Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Improved Training Procedure for Neural Autoregressive Data Completion

Neural autoregressive models are explicit density estimators that achieve state-of-the-art likelihoods for generative modeling. The D-dimensional data distribution is factorized into an autoregressive product of one-dimensional conditional distributions according to the chain rule. Data completion is a more involved task than data generation: the model must infer missing variables for any partially observed input vector. Previous work introduced an order-agnostic training procedure for data completion with autoregressive models. Missing variables in any partially observed input vector can be imputed efficiently by choosing an ordering where observed dimensions precede unobserved ones and by computing the autoregressive product in this order. In this paper, we provide evidence that the order-agnostic (OA) training procedure is suboptimal for data completion. We propose an alternative procedure (OA++) that reaches better performance in fewer computations. It can handle all data completion queries while training fewer one-dimensional conditional distributions than the OA procedure. In addition, these one-dimensional conditional distributions are trained proportionally to their expected usage at inference time, reducing overfitting. Finally, our OA++ procedure can exploit prior knowledge about the distribution of inference completion queries, as opposed to OA. We support these claims with quantitative experiments on standard datasets used to evaluate autoregressive generative models.
Draft Genome Sequence of the First Isolate of Extensively Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ireland

ABSTRACT Extensive drug resistance is an emerging threat to the control of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, even in countries with low TB incidence. We report the draft whole-genome sequence of the first reported extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) strain isolated in Ireland (a low-incidence setting) and describe a number of single-nucleotide variations that correlate with its XDR phenotype.
Growth of Aligned Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) for Application as Field Emitters

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been shown to have excellent emission characteristics, resulting in an application as field emission electron source. The CNT‐based field emitter would demand the use of well‐graphitized, vertically aligned nanotubes film in order to give superior emission performance. The paper reports on the growth of high yield multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film. MWCNTs are produced by catalytic decomposition of ethylene over Fe catalyst using chemical vapor decomposition (CVD) technique. Besides producing narrow diameter distribution of CNTs, this technique also provides the ease of fabrication and is scalable for production. Excellent alignment of uniform and high‐density MWNTs film with diameter in the range of 9 to 15 nm and average length of 95 μm on the substrate was observed. The structural analyses using SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy have shown that high yield, vertically aligned MWCNTs with no impurities required for fabrication of CNT film emitter can be achieved by an a.
Self-Determined Motivation in Physical Education and its Links to Motivation for Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Physical Activity, and Well-Being in General

The present study tested a trans-contextual model based on self-determination theory of the relations between motivation in physical education, motivation in leisure-time physical activity, physical activity, and psychological well-being. Participants were 329 Norwegian upper secondary school students (M age = 16.5 yr., SD = 0.7). Students' perceptions of autonomy-supportive teachers in physical education were expected to be positively associated with students' psychological needs satisfaction in physical education, which was expected to be positively related to autonomous motivation for physical education participation. In turn, autonomous motivation for physical education was expected to be positively associated with perceived competence and autonomous motivation for leisure-time physical activity, which both were expected to be positively associated with leisure-time physical activity and psychological well-being in general. Structural equation models and bootstrapping supported the hypotheses and the indirect links between variables. Sex differences indicate that more research is needed on how to motivate girls to be more physically active in leisure time.
Targeted mutation of the calbindin D28k gene selectively alters nonvisual photosensitivity

Light intensity is an important determinant of diverse physiological and behavioral responses within the non‐image‐forming visual system. Thresholds differ among various photic responses, namely control of circadian rhythms, vigilance state, activity level and pupil constriction, but the mechanisms that regulate photosensitivity are not known. Calbindin D28k (CalB) is a calcium‐binding protein associated with light processing in the mammalian circadian clock. Loss‐of‐function studies indicate that CalB‐deficient mice (CalB−/−) have deficits in their ability to entrain to light–dark cycles. To explore the role of CalB in modulating photosensitivity, thresholds for three behaviors mediated by the non‐image‐forming visual system (entrainment, masking and pupillary light reflex; PLR) were compared in CalB−/− and wildtype mice, and the localization of CalB protein in these circuits was examined in adult and juvenile mice. The results reveal a divergence in how CalB affects thresholds to photic cues among these responses. Entrainment and masking were 40‐ to 60‐fold less sensitive in CalB−/− than in wildtype mice. On the other hand, the PLR in CalB−/− mice was 80‐ to 200‐fold more sensitive. Though CalB is expressed in the retina and in brain circuits regulating entrainment we found no CalB expression in any component of the PLR pathway, namely the olivary pretectal nucleus, Edinger–Westphal nucleus and ciliary ganglion. The behavioral and anatomical data together suggest that, in normal animals, the retinal response to light is blunted in the presence of CalB, but responsiveness of the higher order processes that transduce afferent retinal input is enhanced.
An Exploration in MAS Scalability Content Areas : Multiagent Systems , Software Agents , Distributed AI , Autonomous Agents TrackingNumber : 794

Namingandcapability-mediatedservices,suchas Agent NameServicesandmiddle agents,perform a fundamentaltask in the Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) infrastructures,becausethey allow agents to find eachotherandinteroperate. Becauseof their importancein the MAS, the scalability of naming andcapability-mediationservicesis crucial to guaranteethe overall scalabilityof the MAS. Surprisingly though,while MAS infrastructurehasreceived a fair amountof attention,the quantitati ve evaluationof infrastructurecomponentshasbeen lacking. In this paper , we presentan experimental evaluationof the agentnameservicesand the capability-mediationusedby theRETSINA infrastructure. In addition, we perform experimental comparisonsof the sameservicesoffered by the CoABS GRID that utilizes Sun’s . This evaluationis usedasa framework to discussevaluationmetrics,designissuesfor agentnamingand discovery services,andto provide suggestionsfor improvementsof theseservices.1.
Web Services and Automated Planning for Intelligent Calendars

This paper promotes the automated creation of hybrid personal plans, comprising web services and real human activities, to be supported by the next generation of intelligent calendar applications. A prototype work is presented, utilizing both atomic web services and composite ones, the latter having been previously generated from a contingent web service composition module, aiming at increasing the likelihood of achieving their intended goal. A metric planner generates a plan, giving priority to web service calls over human activities. Then, a scheduler schedules the human activities into the user’s calendar, taking into account the ordering constraints that result from the plan. The resulting schedules substitute human activities with web services, thus increasing the user’s capacity, his free time, as well as the scheduling options. As a proof of concept we present a case study implementation utilizing existing state-of-the-art components.
Temporal specification testing of hybrid systems

In this paper, we propose a method to testing temporal properties of hybrid systems. In this approach, a temporal specification can be specified using a timed automaton with input and output, which is then used to guide the exploration in the state and input spaces, in order to search for parameter variations that make the system behaviors violate the property.
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIONS AND STRESSES IN CONCRETE BRIDGES

The paper is intended to give designers an understanding and visual appreciation of the way temperature distributions within bridge decks form and change throughout the day. Any temperature distribution is considered as a superposition of a steady state average heat flow between top and bottom surfaces and an hourly changing variation near the surfaces. Both components are analysed by classic theory of conductivity and can often be sketched by eye. The influences of surfacing and lightweight aggregate concrete are indicated. The paper also demonstrates how the stresses induced by temperature in simply supported and continuous structures can be calculated from the temperature distributions. In concrete bridge decks the temperature-induced stresses depend significantly on how the section is cracked under sagging or hogging moments, or with no moment. The author is not clear about how to combine calculated temperature stresses with other loadings and it is suggested that it may be more rational to consider combination of strains. Temperature effects then appear much less significant for the case considered. (a) /TRRL/
Fate of spermatozoa in the male: II. Absence of a specific sperm disposal mechanism in the androgen-deficient hamster and rabbit.

This study provides no support for previous conclusions that castration is followed by rapid destruction and disappearance of spermatozoa retained within the cauda epididymidis. Even 28 days after castration, there was no significant difference as compared with controls in the number of spermatozoa remaining within the ligated duct, providing that the duct epithelium remained intact. The significant reduction in sperm numbers which occurred in some castrate animals was invariably associated with rupture of the duct; this usually developed close to a ligature with formation of a sperm-filled granuloma or with extravasation of spermatozoa found in peritubular fibrinoid deposits. This and their phagocytosis after escape from the duct accounts for the rapid disappearance of spermatozoa from the ligated cauda epididymidis of castrated hamsters and rabbits. A state of androgen deficiency does not elicit special mechanisms for intraluminal sperm disposal involving either lysis or their ingestion by cells of the intact epithelium.
Metrics for comparing regulatory sequences on the basis of pattern counts

Motivation: Upstream sequences contain short motifs, which mediate transcriptional regulation by specifically binding different transcription factors. The presence of common motifs in the regulatory regions of two genes might be considered as a clue for a potential co-regulation. A pattern count-based (dis)similarity metric between sequences could thus be used to classify genes according to their putative regulatory properties. Results: We present here several metrics which rely on probability theory, and which aim at comparing sequences on the basis of pattern counts. We compare these metrics to several classical dissimilarity and similarity metrics, and illustrate their behaviour with a biological example. Supplementary information: The data, results, and R routines used in this paper are freely available at http://rsat.ulb. ac.be/rsat/published_data/pattern_count_metrics_2003/
Hydrodynamic 3D Culture for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bone tissue engineering provided a promising approach for treatment of large bone defects resulting from maladies such as birth defects, trauma, or tumor resection. In vitro culture of a porous scaffold seeded with osteoprogenitor cells may enhance its bone regeneration potential. In this chapter, we describe the design of a novel perfusion bioreactor system with oscillatory flow for cultivating multiple 3D cellular constructs with clinical applicable size. It can perfuse culture media in a small volume repeatedly through out the scaffolds. The mixing effect of the oscillatory flow may enhance the uniform growth of cells in the scaffold in prolonged culture in vitro. The system was characterized. Mouse osteoblast-like cells, MC 3T3-E1, were dynamically seeded and cultured in large porous ceramic β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds by the oscillatory perfusion system, and then the cell growth within the scaffolds was evaluated by fluorescent study. The oscillatory perfusion system could be a simple and effective bioreactor for bone tissue engineering.
Testicular Development in Mice Lacking Receptors for Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Androgen

Post-natal testicular development is dependent on gonadotrophin and androgen stimulation. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) acts through receptors (FSHR) on the Sertoli cell to stimulate spermatogenesis while androgens promote testis growth through receptors (AR) on the Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and peritubular myoid cells. In this study we have examined the effects on testis development of ablating FSHRs (FSHRKO mice) and/or ARs ubiquitously (ARKO mice) or specifically on the Sertoli cells (SCARKO mice). Cell numbers were measured using stereological methods. In ARKO mice Sertoli cell numbers were reduced at all ages from birth until adulthood. FSHR ablation also caused small reductions in Sertoli cell numbers up to day 20 with more marked effects seen in the adult. Germ cell numbers were unaffected by FSHR and/or AR ablation at birth. By day 20 ubiquitous AR or FSHR ablation caused a marked reduction in germ cell numbers with a synergistic effect of losing both receptors (germ cell numbers in FSHRKO.ARKO mice were 3% of control). Germ cell numbers in SCARKO mice were less affected. By adulthood, in contrast, clear synergistic control of germ cell numbers had become established between the actions of FSH and androgen through the Sertoli cells. Leydig cell numbers were normal on day 1 and day 5 in all groups. By day 20 and in adult animals total AR or FSHR ablation significantly reduced Leydig cell numbers but Sertoli cell specific AR ablation had no effect. Results show that, prior to puberty, development of most testicular parameters is more dependent on FSH action than androgen action mediated through the Sertoli cells although androgen action through other cells types is crucial. Post-pubertally, germ cell numbers and spermatogenesis are dependent on FSH and androgen action through the Sertoli cells.
Microstructural Characteristics of Underwater Shock Consolidated Aluminum Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer extra strength and high temperature capabilities in comparison with unreinforced metals. Aluminum composites possess higher stiffness, strength, fatigue properties and low weight advantages.Carbon fiber reinforced Al composites (Al-Cf) and silicon carbide particulate reinforced Al composites (Al-SiCp) were shock densified using axisymmetric assemblies for underwater explosions. Unidirectional planar shock waves were applied to obtain uniform consolidation of the composites. The energy generator was a high explosive of 6.9 km/s detonation velocity. Irregular morphological powders of Al were the base material. The reinforcement ratio was 15 Vol. pct for Al-Cf composites and 30 Vol. pct for Al-SiCp composites. The microstructural and the strength characteristics of the shock consolidated Al composites are reported.
Does reducing the frequency of routine antenatal visits have long term effects? Follow up of participants in a randomised controlled trial

1117 low risk women, who had been randomly allocated to either the traditional schedule of 13 antenatal visits or a reduced schedule of six to seven visits, were followed up 2–7 years after their delivery. Follow up was by means of a postal questionnaire (assessing the mother‐child relationship, maternal psychological wellbeing, health service use, health‐related behaviour and health beliefs), and patient record data on the frequency of contacts in general practice. There was no evidence of differences between the two groups for any of the outcomes examined. Offering a reduced schedule of routine antenatal visits to low risk women does not appear to have any long term effects.
Predicting pKa Values of Substituted Phenols from Atomic Charges: Comparison of Different Quantum Mechanical Methods and Charge Distribution Schemes

The acid dissociation (ionization) constant pK(a) is one of the fundamental properties of organic molecules. We have evaluated different computational strategies and models to predict the pK(a) values of substituted phenols using partial atomic charges. Partial atomic charges for 124 phenol molecules were calculated using 83 approaches containing seven theory levels (MP2, HF, B3LYP, BLYP, BP86, AM1, and PM3), three basis sets (6-31G*, 6-311G, STO-3G), and five population analyses (MPA, NPA, Hirshfeld, MK, and Löwdin). The correlations between pK(a) and various atomic charge descriptors were examined, and the best descriptors were selected for preparing the quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models. One QSPR model was created for each of the 83 approaches to charge calculation, and then the accuracy of all these models was analyzed and compared. The pK(a)s predicted by most of the models correlate strongly with experimental pK(a) values. For example, more than 25% of the models have correlation coefficients (R²) greater than 0.95 and root-mean-square errors smaller than 0.49. All seven examined theory levels are applicable for pK(a) prediction from charges. The best results were obtained for the MP2 and HF level of theory. The most suitable basis set was found to be 6-31G*. The 6-311G basis set provided slightly weaker correlations, and unexpectedly also, the STO-3G basis set is applicable for the QSPR modeling of pK(a). The Mulliken, natural, and Löwdin population analyses provide accurate models for all tested theory levels and basis sets. The results provided by the Hirshfeld population analysis were also acceptable, but the QSPR models based on MK charges show only weak correlations.
Extending Practical Pre-Aggregation in On-Line Analytical Processing

On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) based on a dimensional view of data is being used increasingly for the purpose of analyzing very large amounts of data. To improve query performance, modern OLAP systems use a technique known as practical pre-aggregation, where select combinations of aggregate queries are materialized and re-used to compute other aggregates; full preaggregation, where all combinations of aggregates are materialized, is infeasible. However, this reuse of aggregates is contingent on the dimension hierarchies and the relationships between facts and dimensions satisfying stringent constraints, which severely limits the scope of practical preaggregation. This paper significantly extends the scope of practical pre-aggregation to cover a much wider range of realistic situations. Specifically, algorithms are given that transform “irregular” dimension hierarchies and fact-dimension relationships, which often occur in real-world OLAP applications, into well-behaved structures that, when used by existing OLAP systems, enable practical pre-aggregation. The algorithms have low computational complexity and may be applied incrementally to reduce the cost of updating OLAP structures.
A Policy-Based System for Network-Wide Configuration Management

We propose the vision and concept of a system for management of configuration data in a mobile network. Policies encapsulating operators’ high-level knowledge will enable the network with self-configuration capabilities on a network-wide focus, thereby reducing the amount of work and time to be spent by human operators for operation, administration, and maintenance of the network. In such a system, several aspects need to be considered such as an appropriate policy language and engine to define and enforce correct network behavior, a simulation environment, and effective conflict detection mechanisms. A toolbox will support operators in development, deployment, and runtime management of high-level policies and corresponding low-level rules. Our approach of automated configuration management is intended to contribute to the vision of a self-managing mobile network.
Electrophoretic deposition grinding (EPDG) for improving the precision of microholes drilled via ECDM

Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) is an alternative method to microdrill Pyrex glass for MEMS devices. However, the taper and the heat-affected zone of the microholes resulting from the thermal energy is a problem to which attention has to be paid. This study attempts to improve the ECDMed microhole quality by applying electrophoretic deposition grinding (EPDG). ECDM was first used to drill a microhole and was followed by EPDG to refine the hole. The experimental results demonstrated that selecting a suitable diameter of the tool in EPDG is important to improve the taper angle of microholes machined by ECDM. A step shape tool with ϕ210 µm diameter was designed as a critical factor for improving the taper. An excellent taper angle of 0.2° could be achieved. At the beginning of EPDG, the taper angle and wavy surface of the ECDMed hole were improved by the step shape tool. The subsequent EPDG further improved the surface roughness. Additionally, a sufficient grinding time was required to produce a fine surface. Improving surface roughness requires a higher tool rotation speed and a longer grinding time. However, the dislodging of abrasives in the entrance will worsen the roundness and increase the diameter difference of the hole. Suitable grinding parameters for use in the experiments include tool rotation speed: 1500 rpm, abrasive size: 0.3 µm and grinding time: 500 s. After EPDG, the surface roughness of the microholes achieved was 5 nm Ra. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using EPDG to improve the quality of the ECDMed hole.
An Incremental Anytime Algorithm for Multi-Objective Query Optimization

Query plans offer diverse tradeoffs between conflicting cost metrics such as execution time, energy consumption, or execution fees in a multi-objective scenario. It is convenient for users to choose the desired cost tradeoff in an interactive process, dynamically adding constraints and finally selecting the best plan based on a continuously refined visualization of optimal cost tradeoffs. Multi-objective query optimization (MOQO) algorithms must possess specific properties to support such an interactive process: First, they must be anytime algorithms, generating multiple result plan sets of increasing quality with low latency between consecutive results. Second, they must be incremental, meaning that they avoid regenerating query plans when being invoked several times for the same query but with slightly different user constraints. We present an incremental anytime algorithm for MOQO, analyze its complexity and show that it offers an attractive tradeoff between result update frequency, single invocation time complexity, and amortized time over multiple invocations. Those properties make it suitable to be used within an interactive query optimization process. We evaluate the algorithm in comparison with prior work on TPC-H queries; our implementation is based on the Postgres database management system.