Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generalized Team Draft Interleaving

Interleaving is an online evaluation method that compares two ranking functions by mixing their results and interpreting the users' click feedback. An important property of an interleaving method is its sensitivity, i.e. the ability to obtain reliable comparison outcomes with few user interactions. Several methods have been proposed so far to improve interleaving sensitivity, which can be roughly divided into two areas: (a) methods that optimize the credit assignment function (how the click feedback is interpreted), and (b) methods that achieve higher sensitivity by controlling the interleaving policy (how often a particular interleaved result page is shown). In this paper, we propose an interleaving framework that generalizes the previously studied interleaving methods in two aspects. First, it achieves a higher sensitivity by performing a joint data-driven optimization of the credit assignment function and the interleaving policy. Second, we formulate the framework to be general w.r. t. the search domain where the interleaving experiment is deployed, so that it can be applied in domains with grid-based presentation, such as image search. In order to simplify the optimization, we additionally introduce a stratified estimate of the experiment outcome. This stratification is also useful on its own, as it reduces the variance of the outcome and thus increases the interleaving sensitivity. We perform an extensive experimental study using large-scale document and image search datasets obtained from a commercial search engine. The experiments show that our proposed framework achieves marked improvements in sensitivity over effective baselines on both datasets.
α1‐Syntrophin–deficient mice exhibit impaired muscle force recovery after osmotic shock

Introduction: α1‐syntrophin, a member of the dystrophin complex, recruits membrane molecules, including aquaporin‐4, at the sarcolemma. The physiological functions of α1‐syntrophin are poorly understood. Methods: We examined the physiological characteristics of α1‐syntrophin–deficient muscles under osmotic stress conditions to test the possibility that mutant muscles are less tolerant of osmotic shock. Results: Isolated muscle bundles from mutant mice showed markedly reduced force production after hypo‐osmotic shock. In addition, the mutant muscle bundles showed delayed recovery of specific gravity after being exposed to hypo‐osmotic conditions. Two consecutive exercise tests on the treadmill revealed their performance in the second test was significantly lower than for wild‐type mice. Furthermore, mutant mice had higher serum lactate concentrations after treadmill exercise. Conclusions: Although the lack of α1‐syntrophin from the sarcolemma does not lead to muscle degeneration, our results suggest that it may be partly involved in the pathophysiology of dystrophin‐deficient Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 49: 728–735, 2014
Did You Find the World or Did You Make it Up? Media, Communications and Geography in the Digital Age

Geography, media, and communications have been closely linked since the 16th Century. Just as the advent of the printing press and new modes of measurement changed the media landscape, so too did it change that of geography and cartography. Now, in the digital age we are presented with ever more instruments of measurement (big data, algorithms, UGC, VGI etc.), ever more far-reaching versions of the printing press (Web 2.0, Social Media etc.), and the waters are muddied further by the development of participatory-GIS systems, and the (re-)birth of Neogeography which purportedly offers up a challenge to the status quo. Thus, it becomes essential that, just as we might question the 16th century map-makers, we must now question data analytics, algorithms and their architects, as well as the tools used to communicate these new spaces. The bringing together of the theories of Geography and of Media and Communications allows for an alternate, nuanced, and a spatially grounded approach to envisioning the myriad ways in which the digital age mediates social, economic and political experiences and, in particular, in the increasingly technologically informed media and communications sector, allowing us to ask, ‘did you find the world or did you make it up? ’.
Adding Classes Online in Error Correcting Output Codes Framework

This article proposes a general extension of the Error Correcting Output Codes (ECOC) framework to the online learning scenario. As a result, the final classifier handles the addition of new classes independently of the base classifier used. Validation on UCI database and two real machine vision applications show that the online problem-dependent ECOC proposal provides a feasible and robust way for handling new classes using any base classifier.
The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium tubal infections and their effects on the expression of IL-6 and leukaemia inhibitory factor in Fallopian tubes with and without an ectopic pregnancy

This was a prospective case–control study that measured the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) by an IVD CE multiplex PCR kit in fresh Fallopian tubes (FT) obtained from 96 ectopic pregnancies (EP) and 61 controls in the midluteal phase of the cycle. We later measured the expression profile of IL-6, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and their signalling molecules, in respect to the type and number of infections, by immunohistochemistry, ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR. The frequencies of CT, and MG mono- and co-infections were significantly higher in EP. IL-6, LIF, their receptors and intracellular mediators were significantly up-regulated at the gene and protein levels in positive compared with negative FTs within each group (P < 0.05). EP tubal samples with co-infections showed the highest significant expression of the candidate cytokines by all techniques (P < 0.05). CT and MG are frequent in EP and up-regulate the tubal expression of IL-6, LIF and their signalling molecules. Both cytokines could be involved in the tubal immune response against bacterial infections, as well as the pathogenesis of EP. Further studies are needed to explore the roles of IL-6 family in infection-induced tubal inflammation and EP.
Immunoglobulin motions and antigen binding effects examined by elastic network models

ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Overview of Immunology . 1 1.2 Immunoglobulin Structures . 2 1.3 Elastic Network Models . 5 1.4 A guide to the present study . 6 CHAPTER 2: IMMUNOGLOBULIN CDR MOTIONS . 8 2.1 Correlation Analysis of IgG structure . 9 2.1.1 Methods . 9 2.1.1.1 Correlated Motions in Normal Modes . 9 2.1.1.2 Calculation of Combined Effect by Weighting Inverse Eigenvalue . 10 2.1.2 Results . 10 2.2 Correlation Analysis for CDR Motions . 14 2.3 Similar GNM Computed Correlations for the IgG Structure and the CDRs . 15 2.4 Changes in Internal Distances . 17 2.4. 1 Methods . 18 2.4. 1.1 Computing Changes in Internal Distances for ENMs . 18 2.4. 2 Internal Distance Changes of IgG . 18 2.5 Local and Global Contributions of Correlations . 21 2.5. 1 Methods . 21 2.5. 1.1 Local Effect . 21
Regulation of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases UGT2B4 and UGT2B7 by MicroRNAs in Liver Cancer Cells

The transcriptional regulation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases UGT2B4 and UGT2B7 has been well studied using liver cancer cell lines, and post-transcriptional regulation of these two UGTs by microRNA (miRNA/miR) miR-216b-5p was recently reported. This study describes novel miRNA-mediated regulation of UGT2B4 and UGT2B7 in liver cancer cells. Bioinformatic analyses identified a putative miR-3664-3p binding site in the UGT2B7 3′-untranslated region (UTR) and binding sites for both miR-135a-5p and miR-410-3p in the UGT2B4 3′-UTR. These sites were functionally characterized using miRNA mimics and reporter constructs. A miR-3664-3p mimic induced repression of a luciferase reporter carrying the UGT2B7 3′-UTR in liver cancer cell lines; mutation of the miR-3664-3p site abrogated the response of the reporter to the mimic. Similarly, mutation of the miR-135a-5p site or miR-410-3p site in a luciferase reporter bearing UGT2B4 3′-UTR abrogated the ability of miR-135a-5p or miR-410-3p mimics to reduce reporter activity. Transfection of miR-3664-3p mimics in HepG2 liver cancer cells significantly reduced mRNA and protein levels of UGT2B7, and this led to reduced enzymatic activity. Transfection of miR-135a-5p or miR-410-3p mimics significantly decreased UGT2B4 mRNA levels in Huh7 liver cancer cells. The expression levels of miR-410-3p were inversely correlated with UGT2B4 mRNA levels in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (371 specimens) and a panel of ten normal human tissues. Similarly, there was an inverse correlation between miR-135a and UGT2B4 mRNA levels in a panel of 18 normal human liver tissues. Together, these data suggest that miR-135a and miR-410 control UGT2B4 and that miR-3664 controls UGT2B7 expression in liver cancer and/or normal liver cells.
Implementing Ontology for E-learning System Development in Indonesia based on Web 2.0

Website is a tangible result from the existence of Internet technology. Based on the trends, the web technology utilization has evolved. The initial version of the Web technology– Web 1.0, only serves the needs for information searching and browsing. Today, the Web technology has evolved into its second generation Web 2.0, which comes with better features for information sharing and interactions in the forms of document sharing, picture sharing, video sharing, Wikis, and online networking. All these new forms of Web technology relies on the power of online communities. The development of the Web technology allows “anywhere-anytime” teaching and learning interactions, which we call electronic learning (e-learning). E-learning needs self-learning habits as well as personal motivation to learn. Unfortunately, Indonesian students, in general, are still weak in those two important factors. It is even worse as the current e-learning system in Indonesia only accommodates the same learning material delivery method to all students. Consequently, it ignores the cognitive aspects and interactive self-learning approach based on the users characteristics. The Web 2.0 technology opens up the possibility to repower the Indonesian e-learning system with better interactions and personalization, which may attract students to play more active learning role within the e-learning system. It is due to the Web 2.0’s capability to personalize the learning experience using e-learning to students’ understanding capacity and learning adaptation capability, as well as the possibility for better organization of supportive learning resources. In this research, the proposed e-learning system utilizes ontology as the representation of meaning of knowledge formed by the students’ users.
Learning to Track a Random-Walk Target Motion Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo

In this paper we present a generative model to track a randomwalk target trajectory. We use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling techniques to infer the most likely parameters for our model and we propose a data-driven technique to compute the proposal distribution. Our generative model consists of a set of legs of motion that independently describe each sub-interval of the target trajectory. This approach allows a robust method for describing maneuvering ground-based targets that follow a trajectory that cannot be modeled by standard linear and Gaussian assumptions. We evaluate our approach against a large number of sample trajectories obtained from a military tank simulation. We compare the performance of our model against the Kalman filter and show that our model achieves a better estimation over 75% of the time and is more tolerant of large and nonGaussian sources of measurement noise. Our results suggest that a generative model coupled with MCMC sampling provides an effective technique for tracking ground-based targets.
Role of Electron Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Cadasil Syndrome: A Study of 32 Patients

Background and Purpose Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is caused by NOTCH3 gene mutations that result in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) degeneration. Its distinctive feature by electron microscopy (EM) is granular osmiophilic material (GOM) detected in VSMC indentations and/or the extracellular space close to VSMCs. Reports of the sensitivity of EM in detecting GOM in biopsies from CADASIL patients are contradictory. We present data from 32 patients clinically suspected to have CADASIL and discuss the role of EM in its diagnosis in this retrospective study. Methods Skin, skeletal muscle, kidney and pericardial biopsies were examined by EM; the NOTCH3 gene was screened for mutations. Skin and muscle biopsies from 12 patients without neurological symptoms served as controls. Results and Discussion All GOM-positive patients exhibited NOTCH3 mutations and vice versa. This study i) confirms that EM is highly specific and sensitive for CADASIL diagnosis; ii) extends our knowledge of GOM distribution in tissues where it has never been described, e.g. pericardium; iii) documents a novel NOTCH3 mutation in exon 3; and iv) shows that EM analysis is critical to highlight the need for comprehensive NOTCH3 analysis. Our findings also confirm the genetic heterogeneity of CADASIL in a small Italian subpopulation and emphasize the difficulties in designing algorithms for molecular diagnosis.
A Novel Stabilization Method of LC Input Filter With Constant Power Loads Without Load Performance Compromise in DC Microgrids

In dc microgrids, it is common that constant power loads (CPLs) exhibit negative incremental resistance. They degrade the stability margin of operation with their LC input filters and, thus, the whole system. In traditional active-damping methods, the extra stabilizing current is injected into CPLs to modify its input impedance to fulfill stability criteria. However, this injected current may cause undesirable performance of the loads, e.g., fluctuation in rotating speed of tightly regulated motors. There is always a compromise between stability margin and load performances. In order to overcome this drawback, this paper proposes a method that stabilizes the system from source-side converters, instead of from CPL themselves. In the proposed method, a virtual resistance is built in the source-side converter. This virtual resistor is effective around the resonant frequency of the LC input filter and thus can indirectly reduce its output impedance to fulfill Middlebrook's stability criterion. This paper also proves, both analytically and experimentally, that, in dc microgrids, resonant frequencies of LC filters of paralleled CPLs have to be different to maintain system stability. Simulation and experimental results are reported to verify the effectiveness of the proposed idea.
Cloud computing using bioinformatics MapReduce applications

The quick growth and development of cloud services such as web pages, newsgroup postings, and online news databases, Bioanalytical computation. To accomplish the cloud programmable, Podium provides an environs for clients to design, test and set up cloud applications where system resources measure automatically and dynamically to match application requirement, so that clients do not require to concern how many resources are essential or to allocate resources physically in advance. In this paper we discuss MapReduce technique in cloud computing for relevant result with proper indexing to fulfil the users' requirement with less overhead in the field of any service and bioanalytical itself.
Modelling Behaviour of the Salt Wedge in the Fraser River and Its Relationship with Climate and Man-Made Changes

Agriculture is an important industry in the Province of British Columbia, especially in the Lower Mainland where fertile land in the Fraser River Delta combined with the enormous water resources of the Fraser River Estuary support extensive commercial agriculture, notably berry farming. However, where freshwater from inland meets saltwater from the Strait of Georgia, natural and man-made changes in conditions such as mean sea level, river discharge, and river geometry in the Fraser River Estuary could disrupt the existing balance and pose potential challenges to maintenance of the health of the farming industry. One of these challenges is the anticipated decrease in availability of sufficient freshwater from the river for irrigation purposes. The main driver for this challenge is climate change, which leads to sea level rise and to reductions in river flow at key times of the year. Dredging the navigational channel to allow bigger and deeper vessels in the river may also affect the availability of fresh water for irrigation. In this study, the salinity in the river was simulated using H3D, a proprietary three-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical model which computes the three components of velocity (u,v,w) in three dimensions (x,y,z) on a curvilinear grid developed specially for Fraser River, as well as scalar fields such as salinity and temperature. The results indicate various levels of impact to the salinity in the river and adaptive measures must be established to maintain the long-term viability of the industry. This study found that sea level rise and changes in river discharge would have a larger impact on the availability of fresh water than would channel deepening at the present sea water level. In a low river discharge regime, the impact from sea level change is more significant than in the high river discharge regime. On the other hand, the influence from changes in river discharge on withdrawal appears to increase when water level is lowered. Dredging the channel to accommodate larger vessels with deeper draft would further affect the salinity and shorten the withdrawal window; the effect of channel deepening becomes more pronounced in the lower flow period.
Detecting and profiling sedentary young men using machine learning algorithms

Many governments and institutions have guidelines for health-enhancing physical activity. Additionally, according to recent studies, the amount of time spent on sitting is a highly important determinant of health and wellbeing. In fact, sedentary lifestyle can lead to many diseases and, what is more, it is even found to be associated with increased mortality. In this study, a data set consisting of self-reported questionnaire, medical diagnoses and fitness tests was studied to detect sedentary young men from a large population and to create a profile of a sedentary person. The data set was collected from 595 young men and contained altogether 678 features. Most of these are answers to multi-choice close-ended questions. More precisely, features were mostly integers with a scale from 1 to 5 or from 1 to 2, and therefore, there was only a little variability in the values of features. In order to detect and profile a sedentary young man, machine learning algorithms were applied to the data set. The performance of five algorithms is compared (quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), C4.5, random forests, and nearest neighbours (kNN)) to find the most accurate algorithm. The results of this study show that when the aim is to detect a sedentary person based on medical records and fitness tests, LDA performs better than the other algorithms, but still the accuracy is not high. In the second part of the study the differences between highly sedentary and non-sedentary young men are searched, recognition can be obtained with high accuracy with each algorithm.
Autoregressive model with Kalman filter for estimation of physiological tremor in surgical robotic applications

In real-time implementation computational complexity plays vital role. This paper focuses on adaptive signal processing of physiological hand tremor for tremor cancellation in robotic devices. The physiological tremor is modelled with AR(3) process that has less computational complexity compared to other model based existing methods. In this paper, filter coefficients are updated with Kalman filter to improve the performance. The existing method AR-LMS and the improved method AR-Kalman are implemented in real-time for tremor compensation. A comparative study is conducted on the algorithms with the tremor data from microsurgeons and novice subjects. Experimental results shows that the proposed method AR with Kalman filter improves the accuracy by at least 10% in real-time compared to AR with LMS.
Evolving the Reuse Process at the Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) Goddard Space Flight Center

This paper presents the interim results from the Software Engineering Laboratory's (SEL) Reuse Study. The team conducting this study has, over the past few months, been studying the Generalized Support Software (GSS) domain asset library and architecture, and the various processes associated with it. In particular, we have characterized the process used to configure GSS-based attitude ground support systems (AGSS) to support satellite missions at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. To do this, we built detailed models of the tasks involved, the people who perform these tasks, and the interdependencies and information flows among these people. These models were based on information gleaned from numerous interviews with people involved in this process at various levels. We also analyzed effort data in order to determine the cost savings in moving from actual development of AGSSs to support each mission (which was necessary before GSS was available) to configuring AGSS software from the domain asset library. While characterizing the GSS process, we became aware of several interesting factors which affect the successful continued use of GSS. Many of these issues fall under the subject of evolving technologies, which were not available at the inception of GSS, but are now. Some of these technologies could be incorporated into the GSS process, thus making the whole asset library more usable. Other technologies are being considered as an alternative to the GSS process altogether. In this paper, we outline some of issues we will be considering in our continued study of GSS and the impact of evolving technologies.
Envelope effect study on collision vibration perception through investigating just noticeable difference of time constant

It is known that human can feel the vibratory envelope on periodic sinusoidal vibrations; however, the role of the envelope on non-periodic transient vibrations is still not clear. This study investigated Just Noticeable Difference (JND) of the time constant in the decaying sinusoidal vibration model, which is one reasonable factor relating to discrimination of tapped materials. The authors conducted psychophysical experiments to evaluate JNDs for two referenced time constants (10.8 and 50 ms) among five frequencies (150, 250, 500, 800 and 1000 Hz). The analysis showed that significant frequency effect on JNDs was only found for the lower JNDs of reference time constant 50 ms. JNDs of the time constant was lower around 250 Hz (150 to 500 Hz, average JND was 12.8%) and was higher at high frequencies (800 to 1000 Hz, average JND was 27.9%). No significant frequency effects were found in the upper JNDs of reference 50 ms (average JND was 23%) and upper JNDs of reference 10.8 ms (average JND was 65%).