Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Fifth Mountain

When the novel begins, the year is 870 B.C., and the prophet Elijah is in his early twenties and fleeing for his life. His death has been ordered by the beautiful but implacable Jezebel, wife of Israel's King Ahab. His "crime": denouncing the false gods that Jezebel has brought from her native Phoenicia, known to the Hebrews as Lebanon. Through an angel, God orders Elijah to make the arduous journey across the desert and take refuge in the Phoenician city of Zarephath, which its inhabitants call Akbar.
Learning to Extract Entities from Labeled and Unlabeled Text

We describe and evaluate algorithms for learning to extract semantic classes from sentences in text documents, using the minimum of training information. The thesis of this research is that we can efficiently automate information extraction, that is, learn from tens of examples of labeled training data instead of requiring thousands, by exploiting redundancy and separability of the features noun-phrases and contexts. We exploit this redundancy and separability in two ways: (1) in the algorithms for learning semantic classes, and (2) in novel algorithms for active learning, leading to better extractors for a given amount of user labeling effort.
A thorough way of mapping efficiency with photoluminescence

An alternative method to map essential variables like dark saturation current density, series resistance, and the ultimate cell efficiency will be introduced. This approach will combine the terminally connected diode model with the ideality factor map technique modified to a scenario where current is extracted out of the circuitry. Following the delineation of the steps governing the principles of parameter mapping, we elaborate the fidelity that could be gained via improving upon the already existing methods.
EFFECT OF HYPOXIA ON SPEECH RECOGNITION IN NOISE

Speech-to-babble ratios for 50% word recognition were measured in four men, age 30 to 35, while breathing 12% and 21% oxygen. There were no differences between the two conditions. Learning effects, however, were seen for the task. As the 12%-oxygen level is considerably lower than would be used for routine reduction of fire hazards onboard submarines, reduced oxygen levels at the intermediate levels being considered should not affect speech recognition.
Reconfigurable Beamwidth Antenna Based on Active Partially Reflective Surfaces

This letter presents a new method to design a new reconfigurable antenna by using an active cylindrical electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structure for wireless communication systems. The antenna provides a reconfigurable elevation beamwidth while the azimuth radiation pattern maintained omnidirectional. The EBG structure that is composed of periodic discontinuous metallic strips and PIN diodes behaves as an active partially reflecting surface (PRS). By changing the diode states, the reflection coefficient of the structure is controlled so that the radiation beamwidth and directivity of the antenna can be reconfigured. To validate the proposed concept, the final prototype is fabricated, and measurement results are also presented and discussed.
c-FLIPR, a New Regulator of Death Receptor-induced Apoptosis*

c-FLIPs (c-FLICE inhibitory proteins) play an essential role in regulation of death receptor-induced apoptosis. Multiple splice variants of c-FLIP have been described on the mRNA level; so far only two of them, c-FLIPL and c-FLIPS, had been found to be expressed at the protein level. In this report, we reveal the endogenous expression of a third isoform of c-FLIP. We demonstrate its presence in a number of T and B cell lines as well as in primary human T cells. We identified this isoform as c-FLIPR, a death effector domain-only splice variant previously identified on the mRNA level. Impor-/tantly, c-FLIPR is recruited to the CD95 (Fas/APO-1) death-inducing signaling complex upon CD95 stimulation. Several properties of c-FLIPR are similar to c-FLIPS: both isoforms have a short half-life, a similar pattern of expression during activation of primary human T cells, and are strongly induced in T cells upon CD3/CD28 costimulation. Taken together, our data demonstrate endogenous expression of c-FLIPR and similar roles of c-FLIPR and c-FLIPS isoforms in death receptor-mediated apoptosis.
Job Satisfaction, Stress and Coping Strategies in the Teaching Profession-What Do Teachers Say?.

This study explored job satisfaction, work-related stress, consequences of stress, and coping strategies among Norwegian teachers. The study is based on qualitative interviews with 30 working teachers and four retired teachers. The respondents reported high job satisfaction but also severe stress and exhaustion. Teachers of different ages or at different stages in their careers reported the same sources of job satisfaction and stress. However, coping strategies and consequences differed with age among the respondents.
Action Image Representation: Learning Scalable Deep Grasping Policies with Zero Real World Data

This paper introduces Action Image, a new grasp proposal representation that allows learning an end-to-end deep-grasping policy. Our model achieves 84% grasp success on 172 real world objects while being trained only in simulation on 48 objects with just naive domain randomization. Similar to computer vision problems, such as object detection, Action Image builds on the idea that object features are invariant to translation in image space. Therefore, grasp quality is invariant when evaluating the object-gripper relationship; a successful grasp for an object depends on its local context, but is independent of the surrounding environment. Action Image represents a grasp proposal as an image and uses a deep convolutional network to infer grasp quality. We show that by using an Action Image representation, trained networks are able to extract local, salient features of grasping tasks that generalize across different objects and environments. We show that this representation works on a variety of inputs, including color images (RGB), depth images (D), and combined color-depth (RGB-D). Our experimental results demonstrate that networks utilizing an Action Image representation exhibit strong domain transfer between training on simulated data and inference on real-world sensor streams. Finally, our experiments show that a network trained with Action Image improves grasp success (84% vs. 53%) over a baseline model with the same structure, but using actions encoded as vectors.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of class II genes borne by mouse t chromosomes.

Summary Five class II H-2 genes borne by / chromosomes were partially sequenced: A J 30 '* borne by the t Tuw >° chromosome of EDY589 (H-2 w2 ); A] 312 and £J 31 borne by the t Tuw8 chromosome of CRO437 (H-2 w57 \ as well as Af* x and £J 311 borne by the t Tuw7 chromosome of CRO435 {H-T 37 ). These genes are representatives of the three major groups of alleles found associated with ; chromosomes. The sequenced part consisted of almost the entire exon 2 and the entire exon 3 coding for the first and the second domain of the /? polypeptide chains, respectively. The sequence was compared with the published sequences of A fi and E fi alleles borne, by non-t chromosomes. The comparison revealed that the ^-associated alleles are no more similar to one another than they are to the corresponding genes present on non-t chromosomes in laboratory mice. This divergence in the nucleotide sequence among the class II genes is interpreted as evidence that the t complex is very old.
Review: Cognitive Function in Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem. The incidence of kidney failure is rising in all age groups but particularly in older adults. Individuals in all stages of CKD are at higher risk for development of cognitive impairment and this may be a major determinant in their quality of life. Furthermore, cognitive impairment is associated with an increased risk of death in dialysis patients. Cerebrovascular disease is a strong risk factor for development of cognitive impairment and vascular disease is a more likely cause of cognitive impairment than Alzheimer’s disease in patients with CKD. Both traditional and nontraditional vascular risk factors are more common in CKD and dialysis patients may also be at risk for cognitive impairment via nonvascular risk factors and the hemodialysis procedure itself. Unfortunately, because risk factors for cognitive impairment in CKD have not been thoroughly ascertained, evaluation of potential treatments has been limited. Given the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in all stages of CKD, additional studies are needed to evaluate potential risk factors and treatments in this vulnerable population.
M odeling M acroeconom ic Shocks in the CFA Franc Zone † by

In this paper we modify the method of Blanchard and Quah (1989) in order to estimate a structural VAR model appropriate for a small open economy. In this way we identify shocks to output and prices in the members of the two monetary unions that make up the African CFA Franc Zone. The costs of monetary union membership will depend on the extent to which price and output shocks are correlated across countries, and the degree of similarity in the long run effects of the shocks on the macro-economy. The policy conclusions depend on the relative importance of different macroeconomic variables to policymakers, and the speed with which a policymaker is able to respond to a shock. JEL categories: O11, O23, F33, F42
Distilling neural networks into skipgram-level decision lists

Several previous studies on explanation for recurrent neural networks focus on approaches that find the most important input segments for a network as its explanations. In that case, the manner in which these input segments combine with each other to form an explanatory pattern remains unknown. To overcome this, some previous work tries to find patterns (called rules) in the data that explain neural outputs. However, their explanations are often insensitive to model parameters, which limits the scalability of text explanations. To overcome these limitations, we propose a pipeline to explain RNNs by means of decision lists (also called rules) over skipgrams. For evaluation of explanations, we create a synthetic sepsis-identification dataset, as well as apply our technique on additional clinical and sentiment analysis datasets. We find that our technique persistently achieves high explanation fidelity and qualitatively interpretable rules.
A uniquely prevalent nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance mutation in Russian subtype A HIV-1 viruses

Background:The subtype A variant in the Former Soviet Union (AFSU) causes most of Russia's HIV-1 infections. However, the spectrum of drug-resistance mutations (DRMs) in antiretroviral experienced patients with this variant has not been studied. Methods:Between 2010 and 2013, genotypic resistance testing was performed on plasma samples from 366 antiretroviral-experienced patients in Siberia. Results:Three-hundred patients (82%) had subtype AFSU and 55 (15%) had CRF02_AG viruses. The pattern of DRMs was consistent with patient antiretroviral history with one exception. G190S was the most common nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance mutation, occurring in 55 (33%) subtype AFSU viruses from 167 NNRTI-experienced patients compared with none of 37 CRF02_AG viruses from NNRTI-experienced patients (P < 0.001). The next most common subtype AFSU NNRTI-resistance mutation, K103N, occurred in 25 (15%) viruses. Wild-type glycine (G) at position 190 is encoded by GGC in more than 99% of published AFSU strains. By contrast, G190 is encoded by GGA or GGG in 97% of other subtypes and in subtype A strains outside of the FSU. Therefore, G190S results from a single G→A transition: G (GGC) → S (AGC) almost exclusively in subtype AFSU viruses. Conclusion:The predisposition of subtype AFSU to G190S is concerning because G→A is the most common HIV-1 mutation and because G190S causes higher levels of nevirapine and efavirenz resistance than K103N. This study exemplifies the need for characterizing the genetic mechanisms of resistance in diverse populations and warrants studies to verify that NRTI/NNRTI regimens are as efficacious in treating subtype AFSU as viruses belonging to other subtypes.
Robust Template Identification of Scanned Documents

Identification of low-quality scanned documents is not trivial in real-world settings. Existing research mainly focusing on similarity-based approaches rely on perfect string data from a document. Also, studies using image processing techniques for document identification rely on clean data and large differences among templates. Both these approaches fail to maintain accuracy in the context of noisy data or when document templates are too similar to each other. In this paper, a probabilistic approach is proposed to identify the document template of scanned documents. The proposed algorithm works on imperfect OCR output and document collections containing very similar templates. Through experiment and analysis, this novel probabilistic approach is shown to achieve high accuracy on different data sets.
Optical Coherence Tomography Predictors for Edge Restenosis After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation

Background—Stent edge restenosis (SER) remains a potential limitation of drug-eluting stents. The aim of this study was to determine optical coherence tomography (OCT) predictors for angiographic late SER after everolimus-eluting stent implantation. Methods and Results—We retrospectively analyzed 319 patients who underwent OCT immediately after everolimus-eluting stent implantation and scheduled 9- to 12-month follow-up angiography. The binary angiographic SER rate was 10% (32/319) in the patients, 8.4% (32/382) in lesions, and 4.4% (33/744) in stent edge segments. In the stent edge segments at post stenting, OCT-derived lipidic plaque (61% versus 20%; P<0.001) was more often observed in the SER group, and OCT-measured minimum lumen area (4.13±2.61 versus 5.58±2.46 mm2; P=0.001) was significantly smaller in the SER group compared with the non-SER group. Multivariate analysis identified lipidic plaque (odds ratio: 5.99; 95% confidence interval: 2.89–12.81; P<0.001) and minimum lumen area (odds ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.42–0.96; P=0.029) as independent predictors of binary SER. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that lipid arc of 185° (sensitivity: 71%; specificity: 72%; area under the curve: 0.761) and minimum lumen area of 4.10 mm2 (sensitivity: 67%; specificity: 77%; area under the curve: 0.787) were optimal cutoff values for predicting ischemia-driven SER. Conclusions—The present OCT study demonstrated that lipidic plaque and minimum lumen area in the stent edge segments at post stenting were associated with late SER after everolimus-eluting stent implantation. OCT provides valuable information to determine an appropriate landing zone for stent implantation.
Evidence for genetic regulation of endothelial progenitor cells and their role as biological markers of atherosclerotic susceptibility.

AIMS Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are found in the peripheral circulation and are capable of endothelial repair and neovascularization. EPC number and function are reduced in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors or proven coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that EPC number and/or function may be genetically regulated and may vary in healthy adult offspring depending on parental history of CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 102 subjects comprising 24 healthy parent-healthy offspring pairs and 27 CAD parent-healthy offspring pairs. We measured the number of circulating CD34(+)VEGFR-2(+) and AC133(+)VEGFR-2(+) EPCs, the number of EPCs grown in culture, and the migration capacity of cultured EPCs towards vascular endothelial growth factor. There was significant correlation in the number of cultured EPCs between healthy parents and their offspring (R = 0.492, P = 0.015) and CAD parents and their offspring (R = 0.751, P < 0.001). Offspring of subjects with CAD had significantly higher numbers of circulating CD34(+)VEGFR-2(+) and AC133(+)VEGFR-2(+) cells (P = 0.018 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in migration capacity between groups. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that EPC number is, at least in part, genetically regulated. Circulating EPCs may represent biological markers of occult vascular damage in offspring with hereditary risk of CAD.
Influence of Class Imbalance on Active Learning of Sleep EEG Classifier

This master thesis deals with active learning used for the classification of sleep stages on EEG data. Since sleep data are in general imbalanced, we first focus on how class imbalance of synthetic data influences active learning utilizing the uncertainty sampling strategy and its density-weighted variants. Several algorithms have been proposed, one of them saves more than 80 % of instances on four out of five datasets. These savings are significant with regard to the fact that sleep data are annotated by a specialist who must currently go through all instances and classify them. Last but not least, evaluation criteria are proposed in this thesis for the comparison of active learning methods or to verify if a suggested method is better than random sampling.
Distributed transmit beamforming via feedback-based inter-cluster synchronization

This paper focuses on the problem of achieving optimal transmit beamforming for a collection of wireless sensors. The objective is to design distributed algorithms running on each sensor (each carrying an antenna) such that the signals from all sensors combine constructively at the receiver end and thus, the received power is increased. Towards this goal, we propose two algorithms that are applicable to two types of sensor setups: Taking Turn Distributed Beamforming (TT-DB) for sensors with partial global knowledge and Random Grouping Distributed Beamforming (RG-DB) for sensors with no global knowledge. Both algorithms are iterative whereby each sensor adjusts its phase offset without directly communicating with each other. In each iteration, either one sensor or a subset of sensors are selected and then transmit the signals that are carefully crafted based on the SNR feedback from the receiver end. We have proved that guided by either algorithm, the signals from all sensor nodes converge to perfect phase coherence asymptotically, and our simulation results have shown that the convergence steps of both algorithms are linear with respect to the number of sensor nodes in the group.
Regulation of outgrowth and apoptosis for the terminal appendage: external genitalia: development by concerted actions of BMP signaling

Extra-corporal fertilization depends on the formation of copulatory organs: the external genitalia. Coordinated growth and differentiation of the genital tubercle (GT), an embryonic anlage of external genitalia, generates a proximodistally elongated structure suitable for copulation, erection, uresis and ejaculation. Despite recent progress in molecular embryology, few attempts have been made to elucidate the molecular developmental processes of external genitalia formation. Bone morphogenetic protein genes (Bmp genes) and their antagonists were spatiotemporally expressed during GT development. Exogenously applied BMP increased apoptosis of GT and inhibited its outgrowth. It has been shown that the distal urethral epithelium (DUE), distal epithelia marked by the Fgf8 expression, may control the initial GT outgrowth. Exogenously applied BMP4 downregulated the expression of Fgf8 and Wnt5a, concomitant with increased apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation of the GT mesenchyme. Furthermore, noggin mutants and Bmpr1a conditional mutant mice displayed hypoplasia and hyperplasia of the external genitalia respectively. noggin mutant mice exhibited downregulation of Wnt5a and Fgf8 expression with decreased cell proliferation. Consistent with such findings, Wnt5a mutant mice displayed GT agenesis with decreased cell proliferation. By contrast, Bmpr1a mutant mice displayed decreased apoptosis and augmented Fgf8 expression in the DUE associated with GT hyperplasia. These results suggest that some of the Bmp genes could negatively affect proximodistally oriented outgrowth of GT with regulatory functions on cell proliferation and apoptosis. The DUE region can be marked only until 14.0 dpc (days post coitum) in mouse development, while GT outgrowth continues thereafter. Possible signaling crosstalk among the whole distal GT regions were also investigated.
Antibodies against hepatitis E virus in old world monkeys

SUMMARY. To examine whether Indian monkeys are infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) in nature, serum samples from wild rhesus (Macaca mullata), bonnet (M. radiata) and langur (Presbytes entellus) monkeys were screened for anti‐HEV IgG antibodies in recombinant antigen‐based ELISA assays. The positivity rates were 36.7%. 19.1% and 2% respectively. The protection of such antibodies against human HEV was studied in four rhesus monkeys. Of the two rhesus monkeys with anti‐HEV titres of 100 and 1000 respectively which were inoculated with the KOL‐91 strain of HEV, the former demonstrated a 10‐fold rise in anti‐HEV titres. Anti‐HEV titre in the second rhesus monkey remained unchanged. Neither of the monkeys showed any rise in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) or presence of virus in the faeces, as tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two other rhesus monkeys with anti‐HEV titres of 10000 and 100 respectively were inoculated with the AKL‐90 strain of HEV. Serum ALT levels and anti‐HEV titres remained unchanged in the first monkey. Excretion of virus in faeces was not noted (PCR). The second monkey developed a typical HEV infection. HEV infection could be produced in anti‐HEV negative control monkeys inoculated with both strains of HEV. These results show that either human or simian HEV, or a closely related agent, is circulating among Indian macaques. Titre‐dependent protection of naturally occurring anti‐HEV antibodies supports this view.
Supervised Learning Approaches for Rating Customer Reviews

Social media (blogs, reviews, and forums) have become highly popular in recent years, and people are expressing their views, thoughts on a mobile or a movie or a book through reviews. Reviews have a great influence on people in decision making, which has led researchers and market analysts to analyze the opinions or sentiments of users in reviews and statistically model their preferences. Sometimes reviews are also rated in terms of satisfaction score on any product or movie by the customer. These ratings usually vary on a scale of one to five (stars) or from very bad to excellent. In our work, we address the problem of attributing a numerical score (one to five stars) to a review. We view it as a multi-label classification (supervised learning) problem and present two approaches, using naive Bayes (NB) and logistic regression (LR). We focus more feature representations of reviews widely used; problems associated with them and present solutions.