Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modèle multi-agents pour le filtrage collaboratif de l'information

Les systemes de recommandation sont nes de la volonte de pallier le probleme de surcharge d'information du web. Combinant des techniques de filtrage d'information, personnalisation, intelligence artificielle, reseaux sociaux et interaction personne-machine, les systemes de recommandation fournissent a des utilisateurs des suggestions qui repondent a leurs besoins et preferences informationnelles. En effet, les systemes de recommandation sont particulierement sollicites dans les applications de commerce electronique. Cependant, ce type de systeme a ete en grande partie confine a une architecture centralisee. Recemment, l'architecture distribuee a connu une popularite croissante, comme en temoigne par exemple, les reseaux pair-a-pair (« peer-to-peer »), le calcul distribue (« Grid computing »), le web semantique, etc., et s'impose peu a peu comme une alternative a l'approche client/serveur classique. L'hypothese des chercheurs est que les systemes de recommandation peuvent tirer profit d'une architecture distribuee. Dans cette these, nous etudions les defis que posent les systemes de recommandation distribues et nous proposons une nouvelle architecture pair-a-pair, de filtrage collaboratif, basee sur la discrimination du voisinage. Nous etudions l'evolution de la performance, de la couverture et de la qualite des predictions pour differentes techniques de recommandation. En outre, nous identifions la methode de recommandation la plus efficace pour cette nouvelle architecture pair-a-pair. Bien que cette these se concentre essentiellement sur le domaine decentralise de systeme de recommandation, nos contributions ne se limitent pas strictement a ce domaine de recherche. En effet, ces contributions touchent des problemes de recherche dans plusieurs autres domaines de recherche (systeme multi-agents, gestions profils utilisateurs, reduction de la complexite computationnelle, collecte des preferences utilisateurs, PageRank, etc.). ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLES DE L’AUTEUR : Filtrage de l'information, Filtrage collaboratif, Systeme de recommandation, Systeme distribue, Agent social.
Assessing departure from Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium in the presence of disease association

Assessing Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) is often employed as an important initial step for genotype data quality checking in genetics studies. Tests for HWE often assume that the genotypes are randomly sampled from the general population. However, in many human genetics studies, subjects are ascertained through their disease status, and affected individuals (and their relatives in family‐based studies) are overly represented in the ascertained sample than in the general population. As a result, when a marker is associated with the disease, the type I error rate in the HWE tests can be inflated, leading to false exclusion of associated markers from future analysis. Here we develop a general likelihood framework that allows assessment of departure from HWE while taking into account potential association with the disease. Our method can differentiate HWE departure caused by disease association from departure caused by other reasons, such as genotyping errors. The framework can be used for various data structures, including unrelated cases and controls, nuclear families with one or more offspring, or a mixture of them. The type I error rate of our test is under control for a broad range of scenarios. For case‐control data, compared to the traditional HWE test that uses only controls, our test is more powerful to detect HWE departure for common diseases and has comparable power for rare diseases. For case‐parents trios, our test is more powerful than the traditional HWE test that uses parents only. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Library of Finegoldia magna ATCC 29328 for Genetic Mapping and Comparative Genomics

We constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of Finegoldia magna ATCC 29328 DNA to facilitate further genome analysis of F. magna. The BAC library contained 385 clones with an average insert size of 55 kb, representing a 10.1‐fold genomic coverage. Repeated DNA hybridization using primer sets designed on the basis of BAC‐end sequences yielded nine contigs covering 95% of the chromosome and two contigs covering 98% of the plasmid. The contigs were localized on the physical map of F. magna ATCC 29328 DNA. A total of 121 BAC‐end sequences revealed 103 unique genes, which had not been previously reported for F. magna. The homolog ORF of albumin‐binding protein (urPAB), one of the known virulence factors from F. magna, was sequenced and localized on the physical map. Homology analysis of 121 BAC‐end sequences revealed that F. magna is most closely related to clostridia, particularly Clostridium tetani. This close relationship is consistent with the recent classification of peptostreptococci based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The BAC library constructed here will be useful for the whole genome sequencing project and other postgenomic applications.
Feature analysis for emotion recognition from Mandarin speech considering the special characteristics of Chinese language

Emotion recognition from speech signals is regarded as a critical step toward intelligent human-machine interface. However, feature parameters useful for this purpose may have to do with the special structures of the language. In this paper we present a detailed analysis of the feature parameters for emotion recognition considering the characteristics of the Chinese language, primarily the monosyllable structure and the tone behavior. The analysis is based on the feature parameters on three levels: frame-level, syllable-level, and word-level. The results show that the frame-level and syllable-level ones are good indicators, while taking the ensemble features on all three levels can yield a recognition accuracy of 90.0%. We also found that the pitch and power related features are the most important, and the fourth tone in Mandarin serves as the strongest indicator to emotions. All these findings are consistent with the characteristics of Mandarin Chinese.
Maternal Stress, Social Support, and Risk of Neural Tube Defects Among Mexican Americans

Background: Studies suggest that maternal psychologic stress can increase the risk of congenital malformations, including neural tube defects (NTDs). We examined whether maternal stress and lack of social support contribute to NTD risk in a population living along the Texas–Mexico border. Methods: Case mothers (N = 184) were Mexican-American women with NTD-affected pregnancies who delivered during 1995 to 2000 in one of the 14 Texas counties bordering on Mexico. Control mothers (N = 225) were randomly selected from Mexican-American women residing in the same area and delivering normal live births. We measured maternal stress by tallying the number of job changes, residential moves, and major injuries occurring during the year before conception. Social support was measured using social integration and perceived emotional support scales. Results: Mothers who experienced one or more stressful life events during the year before conception had increased risks for NTDs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8–4.7) compared with mothers experiencing no events. Mothers who scored low on emotional support had an elevated risk compared with those who scored high (OR = 4.6; CI = 2.2–9.7). Social support measures, such as network size and satisfaction, group interactions, and church attendance, were unrelated to NTD risk. The estimated effects were not modified or confounded by age, education, country of birth, income, obesity, vitamin supplements, dietary folate, cigarette smoking, or alcohol consumption. Conclusion: In this Mexican-American population, the occurrence of stressful life events was associated with NTD risk. These findings suggest that stress may exacerbate risk in populations with poor nutritional status and meager economic resources.
NdhP Is an Exclusive Subunit of Large Complex of NADPH Dehydrogenase Essential to Stabilize the Complex in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803*

Background: Two major NADPH dehydrogenase complexes, NDH-1L and NDH-1M, have been identified in cyanobacteria. Results: NdhP is localized in the NDH-1L complex, and absence of this subunit or its C-terminal tail disassembled NDH-1L to NDH-1M. Conclusion: C terminus of NdhP is essential to stabilize the NDH-1L complex. Significance: Our results provide novel insights into the assembly and stabilization of NDH-1L complex. Two major complexes of NADPH dehydrogenase (NDH-1) have been identified in cyanobacteria. A large complex (NDH-1L) contains NdhD1 and NdhF1, which are absent in a medium size complex (NDH-1M). They play important roles in respiration, cyclic electron transport around photosystem I, and CO2 acquisition. Two mutants sensitive to high light for growth and impaired in NDH-1-mediated cyclic electron transfer were isolated from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 transformed with a transposon-bearing library. Both mutants had a tag in sml0013 encoding NdhP, a single transmembrane small subunit of the NDH-1 complex. During prolonged incubation of the wild type thylakoid membrane with n-dodecyl β-d-maltoside (DM), about half of the NDH-1L was disassembled to NDH-1M and the rest decomposed completely without forming NDH-1M. In the ndhP deletion mutant (ΔndhP), disassembling of NDH-1L to NDH-1M occurred even on ice, and decomposition to a small piece occurred at room temperature much faster than in the wild type. Deletion of the C-terminal tail of NdhP gave the same result. The C terminus of NdhP was tagged by YFP-His6. Blue native gel electrophoresis of the DM-treated thylakoid membrane of this strain and Western analysis using the antibody against GFP revealed that NdhP-YFP-His6 was exclusively confined to NDH-1L. During prolonged incubation of the thylakoid membrane of the tagged strain with DM at room temperature, NDH-1L was partially disassembled to NDH-1M and the 160-kDa band containing NdhP-YFP-His6 and possibly NdhD1 and NdhF1. We therefore conclude that NdhP, especially its C-terminal tail, is essential to assemble NdhD1 and NdhF1 and stabilize the NDH-1L complex.
Autonomous underwater sampling using a manipulator and stereovisual servoing

We propose a system, composed of a manipulator and a stereovision module mounted on the autonomous underwater vehicle Twin-Burger 2 to sample underwater jellyfish-like small animals. Visual servoing of the robot is performed with the data from the stereovision module. A moving target and a LED fixed on the manipulator's end are tracked in real time. The manipulator is designed to avoid any motion perpendicular to the main axes of its elements that would generate drag forces and perturb the vehicle's position. An experiment in which the robot tracks and catches a submersed ball with the manipulator is presented.
Compact 0.7-V CMOS voltage/current reference with 54/29-ppm/°C temperature coefficient

In this paper, new low-voltage low-TC voltage/current reference is presented. The proposed reference consists of a PTAT current source, a low-voltage bandgap reference, and a current replication circuit. According to evaluation results using a 0.18-µm CMOS process, the proposed reference exhibiting 512-mV output voltage and 0.94-µA output current achieves a minimum supply voltage of 0.7 V. The proposed voltage/current reference achieves temperature coefficients of 54 ppm/°C and 29 ppm/°C with respect to output voltage and current, respectively. This voltage/current reference consumes an overall current of 7.6 µA, and occupies a silicon area of 0.02 mm2.
Antibody‐secreting cells specific for simian immunodeficiency virus antigens in lymphoid and mucosal tissues of immunized macaques

Objectives:To examine whether the route of immunization affects the induction of antibody-secreting cells (ASC) in the circulation of macaques. The distribution of ASC in the rectal mucosa and lymphoid tissues following challenge with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) was investigated. Design:Macaques were immunized with recombinant SIV gp120 and p27 antigens by the targeted iliac lymph node (TILN) route of immunization or the nasal and rectal route, augmented by intramuscular immunization [naso-rectal intramuscular (NRI)]. The macaques were challenged with live SIV by the rectal route and ASC were assayed in the circulation before and after SIV challenge, and in the tissues removed at post-mortem. Methods:ASC were examined in the circulation by Elispot assay. Mononuclear cells were prepared from peripheral blood, iliac and axillary lymph nodes and spleen. Rectal tissue was treated by enzyme digestion to elute mononuclear cells. Results:TILN and NRI immunization induced circulating IgA and IgG ASC to both gp120 and p27. Following rectal challenge with SIV, TILN macaques were protected from infection whereas NRI route-immunized and unimmunized controls became infected. IgA ASC to p27 were increased significantly in the iliac lymph nodes of the TILN immunized macaques compared with unimmunized controls (P < 0.05). Only IgA ASC were found in the rectal mucosa of the immunized protected macaques but both IgA and IgG ASC were detected in the unimmunized infected macaques. Overall the number of IgG ASC specific for p27 was significantly higher in the infected NRI and control macaques than in the protected macaques (P < 0.02). A progressive increase in IgG but not IgA ASC was detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the unimmunized infected macaques. Conclusions:The results suggest that cells secreting IgA antibodies to p27 in the iliac lymph nodes of the TILN immunized macaques correlate significantly with protection from infection. The unimmunized infected macaques showed a progressive increase in IgG ASC in the peripheral blood after SIV challenge; this was found in the iliac and axillary lymph nodes and also in the spleen, suggesting that it is an immune response to the SIV infection.
3-D Magnetic Tweezers for Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Single DNA Molecules

This study reports a new three-dimensional (3-D) micromachined magnetic tweezers, fabricated using MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) technology, for manipulating a single 2-nm diameter DNA molecule. The new apparatus uses magnetic forces to exert over 20-pN, with less heating compared to other methods, allowing the extension of the DNA molecule over its whole contour length to investigate its entropic and elastic regions. The important elastic modulus of DNA has been explored to be 453 pN at a low ionic strength. The force-extension curve for DNA molecules is found to be consistent with theoretical models. In addition to a single DNA stretching, this study also successfully demonstrated the stretching of two parallel DNA molecules, which was never reported previously in the literature.
Fingerprint and speaker verification decisions fusion

By exploiting the specialist capabilities of each classifier, a combined classifier may yield results which would not be possible in a single classifier. We propose to combine fingerprint and speaker verification decisions using a functional link network. This is to circumvent the non-trivial trial-and-error and iterative training effort as seen in backpropagation neural networks which cannot guarantee global optimal solutions. In many data fusion applications, as individual classifiers to be combined would have attained a certain level of classification accuracy, the proposed functional link network can be used to combine these classifiers by taking their outputs as the inputs to the network. The network is used to combine the fingerprint and speaker verification decisions with much improved receiver operating characteristics performance as compared to an optimal weighting method.
OCULAR HEALTH ASSESSMENT, TEAR PRODUCTION, AND INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN THE ANDROS ISLAND IGUANA (CYCLURA CYCHLURA CYCHLURA)

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the ocular health of a wild population of Andros Island iguanas (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) and determine reference values for tear production and intraocular pressure (IOP) for this species. Fifty-two iguanas, 20 males and 32 females, ranging in size from 11.1- to 51.0-cm snout-to-vent length (SVL), were included in the sample set, with measurements obtained from each eye. No abnormalities were found on ophthalmic examination, with the exception of mild, focal chemosis in one individual and periocular ticks in 52% of iguanas. Tear production was measured using the phenol red thread test, and IOP was measured using the TonoVet® rebound tonometer set on the P (undefined species) setting. No significant difference was found between males and females for either measurement. No significant difference was found between right and left eyes for intraocular pressure; however, a significant difference was found between eyes for tear production values. The mean (±SD) of IOP in the left and right eyes were 4.77 ± 1.88 mm Hg and 5.12 ± 2.52 mm Hg, respectively, with a range of 1–11 mm Hg. The mean (±SD) of tear production in the left and right eyes were 10.63 ± 6.89 mm/15 sec (range 1–28 mm/15 sec) and 12.44 ± 7.52 mm/15 sec (range 1–23 mm/15 sec), respectively. A positive correlation was found between SVL and all ocular parameters measured. This study provides an assessment of ocular health, as well as baseline values for IOP and tear production, in the Andros Island iguana.
CAMELLIA SINENSIS (L.) KUNTZE (CHÁ‑VERDE ) E SEUS ASPECTOS QUÍMICOS , FARMACOLÓGICOS E TERAPÊUTICOS

A utilizacao de plantas com fins medicinais, paratratamento, cura e prevencao de doencas, vem sendopraticada pela humanidade ha muito tempo e, certamente,a terapeutica moderna nao teria atingido o grau dedesenvolvimento atual se nao fosse o auxilio desse recursocomo fonte de substâncias ativas (YUNES & CALIXTO,2001). As plantas medicinais, segundo a Organizacao Mundialde Saude (OMS), sao conceituadas como sendo qualquerplanta que possua, em um ou em varios de seus orgaos,substâncias que podem ser utilizadas com finalidadeterapeutica e/ou que seus metabolitos secundarios sirvamcomo precursores para a quimica farmaceutica (CANIGUERAL& VANACLOCHA, 2003).
Extraction of series-resistance-independent MOS transistor model parameters

It is shown by simulations and experiments how series-resistance-independent intrinsic SPICE level-3 MOS parameters can be extracted when the source and drain series resistance is extracted as a separate parameter. If this resistance is not extracted separately, not only will the mobility reduction factor depend on the series resistance but so will the maximum drift velocity, the saturation field factor, and the static feedback factor. External source and drain resistors have been used to investigate how these parameters depend on the series resistance. <<ETX>>
A Comparative Study of Pathways to Care for Children with Specific Learning Disability and Mental Retardation

Context: Early intervention in specific learning disability (SpLD) results in better outcome and prevents comorbidity. Understanding the pathways is therefore important. Aims: To study and compare the pathways to care for children with SpLD and mental retardation (MR) before reaching a tertiary care center. Settings and Design, Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for pathways to care of two groups: SpLD and MR with 50 children in each group from 8 to 16 years. MINI-KID for comorbidity and Goldberg's pathway to care instrument was used. The groups were divided into early contact (up to three carers) and late contact (more than three carers) and compared. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.0 software. Results: Majority (n = 24 or 48%) of SpLD children visited “others” (teachers, neighbors, relatives, and guardians of fellow classmates) as first carer. Allopathic practitioners were the first choice for MR children (n = 31 or 62%). Six children (12%) in SpLD group and 10 of MR (20%) group have seen either traditional practitioner or healer as first carer. Maximum referral to the tertiary center in both groups was done by others (62% in SpLD and 56% in MR group). Early contacts in SpLD group belonged to younger age group (P = 0.01). While comparing both groups on the basis of early and late contact, mother's education was found to be significant in early contact group (P = 0.036) and having comorbidity was significant among late contacts (P = 0.038). Conclusions: The pathways to care for SpLD children are more or less similar to MR children whose parents recognize MR late. Both the groups visit multiple carers including traditional healers substantiating the strong belief for supernatural causation of developmental disorders in India.
Investigating DC link current ripple and PWM modulation methods in Electric Vehicles

Batteries are one of the key components for Electric Vehicles (EVs). While batteries supply energy to output at normal working mode by converting internal chemical energy to electric energy (discharging), they restore energy at regenerative working mode as opposed to discharging (charging). During each working mode, battery current is not smooth DC and it has ripple. The ripple current influence battery lifetime negatively. Simulations which include ideal battery model and ideal DC bus capacitor model do not give realistic results about battery ripple current. This paper presents comparative investigations and evaluations about battery current waveform, battery current harmonic spectrum and the ratio of battery current harmonic components to battery average current for different modulation methods and operating states for motor (i.e. speed and torque) by using high frequency battery model and high frequency DC bus capacitor model.
Improving the Ordering and Photovoltaic Properties by Extending π–Conjugated Area of Electron‐Donating Units in Polymers with D‐A Structure

A systematic molecular design process from PBDTTT-S to PBDTDTTT-S-T, a high-performance semiconducting polymer for organic photovoltaics, has been achieved by enhancing structural order, self-assembly and carrier mobility. Solar cells made from PBDTDTTT-S-T blended with PC(70) BM show a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.81%, which is 25% higher than that of the parent PBDTTT-S.
Differential explanations for energy management in buildings

In the field of building energy efficiency, researchers generally focus on building performance and how to enhance it. The objective of this work is to empower the building occupants by putting them in the loop of efficient energy use, supporting them to achieve their objectives by pointing out how far their actions are from an optimal set of actions. Different levels of explanation are investigated. Indicators measuring the distance to optimality are, firstly, proposed. An algorithm that generates deeper explanations is then presented to determine how changing some actions impacts comfort. The paper emphasizes the importance of explanations with a real case study. It identifies the type and level of explanations needed for different occupants. The concept of replay is presented. An occupant can replay his past actions and learn from them.