Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social responsibility in infrastructure mega-projects: A case study of ecological compensation for Sousa chinensis during the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

Ecological compensation plays an important role in implementing the social responsibility of infrastructure mega-projects. Based on the results of a field study, an in-depth interview, and archive data, this paper introduces the ecological compensation for Sousa chinensis (the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin) during the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. It studies the concrete measures, decision-making processes, and organizational collaboration of the ecological compensation, using the method of a case study. The present study not only enriches our understanding of the ecological compensation practice during the construction of infrastructure mega-projects, but also extends the literature on the social responsibility of infrastructure mega-projects. This sheds light on the protection of the environment as well as biodiversity in the construction of future infrastructure mega-projects.
Weakly-Supervised Alignment of Video with Text

Suppose that we are given a set of videos, along with natural language descriptions in the form of multiple sentences (e.g., manual annotations, movie scripts, sport summaries etc.), and that these sentences appear in the same temporal order as their visual counterparts. We propose in this paper a method for aligning the two modalities, i.e., automatically providing a time (frame) stamp for every sentence. Given vectorial features for both video and text, this can be cast as a temporal assignment problem, with an implicit linear mapping between the two feature modalities. We formulate this problem as an integer quadratic program, and solve its continuous convex relaxation using an efficient conditional gradient algorithm. Several rounding procedures are proposed to construct the final integer solution. After demonstrating significant improvements over the state of the art on the related task of aligning video with symbolic labels [7], we evaluate our method on a challenging dataset of videos with associated textual descriptions [37], and explore bag-of-words and continuous representations for text.
Combinatorial Approaches to Finding Subtle Signals in DNA Sequences

Signal finding (pattern discovery in unaligned DNA sequences) is a fundamental problem in both computer science and molecular biology with important applications in locating regulatory sites and drug target identification. Despite many studies, this problem is far from being resolved: most signals in DNA sequences are so complicated that we don't yet have good models or reliable algorithms for their recognition. We complement existing statistical and machine learning approaches to this problem by a combinatorial approach that proved to be successful in identifying very subtle signals.
Application of direct adaptive generalized predictive control (GPCAD) to a robotic joint

The number of robots working in industry significantly increases due to their capacity to realize operations that requires flexibility, rapidity and accuracy. However, as quick flexible manipulators are essential to achieve this performance leading to a minor production time and small energy consumption, more resourceful control algorithms must be implemented, which can cope with important parameters variations, such as inertia. On the other side, even if predictive control has proved to be an efficient control strategy in industry, the maintenance of a high level of performances may be impossible to reach with a fixed predictive controller in case of important parameters variations. A solution is then to develop an adaptive version of the predictive controller for systems with parametric disturbances. This paper presents a direct version of adaptive generalized predictive control. The algorithm is rewritten in an original form minimizing a performance index, using a least-squares type strategy for the controller parameters on line identification and including a conditional updating test in the adaptation loop. An application of this structure to a robotic joint is finally developed, and a comparison between fixed predictive control and adaptive predictive control strategies stresses the advantages of adaptation in case of important inertia variations.
Area-Delay Estimation by Concurrent Optimization of FPGA Architecture Parameters using Geometric Programming

paper presents the application of geometric programming for combined high-level and low-level architecture parameter exploration. This paper builds an geometric programming framework for reconfigurable architectures, and presents a full delay and area model of an FPGA. This optimization allows high-level architectural parameter selection and the transistor sizing to be done concurrently. The transistor values are derived using 45nm predictive technology model. CVX framework for MATLAB is used to run the geometric programming framework. The area and critical path delay are determined for given cost function by single-stage and multi- stage approach.
Mode locking in a periodically forced integrate-and-fire-or-burst neuron model.

The minimal "integrate-and-fire-or-burst" (IFB) neuron model reproduces the salient features of experimentally observed thalamocortical relay neuron response properties, including the temporal tuning of both tonic spiking (i.e., conventional action potentials) and post-inhibitory rebound bursting mediated by the low-threshold Ca2+ current, I(T). In previous work focusing on experimental and IFB model responses to sinusoidal current injection, large regions of stimulus parameter space were observed for which the response was entrained to periodic applied current, resulting in repetitive burst, tonic, or mixed (i.e., burst followed by tonic) responses. Here we present an exact analysis of such mode-locking in the integrate-and-fire-or-burst model under the influence of arbitrary periodic forcing that includes sinusoidally driven responses as one case. In this analysis, the instabilities of mode-locked states are identified as both smooth bifurcations of an associated firing time map and nonsmooth bifurcations of the underlying discontinuous flow. The explicit construction of borders in parameter space that define the instabilities of mode-locked zones is used to build up the Arnol'd tongue structure for the model. The zones for mode-locking are shown to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations and are used to explore the observed stimulus dependence of burst versus tonic response of the IFB neuron model.
Development of an AP-FRET Based Analysis for Characterizing RNA-Protein Interactions in Myotonic Dystrophy (DM1)

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) microscopy is a powerful tool used to identify molecular interactions in live or fixed cells using a non-radiative transfer of energy from a donor fluorophore in the excited state to an acceptor fluorophore in close proximity. FRET can be a very sensitive tool to study protein-protein and/or protein-nucleic acids interactions. RNA toxicity is implicated in a number of disorders; especially those associated with expanded repeat sequences, such as myotonic dystrophy. Myotonic dystrophy (DM1) is caused by a (CTG)n repeat expansion in the 3′ UTR of the DMPK gene which results in nuclear retention of mutant DMPK transcripts in RNA foci. This results in toxic gain-of-function effects mediated through altered functions of RNA-binding proteins (e.g. MBNL1, hnRNPH, CUGBP1). In this study we demonstrate the potential of a new acceptor photobleaching assay to measure FRET (AP-FRET) between RNA and protein. We chose to focus on the interaction between MBNL1 and mutant DMPK mRNA in cells from DM1 patients due to the strong microscopic evidence of their co-localization. Using this technique we have direct evidence of intracellular interaction between MBNL1 and the DMPK RNA. Furthermore using the AP-FRET assay and MBNL1 mutants, we show that all four zinc-finger motifs in MBNL1 are crucial for MBNL1-RNA foci interactions. The data derived using this new assay provides compelling evidence for the interaction between RNA binding proteins and RNA foci, and mechanistic insights into MBNL1-RNA foci interaction demonstrating the power of AP-FRET in examining RNA-Protein interactions in DM1.
Information-Theoretic Limits of Selecting Binary Graphical Models in High Dimensions

The problem of graphical model selection is to estimate the graph structure of a Markov random field given samples from it. We analyze the information-theoretic limitations of the problem of graph selection for binary Markov random fields under high-dimensional scaling, in which the graph size and the number of edges k, and/or the maximal node degree d, are allowed to increase to infinity as a function of the sample size n. For pair-wise binary Markov random fields, we derive both necessary and sufficient conditions for correct graph selection over the class Gp,k of graphs on vertices with at most k edges, and over the class Gp,d of graphs on p vertices with maximum degree at most d. For the class Gp,k, we establish the existence of constants c and c' such that if n <; ck log p, any method has error probability at least 1/2 uniformly over the family, and we demonstrate a graph decoder that succeeds with high probability uniformly over the family for sample sizes n >; c' k2 log p. Similarly, for the class Gp,d, we exhibit constants c and c' such that for n <; cd2 log p, any method fails with probability at least 1/2, and we demonstrate a graph decoder that succeeds with high probability for n >; c' d3 log p.
Optimisation of switching losses and harmonic performance using Model Predictive Control of a Cascaded H-bridge multi-level StatCom

This paper further develops a Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme which is able to exploit the large number of redundant switching states available in a multi-level H-bridge StatCom (H-StatCom). The new sections of the scheme provide optimised methods to trade off the harmonic performance with converter switching losses and capacitor voltage ripple. Varying the pulse placement within the modulation scheme and modifying the heuristic model of the voltage balancing characteristics allows the MPC scheme to achieve superior performance to that of the industry standard phase shifted modulation technique. Simulation and experimental results are presented that confirm the correct operation of the control and modulation strategies.
Family History and Prostate Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Cohort of Iowa Men 1

A family history of prostate cancer has been associated with prostate cancer risk in most prior studies, and more limited data suggest that a family history of breast cancer may also be important; however, there are no data from a population-based cohort study of prostate cancer incidence that adjusts for major confounders. We conducted follow-up through 1995 on 1557 men, ages 40– 86 years, who were randomly selected (81% response rate) as cancer-free controls for a population-based casecontrol study conducted in Iowa from 1987–1989. Family history of cancer in parents and siblings was obtained using a mailed questionnaire. Incident cancers and deaths were ascertained through linkages to state and national databases; 101 incident cases of prostate cancer were identified. At baseline, 4.6% of the cohort reported a family history of prostate cancer in a brother or father, and this was positively associated with prostate cancer risk after adjustment for age [relative risk (RR) 5 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8–5.7] or after multivariate adjustment for age, alcohol, and dietary factors (RR 5 3.7; 95% CI, 1.9–7.2). Risk was greater if a brother had prostate cancer (RR 5 4.5; 95% CI, 2.1– 9.7) than if a father had prostate cancer (RR 5 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0–5.3). Also at baseline, 9.6% of the cohort had a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer in a mother or sister, and this was positively associated with prostate cancer risk (age-adjusted RR 5 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0–3.0; multivariate RR 5 1.7; 95% CI, 0.9–3.2). Men with a family history of both prostate and breast/ovarian cancer were also at increased risk of prostate cancer (RR 5 5.8; 95% CI, 2.4–14). There was no association with a family history of colon cancer. Exclusion of welldifferentiated, localized tumors did not alter these findings. These data from an incidence study confirm that a family history of prostate cancer is a strong prostate cancer risk factor after adjustment for dietary and other risk factors, and suggest that selection and recall bias have not had an important influence on most case-control study results. These data also support the idea that a family history of breast cancer may also be a prostate cancer risk factor.
Efficient Constraint Validation for Updated XML Database

XML constraints are either schema constraints representing rules about document structure (e.g. a DTD, an XML Schema definition or a specification in Relax-NG), or integrity constraints, which are rules about the values contained in documents (e.g. primary keys, foreign keys, etc.). We address the problem of incrementally verifying these constraints when documents are modified by updates. The structure of an XML document is a tree, whose nodes are element (or attribute) names and whose leaves are associated to values contained in the document. Considered updates are insertion, deletion or replacement of any subtree in the XML tree. Schema constraints are represented by tree automata and tree grammars. Key and foreign key constraints are represented by attribute grammars, adding semantic rules to schema grammars, to carry key and foreign key values (to verify their properties). Our incremental validation tests both schema and integrity constraints while treating the sequence of updates, in only one pass over the document. Only nodes involved in updates trigger validation tests. An analysis of complexity shows that worst cases are determined by the shape of the XML tree being processed (asymptotic upper bounds are presented). Experimental results show that our algorithms behave efficiently in practice.
Proceedings of the 5th Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation Integrated Resource Management for Cluster-based Internet Services

Client request rates for Internet services tend to be bursty and thus it is important to maintain efficient resource utilization under a wide range of load conditions. Network service clients typically seek services interactively and maintaining reasonable response time is often imperative for such services. In addition, providing differentiated service qualities and resource allocation to multiple service classes can also be desirable at times. This paper presents an integrated resource management framework (part of Neptune system) that provides flexible service quality specification, efficient resource utilization, and service differentiation for cluster-based services. This framework introduces the metric of quality-aware service yield to combine the overall system efficiency and individual service response time in one flexible model. Resources are managed through a two-level request distribution and scheduling scheme. At the cluster level, a fully decentralized request distribution architecture is employed to achieve high scalability and availability. Inside each service node, an adaptive scheduling policy maintains efficient resource utilization under a wide range of load conditions. Our trace-driven evaluations demonstrate the performance, scalability, and service differentiation achieved by the proposed techniques.
A Polynomial Time Algorithm for Constructing k-Maintainable Policies

In this paper we present a polynomial time algorithm for constructing k-maintainable policies (Nakamura, Baral, & Bjareland 2000). Our algorithm, in polynomial time, constructs a k-maintainable control policy, if one exists, or tells that no such policy is possible. Our algorithm is based on SAT Solving, and employs a suitable formulation of the existence of k-maintainable control in a fragment of SAT which is tractable. We then give a logic programming implementation of our algorithm and use it to give a standard procedural algorithm. We then present several complexity results about constructing k-maintainable controls, under different assumptions such as k = 1, and compact representation.
Data quality comparative model for data warehouse

The growth of daily data and complexity in data warehouse with enhanced the information technology has created new challenges for information user. The demand for quality data has increase an awareness of the quality, reliable and accuracy of information in making fast and reliable decision-making. Nowadays, many organizations are depending on their resources in data warehouse. As that matter of fact, the qualities of data warehouse are greatly concern. The poor and error data will cause more trouble in data warehouse as data accessed from the same resources by the user. Here we present the systematic review comparative model to determine the data quality model as further research in our studies.
Prediction of Osteonecrosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Femoral Neck Fractures

Thirty-one patients undergoing internal fixation for femoral neck fractures who were examined by magnetic resonance imaging at 2, 6, and 12 months after surgery and who could be followed up more than 2 years were enrolled in the current study. The items investigated were timing of the appearance of the band image on T1 weighted images, magnetic resonance imaging classification, and plain radiographs. Band images were observed 2 months after surgery in eight patients and 6 months in 12 patients (39% of all patients). According to the location and extent of the band image on magnetic resonance imaging, one patient was classified in the B1 Group (lateral type), four patients in the B2 Group (surface type), three patients in the B3 Group (intermediate type), and four patients in the B4 Group (extended type). Band images appeared in all patients in the B4 Group 6 months after surgery. Femoral heads of the patients in the B3 and B4 Groups by magnetic resonance imaging classification all were collapsed. On plain radiographs, osteonecrosis of the femoral head could be diagnosed in eight patients between 11 and 24 months after injury. The interval giving the greatest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head by magnetic resonance imaging was 6 months after surgery.
Visual abstraction of wildlife footage using Gaussian mixture models and the minimum description length criterion

We present a novel approach for clip-based key frame extraction. Our framework allows both clips with subtle changes as well as clips containing rapid shot changes, fades and dissolves to be well approximated. We show that creating key frame video abstractions can be achieved by transforming each frame of a video sequence into an eigenspace and then clustering this space using Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). A minimum description length (MDL) criterion is then used to determine the optimal number of GMM components to use in the clustering. The image nearest to the centres of each of the GMM components are selected as key frames. Unlike previous work, this technique relies on global video clip properties and results show that the key frames extracted give a very good representation of the overall clip content. We demonstrate the application of this technique on a database of 307 clips of wildlife footage containing dissolves, shot changes, fades, pans, zooms and a wide range of animal behaviours.
Robust hybrid fuzzy logic control of a novel two-wheeled robotic vehicle with a movable payload under various operating conditions

A novel design of two-wheeled double inverted pendulum-like vehicle with a movable payload is presented in this paper. The developed design extends the abilities of the vehicle with five degrees of freedom. The increase of degrees of freedom provides the vehicle with more flexibility in maneuvering in narrow spaces and limited travel distances. The dynamic model of the system is derived using Euler-Lagrange approach and simulated in Matlab Simulink environment. A hybrid fuzzy logic control approach is adopted to control and stabilise the vehicle. Various external disturbances are applied to the system to test the robustness of the control approach. It is demonstrated that the proposed controller successfully stabilises the vehicle in the upright position.
Compiler based approach to estimate software reliability using metrics

This paper discusses a compiler-based approach to estimate the reliability of Object-Oriented Programs. In this approach, automated analysis of the code results in increased efficiency of analysis and estimation of complexity. Different aspects of an object-oriented program that contribute to complexity of the developed software and there by reflect upon its reliability are estimated from the developed program. A code-based analysis on the other hand would require several parsing of the program each time some information is required. In contrast to other approaches, this approach uses a compiler based approach for the estimation of reliability.
A study of the immunocytoadherence test in the serology of experimental sporotrichosis.

The immunocytoadherence (ICA) test was used for the detection of an immune response in animals with sporotrichosis. Two groups of 12 male Hartley guinea pigs, injected intrascrotally with 4 X 108 viable cells of Sporothrix schenckii and kept in a room at 10 C, developed a localized infection. Rosettes appeared during the acute stage of the infection and disappeared during the healing process. The detection of these circulating, antibody-producing cells indicated that immunoglobulins had been produced against S. schenckii. These results suggest that the ICA test warrants further investigation as a serologic method for the detection of an immunologic response in human sporotrichosis.
Self-rated health and the "first move" around retirement: a longitudinal study of older Americans.

PURPOSE I examine whether less favorable self-rated health raises the risk of outmigration more for young-old adults (aged 53-63 at the start of the 10-year longitudinal study in 1994) in nonmetro than metro counties and increases the odds that both groups of outmigrants will choose metro over nonmetro destinations. Finally, I examine whether nonmetro outmigrants are more likely than metro outmigrants to cite a health concern or a desire to get closer to relatives or friends as a reason for the migration. METHODS I use the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to track the main residences of nonmetro and metro older adults from 1994-2003. With a discrete-time Event History Analysis, I assess the joint effects of nonmetro/metro residence in 1994 and self-rated health (updated at each biennial wave) upon the risk of a first migration. Those who migrated were asked to recall why. FINDINGS At worse levels of self-rated health, the odds of remaining in a nonmetro county of residence drop in favor of migrating to another nonmetro county. Among migrants, the worse the self-rated health, the higher the odds of within-type migration (nonmetro-nonmetro and metro-metro) over cross-type migration (nonmetro-metro and metro-nonmetro). The percentages of migrants citing a health concern or a desire to live closer to relatives or friends as a reason for migration do not differ by county type of origin. CONCLUSIONS An implication for rural health policy is that young-old adults with worse self-rated health tend to remain in nonmetro areas, even when they migrate.