Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analyzing customer sentiments in microblogs - A topic-model-based approach for Twitter datasets

In the Social Commerce customers evolve to an important information source for companies. The customers use communication platforms of the Web 2.0, for example Twitter, in order to express their opinions about products or discuss their experiences with them. These opinions can be very important for the development of products or the product range of a company. Our approach enables a company viewing opinions about its products which are published using the microblogging service Twitter. A first step in our research progress is detecting topics in a specific context. In a further step the entries corresponding to these topics has to be analyzed for opinions. For topic detection we use topic modeling with the Latent Dirichlet Allocation. In our paper we found event-based topics in the context of Sony’s 3D TV sets. In future work we are able to implement Opinion Mining algorithms to determine sentiments in the entries corresponding to the detected topics.
Utilizing Emotions in Strategic Real-Time Artificial Intelligence

Strategic real-time systems are of high potential and their applications are growing, although they are mostly prevalent in video games, military training, and military planning. We propose a paradigm to advance current systems by introducing emotions into the simulated agents that make decisions and solve situations cooperatively. By utilizing emotional reactions and communication, we hope to advance these systems so that the decision process better mimics human behavior. Since our system allows sharing of emotions with nearby agents it utilizes both internal and external emotional control.
Stochastic dual averaging methods using variance reduction techniques for regularized empirical risk minimization problems

We consider a composite convex minimization problem associated with regularized empirical risk minimization, which often arises in machine learning. We propose two new stochastic gradient methods that are based on stochastic dual averaging method with variance reduction. Our methods generate a sparser solution than the existing methods because we do not need to take the average of the history of the solutions. This is favorable in terms of both interpretability and generalization. Moreover, our methods have theoretical support for both a strongly and a non-strongly convex regularizer and achieve the best known convergence rates among existing nonaccelerated stochastic gradient methods.
CHRR: coordinate hit-and-run with rounding for uniform sampling of constraint-based models

Summary: In constraint‐based metabolic modelling, physical and biochemical constraints define a polyhedral convex set of feasible flux vectors. Uniform sampling of this set provides an unbiased characterization of the metabolic capabilities of a biochemical network. However, reliable uniform sampling of genome‐scale biochemical networks is challenging due to their high dimensionality and inherent anisotropy. Here, we present an implementation of a new sampling algorithm, coordinate hit‐and‐run with rounding (CHRR). This algorithm is based on the provably efficient hit‐and‐run random walk and crucially uses a preprocessing step to round the anisotropic flux set. CHRR provably converges to a uniform stationary sampling distribution. We apply it to metabolic networks of increasing dimensionality. We show that it converges several times faster than a popular artificial centering hit‐and‐run algorithm, enabling reliable and tractable sampling of genome‐scale biochemical networks. Availability and Implementation: https://github.com/opencobra/cobratoolbox. Contact: ronan.mt.fleming@gmail.com or vempala@cc.gatech. edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Adaptive modulation and coding technique under multipath fading and impulsive noise in broadband power-line communication

Power-line networks are a great candidate for broadband communication systems. However, a power-line channel suffers from multipath effects, and impulsive noise due to changing load in the network. This paper attempts to overcome these obstacles and increase the bit error rate performance by using adaptive modulation and coding. In this study QPSK, 16-QAM, and 64-QAM schemes and turbo coding at 1/2 and 3/4 coding rates are used. As a result, it is observed that adaptive modulation and coding technique performs better than fixed modulation schemes under multipath fading and impulsive noise in broadband powerline communication.
Towards Automatically Checking Thousands of Failures with Micro-specifications

Recent data-loss incidents have shown that existing large distributed systems are still vulnerable to failures. To improve the situation, we propose two new testing approaches: failure testing service (FTS) and declarative testing specification (DTS). FTS enables us to systematically push a system into thousands of failure scenarios, leading us to many critical recovery bugs. With DTS, we introduce "micro-specifications", clear and concise specifications written in Datalog style, which enables developers to easily write, refine, and manage potentially hundreds of specifications
The GAZE groupware system: mediating joint attention in multiparty communication and collaboration

In this paper, we discuss why, in designing multiparty mediatedsystems, we should focus first on providing non-verbal cues whichare less redundantly coded in speech than those normally conveyedby video. We show how conveying one such cue, gaze direction, maysolve two problems in multiparty mediated communication andcollaboration: knowing who is talking to whom, and who is talkingabout what. As a candidate solution, we present the GAZE GroupwareSystem, which combines support for gaze awareness in multipartymediated communication and collaboration with small and linearbandwidth requirements. The system uses an advanced, desk- mountedeyetracker to metaphorically convey gaze awareness in a 3D virtualmeeting room and within shared documents.
Word Sense Disambiguation, Lexical Semantics, and NLP Applications

Ide and Wilks argue that a fine-grained division of senses may not be an appropriate goal for a computational WSD task (Ide and Wilks, 2006). They propose that NLP needs correspond roughly to homograph-level distinctions, although they acknowledge some evidence of broad level distinctions within a homograph. They further argue that machine translation requires finer-grained distinctions than information retrieval. These arguments are problematic for the following reasons:
Short Proofs May Be Spacious: An Optimal Separation of Space and Length in Resolution

A number of works have looked at the relationship between length and space of resolution proofs. A notorious question has been whether the existence of a short proof implies the existence of a proof that can be verified using limited space.In this paper we resolve the question by answering it negatively in the strongest possible way. We show that there are families of 6-CNF formulas of size n, for arbitrarily large n, that have resolution proofs of length O(n) but for which any proof requires space Omega(n/log n). This is the strongest asymptotic separation possible since any proof of length O(n) can always be transformed into a proof in space O(n / log n). Our result follows by reducing the space complexity of so called pebbling formulas over a directed acyclic graph to the black-white pebbling price of the graph.The proof is somewhat simpler than previous results (in particular, those reported in [Nordstrom 2006, Nordstrom and Hastad 2008]) as it uses a slightly different flavor of pebbling formulas which allows for a rather straightforward reduction of proof space to standard black-white pebbling price.
Toward Direct Measurement of Atmospheric Nucleation

Atmospheric aerosol formation is known to occur almost all over the world, and the importance of these particles to climate and air quality has been recognized. Although almost all of the processes driving aerosol formation take place below a particle diameter of 3 nanometers, observations cover only larger particles. We introduce an instrumental setup to measure atmospheric concentrations of both neutral and charged nanometer-sized clusters. By applying the instruments in the field, we come to three important conclusions: (i) A pool of numerous neutral clusters in the sub–3 nanometer size range is continuously present; (ii) the processes initiating atmospheric aerosol formation start from particle sizes of ∼1.5 nanometers; and (iii) neutral nucleation dominates over the ion-induced mechanism, at least in boreal forest conditions.
The medial prefrontal cortex exhibits money illusion

Behavioral economists have proposed that money illusion, which is a deviation from rationality in which individuals engage in nominal evaluation, can explain a wide range of important economic and social phenomena. This proposition stands in sharp contrast to the standard economic assumption of rationality that requires individuals to judge the value of money only on the basis of the bundle of goods that it can buy—its real value—and not on the basis of the actual amount of currency—its nominal value. We used fMRI to investigate whether the brain's reward circuitry exhibits money illusion. Subjects received prizes in 2 different experimental conditions that were identical in real economic terms, but differed in nominal terms. Thus, in the absence of money illusion there should be no differences in activation in reward-related brain areas. In contrast, we found that areas of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which have been previously associated with the processing of anticipatory and experienced rewards, and the valuation of goods, exhibited money illusion. We also found that the amount of money illusion exhibited by the vmPFC was correlated with the amount of money illusion exhibited in the evaluation of economic transactions.
Healthy food availability in small urban food stores: a comparison of four US cities

Abstract Objective Given that small food stores may be important retail food sources in low-income urban communities, our objective was to examine cross-city comparative data documenting healthy food availability within such facilities, particularly those located in low-income areas and nearby schools. Design Food stores in Baltimore, Maryland; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Oakland, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were selected for assessment based on proximity to low-income schools. Stores were defined as: (i) single-aisle (n 45); (ii) small (2–5 aisles; n 52); and (iii) large (≥6 aisles; n 8). Staff conducted in-store audits to assess the presence/absence of twenty-eight healthy items, organized within five categories: (i) fresh fruits/vegetables, (ii) processed fruits/vegetables, (iii) healthy beverages/low-fat dairy, (iv) healthy snacks and (v) other healthy staple foods. Results The availability of healthy food items was low, particularly in single-aisle and small stores, and there was significant cross-site variability in the availability of healthy snacks (P < 0·0001) and other healthy staple foods (P < 0·0001). No cross-site differences existed for fruits/vegetables or healthy beverages/low-fat dairy availability. Healthy food availability scores increased significantly with store size for nearly all food/beverage categories (P < 0·01). Conclusions Overall, healthy food availability in these venues was limited. Region-specific factors may be important to consider in understanding factors influencing healthy food availability in small urban markets. Data suggest that efforts to promote healthy diets in low-income communities may be compromised by a lack of available healthy foods. Interventions targeting small stores need to be developed and tailored for use in urban areas across the USA.
Population Distribution Projection by Modeling Geo Homophily in Online Social Networks

Today, many applications depend on the projection on the population distribution in geographical regions, such as launching marketing campaigns and enhancing the public safety in certain densely-populated areas. Demographic and sociological researches have provided various ways of collecting people's trajectory data through offline means. However, collecting offline data consumes a lot of resources, and the data availability is usually limited. Fortunately, the wide spread of online social network (OSN) applications over mobile devices reflect many geographical information, where we could devise a light weight approach of conducting the study on the projection of the population distribution using the online data. In this paper, we propose a geo-homophily model in OSNs to help project the population distribution in a given division of geographical regions. We establish a three-layer theoretic framework: It first describes the relationship between the online message diffusion among friends in the OSN and the offline population distribution over a given division of regions via a Dirichlet process, and then projects the floating population across the regions. Evaluations over large-scale OSN datasets show that the proposed prediction models can characterize the process of the formation of the population distribution and the changes of the floating population over time with a high prediction accuracy.
Proving inductive theorems using witnessed test sets

Based on a new approach to deciding ground reducibility by introducing witnesses, we design an algorithm for proving inductive theorems using witnessed test sets for left-linear rewrite systems. Experimental results show that compared with the standard test set approach presented by Kapur, Narendran and Zhang (1991), our method generates test sets of smaller size and is more efficient to prove inductive theorems.
A Mesh Objective Algorithm for Modeling Mode-I Cracks Using a Standard Finite Element Formulation

A computationally efficient mesh objective algorithm for modeling mode-I cracks is developed and implemented within a standard finite element formulation. The algorithm applies the crack opening displacements across the standard nodal degrees of freedom that is consistent with formalism of the conventional smeared crack approach. Various versions of the conventional smeared crack approach have been proposed since the introduction of the finite element method. The approach has not been successful for the following reasons: (i) accumulation of spurious shear resulting in stress locking, (ii) misalignment of the stress field around the cracked element, and (iii) incorrect prediction of the crack propagation direction. Four new and distinct techniques are developed to preclude both spurious shear accumulation and misalignment of the stress field around the crack tip to provide mesh objective results. First, to preclude shear locking, a modified failure constitutive model is developed, which derives an alternative for the stress increment rather than using the full strain field of the cracked element. The crack orientation is held
Image Segmentation by Using Threshold Techniques

This paper attempts to undertake the study of segmentation image techniques by using five threshold methods as Mean method, P-tile method, Histogram Dependent Technique (HDT), Edge Maximization Technique (EMT) and visual Technique and they are compared with one another so as to choose the best technique for threshold segmentation techniques image. These techniques applied on three satellite images to choose base guesses for threshold segmentation image.
Interactions between Fission Yeast Cdk9, Its Cyclin Partner Pch1, and mRNA Capping Enzyme Pct1 Suggest an Elongation Checkpoint for mRNA Quality Control*

RNA polymerase II (pol II) is subject to an early elongation delay induced by negative factors Spt5/Spt4 and NELF, which is overcome by the positive factor P-TEFb (Cdk9/cyclin T), a protein kinase that phosphorylates the pol II C-terminal domain (CTD) and the transcription elongation factor Spt5. Although the rationale for this arrest and restart is unclear, recent studies suggest a connection to mRNA capping, which is coupled to transcription elongation via physical and functional interactions between the cap-forming enzymes, the CTD-PO4, and Spt5. Here we identify a novel interaction between fission yeast RNA triphosphatase Pct1, the enzyme that initiates cap formation, andSchizosaccharomyces pombe Cdk9. The C-terminal segment of SpCdk9 comprises a Pct1-binding domain distinct from the N-terminal Cdk domain. We show that the Cdk domain interacts with S. pombePch1, a homolog of cyclin T, and that the purified recombinant SpCdk9/Pch1 heterodimer can phosphorylate both the pol II CTD and the C-terminal domain of S. pombe Spt5. We provide genetic evidence that SpCdk9 and Pch1 are functional orthologs of theSaccharomyces cerevisiae CTD kinase Bur1/Bur2, a putative yeast P-TEFb. Mutations of the kinase active site and the regulatory T-loop of SpCdk9 abolish its activity in vivo. Deleting the C-terminal domain of SpCdk9 causes a severe growth defect. We suggest a model whereby Spt5-induced arrest of early elongation ensures a temporal window for recruitment of the capping enzymes, which in turn attract Cdk9 to alleviate the arrest. This elongation checkpoint may avoid wasteful rounds of transcription of uncapped pre-mRNAs.
Surfactant protein A and lipid are internalized via the coated-pit pathway by type II pneumocytes.

Surfactant protein (SP) A and SP-A-mediated lipid uptake by isolated type II cells were investigated with biochemical and morphological methods. Inhibition of coated-pit function by potassium depletion severely reduced both SP-A and SP-A-mediated lipid internalization. Lipid uptake in the absence of SP-A was not affected. With confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy, SP-A and lipid predominantly (60%) colocalized in intracellular vesicles carrying early endosomal markers (EEA1) 5 min after endocytosis but were negative for the late endosomal or lysosomal marker LAMP-1. As estimated by subcellular fractionation, at this time point, 23% of the internalized SP-A and 45% of internalized lipid were localized within light (<0.38 M sucrose) fractions, which contain lamellar bodies and are positive for EEA1. The remaining label was predominantly found within EEA1-positive and plasma membrane-containing subfractions (> or = 1 M sucrose). We suggest that in isolated type II cells in vitro, SP-A and lipid are taken up together via the coated-pit pathway and that at early time points, both components reside in the same early endosomal compartment.
Disruption of 3D tissue integrity facilitates adenovirus infection by deregulating the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor

The human coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) represents the primary cellular site of adenovirus attachment during infection. An understanding of the mechanisms regulating its expression could contribute to improving efficacy and safety of adenovirus-based therapies. We characterized regulation of CAR expression in a 3D cell culture model of human breast cancer progression, which mimics aspects of the physiological tissue context in vitro. Phenotypically normal breast epithelial cells (S1) and their malignant derivative (T4-2 cells) were grown either on tissue culture plastic (2D) or 3D cultures in basement membrane matrix. S1 cells grown in 3D showed low levels of CAR, which was expressed mainly at cell–cell junctions. In contrast, T4-2 cells expressed high levels of CAR, which was mainly in the cytoplasm. When signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor was inhibited in T4-2 cells, cells reverted to a normal phenotype, CAR protein expression was significantly reduced, and the protein relocalized to cell–cell junctions. Growth of S1 cells as 2D cultures or in 3D in collagen-I, a nonphysiological microenvironment for these cells, led to up-regulation of CAR to levels similar to those in T4-2 cells, independently of cellular growth rates. Thus, expression of CAR depends on the integrity and polarity of the 3D organization of epithelial cells. Disruption of this organization by changes in the microenvironment, including malignant transformation, leads to up-regulation of CAR, thus enhancing the cell's susceptibility to adenovirus infection.
Effects of 3′ Untranslated Region Mutations on Plus-Strand Priming during Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Replication

ABSTRACT A conserved purine-rich motif located near the 3′ end of retroviral genomes is involved in the initiation of plus-strand DNA synthesis. We mutated sequences both within and flanking the Moloney murine leukemia virus polypurine tract (PPT) and determined the effects of these alterations on viral DNA synthesis and replication. Our results demonstrated that both changes in highly conserved PPT positions and a mutation that left only the cleavage-proximal half of the PPT intact led to delayed replication and reduced the colony-forming titer of replication defective retroviral vectors. A mutation that altered the cleavage proximal half of the PPT and certain 3′ untranslated region mutations upstream of the PPT were incompatible with or severely impaired viral replication. To distinguish defects in plus-strand priming from other replication defects and to assess the relative use of mutant and wild-type PPTs, we examined plus-strand priming from an ectopic, secondary PPT inserted in U3. The results demonstrated that the analyzed mutations within the PPT primarily affected plus-strand priming whereas mutations upstream of the PPT appeared to affect both plus-strand priming and other stages of viral replication.
Automated annotation system for natural images

— Automated annotation of digital images remains a highly challenging task. This process can be used for indexing, retrieving, and understanding of large collections of image data. This paper presents an image annotation system used for annotating natural images. The proposed system is using an efficient annotation model called Cross Media Relevance Model for the annotation process. Image’s regions are described using a vocabulary of blobs generated from image features using the K-means clustering algorithm. Using SAIAPR TC-12 Dataset of annotated images it is estimated the joint probability of generating a word given the blobs in an image. The annotation process of each new image starts with a segmentation phase. An original and efficient segmentation algorithm based on a hexagonal structure is applied to obtain the list of regions. Each meaningful word assigned to the annotated image is retrieved from an ontology derived in an original manner starting from the hierarchical vocabulary associated with SAIAPR TC-12 and from the spatial relationships between regions.
On-Road Vehicle Detection Based on Color Segmentation and Tracking Using Harris-SIFT

This paper proposes a novel method for vehicle detection and tracking using a vehicle-mounted monocular camera in an intelligent vehicle system. Speed-based Adaptive Perception Zone (APZ) is first defined to ensure that the vehicle minimizes the spatial extent of the region it perceives according to its own speed. Vehicle candidates are generated using brake lights detection through color segmentation method and verified by a rule-based clustering approach. A tracking-by-detection scheme based on Harris-SIFT feature matching is then used to learn the template of the detected vehicle on line, localize and track the corresponding vehicle in live video. Our system was validated in real conditions in our prototype vehicle with state-of-the-art performance, equivalent and sometimes surpassing other methods recently published.