Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Rule Weighting Approach in Classification Association Rule Mining

Classification association rule mining (CARM) is a recent classification rule mining approach that builds an association rule mining based classifier using classification association rules (CARs). Regardless of which particular CARM algorithm is used, a similar set of CARs is always generated from data, and a classifier is usually presented as an ordered CAR list, based on a selected rule ordering strategy. In the past decade, a number of rule ordering strategies have been introduced that can be categorized under three headings: (1) support-confidence, (2) rule weighting, and (3) hybrid. In this paper, we propose an alternative rule-weighting scheme, namely CISRW (class-item score based rule weighting), and develop a rule-weighting based rule ordering mechanism based on CISRW. Subsequently, two hybrid strategies are further introduced by combining (1) and CISRW. The experimental results show that the three proposed CISRW based/related rule ordering strategies perform well with respect to the accuracy of classification.
Serial Spike Time Correlations Affect Probability Distribution of Joint Spike Events

Detecting the existence of temporally coordinated spiking activity, and its role in information processing in the cortex, has remained a major challenge for neuroscience research. Different methods and approaches have been suggested to test whether the observed synchronized events are significantly different from those expected by chance. To analyze the simultaneous spike trains for precise spike correlation, these methods typically model the spike trains as a Poisson process implying that the generation of each spike is independent of all the other spikes. However, studies have shown that neural spike trains exhibit dependence among spike sequences, such as the absolute and relative refractory periods which govern the spike probability of the oncoming action potential based on the time of the last spike, or the bursting behavior, which is characterized by short epochs of rapid action potentials, followed by longer episodes of silence. Here we investigate non-renewal processes with the inter-spike interval distribution model that incorporates spike-history dependence of individual neurons. For that, we use the Monte Carlo method to estimate the full shape of the coincidence count distribution and to generate false positives for coincidence detection. The results show that compared to the distributions based on homogeneous Poisson processes, and also non-Poisson processes, the width of the distribution of joint spike events changes. Non-renewal processes can lead to both heavy tailed or narrow coincidence distribution. We conclude that small differences in the exact autostructure of the point process can cause large differences in the width of a coincidence distribution. Therefore, manipulations of the autostructure for the estimation of significance of joint spike events seem to be inadequate.
Eigen-properties of the information state-space

The purpose of this paper is to examine the eigen-properties for a particular complex field mapping proposed in Bundell (1993) to represent the 2D time-event state-space proposed by Cohen et al. (1989). This work extends the definition of the characteristic equation developed by Olsder & Roos (1988) for the max algebra to the information (time-event) state-space and examines an approach to its solution. An examples is given to illustrate the approach.
A Review of Battery Energy Storage Systems for Residential DC Microgrids and Their Economical Comparisons

In residential DC microgrids integrated with renewable energy sources (RESs), prosumer’s power generation and load demand are not matched due to inherent sporadic nature of RESs. One way to address this issue is to add an energy storage system (ESS). The ESS is useful in fluctuation suppression, load following, time shifting, peak shaving, energy saving and emergency power. Moreover, an ESS will resolve overvoltage issue in utility grids due to exported surplus energy from residential RESs. Therefore, this paper will review battery ESSs that can be used in residential DC microgrids. Three major battery chemistries, i.e. leadacid, lithium ion (Li-ion) and Zinc bromine (ZB) are reviewed. The analysis of the levelized cost of energy reveals that lead-acid batteries are economically less competitive compared with Li-ion and ZB batteries in residential DC microgrid applications.
A clustering-based downlink resource allocation algorithm for small cell networks

This paper proposes a clustering-based downlink resource allocation (CDRA) algorithm for allocating downlink spectrum resources in small cell networks. To improve the system capacity, the proposed CDRA algorithm introduces clustering before resource allocation, and proposes a new clustering method to divide all small cells in the system into a set of clusters. Based on three clustering principles, those small cells that are adjacent to each other are grouped into one cluster. After clustering, resource allocation is performed for the macro cell and each small cell based on the priority of the macro cell and each small cell. The macro cell is given a higher priority than all small cells while the priority of a small cell depends on the size of the largest cluster it belongs to and the number of clusters it belongs to. Moreover, the users in a particular cell or cluster can only be allocated different physical resource blocks (PRBs). Only those users in different clusters or between the macro cell and small cells can share the same PRBs. Simulation results show that the proposed CDRA algorithm can significantly improve the system capacity as compared to two existing clustering-based resource allocation algorithms for small cell networks.
Meta-analyses on suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease genes: a summary of 20 years' research.

RATIONALE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disorder with high mortality worldwide. Studies on the role of candidate genes and their polymorphisms in COPD development have so far produced ambiguous results. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to reveal the role of COPD candidate genes using data collected in previous research. METHODS We performed meta-analyses on 20 polymorphisms in 12 genes, after searching the PubMed and Embase databases for publications on COPD. These genes involve three main pathways associated with COPD development: the inflammatory, protease-antiprotease balance, and antioxidant pathways. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We obtained significant results for three TGFB1 polymorphisms, although these were based only on a few studies. The IL1RN VNTR polymorphism increases the risk for COPD (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.65), whereas the TNFA -308 G/A polymorphism does so only in Asian populations (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.21-3.31). The GSTP1 I105V polymorphism was protective for COPD in Asian populations only (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.85). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the importance of ethnicity in identifying specific COPD genes.
CoCoGen - Complexity Contour Generator: Automatic Assessment of Linguistic Complexity Using a Sliding-Window Technique

We present a novel approach to the automatic assessment of text complexity based on a sliding-window technique that tracks the distribution of complexity within a text. Such distribution is captured by what we term “complexity contours” derived from a series of measurements for a given linguistic complexity measure. This approach is implemented in an automatic computational tool, CoCoGen – Complexity Contour Generator, which in its current version supports 32 indices of linguistic complexity. The goal of the paper is twofold: (1) to introduce the design of our computational tool based on a sliding-window technique and (2) to showcase this approach in the area of second language (L2) learning, i.e. more specifically, in the area of L2 writing.
Electrospinning Hetero-Nanofibers In2O3/SnO2 of Homotype Heterojunction with High Gas Sensing Activity

In2O3/SnO2 composite hetero-nanofibers were synthesized by an electrospinning technique for detecting indoor volatile organic gases. The physical and chemical properties of In2O3/SnO2 hetero-nanofibers were characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), specific surface Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Gas sensing properties of In2O3/SnO2 composite hetero-nanofibers were measured with six kinds of indoor volatile organic gases in concentration range of 0.5~50 ppm at the operating temperature of 275 °C. The In2O3/SnO2 composite hetero-nanofibers sensor exhibited good formaldehyde sensing properties, which would be attributed to the formation of n-n homotype heterojunction in the In2O3/SnO2 composite hetero-nanofibers. Finally, the sensing mechanism of the In2O3/SnO2 composite hetero-nanofibers was analyzed based on the energy-band principle.
Isokinetic Testing in Evaluation Rehabilitation Outcome After ACL Reconstruction

Introduction: Numerous rehab protocols have been used in rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction. Isokinetic testing is an objective way to evaluate dynamic stability of the knee joint that estimates the quality of rehabilitation outcome after ACL reconstruction. Our investigation goal was to show importance of isokinetic testing in evaluation thigh muscle strength in patients which underwent ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation protocol. Subjects and methods: In prospective study, we evaluated 40 subjects which were divided into two groups. Experimental group consisted of 20 recreational males which underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon and rehabilitation protocol 6 months before isokinetic testing. Control group (20 subjects) consisted of healthy recreational males. In all subjects knee muscle testing was performed on a Biodex System 4 Pro isokinetic dynamo-meter et velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s. We followed average peak torque to body weight (PT/BW) and classic H/Q ratio. In statistical analysis Student’s T test was used. Results: There were statistically significant differences between groups in all evaluated parameters except of the mean value of PT/BW of the quadriceps et velocity of 60°/s (p>0.05). Conclusion: Isokinetic testing of dynamic stabilizers of the knee is need in diagnostic and treatment thigh muscle imbalance. We believe that isokinetic testing is an objective parameter for return to sport activities after ACL reconstruction.
Long‐Term Changes in Global Socioeconomic Benefits of Flood Defenses and Residual Risk Based on CMIP5 Climate Models

A warmer climate is expected to accelerate the global hydrological cycle, causing more intense precipitation and floods. Despite recent progress in global flood risk assessment, the socioeconomic benefits of flood defenses (i.e., reduction in population/economic exposure) and the residual risk (i.e., residual population/economic exposure) are poorly understood globally and regionally. To address these knowledge gaps, we use the runoff data from a baseline and 11 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models to drive the Catchment‐based Macro‐scale Floodplain model incorporating the latest satellite river width information. From the simulated annual maxima, we use a Gumbel distribution to estimate the river water depth‐flood return period relationship. We independently evaluate flood impacts on population and economy (i.e., gross domestic product) for a range of flood return periods. We estimate the socioeconomic benefits and the corresponding residual risk for the globe and 26 subcontinental regions. The global population (gross domestic product) exposed to flooding is ∼8% (∼7%) per year lower when implementing existing flood protection infrastructure extracted from the FLOod PROtection Standards database. If the current flood defenses were to be unchanged in the future (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 [RCP4.5] and RCP8.5, i.e., ∼2 to ∼4.3°C above the preindustrial levels), the globe and most of the regions (particularly where developing countries are concentrated) would experience an increase in residual risk. This increase is especially obvious when the gap of climate forcing between RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 widens by the end of the 21st century. We finally evaluate the impact of changed flood defense levels on the socioeconomic benefits and the corresponding residual risk.
Acute Kidney Injury After Primary Angioplasty: Is Contrast‐Induced Nephropathy the Culprit?

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is frequently interpreted as contrast‐induced AKI but may result from other insults. We aimed to determine the causal association of contrast material exposure and the incidence of AKI following pPCI using a control group of propensity score–matched patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction who were not exposed to contrast material. Methods and Results We studied 2025 patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction who underwent pPCI and 1025 patients receiving fibrinolysis or no reperfusion who were not exposed to contrast material during the first 72 hours of hospital stay (control group). AKI was defined as creatinine of ≥0.5 mg/dL or >25% rise within 72 hours. AKI rates were similar in the pPCI and control groups (10.3% versus 12.1%, respectively; P=0.38). Propensity score matching resulted in 931 matched pairs with PCI and no PCI, with balanced baseline covariates (standardized difference <0.1). Among propensity score–matched patients, AKI rates were not significantly different with and without PCI (8.6% versus 10.9%, P=0.12). In the pPCI cohort, independent predictors of AKI included age ≥70 years, insulin‐treated diabetes mellitus, diuretic therapy, anterior infarction, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, and variables related to the presence of pump failure (higher Killip class, intra‐aortic balloon pump use) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction but not contrast material dose. A risk score based on the PCI cohort had similar discriminatory capacity for AKI in the control group (C statistic 0.81±0.02 and 0.78±0.02, respectively; P=0.26). Conclusions The development of AKI in patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction undergoing pPCI is mainly related to older age, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, heart failure, and hemodynamic instability. Risk for AKI is similar among ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients with and without contrast material exposure.
Adaptive input design in system identification

Recently there have been significant developments in re-casting experiment design problems in system identification as convex optimization problems. The practical implementation of these methods is hampered by the fact that typically the "data" in the optimization problem depend on the to be identified system. In this contribution we propose an adaptive certainty equivalence solution based on a recursively identified model. The input design is adapted by taking one Newton step using data from the last identified model.
From Trusted to Secure: Building and Executing Applications That Enforce System Security

Commercial operating systems have recently introduced mandatory access controls (MAC) that can be used to ensure system-wide data confidentiality and integrity. These protections rely on restricting the flow of information between processes based on security levels. The problem is, there are many applications that defy simple classification by security level, some of them essential for system operation. Surprisingly, the common practice among these operating systems is simply to mark these applications as "trusted", and thus allow them to bypass label protections. This compromise is not a limitation of MAC or the operating system services that enforce it, but simply a fundamental inability of any operating system to reason about how applications treat sensitive data internally--and thus the OS must either restrict the data that they receive or trust them to handle it correctly. These practices were developed prior to the advent security-typed languages. These languages provide a means of reasoning about how the OS's sensitive data is handled within applications. Thus, applications can be shown to enforce system security by guaranteeing, in advance of execution, that they will adhere to the OS's MAC policy. In this paper, we provide an architecture for an operating system service, that integrate security-typed language with operating system MAC services. We have built an implementation of this service, called SIESTA, which handles applications developed in the security-typed language, Jif, running on the SELinux operating system. We also provide some sample applications to demonstrate the security, flexibility and efficiency of our approach.
Lithic taphonomy of the Châtelperronian/Aurignacian interstratifications in Roc de Combe and Le Piage (Lot, France)

The goal of this paper is to present the main conclusions of a taphonomic analysis of the lithics from Roc de Combe and Le Piage in order to test the reality of the Châtelperronian/Aurignacian interstratifications diagnosed at these two sites. The analysis includes data from unpublished sources and uses the search of refits across stratigraphic units as a testing device. Results are that the interstratifications do not correspond to a real archeological sequence, but are actually the result of post-depositional processes. At Roc de Combe, interstratified levels 9 and 10 were not recognized during the excavation and correspond in fact to a selection of putatively diagnostic tools in what appears to be a mixed zone that includes artifacts belonging to technocomplexes (from Mousterian to Gravettian) which, elsewhere at the site, follow the classic Aquitaine sequence. At Le Piage, the spatial and stratigraphic distribution of Châtelperron points was used to demonstrate the presence of an interstratification, but the refits show that those items derive from a zone located above the rockshelter and are redeposited on top of undisturbed Aurignacian assemblages. Portions of these sites are well-preserved and contain important cultural information contributing to an improved understanding of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in western France.
Generating Optimal Plans in Highly-Dynamic Domains

Generating optimal plans in highly dynamic environments is challenging. Plans are predicated on an assumed initial state, but this state can change unexpectedly during plan generation, potentially invalidating the planning effort. In this paper we make three contributions: (1) We propose a novel algorithm for generating optimal plans in settings where frequent, unexpected events interfere with planning. It is able to quickly distinguish relevant from irrelevant state changes, and to update the existing planning search tree if necessary. (2) We argue for a new criterion for evaluating plan adaptation techniques: the relative running time compared to the "size" of changes. This is significant since during recovery more changes may occur that need to be recovered from subsequently, and in order for this process of repeated recovery to terminate, recovery time has to converge. (3) We show empirically that our approach can converge and find optimal plans in environments that would ordinarily defy planning due to their high dynamics.
A sequential updating scheme of the Lagrange multiplier for separable convex programming

The augmented Lagrangian method (ALM) is a benchmark for solving convex minimization problems with linear constraints. Solving the augmented subproblems over the primal variables can be regarded as sequentially providing inputs for updating the Lagrange multiplier (i.e., the dual variable). We consider the separable case of a convex minimization problem where its objective function is the sum of more than two functions without coupled variables. When applying the ALM to this case, at each iteration we can (sometimes must) split the resulting augmented subproblem in order to generate decomposed subproblems which are often easy enough to have closedform solutions. But the decomposition of primal variables only provides less accurate inputs for updating the Lagrange multiplier, and it points out the lack of convergence for such a decomposition scheme. To remedy this difficulty, we propose to update the Lagrange multiplier sequentially once each decomposed subproblem over the primal variables is solved. This scheme updates both the primal and dual variables in Gauss-Seidel fashion. In addition to the exact version which is useful enough for the case where the functions in the objective are all simple such that the decomposed subproblems all have closed-form solutions, we investigate an inexact version of this scheme which allows the decomposed subproblems to be solved approximately subject to certain inexactness criteria. Some preliminary numerical results when the proposed scheme is respectively applied to an image decomposition problem and an allocation problem are reported.
Angiopoietin-1 inhibits toll-like receptor 4 signalling in cultured endothelial cells: role of miR-146b-5p.

AIMS Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induce innate immune inflammatory responses in endothelial cells by activating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling. Here, we investigate the effects of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) on LPS-induced TLR4 signalling and the role of the miR-146 family of micro RNAs in the effects of Ang-1 on TRL4 signalling. METHODS AND RESULTS Leucocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was detected using fluorescence microscopy. Adhesion molecule, pro-inflammatory cytokine, miR-146a, and miR-146b-5p expressions in HUVECs were quantified using real-time PCR. TLR4 signalling protein levels were measured using immunoblotting. Exposure of HUVECs to LPS for 4-6 h induces robust inflammatory responses, including enhanced leucocyte adhesion, up-regulation of adhesion molecule expression (VCAM1, ICAM1, E-SELECTIN), enhanced cytokine production (TNFα, IL1β, IL6, and IL8), and increased NFκB luciferase reporter activity. Addition of Ang-1 to the culture medium for 24 h prior to LPS exposure significantly attenuates these responses. Prolonged Ang-1 exposure significantly decreases IRAK1 and TRAF6 protein levels but has no effect on TLR4, MYD88, IRAK4, or TAK1 expressions. Ang-1 triggers significant up-regulation of miR-146b-5p levels but has no effect on miR-146a or miR-146b-3p expressions. Transfection of HUVECs with a miR-146b-5p mimic significantly attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory responses and IRAK1 and TRAF6 expressions. In HUVECs transfected with a miR-146b-5p inhibitor, Ang-1 has no effect on LPS-induced inflammatory responses or IRAK1 and TRAF6 expressions. CONCLUSION Ang-1 disrupts TLR4 signalling, resulting in inhibition of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in endothelial cells. This inhibition occurs through selective targeting of IRAK1 and TRAF6 proteins by miR-146b-5p.