Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ChronoSeeker: Future Opinion Extraction

In this paper, we will propose a novel technique for Future Opinion Extraction, a new task of Information Extraction. The system we built can extract automatically future opinions, building automatic queries for the Search API. We obtained an F-Measure of 81.8% for the filtering of future opinion candidates. Our method provides future opinions allowing us to identify future problems and future goals of our society in the forty next years. The total system, called ChronoSeeker, contains +20,000 future opinions.
Prediction of membrane protein structures with complex topologies using limited constraints

Reliable structure-prediction methods for membrane proteins are important because the experimental determination of high-resolution membrane protein structures remains very difficult, especially for eukaryotic proteins. However, membrane proteins are typically longer than 200 aa and represent a formidable challenge for structure prediction. We have developed a method for predicting the structures of large membrane proteins by constraining helix–helix packing arrangements at particular positions predicted from sequence or identified by experiments. We tested the method on 12 membrane proteins of diverse topologies and functions with lengths ranging between 190 and 300 residues. Enforcing a single constraint during the folding simulations enriched the population of near-native models for 9 proteins. In 4 of the cases in which the constraint was predicted from the sequence, 1 of the 5 lowest energy models was superimposable within 4 Å on the native structure. Near-native structures could also be selected for heme-binding and pore-forming domains from simulations in which pairs of conserved histidine-chelating hemes and one experimentally determined salt bridge were constrained, respectively. These results suggest that models within 4 Å of the native structure can be achieved for complex membrane proteins if even limited information on residue-residue interactions can be obtained from protein structure databases or experiments.
WITH APPLICATION TO

This paper concerns the locally uniform weak convergence of functions taking values in the space of ﬁnite Borel measures on a metric space. In particular, we establish a locally uniform version of L´evy’s continuity theorem for characteristic functions, assuming that the metric space is a Euclid space. As application, we show that the locally uniform weak convergence of the marginal distributions of additive processes characterizes the functional convergence of the processes.
Semantic mapping for object category and structural class

Intelligent robots require a semantic map of the surroundings for applications such as navigation and object localization. With this information, a robot can make task planning, object manipulation and human-robot interaction. However, it still remains an open problem although considerable emphasis has been given. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to generate a dense semantic map for 3D indoor scene. Our approach integrates a robust image labeling algorithm with simultaneous localization and mapping method (SLAM) to generate the semantic map. Scene information, semantic context and geometric context are encoded into a CRF model. Our CRF model computes a simultaneous labeling of image regions into semantic classes (e.g., bed, table, chair) and structural object classes (Ground, Furniture, Structure, Props). Then semantic labeling results in single images are fused into the 3D map using the estimated camera poses by SLAM. We report our labeling performance on NYU v2 dataset and demonstrate that our algorithm is comparable to and in many cases superior to the previous method. Also we generate our semantic map on the NYU v2 video dataset.
Self-Adaptive Prediction of Cloud Resource Demands Using Ensemble Model and Subtractive-Fuzzy Clustering Based Fuzzy Neural Network

In IaaS (infrastructure as a service) cloud environment, users are provisioned with virtual machines (VMs). To allocate resources for users dynamically and effectively, accurate resource demands predicting is essential. For this purpose, this paper proposes a self-adaptive prediction method using ensemble model and subtractive-fuzzy clustering based fuzzy neural network (ESFCFNN). We analyze the characters of user preferences and demands. Then the architecture of the prediction model is constructed. We adopt some base predictors to compose the ensemble model. Then the structure and learning algorithm of fuzzy neural network is researched. To obtain the number of fuzzy rules and the initial value of the premise and consequent parameters, this paper proposes the fuzzy c-means combined with subtractive clustering algorithm, that is, the subtractive-fuzzy clustering. Finally, we adopt different criteria to evaluate the proposed method. The experiment results show that the method is accurate and effective in predicting the resource demands.
The Simulated Patient Management Problem: a Technique for Evaluating and Teaching Clinical Competence

techniques which promise more reliable and valid assessment of this elusive quality of the good physician. Techniques such as Nmed interviews, filmed examination of actual patients, and simulation of patients by oral examiners or trained actors are being used to assess data-gathering ability, accuracy of observation and bedside manner (Hubbard, Levit, Schumacher, and Schnabel, 1965; McGuire, 1966). These techniques, using standardized rating scales, are creating new interest in the possibility of adequate evaluation of clinical competence. One of the most promising of the newer objective techniques is the simulated Patient Management Problem.
On the duality of MIMO transmission techniques for multi-user communications

Since the downlink has a difficult algebraic structure, it is more convenient to switch to the dual uplink problem which has better algebraic properties. We consider the uplink/downlink duality with respect to the mean square error (MSE), where our system model is as general as possible, i.e., we allow not only for correlations of the symbols and noise, but also model the precoders, the channels, and the equalizers as compact linear operators. We show that a duality with respect to the MSE per user is preferable to the state-of-the-art stream-wise MSE duality, since the uplink/downlink transformation of the user-wise MSE duality has a considerably lower complexity than the one of the stream-wise MSE duality. Interestingly, the uplink/downlink transformation for the total MSE duality is trivial, i.e., a simple weighting with a scalar common for all filters has to be computed. We apply the uplink/downlink duality to derive the operator form of the well-known transmit Wiener filter (TxWF).
Presynaptic pH and vesicle fusion in Drosophila larvae neurones

Both intracellular pH (pHi) and synaptic cleft pH change during neuronal activity yet little is known about how these pH shifts might affect synaptic transmission by influencing vesicle fusion. To address this we imaged pH‐ and Ca2+‐sensitive fluorescent indicators (HPTS, Oregon green) in boutons at neuromuscular junctions. Electrical stimulation of motor nerves evoked presynaptic Ca2+i rises and pHi falls (∼0.1 pH units) followed by recovery of both Ca2+i and pHi. The plasma‐membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) inhibitor, 5(6)‐carboxyeosin diacetate, slowed both the calcium recovery and the acidification. To investigate a possible calcium‐independent role for the pHi shifts in modulating vesicle fusion we recorded post‐synaptic miniature end‐plate potential (mEPP) and current (mEPC) frequency in Ca2+‐free solution. Acidification by propionate superfusion, NH4+ withdrawal, or the inhibition of acid extrusion on the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) induced a rise in miniature frequency. Furthermore, the inhibition of acid extrusion enhanced the rise induced by propionate addition and NH4+ removal. In the presence of NH4+, 10 out of 23 cells showed, after a delay, one or more rises in miniature frequency. These findings suggest that Ca2+‐dependent pHi shifts, caused by the PMCA and regulated by NHE, may stimulate vesicle release. Furthermore, in the presence of membrane permeant buffers, exocytosed acid or its equivalents may enhance release through positive feedback. This hitherto neglected pH signalling, and the potential feedback role of vesicular acid, could explain some important neuronal excitability changes associated with altered pH and its buffering. Synapse 67:729–740, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Agile cargo tracking using mobile agents

Cargo tracking is vital for national security and useful for shippers and their customers. All of these users have different and evolving requirements, placing higher flexibility requirements than existing infrastructure can provide. This flexibility can be provided by equipping each shipping container with a wireless mote, which will form a wireless mesh network and monitor the containers’ contents. Each user can then deploy custom mobile agents to query the contents of the containers. Also, for security purposes, these motes can be equipped with sensors to detect and record anomalous events. We developed AgiTrack, a cargo tracking system using mobile agents in wireless sensor networks. AgiTrack is implemented on Agilla [1] and TinyOS, using Agilla mobile agents to track cargo. Mobile agents are suitable for this application since they allow for flexible and reliable application development and deployment. These agents are small enough for efficient, on-demand deployment. Agilla provides developers with mechanisms for spreading their agents throughout the sensor network. Agilla also provides a tuple space for facilitating inter-agent interactions. This demo presents AgiTrack. It uses 12 MICA2 motes, each attached to one container arranged in a 4x3 stack. These motes sense motion and light using attached MTS310 sensor boards. Two base stations, one on a “ship”, another on a “dock”, serve as aggregation points. The user issues queries from a laptop or PDA, which connects to the aggregation points using 802.11b and Limone [2], a lightweight communication middleware for ad hoc networks. When a
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism an Alternative Method for the Quantitation of Neuronal Damage after Experimental Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats: Analysis of Behavioral Deficit

We tested the hy pothesis that increasing du­ rations of focal ischemia that have been shown to result in enlargement of cortical infarct will be associated with progression of behavioral dy sfunction that can be mea­ sured by a battery of tests sufficiently sensitive and re­ producible to detect a positive effect of pharmacother­ apy. Untreated or N-methy l-D-aspartate receptor antag­ onist (CNS-1102)-treated spontaneously hy pertensive rats underwent 45, 60, 90, or 120 min of tandem middle cerebral and common carotid artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. We then evaluated the extent of damage and its recovery for up to 21 day s using nine behavioral tests aimed at analy zing strength, coordination, and bi­ lateral asymmetry. Also using a graded bioassay that em­ ploy s a curve-fitting computer program (ALLFIT) to cor­ relate duration of ischemia with degree of behavioral dy s­ function, we calculated the average maximal behavioral dy sfunction and duration of ischemia required to produce half-maximal behavioral dy sfunction and compared these Most preclinical evaluations of outcome from stroke have used morphometric assessment of in­ farct volume as their primary measure. It is logical to assume that the volume of infarction will be closely correlated with outcome. However, several studies of neuroprotective drugs have demonstrated improved memory in the absence of histologic pro­ tection after global forebrain ischemia (Grotta et al., 1988, 1990), and behavioral measures are the most 705 values in untreated controls with analogous values ob­ tained from animals treated with CNS-1102. Three behav­ ioral tests, forearm flex, tape (somatosensory neutraliza­ tion), and foot-fault placing, were each separately and combined able to distinguish between the degrees of dam­ age produced by increasing durations of ischemia. The behavioral abnormalities assessed using the tape test were reversible within a week , whereas those using fore­ arm flex or foot-fault tests persisted for at least 21 days. CNS-1102 significantly reduced behavioral dysfunction measured by all three tests. This analysis of behavioral dy sfunction represents a useful experimental mod el to grade efficacy of therapies aimed at protecting the brain from damage produced by acute strok e and might also be used to assess recovery from preexisting ischemic dam­ age. Key Words: Behavioral dy sfunction-Focal isch­ emia-Motor performance-Neurological deficit­ Neuroprotective therapy. reliable outcome in head trauma models (Dixon et al., 1991). Impairment or preservation of complex behavior may reflect changes at a subcellular level or changes in synaptic or …
The histochemistry of the human nail.

The histological divisions of the nail suggested by Lewis have been confirmed by histochemical methods. Definite differences have been demonstrated between the dorsal, intermediate, and ventral nail plates. The upper or dorsal nail plate appears to have the hardest physical structure, and this is probably related to its high calcium content rather than to its disulfide bonding. The intermediate plate is formed from a different matrix and the cells undergo less cytolysis prior to keratinization than those of the dorsal plate. This region forms the main bulk of the nail and lies between the forward-growing dorsal plate and the upward-growing ventral plate. The latter appears to be formed directly from the cells of the nail bed, and as these grow upward they are simultaneously carried forward by the ventral and dorsal portions. Diseases of the nail may primarily affect one, two, or all of the active growth centers, and it is probably because of this that the diverse morphological clinical appearances are produced.
Pruning Decision Trees and Lists

Machine learning algorithms are techniques that automatically build models describing the structure at the heart of a set of data. Ideally, such models can be used to predict properties of future data points and people can use them to analyze the domain from which the data originates. Decision trees and lists are potentially powerful predictors and embody an explicit representation of the structure in a dataset. Their accuracy and comprehensibility depends on how concisely the learning algorithm can summarize this structure. The final model should not incorporate spurious effects—patterns that are not genuine features of the underlying domain. Given an efficient mechanism for determining when a particular effect is due to chance alone, non-predictive parts of a model can be eliminated or “pruned. ” Pruning mechanisms require a sensitive instrument that uses the data to detect whether there is a genuine relationship between the components of a model and the domain. Statistical significance tests are theoretically well-founded tools for doing exactly that. This thesis presents pruning algorithms for decision trees and lists that are based on significance tests. We explain why pruning is often necessary to obtain small and accurate models and show that the performance of standard pruning algorithms can be improved by taking the statistical significance of observations into account. We compare the effect of parametric and non-parametric tests, analyze why current pruning algorithms for decision lists often prune too aggressively, and review related work—in particular existing approaches that use significance tests in the context of pruning. The main outcome of this investigation is a set of simple pruning algorithms that should prove useful in practical data mining applications.
Risk factors for delayed antiretroviral therapy initiation among HIV-seropositive patients

Prompt initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is important to reduce comorbidity and mortality among people living with HIV, especially for those with a low CD4 cell count. However there is evidence that not everyone receives prompt initiation of ART after enrolling into HIV care. The current study investigated factors associated with failure to initiate ART within two years of entering into care among those with a CD4 count at or below 350 cells/mm3. The sample included 4,907 ART-naive patients with a CD4 count at or below 350 cells/mm3 enrolled between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 at any of eight clinical sites in the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS). The two-year risk of delayed ART initiation was estimated using a log-binomial regression model with stabilized inverse probability of censoring weights for those lost to follow-up. Adjusting for other factors, an earlier enrollment date was the sole demographic characteristic associated with an increased risk of delayed ART initiation. Higher CD4 count, lower viral load, and a prevalent AIDS diagnosis were clinical characteristics associated with delayed ART initiation. Gender, age, race/ethnicity and HIV risk factors such as reported male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use were not associated with delayed ART initiation. This study identified characteristics of patients for whom treatment was strongly to moderately recommended but who did not initiate ART within two years of entering care. Despite the known benefits of early antiretroviral therapy initiation, a lower viral load measurement may continue to be an important clinical characteristic in the more recent era with current ART initiation guidelines. These findings provide a target for closer monitoring and intervention to reduce disparities in HIV care.
An Experimental Method for Stereolithic Mandible Fabrication and Image Preparation

Reproduction of anatomical structures by rapid prototyping has proven to be a valid adjunct for craniofacial surgery, providing alternative methods to produce prostheses and development of surgical guides. The aim of this study was to introduce a methodology to fabricate asymmetric human mandibles by rapid prototyping to be used in future studies for evaluating mandibular symmetries. Stereolithic models of human mandibles were produced with varying amounts of asymmetry in the condylar neck, ramus and body of the mandible by means of rapid prototyping. A method for production of the synthetic mandibles was defined. Model preparation, landmark description and development of the experimental model were described. A series of synthetic mandibles ranging in asymmetry were accurately produced from a scanned human mandible. A method for creating the asymmetries, fabricating, coating and landmarking the synthetic mandibles was formulated. A description for designing a reproducible experimental model for image acquisition was also outlined. Production of synthetic mandibles by stereolithic modeling is a viable method for creating skeletal experimental models with known amounts of asymmetry.
Establishing a baseline of estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation resources across salinity zones within coastal areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico

Coastal ecosystems are dynamic and productive areas that are vulnerable to effects of global climate change. Despite their potentially limited spatial extent, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds function in coastal ecosystems as foundation species, and perform important ecological services. However, limited understanding of the factors controlling SAV distribution and abundance across multiple salinity zones (fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline) in the northern Gulf of Mexico restricts the ability of models to accurately predict resource availability. We sampled 384 potential coastal SAV sites across the northern Gulf of Mexico in 2013 and 2014, and examined community and species-specific SAV distribution and biomass in relation to year, salinity, turbidity, and water depth. After two years of sampling, 14 species of SAV were documented, with three species (coontail [Ceratophyllum demersum], Eurasian watermilfoil [Myriophyllum spicatum], and widgeon grass [Ruppia maritima]) accounting for 54% of above-ground biomass collected. Salinity and water depth were dominant drivers of species assemblages but had little effect on SAV biomass. Predicted changes in salinity and water depths along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast will likely alter SAV production and species assemblages, shifting to more saline and depth-tolerant assemblages, which in turn may affect habitat and food resources for associated faunal species.
Personalized, Wearable Control of a Head-mounted Display for Users with Upper Body Motor Impairments

Head-mounted displays provide relatively hands-free interaction that could improve mobile computing access for users with motor impairments. To investigate this largely unexplored area, we present two user studies. The first, smaller study evaluated the accessibility of Google Glass, a head-mounted display, with 6 participants. Findings revealed potential benefits of a head-mounted display yet demonstrated the need for alternative means of controlling Glass-3 of the 6 participants could not use it at all. We then conducted a second study with 12 participants to evaluate a potential alternative input mechanism that could allow for accessible control of a head-mounted display: switch-based wearable touchpads that can be affixed to the body or wheelchair. The study assessed input performance with three sizes of touchpad, investigated personalization patterns when participants were asked to place the touchpads on their body or wheelchair, and elicited subjective responses. All 12 participants were able to use the touchpads to control the display, and patterns of touchpad placement point to the value of personalization in providing support for each user's motor abilities.
An Evolutionary Approach for Identifying Driver Mutations in Colorectal Cancer

The traditional view of cancer as a genetic disease that can successfully be treated with drugs targeting mutant onco-proteins has motivated whole-genome sequencing efforts in many human cancer types. However, only a subset of mutations found within the genomic landscape of cancer is likely to provide a fitness advantage to the cell. Distinguishing such “driver” mutations from innocuous “passenger” events is critical for prioritizing the validation of candidate mutations in disease-relevant models. We design a novel statistical index, called the Hitchhiking Index, which reflects the probability that any observed candidate gene is a passenger alteration, given the frequency of alterations in a cross-sectional cancer sample set, and apply it to a mutational data set in colorectal cancer. Our methodology is based upon a population dynamics model of mutation accumulation and selection in colorectal tissue prior to cancer initiation as well as during tumorigenesis. This methodology can be used to aid in the prioritization of candidate mutations for functional validation and contributes to the process of drug discovery.
Stimulation of in vitro transcription from the SV40 early promoter by the enhancer involves a specific trans‐acting factor.

A nuclear extract prepared from HeLa cells has been used to study in vitro the transcription of the SV40 early promoter. The deletion of the enhancer results in a strong decrease of transcription, with spermidine and MgCl2 being critical variables in the transcription reactions. Furthermore a competition assay indicates that the stimulation by the enhancer is due to a specific trans‐acting factor(s) which acts on it. This factor appears not to interact with SV40 or adenovirus‐2 major late upstream (distal) promoter sequences, and its ability to bind to the enhancer is diminished by mutations known to decrease enhancer function in vivo and in vitro.