Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semi-Supervised Multiple Disambiguation

Determining the true entity behind an ambiguous word is an NP-Hard problem known as Disambiguation. Previous solutions often disambiguate a single ambiguous mention across multiple documents. They assume each document contains only a single ambiguous word and a rich set of unambiguous context words. However, nowadays we require fast disambiguation of short texts (like news feeds, reviews or Tweets) with few context words and multiple ambiguous words. In this research we focus on Multiple Disambiguation (MD) in contrast to Single Disambiguation (SD). Our solution is inspired by a recent algorithm developed for SD. The algorithm categorizes documents by first, transferring them into a graph and then, clustering the graph based on its topological structure. We changed the graph-based document-modeling of the algorithm, to account for MD. Also, we added a new parameter that controls the resolution of the clustering. Then, we used a supervised sampling approach for merging the clusters when appropriate. Our algorithm, compared with the original model, achieved 10% higher quality in terms of F1-Score using only 4% sampling from the dataset.
Complete Genome Sequence of Haemophilus somnus (Histophilus somni) Strain 129Pt and Comparison to Haemophilus ducreyi 35000HP and Haemophilus influenzae Rd

ABSTRACT Haemophilus somnus can be either a commensal of bovine mucosal surfaces or an opportunistic pathogen. Pathogenic strains of H. somnus are a significant cause of systemic disease in cattle. We report the genome sequence of H. somnus 129Pt, a nonpathogenic commensal preputial isolate, and the results of a genome-wide comparative analysis of H. somnus 129Pt, Haemophilus influenzae Rd, and Haemophilus ducreyi 35000HP. We found unique genes in H. somnus 129Pt involved in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis, carbohydrate uptake and metabolism, cation transport, amino acid metabolism, ubiquinone and menaquinone biosynthesis, cell surface adhesion, biosynthesis of cofactors, energy metabolism, and electron transport. There were also many genes in common among the three organisms. Our comparative analyses of H. somnus 129Pt, H. influenzae Rd, and H. ducreyi 35000HP revealed similarities and differences in the numbers and compositions of genes involved in metabolism, host colonization, and persistence. These results lay a foundation for research on the host specificities and niche preferences of these organisms. Future comparisons between H. somnus 129Pt and virulent strains will aid in the development of protective strategies and vaccines to protect cattle against H. somnus disease.
Crack STIT tessellations for city modeling and impact of terrain topology on wireless propagation

This work proposes to model city maps with a particular family of random tessellations: Crack STIT tessellations. This family of tessellations allow the generation of realistic city maps with a reduced number of parameters: the Anisotropy Ratio (ξ) and the Mean Building Block Area (MBBA). These city models are then used as input to a 3D ray tracing simulator to compute received power distributions. The objective of this investigation is to identify the impact of random tessellation parameters on wireless propagation. For this purpose, path loss exponent γ is estimated from received power distributions obtained by simulation for different values of ξ and MBBA pairs. Simulations results clearly show a linear dependency between path loss γ, ξ and MBBA. Path loss γ increases with ξ while it decreases with MBBA. Furthermore the evolution of the surface occupation ratio between outdoor and overall surface is also investigated. This ratio is named Free Area Ratio (FAR) in the sequel. It decreases with MBBA according to a power law. The results obtained are particularly promising as they provide a parametric relation between path loss exponent γ and terrain topology. This considerably simplifies the radio planning and dimensioning process of cellular networks.
Role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase VNTR (intron 4 a/b) polymorphism on the progression of renal disease in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disorder, and it is mainly associated with renal cyst formation. Several studies have also shown that these mutations regulate the physiology of epithelial tissues and determine renal cyst formation and growth in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Nitric oxide (NO) is also considered to be an important factor involved in the deterioration of renal function. Objectives: The aim of the current study is to determine the frequency of NOS3 27-bp VNTR in ADPKD patients and to investigate the role of NOS3 27-bp VNTR genotypes in the modification of progression of renal disease in ADPKD.Patients and Methods: The hypothesis was investigated by studying the South Indian population of 53 ADPKD patients and 94 unrelated healthy controls. The genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis. Genotypes were compared between ADPKD and controls using the χ2-test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of genotypes and hypertension on the progress of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A stratified analysis was also performed to assess the evidence of the modification of hypertension-CKD relationship among VNTR genotypes. Results: The NOS3 4a allele frequencies were 21.3% and 13.2% respectively for controls and ADPKD groups. The NOS3 VNTR genotypes and alleles were not associated with ADPKD. The univariate analysis showed that age, hypertension and NOS3 VNTR influenced the advancement of CKD. Conclusion: The present study confirms the significant association between the 27-bp VNTR and CKD advancement among the ADPKD patients in the South Indian population.
A model of magnetic hyperthermia

A magnetic material exposed to a field that is cycled is observed to become warm. This arises because any misalignment between the field and the moment causes the generation of magnetostatic energy dissipated as heat. This effect is known as magnetic hyperthermia, and can be used as a medical therapy where fine particles are used as the magnetic medium. In a practical application where low fields (H < 250 Oe) are used, the mechanism of heating is not well understood and can be due to losses in a hysteresis cycle, susceptibility loss, or frictional heating due to particle rotation in a liquid environment. In this work a theoretical study has been undertaken of hysteresis loss using Monte-Carlo techniques. It has been found that there is a maximum in the power loss and therefore heat generated with frequency occurring in the range 1 to 10 kHz which depends only weakly on particle size. However, for small particles (Dm < 10 nm) the frequency of the peak depends strongly on packing fraction due to the effects of dipolar interactions. The hysteresis loss reduces significantly when a non-saturating field is used especially for high packing fractions where the field produced by dipolar interactions is stronger, which causes micromagnetic configurations to form that favour the demagnetised state.
Optimal Pricing Metrics for Digital Goods

The recent advances of information technologies make price discrimination more prevalent and more complicated. Flooded by a large number of variables found by data mining algorithms, pricing managers are perplexed by the task of selecting variables for price discrimination to maximize profits. However, relevant literature remains scarce. This paper attempts to investigate how a monopoly seller should determine the optimal combination of pricing variables. The criterion found is similar to the selection of independent variables for linear regression; it is revenue-maximizing to select the variable that best reduces the residual variance of buyer’s willingness-to-pay. When incorporating costs associated with pricing metrics into this model, I propose a linear-running-time algorithm to solve this problem with any general cost structure. As to the implications for public policy, the welfare analysis shows that the monopoly seller will use an excessive number of metrics compared with the socially optimal level. By linking this theoretical model to a probit model, I demonstrate how to use this model to solve the price discrimination problem of an electronic greeting cards website.
A spatial image hierarchy for compression in image-based-rendering

Image-based rendering (IBR) systems create photorealistic views of complex 3D environments by resampling large collections of images captured in the environment. The quality of the resampled images increases significantly with higher image capture density. Thus, a significant challenge in interactive IBR systems is to provide both fast image access along arbitrary viewpoint paths and efficient storage of large image data sets. We describe a compression scheme based on a spatial image hierarchy that meets the requirements of interactive IBR walkthroughs. By exploiting image coherence over the entire image capture plane, we achieve compression performance similar to traditional motion-compensated schema, e.g., MPEG, yet allow image access along arbitrary paths. Furthermore, by exploiting graphics hardware for image resampling, we achieve interactive display rates during IBR walkthroughs.
Energy based methodology for damage and life prediction of solder joints under thermal cycling

Thermal fatigue of solder joints is critical to electronic package performance and life considerations. It is also difficult to predict because of complex time-temperature dependence of solder behavior. Strain based solder fatigue description, like Coffin-Manson, are not adequate as the fatigue life of the solder may also be function of stresses. When the relationship between stress and strain is not unique, which is the case here because of strain rate dependence, a Coffin Manson type of strain based correlation will be valid only over a limited range. A nonlinear finite element method (FEM) based simulation methodology, has been developed, for predicting the life of solder joints when subjected to thermal cycling. This methodology uses a hysteresis energy based damage function approach for damage and fatigue life prediction of the solder joint. The nonlinear solder behavior response inclusive of elastic, time independent plastic and time dependent viscoplastic response is accounted for. The methodology has been used for correlating the fatigue life of flip chip package designs with silicon die, alumina substrate and 95Pb5%Sn peripheral bumps subjected to thermal cycling. Two different bump designs and six temperature cycles with different ramp and dwell times were used from the literature to correlate the life prediction methodology with experimentally determined mean cycles to failure. A multiple cycle response was simulated to determine the stable cycle response. The observed correlation between the hysteresis energy based damage function and experimentally determined fatigue life is extremely encouraging. <<ETX>>
Upregulation of calretinin immunostaining in the ferret inferior colliculus after cochlear ablation

In many systems, including ascending auditory pathways, calcium‐binding proteins are markers of specific neuronal circuits. Previous studies suggest that calretinin immunostaining may be a specific marker for circuits in the inferior colliculus (IC) that code timing information. We undertook experiments to determine the changes in calretinin immunostaining in the IC that take place in response to cochlear ablation. Cochlear ablation was performed unilaterally in ferrets just after hearing onset. Animals survived for 2–3 months after ablation and brains were then processed for calretinin immunocytochemistry. The mean optical density and stained area of the calretinin immunopositive plexus in the IC were determined for five coronal sections through the right and left IC. In controls (n = 3), measurements of these parameters in the central nucleus of the IC showed symmetry between the two sides. In experimental animals (n = 8) the calretinin immunopositive plexus contralateral to the cochlear ablation was denser and larger than that in either the ipsilateral IC or in the IC of control animals. The calretinin plexus in the ipsilateral IC was slightly less dense and smaller than in controls but the differences did not reach statistical significance. IC volume measurements and synaptophysin immunostaining analysis in the central nucleus of the IC revealed no statistical differences between ablated and control animals or between the two sides in ablated animals. The significant increase in both mean optical density and immunostained area of the calretinin plexus in the IC contralateral to the cochlear ablation may reflect an upregulation in calretinin expression in the nuclei that contribute to this plexus. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:585–596, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Medicine Meets Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is usually described as an artificial environment, created with methods of computer graphics on high-performance rendering machines, where users wearing headmounted displays and data-gloves, or using other interfaces, navigate and interact with the scene or each other in (near-) real time. VR has become particularly popular for all kinds of simulations, including architectural and military, as well as games. In these applications, both the virtual scenes (e.g. buildings) and the possible types of interactions (e.g. movements) remain comperatively simple.
The impact of stumps’ height on secondary spread of Heterobasidion parviporum in precommercial thinning stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies)

The economic losses caused by Heterobasidion spp. infection is an important issue in the Swedish forestry sector where Scots pine and Norway spruce make up to 80% of the standing volume. Both of the fungi species naturally existing in Sweden: H. annosum and H. parviporum cause decay of the wood and decrease quality of the timber. In spruce dominated stands the risk of primary infection occurred even in small sized (2-14 cm at stump height) percommercial thinning stumps. Therefore, there is a need to develop useful methods of preventing the primary infection and secondary spread the in young spruce stands. The paper investigates the impact of stump’s height created during precommercial thinning operations on transferring H. parviporum infection into adjacent trees due to root contact. Ninety Norway spruce trees were cut down in three precommercial thinning spruce dominated stands in southern Sweden to create two types of donor stump high- (100 cm above the ground) and low stumps (15 cm above the ground). Four years after artificial inoculation of H. parviporum sample discs were collected from donor stumps and the four the biggest trees within 2 m radius in order to examine the secondary spread of the infection. The infection frequency has reached 16,2%. In most cases it was naturally occurred contamination, the artificially inoculated strain of H. parviporum was found only on four out of 51 infected discs (0,7 % infection frequency). Trees surrounding low stumps were infected more frequent than those adjacent to high stumps, 31 and 18 infected trees respectively. It means that 63% of the infection was found in the trees adjacent to low stump and 37% of infected trees occurred next to high stumps. However, the differences of infection frequency occurred in the blocks with high and low stumps is too slightly to be significantly important (p-value equal 0,0691) when all investigated strains of Heterobasidion are taken into account.
A trait-based trade-off between growth and mortality: evidence from 15 tropical tree species using size-specific relative growth rates

A life-history trade-off between low mortality in the dark and rapid growth in the light is one of the most widely accepted mechanisms underlying plant ecological strategies in tropical forests. Differences in plant functional traits are thought to underlie these distinct ecological strategies; however, very few studies have shown relationships between functional traits and demographic rates within a functional group. We present 8 years of growth and mortality data from saplings of 15 species of Dipterocarpaceae planted into logged-over forest in Malaysian Borneo, and the relationships between these demographic rates and four key functional traits: wood density, specific leaf area (SLA), seed mass, and leaf C:N ratio. Species-specific differences in growth rates were separated from seedling size effects by fitting nonlinear mixed-effects models, to repeated measurements taken on individuals at multiple time points. Mortality data were analyzed using binary logistic regressions in a mixed-effects models framework. Growth increased and mortality decreased with increasing light availability. Species differed in both their growth and mortality rates, yet there was little evidence for a statistical interaction between species and light for either response. There was a positive relationship between growth rate and the predicted probability of mortality regardless of light environment, suggesting that this relationship may be driven by a general trade-off between traits that maximize growth and traits that minimize mortality, rather than through differential species responses to light. Our results indicate that wood density is an important trait that indicates both the ability of species to grow and resistance to mortality, but no other trait was correlated with either growth or mortality. Therefore, the growth mortality trade-off among species of dipterocarp appears to be general in being independent of species crossovers in performance in different light environments.
Smart packets: applying active networks to network management

This article introduces Smart Packets and describes the smart Packets architecture, the packet formats, the language and its design goals, and security considerations. Smart Packets is an Active Networks project focusing on applying active networks technology to network management and monitoring. Messages in active networks are programs that are executed at nodes on the path to one or more target hosts. Smart Packets programs are written in a tightly encoded, safe language specifically designed to support network management and avoid dangerous constructs and accesses. Smart Packets improves the management of large complex networks by (1) moving management decision points closer to the node being managed, (2) targeting specific aspects of the node for information rather than exhaustive collection via polling, and (3) abstracting the management concepts to language constructs, allowing nimble network control.
Fabrication of microfluidic networks using a high power femtosecond fiber laser

Photolithography is well established in the fabrication of microfluidic networks; however, it is difficult to fabricate designs which require multiple depths. Furthermore, the cost/time to produce photolithographic masks is problematic, particularly when prototyping. Here we describe fabrication of microfluidic branching networks with multi-depth structures, ranging from 10s to 100s of microns, using a femtosecond fiber laser with 10 W average power, followed by chemical etching in a 10:1 solution of 49% HF and 69% HNO3. While this technique was originally developed using a nanosecond laser, this unique femtosecond laser enables greater processing precision and faster overall processing speed.
Seismic Damage Law of Steel Reinforced High Strength and High Performance Concrete Frame Columns

In this paper, the damage performance of 13 SRHSHPC frame columns are tested and analyzed under low cycle loading. The effect of concrete strength, axial compression ratio and shear span ratio on the damage of SRHSHPC frame columns is discussed, and then the experimental result is quantified with damage index. Based on existing seismic damage models, a new seismic damage model is put forward for SRHSHPC frame columns by a nonlinear combination of deformation and accumulative dissipation.
Basic Level Categorizatiandon is Important: Modelling the Facilitation in Visual Object Recognition

Recent advances in deep learning have led to significant progress in computer vision field, especially for visual object recognition task. The features useful for object classification are learned by feed-forward deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) automatically, and they are shown to be able to probe representations in neural data of ventral visual pathway. However, although tremendous studies on optimizing CNNs are introduced, few is focused on linking with guiding principles of the human visual cortex. In this work, we propose a network optimization strategy inspired by Bar (2003), with the hypothesis that performing basic-level object categorization task first can facilitate the subordinate-level categorization task. The basic-level information carried in the ”fast” magnocellular pathway through prefrontal cortex (PFC) is projected back to interior temporal cortex (IT), where subordinate-level categorization is achieved. By adopting this principle into training our deep networks on ILSVRC 2012 dataset using AlexNet (Krizhevsky et al., 2012), we show that the top-5 accuracy increased from 80.13% to 81.48%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the method. The fine-tuning result shows that the learned feature has stronger generalization power.
Cross-Lingual Metaphor Detection Using Common Semantic Features

We present the CSF - Common Semantic Features method for metaphor detection. This method has two distinguishing characteristics: it is cross-lingual and it does not rely on the availability of extensive manually-compiled lexical resources in target languages other than English. A metaphor detecting classifier is trained on English samples and then applied to the target language. The method includes procedures for obtaining semantic features from sentences in the target language. Our experiments with Russian and English sentences show comparable results, supporting our hypothesis that a CSF-based classifier can be applied across languages. We obtain state-ofthe-art performance in both languages.
Differential Expression and Interaction with the Visual G-protein Transducin of Centrin Isoforms in Mammalian Photoreceptor Cells*

Photoisomerization of rhodopsin activates a heterotrimeric G-protein cascade leading to closure of cGMP-gated channels and hyperpolarization of photoreceptor cells. Massive translocation of the visual G-protein transducin, Gt, between subcellular compartments contributes to long term adaptation of photoreceptor cells. Ca2+-triggered assembly of a centrin-transducin complex in the connecting cilium of photoreceptor cells may regulate these transducin translocations. Here we demonstrate expression of all four known, closely related centrin isoforms in the mammalian retina. Interaction assays revealed binding potential of the four centrin isoforms to Gtβγ heterodimers. High affinity binding to Gtβγ and subcellular localization of the centrin isoforms Cen1 and Cen2 in the connecting cilium indicated that these isoforms contribute to the centrin-transducin complex and potentially participate in the regulation of transducin translocation through the photoreceptor cilium. Binding of Cen2 and Cen4 to Gβγ of non-visual G-proteins may additionally regulate G-proteins involved in centrosome and basal body functions.