 5.00 represented high to extreme occupational stress. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to identify important predictors of occupational stress at 95% confidence level. Results: of 167 nurses, 58.1% (97) were females. Respondents who experienced high to extreme stress levels had a 2.3 times odds of reporting sickness absence (CI: 1.03-5.14). Sources of occupational stress included: manual lifting of patients and pieces of equipment (OR: 16.23; CI: 6.28 41.92), the risks of acquiring infections (OR: 14.67; CI 5.90 36.46), receiving feedback only upon unsatisfactory performance (OR: 28.00; CI: 9.72 80.64), and inadequate opportunities for continuous professional development (OR: 63.50; CI: 19.99 201.75). Conclusion: the working conditions of nurses were stressful. The most significant predictors of occupational stress were poor supportive supervision by superiors, lack of adequate skills to perform routine Page number not for citation purposes 1 tasks, uncertainty about their job role, and the lack of adequate opportunities for career advancements. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2019;33:320. doi:10.11604/pamj.2019. 33.320. 16147 This article is available online at: http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/33/320/full/ © Basil Benduri Kaburi et al. The Pan African Medical Journal ISSN 1937-8688. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Pan African Medical Journal – ISSN: 19378688 (www.panafrican-med-journal.com) Published in partnership with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET). (www.afenet.net)
Self-archiving for articles in subscription-based journals

11 A model of formulating particle kinetic behaviour considering surface asperity is presented. 12 The asperity was created by lining up on the surface a set of particles in varying distances. A 13 moving particle was assigned a velocity to travel on the rugged surface where the particle 14 trajectory and mechanical energy were gauged. The results were used to validate a discrete 15 element framework which was developed and applied to examine the effect of surface asperity 16 on the particle kinetic behaviour. Some interesting case studies were designed and simulated. 17 The simulations suggested that the surface roughness influenced the energy dissipation caused 18 in the particle−surface collisions. The research outcomes defined the inter-particle reaction 19 from a micro-scale perspective and helped predict asperity-induced wear. 20
Crowding at Cape Lookout National Seashore: an examination of the influence of visitor characteristics on encounter norms and perceived crowding

Outdoor recreation researchers have typically defined "crowding" as a negative evaluation of the social atmosphere of an area. According to normative theory, individuals have standards (norms) regarding the appropriateness of different levels and types of recreational use. The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of visitor characteristics on the formation of encounter norms and perceived crowding levels at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North Carolina. Results suggest that visitor expectations, vehicle use, and visitor hometown population density were significantly related to perceived crowding levels. Implications for managing crowding expectations are discussed.
Higher order risk attitudes and prevention under different timings of loss: A laboratory experiment

This paper provides experimental evidence of the role of higher order risk attitudes, especially prudence, in prevention behavior. We address the timings of loss and whether prevention presents externalities. Prudence is theoretically known to have a negative effect on prevention in the current loss and a positive impact on prevention in the future loss. Nevertheless, we find that prudence is negatively correlated with prevention regardless of the timing of the loss. This observation questions the expected utility framework in favor of prospect theory. We provide a prospect theory version of the comparative statics of prevention, in line with our observations of a high level of prudence and low level of prevention. We also find that prevention decreases when it acts as a strategic substitute between subjects, which is consistent with our theoretical results.
Variant Children 1 month to 17 years of age. Post-traumatic seizures, not including abusive head Variant Children 1 month to 17 years of age. Post-traumatic head

Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level MRI head without IV contrast Usually Appropriate O US head May Be Appropriate O MRI head without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate O CT head without IV contrast May Be Appropriate ☢☢☢ CT head with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢ CT head without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢☢ HMPAO SPECT or SPECT/CT brain Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢☢ FDG-PET/CT brain Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢☢