Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women talking about IT work: duality or dualism?

This paper explores the way that professional women working in the IT industry discuss the nature of their work. The research is part of an ongoing project (WinIT) commenced in 1995, which seeks to understand the declining female participation in IT education and work. An examination of our interview data using concepts from Giddens' structuration theory shows that a number of dualisms provide the women with interpretive schemes through which they can interpret and make sense of their working lives. Such dualisms may provide ontological security as representations of the routines which women in the IT industry enact in their daily activities. This paper suggests that the way women talk about their work reinforces widely held impressions of the IT industry. The use of structuration theory helps show how this talk is not always consistent with the womens' lived experiences. The interviews reveal contradictions in these dualisms, indicating that these polarised views of women and IT work are being undermined by women in the IT industry. In order to understand better how women help configure the institutional realm of IT work, we propose that more qualitative studies of women at work in IT as well as women talking about IT are needed.
Housing Decisions under Divorce Risk∗

We investigate the role of divorce as a risk factor that affects household consumption and housing decisions in a realistically calibrated life-cycle model. Divorces result in a reduction of household net worth, and therefore reduce the likelihood of being a homeowner. The reduction in homeownership lasts for decades, even though households can remarry later. Welfare costs from getting divorced can exceed 20% of lifetime consumption at the age of 30, and more than double by the age of 60. The risk of divorce leads to precautionary savings, facilitates earlier homeownership, and has welfare implications even for individuals not getting divorced. JEL Classification Codes: G11, D91, E21, J12, R21
Directed automated symbolic verification of formal properties with local variables

This paper describes a methodology for checking formal properties with local variables expressed in SystemVerilog assertions. Given a behavioral design in SystemVerilog and a property with local variables, the technique uses automated directed searching to reveal all possible control-paths of the given design and tests the satisfaction of the property symbolically in the corresponding data-path operations for each of the control-paths. The advantage is twofold. First, any corner-case data-dependent bugs will eventually get caught due to use of symbolic satisfaction of the property, which otherwise is very likely to be missed if concrete value satisfaction is used as done by traditional simulation based verification. Second, using automated alternative path exploration performs best to identify a buggy data-path since every data-path is verified exactly once, whereas some datapath often gets either repeated or missed in simulation based verification.
Estimation of Instantaneous Complex Dynamics through Lyapunov Exponents: A Study on Heartbeat Dynamics

Measures of nonlinearity and complexity, and in particular the study of Lyapunov exponents, have been increasingly used to characterize dynamical properties of a wide range of biological nonlinear systems, including cardiovascular control. In this work, we present a novel methodology able to effectively estimate the Lyapunov spectrum of a series of stochastic events in an instantaneous fashion. The paradigm relies on a novel point-process high-order nonlinear model of the event series dynamics. The long-term information is taken into account by expanding the linear, quadratic, and cubic Wiener-Volterra kernels with the orthonormal Laguerre basis functions. Applications to synthetic data such as the Hénon map and Rössler attractor, as well as two experimental heartbeat interval datasets (i.e., healthy subjects undergoing postural changes and patients with severe cardiac heart failure), focus on estimation and tracking of the Instantaneous Dominant Lyapunov Exponent (IDLE). The novel cardiovascular assessment demonstrates that our method is able to effectively and instantaneously track the nonlinear autonomic control dynamics, allowing for complexity variability estimations.
Comparison of Simulated Ovary Palpation Training Over Different Skill Levels

This paper describes an initial attempt to compare performance levels of users of different skill levels on the Glasgow Horse Ovary Palpation Simulator (HOPS). Experimental participants were asked to identify the position and size of follicles on the surface of virtual horse ovaries. The two experimental groups were made up of expert and novice users. Experienced large animal veterinarians were chosen as expert users, and second year veterinary students were chosen as novice users. The initial results of the study suggest that novice users perform better than expected. Some possible reasons for this are discussed.
NURBS-based analysis of gender-related variability of the human brain surface

A statistical approach based on non-uniform rational b-splines (NURBS) to detect and visualize the variability associated between the brain surfaces of male and female adults is presented. A deformable NURBS surface is used initially to segment the brains from normalized magnetic resonance (MR) images. The NURBS surface of an adult brain is then deformed to converge onto a representative subject image. Significant deformation of surface points are captured by statistical analysis of the deformation vectors. To detect significant variability in sulci and gyri patterns, the Laplacian curvature of the significantly deformed points are computed. Results are demonstrated using MR head scans of 20 normal male and female adults.
Dynamic ESPI measurements for mechanical characterization of pipes

The use of electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) for non-destructive characterization of unplasticized polyvinylchloride (uPVC) pipes is presented. When pipes are inflated slightly by internal pressurization ESPI may then be used to measure the resulting displacement over the area imaged by the video camera. The interferometric method used is non-contact and gives high-confidence results for strain and Young's modulus of thick PVC pipes. As a step towards using ESPI in dynamic rather than static applications, the ESPI data were recorded during the application of pressure increase. At the same time the change in pressure in the pipe was monitored using a pressure transducer and a specially written Labview Program so that the deformation caused could be modelled using Finite Element Analysis. A finite element model was developed for prediction of the mechanical behavior of the pipes undergoing transient pressure change. The model data have been used here for comparison with ESPI results for slow dynamic deformation of the pipe under test. Demonstration of the possibility of carrying out similar analyses in a dynamic system will greatly expand the applications for this technique.
Improved document image segmentation algorithm using multiresolution morphology

Page segmentation into text and non-text elements is an essential preprocessing step before optical character recognition (OCR) operation. In case of poor segmentation, an OCR classification engine produces garbage characters due to the presence of non-text elements. This paper describes modifications to the text/non-text segmentation algorithm presented by Bloomberg,1 which is also available in his open-source Leptonica library.2The modifications result in significant improvements and achieved better segmentation accuracy than the original algorithm for UW-III, UNLV, ICDAR 2009 page segmentation competition test images and circuit diagram datasets.
Incremental Clustering for Mining in a Data Warehousing Environment

Data warehouses provide a great deal of opportunities for performing data mining tasks such as classification and clustering. Typically, updates are collected and applied to the data warehouse periodically in a batch mode, e.g., during the night. Then, all patterns derived from the warehouse by some data mining algorithm have to be updated as well. Due to the very large size of the databases, it is highly desirable to perform these updates incrementally. In this paper, we present the first incremental clustering algorithm. Our algorithm is based on the clustering algorithm DBSCAN which is applicable to any database containing data from a metric space, e.g., to a spatial database or to a WWW-log database. Due to the density-based nature of DBSCAN, the insertion or deletion of an object affects the current clustering only in the neighborhood of this object. Thus, efficient algorithms can be given for incremental insertions and deletions to an existing clustering. Based on the formal definition of clusters, it can be proven that the incremental algorithm yields the same result as DBSCAN. A performance evaluation of IncrementalDBSCAN on a spatial database as well as on a WWW-log database is presented, demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. IncrementalDBSCAN yields significant speed-up factors over DBSCAN even for large numbers of daily updates in a data warehouse.
Interface‐capturing finite element technique for transient two‐phase flow

A numerical model is presented for the computation of unsteady two‐fluid interfaces in nonlinear porous media flow. The nonlinear Forchheimer equation is included in the Navier‐Stokes equations for porous media flow. The model is based on capturing the interface on a fixed mesh domain. The zero level set of a pseudo‐concentration function, which defines the interface between the two fluids, is governed by a time‐dependent advection equation. The time‐dependent Navier‐Stokes equations and the advection equation are spatially discretized by the finite element (FE) method. The fully coupled implicit time integration scheme and the explicit forward Eulerian scheme are implemented for the advancement in time. The trapezoidal rule is applied to the fully implicit scheme, while the operator‐splitting algorithm is used for the velocity‐pressure segregation in the explicit scheme. The spatial and time discretizations are stabilized using FE stabilization techniques. Numerical examples of unsteady flow of two‐fluid interfaces in an earth dam are investigated.
Asynchronous Parallel Learning for Neural Networks and Structured Models with Dense Features

Existing asynchronous parallel learning methods are only for the sparse feature models, and they face new challenges for the dense feature models like neural networks (e.g., LSTM, RNN). The problem for dense features is that asynchronous parallel learning brings gradient errors derived from overwrite actions. We show that gradient errors are very common and inevitable. Nevertheless, our theoretical analysis shows that the learning process with gradient errors can still be convergent towards the optimum of objective functions for many practical applications. Thus, we propose a simple method AsynGrad for asynchronous parallel learning with gradient error. Base on various dense feature models (LSTM, dense-CRF) and various NLP tasks, experiments show that AsynGrad achieves substantial improvement on training speed, and without any loss on accuracy.
Weighted Eigenfunction Estimates with Applications to Compressed Sensing

Using tools from semiclassical analysis, we give weighted L^\infty estimates for eigenfunctions of strictly convex surfaces of revolution. These estimates give rise to new sampling techniques and provide improved bounds on the number of samples necessary for recovering sparse eigenfunction expansions on surfaces of revolution. On the sphere, our estimates imply that any function having an s-sparse expansion in the first N spherical harmonics can be efficiently recovered from its values at m > s N^(1/6) log^4(N) sampling points.
Defeasible Codesignation Constraints for Planning Variables

Planning variables are fundamental to all modem nonlinear planners. Deriving plans for complex domains typically means managing many variables for a single plan. Since planning is concerned with reasoning about actions over time, determining the possible values of these variables at the various time points represented by a plan while the plan is being constructed is no small task. Backtracking over certain choices made during plan construction, thereby changing some variable values, further complicates the management of variables. This paper discusses issues in representing and applying constraints on planning variables with regard to these complexities. Specifically, it presents a method to assert constraints on planning variables using a justification-based scheme that allows nonmonotonic retraction of variable codesignations. This system of managing defeasible constraints on variable values allows the planner to rely on the codesignation system to help prune the search space of possible plans without compromising the least-commitment approach desired in domain-independent planners.
COLD MODEL STUDY ON BURDEN BEHAVIOUR IN THE LOWER PART OF BLAST FURNACE

The motion of solid particles flowing into the raceway and the behaviours of the raceway and deadman were studied on the basis of the flow patterns obtained using a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional cold models. The lower part of the blast furnace consisted of the three characteristic regions, the converging, fast flow region with smooth steam and time lines, the deadman with motionless particles, and the quasi-stagnant region situated over the deadman, in which the particles moved very slowly with zigzag, complicated stream line. The quasi-stagnant region was formed by the particles fed within a small, limitted area near the center at the top of the bed. The radius of the area was expressed as a function of burden descending velocity only. It was suggested that the size of deadman changes depending on whether the furnace operation is carried out with all-coke or injection of pulverized coal. The periodic expansion and contraction of the raceway, therefore, the unstable burden flow in the converging flow channel, occurred when the tuyeres were not inserted into the inerior of the bed. The burden flow became more stable with higher blast gas. The boundary conditions of the fast moving region and deadman around the raceway were discussed. The plasticity theory was applicable to simulate the boundaries of such characteristic regions.
Treatment of idiopathic rhinitis with kinetic oscillations – a multi-centre randomized controlled study

Abstract Conclusions: The potential effects of KOS are still uncertain regarding the most effective air pressure to be used as well as the physiological effects on the nasal mucosa. The results of the study do not support a convincing treatment effect by KOS on IR. Objectives: Idiopathic rhinitis (IR) is a common disorder, affecting ∼10–20% of the population. A new method for treating IR, Kinetic Oscillation Stimulation (KOS), has been reported to have beneficial effects on total vasomotor symptom scores (TVRSS). The primary objective with this study was to evaluate if a mean pressure of 65 mbar, pressure amplitude of 100 mbar, and 68 Hz treatment with KOS had a positive effect on total vasomotor symptom scores (TVRSS), as compared with a mean pressure of 65 mbar, pressure amplitude of 4 mbar, and 68 Hz treatment in patients with idiopathic rhinitis. Methods: Two hundred and seven patients were randomized (Full Analysis Set, FAS) in the study, including five visits and lasting for ∼25 weeks. All patients had two treatment episodes, and all patients had at least one treatment, meant as active, with high amplitude pressure for 10 min in each nostril. Group 1 had two such treatments, and Group 2 had one treatment with low amplitude pressure, initially meant as placebo, on one occasion. Because of numerical improvements in these two groups, a new control group, Group 3, was introduced. They had one new control treatment where the balloon was inserted into the nose, without any air inflation and without oscillations. Results: KOS treatment with high amplitude pressure did not have significant beneficial effects as compared to low amplitude pressure on TVRSS. Numerical improvements in TVRSS and SNOT 22 were found when comparing high and low amplitude pressure treatments with uninflated balloon treatment. However, this part of the study was initially single-blinded, and these results were secondary objectives.
Sirtuin 1 Regulates SREBP-1c Expression in a LXR-Dependent Manner in Skeletal Muscle

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase, has emerged as a main determinant of whole body homeostasis in mammals by regulating a large spectrum of transcriptional regulators in metabolically relevant tissue such as liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c is a transcription factor that controls the expression of genes related to fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis in tissues with high lipid synthesis rates such as adipose tissue and liver. Previous studies indicate that SIRT1 can regulate the expression and function of SREBP-1c in liver. In the present study, we determined whether SIRT1 regulates SREBP-1c expression in skeletal muscle. SREBP-1c mRNA and protein levels were decreased in the gastrocnemius muscle of mice harboring deletion of the catalytic domain of SIRT1 (SIRT1Δex4/Δex4 mice). By contrast, adenoviral expression of SIRT1 in human myotubes increased SREBP-1c mRNA and protein levels. Importantly, SREBP-1c promoter transactivation, which was significantly increased in response to SIRT1 overexpression by gene electrotransfer in skeletal muscle, was completely abolished when liver X receptor (LXR) response elements were deleted. Finally, our in vivo data from SIRT1Δex4/Δex4 mice and in vitro data from human myotubes overexpressing SIRT1 show that SIRT1 regulates LXR acetylation in skeletal muscle cells. This suggests a possible mechanism by which the regulation of SREBP-1c gene expression by SIRT1 may require the deacetylation of LXR transcription factors.
Chinese Core Ontology Construction from a Bilingual Term Bank

A core ontology is a mid-level ontology which bridges the gap between an upper ontology and a domain ontology. Automatic Chinese core ontology construction can help quickly model domain knowledge. A graph based core ontology construction algorithm (COCA) is proposed to automatically construct a core ontology from an English-Chinese bilingual term bank. This algorithm computes the mapping strength from a selected Chinese term to WordNet synset with association to an upper-level SUMO concept. The strength is measured using a graph model integrated with several mapping features from multiple information sources. The features include multiple translation feature between Chinese core term and WordNet, extended string feature and Part-of-Speech feature. Evaluation of COCA repeated on an English-Chinese bilingual Term bank with more than 130K entries shows that the algorithm is improved in performance compared with our previous research and can better serve the semi-automatic construction of mid-level ontology.
Syntheses and Anti‐inflammatory Activities of Substituted Arylamino‐(N′‐benzylidene)acetohydrazides and Derivatives

The substituted arylamino‐(N′‐benzylidene)acetohydrazides 1–6, substituted acetic acid arylamino‐(N′‐benzyl)acetohydrazides 7–12 and N‐(3‐chloro‐2‐oxo‐4‐phenylazetan‐1‐yl) (phenylamino)acetamides 13–16, containing a β‐lactam ring were synthesized and studied for their anti‐inflammatory activities against carrageenin induced paw oedema in albino rats. Compound 7 was most active (30.6% at 50mg/kg p. o.) with minimum acute toxicity. All compounds showed a marked but variable (44–80%) inhibition of antiproteolytic activity.
Local image structures and optic flow estimation

Different kinds of local image structures (such as homogeneous, edge-like and junction-like patches) can be distinguished by the intrinsic dimensionality of the local signals. Intrinsic dimensionality makes use of variance from a point and a line in spectral representation of the signal in order to classify it as homogeneous, edge-like or junction-like. The concept of intrinsic dimensionality has been mostly exercised using discrete formulations; however, recent work (; ) has introduced a continuous definition. The current study analyzes the distribution of local patches in natural images according to this continuous understanding of intrinsic dimensionality. This distribution reveals specific patterns than can be also associated to local image structures established in computer vision and which can be related to orientation and optic flow features. In particular, we link quantitative and qualitative properties of optic-flow error estimates to these patterns. In this way, we also introduce a new tool for better analysis of optic flow algorithms.
Damage-induced deflection approach for damage localization and quantification of shear buildings: validation on a full-scale shear building

This paper presents the full-scale experimental validation of the damage-induced deflection approach recently developed for damage detection and quantification of shear buildings. In the approach, an additional deflection induced by damage is used to estimate its location and severity because the deflection contains essential information about the damage. In this study, damage location and severity of a five-story full-scale shear building was estimated, not measured directly, by modal flexibility matrices obtained from acceleration responses of the structure during the shaker excitation at the fourth floor. Two damage cases have been considered by reducing the spring stiffness of the connecting brace at the first floor. In numerical simulations, it was found that the approach successfully identified the damage location and also estimated the damage ratios accurately by using only the lowest two natural frequencies and mode shapes. In the experimental study, a series of tests have been carried out and it was demonstrated that the damaged floor was successfully localized and the damage ratios estimated by the damage-induced deflection approach agreed well with those calculated from numerical simulations.
Modulation, Losses, and Semiconductor Requirements of Modular Multilevel Converters

This paper describes the operation of modular multilevel converter, an emerging and highly attractive topology for medium- and high-voltage applications. A new pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) scheme for an arbitrary number of voltage levels is introduced and evaluated. On the basis of this PWM scheme, the semiconductor losses are calculated, and the loss distribution is illustrated.
Germ-line mutations in p27Kip1 cause a multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome in rats and humans

MENX is a recessive multiple endocrine neoplasia-like syndrome in the rat. The tumor spectrum in MENX overlaps those of human multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 1 and 2. We mapped the MenX locus to the distal part of rat chromosome 4, excluding the homologs of the genes responsible for the MEN syndromes (RET and MEN1) and syndromes with an endocrine tumor component (VHL and NF1). We report the fine mapping of the disease locus and the identification of a homozygous frameshift mutation in Cdkn1b, encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. As a consequence of the mutation, MENX-affected rats show dramatic reduction in p27Kip1 protein. We have identified a germ-line nonsense mutation in the human CDKN1B gene in a MEN1 mutation-negative patient presenting with pituitary and parathyroid tumors. Expanded pedigree analysis shows that the mutation is associated with the development of an MEN1-like phenotype in multiple generations. Our findings demonstrate that germ-line mutations in p27Kip1 can predispose to the development of multiple endocrine tumors in both rats and humans.