Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RLRAUC: Reinforcem ent learning based ranking algorithm using user clicks

Because of great volume of web information, information retrieval process of a search engine is of great importance. For each query of user, the number of queries can reach hundred thousands, whereas a few number of the first results have the chance of being checked by user; therefore, a search engine pays attention to putting relevance results in the first ranks as a necessity. This paper introduces a reinforcement learning based ranking algorithm using user clicks, called RLRAUC, to put the relevance and favorite documents in the first ranks of query results. In the proposed algorithm, ranking system is the agent of learning system and selecting documents for displaying to user is considered as action. The reinforcement signal is calculated according to user click on documents. In this procedure, each pair of word-document in the user query is assigned a score according to the relevance of document. Documents in each repeating of learning would be sorted for next query based on changed scores and among these documents, according to document position in ranking list, random documents would be selected to be displayed to user. Learning process would be continued until it is converged to a stable ranking list. To evaluate proposed method, LETOR3 as well-known dataset has been used. Evaluation results indicate that RLRAUC is more effective than current ranking methods.
Peripheral Nerve Injury: Principles for Repair and Regeneration

Peripheral Nerve Injuries are one of the most common causes of hand dysfunction caused by upper limb trauma but still current management has remained suboptimal. This review aims to explain the traditional view of pathophysiology of nerve repair and also describe why surgical management is still inadequate in using the new biological research that has documented the changes that occur after the nerve injury, which, could cause suboptimal clinical outcomes. Subsequently presentation and diagnosis will be described for peripheral nerve injuries. When traditional surgical repair using end-to-end anastomosis is not adequate nerve conduits are required with the gold standard being the autologous nerve. Due to associated donor site morbidity and poor functional outcome documented with autologous nerve repair several new advancements for alternatives to bridge the gap are being investigated. We will summarise the new and future advancements of non-biological and biological replacements as well as gene therapy, which are being considered as the alternatives for peripheral nerve repair.
The Butyrylcholinesterase K Variant Confers Structurally Derived Risks for Alzheimer Pathology*♦

The K variant of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE-K, 20% incidence) is a long debated risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD). The A539T substitution in BChE-K is located at the C terminus, which is essential both for BChE tetramerization and for its capacity to attenuate β-amyloid (Aβ) fibril formation. Here, we report that BChE-K is inherently unstable as compared with the “usual” BChE (BChE-U), resulting in reduced hydrolytic activity and predicting prolonged acetylcholine maintenance and protection from AD. A synthetic peptide derived from the C terminus of BChE-K (BSP-K), which displayed impaired intermolecular interactions, was less potent in suppressing Aβ oligomerization than its BSP-U counterpart. Correspondingly, highly purified recombinant human rBChE-U monomers suppressed β-amyloid fibril formation less effectively than dimers, which also protected cultured neuroblastoma cells from Aβ neurotoxicity. Dual activity structurally derived changes due to the A539T substitution can thus account for both neuroprotective characteristics caused by sustained acetylcholine levels and elevated AD risk due to inefficient interference with amyloidogenic processes.
A New Single Photon Avalanche Diode in CMOS High-Voltage Technology

We report a new single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) implemented in a commercially available high-voltage CMOS technology. The SPAD was designed with relatively low-doped layers to form p-/n- junction, instead of commonly adopted p+/n- or n+/p- structures. We used the readily available layers as given by the technology without any customization or post-processing. Careful design measures were taken to ensure planar junction breakdown. Compared with a p+/n- diode, a p-/n- SPAD has relative deep junction, wide depletion region, and thus improves probability of photon detection. The measurement shows a maximum photon detection efficiency of 34.4%, and remains above 20% from 400 nm to 620 nm, whereas the dark count rate is only 50 cps at room temperature with 5 V excess voltage.
Active Mean Fields for Probabilistic Image Segmentation: Connections with Chan-Vese and Rudin-Osher-Fatemi Models

Segmentation is a fundamental task for extracting semantically meaningful regions from an image. The goal of segmentation algorithms is to accurately assign object labels to each image location. However, image-noise, shortcomings of algorithms, and image ambiguities cause uncertainty in label assignment. Estimating the uncertainty in label assignment is important in multiple application domains, such as segmenting tumors from medical images for radiation treatment planning. One way to estimate these uncertainties is through the computation of posteriors of Bayesian models, which is computationally prohibitive for many practical applications. On the other hand, most computationally efficient methods fail to estimate label uncertainty. We therefore propose in this paper the Active Mean Fields (AMF) approach, a technique based on Bayesian modeling that uses a mean-field approximation to efficiently compute a segmentation and its corresponding uncertainty. Based on a variational formulation, the resulting convex model combines any label-likelihood measure with a prior on the length of the segmentation boundary. A specific implementation of that model is the Chan-Vese segmentation model (CV), in which the binary segmentation task is defined by a Gaussian likelihood and a prior regularizing the length of the segmentation boundary. Furthermore, the Euler-Lagrange equations derived from the AMF model are equivalent to those of the popular Rudin-Osher-Fatemi (ROF) model for image denoising. Solutions to the AMF model can thus be implemented by directly utilizing highly-efficient ROF solvers on log-likelihood ratio fields. We qualitatively assess the approach on synthetic data as well as on real natural and medical images. For a quantitative evaluation, we apply our approach to the icgbench dataset.
Simple and fast multigrid solution of Poisson's equation using diagonally oriented grids

We solve Poisson's equation using new multigrid algorithms that converge rapidly. The feature of the 2D and 3D algorithms are the use of diagonally oriented grids in the multigrid hierarchy for a much richer and effective communication between the levels of the multigrid. Numerical investigations into solving Poisson's equation in the unit square and unit cube show simple versions of the proposed algorithms are up to twice as fast as correspondingly simple multigrid iterations on a standard hierarchy of grids. Similar improvements are found for a basic advection-diffusion equations.
An ontology-based competency model for workflow activity assignment policies

Purpose – Assigning business process activities to agents (human or automated) for their performance or supervision is a critical issue in business process management. Role-based approaches are commonly used to specify work assignment policies, with roles defined as collections of capabilities and privileges required to perform job functions. The purpose of this paper is to address the activity assignment problem through a competency-based approach. In this context, an ontology-based competency model is developed to assist in identifying the competencies that exist in an organization and the competencies required, by workflow activities and in performing a competency gap analysis as a prerequisite for domain-specific user development through competency-based training. Design/methodology/approach – An approach for developing a business process activity assignment policy based on an ontology-based competency model is presented. This model is also used to define domain-specific training courses that enable users meet the competency requirements of process activities. In broad terms, the approach consists of the following steps: identification of the competencies required in order to perform the various activities involved in each business process and definition of roles based on these competencies; identification of the competencies acquired in the organization and assignment of users to roles; performance of competency gap analysis to identify the missing user competencies for role playing and identification of user development needs; and development of competency-based training scenarios intended to fill the user competency gaps. Findings – An experimental implementation of the ontology-based competency model proposed in the banking domain provided a fine-grained role structure that was based on the competencies required by business process activities, and a user-to-role assignment that closely matched the competencies required for role playing, and brought forward missing user competencies that pointed to required user training needs. Originality/value – The proposed ontology-based competency model fulfils the need for a sustained work assignment approach based on user roles. To this end, roles and users are defined as collections of required and acquired competencies, respectively. A novel approach based on ontology-based competency ontologies was also developed to fill required but missing user competencies.
Providing for the professional development of teachers in England: a contemporary account of a government-led intervention

The complex nature of the work of a teacher in England was thrown into fresh relief in 2010 by the marked contrast between the outgoing New Labour administration and the incoming Coalition. The paper addresses the false dichotomy between views of teaching as craft and teaching as profession and proceeds to a consideration of the actuality of the middle-ground. It then seeks to place the bespoke (and short-lived) Master’s in Teaching and Learning degree within its recent historical and philosophical context. We consider its validity within a meaningful developmental cycle and its continuation as a significant addition to the available professional development resource.
Nonlinear-carrier control for high power factor boost rectifiers

Novel nonlinear-carrier (NLC) controllers are proposed for high-power-factor boost rectifiers. In the NLC controllers, the switch duty ratio is determined by comparing a signal derived from the main switch current with a periodic, nonlinear carrier waveform. As a result, the average input current follows the input line voltage. The technique is suitable for boost power converters operating in the continuous conduction mode. Input voltage sensing, the error amplifier in the current-shaping loop, and the multiplier/divider circuitry in the voltage feedback loop are eliminated. The current-shaping is based on switch (as opposed to inductor) current sensing. The NLC controllers offer comparable or improved performance over existing schemes, and are well-suited for simple integrated-circuit implementation. Experimental verification on a 240 W rectifier is described. <<ETX>>
External distractions or more mind wandering? : Evaluating a recent model of conscious thoughts

Mind wandering is a very exciting topic in cognitive science, and as such, different researchers have come up with different hypotheses and models to explain it. One model, introduced by Stawarczyk, Majerus, Maj, Van der Linden, and D’Argembeau in 2011, conceptualizes conscious thoughts along the two dimensions of task-relatedness and stimulus-dependency. From these two dimensions they generated a four-way model of thoughts, including mind wandering and external distractions. The current study aimed to evaluate this model, particularly regarding the empirical distinction between mind wandering and external distractions, by using confirmatory factor analyses to see how external distractions and mind wandering relate to one another and to other variables, such as working memory capacity and attentional restraint. It was found that the distinction made by Stawarczyk and colleagues – especially regarding the inclusion of interoceptive stimuli with external distractions – did not seem to hold up.
An on-line Classification EM algorithm based on mixture model

Mixture model-based clustering is widely used in many applications. In real-time applications, data are received sequentially and classification parameters have to be quickly updated. An on-line clustering algorithm based on mixture models is presented in the context of a real time flaw diagnosis application for pressurized containers. Available data for this application are acoustic emission signals. The proposed algorithm is a stochastic gradient one derived from the Classification version of the EM algorithm (CEM). It provides a model-based generalization of the well known on-line k-means algorithm to handle non spherical clusters when specific Gaussian mixture models are used. Using synthetic and real data sets, the proposed algorithm is compared to the batch CEM algorithm and the on-line EM algorithm. The three approaches generates comparable solutions in terms of the resulting partition when clusters are relatively well separated but on-line algorithms become fasters when the size of the available observations increases.
Abnormal Heart Rate Characteristics Are Associated with Neonatal Mortality

Estimating the risk of in-hospital mortality in the newborn intensive care unit can provide important information for health-care providers, and illness severity scores have been devised to provide mortality risk estimates. Calculation of illness severity scores is time-consuming, and the information used to predict mortality is collected only for the first 12 to 24 h of life. A noninvasive continuous measure that uses information collected throughout the hospitalization and that requires no data entry could be less costly and more informative. We have previously shown that the abnormal heart rate characteristics (HRC) of reduced variability and transient decelerations accompany neonatal illness such as late-onset sepsis. We hypothesized that more frequent and severe abnormal HRC are associated with an increased risk of death. We tested this hypothesis in two ways. Using data on infants older than 7 d of age, we first determined the association of the HRC index with death in the next week. Second, we devised a cumulative HRC score and determined its association with in-hospital death. There were 37 deaths in the 685 patients. The major findings were 1) the HRC index showed highly significant association with death in the succeeding 7 d (receiver-operating characteristic area > 0.7, p < 0.001), and 2) the cumulative HRC was highly significantly associated with neonatal in-hospital mortality (receiver-operating characteristic area > 0.80, p < 0.001). In both analyses, HRC added information to birth weight, gestational age, and postnatal age (p< 0.01). The HRC index provides independent information about the risk of neonatal death in the upcoming 7 d, and the cumulative HRC is an estimate of the risk of in-hospital neonatal mortality.
ActivitySpace: Managing Device Ecologies in an Activity-Centric Configuration Space

Mobile devices have become an intrinsic part of people's everyday life. They are multifunctional devices providing ubiquitous access to many different sources of information. Together with traditional personal computers, these devices form a device ecology that provides access to an overlapping information space. Previous studies have shown that users encounter a number of fundamental problems when interacting with these device ecologies, such as lack of transparency, control, intelligibility and context. To mitigate these problems, we introduce ActivitySpace: an activity-centric configuration space that enables the user to integrate and work across several devices by utilizing the space between the devices. This paper presents the conceptual background and design of ActivitySpace and reports on a study with nine participants. Our study shows that ActivitySpace helps users to easily manage devices and their allocated resources while also exposing a number of usage patterns. \
The Archetypes of Literature

To see and to study the principles of optics are obviously different kinds of experiences; to enjoy a novel and to criticize it are equally different. Seeing and enjoying cannot be taught, but physics and criticism can be. Nobody mistakes the expression "I feel cold" for a statement about the nature of heat, but similar statements applied to literature are called criticism. Literature, like the physical world, is "an inexhaustible source" of new discoveries; and criticism, like physics, can be assumed to be a "totally intelligible" science, an organized body of knowledge. This basic assumption underlies Northrop Frye's prodigious output of essays and books; this early essay is representative of and wholly consistent with his theory of archetypes, dealt with more fully in his Anatomy of Criticism (1957). Like Aristotle, Frye is a supreme systematizer, attempting nothing less than the creation of a new and comprehensive poetics of criticism, "a systematic structure of knowledge" to replace the "leisure-class conversation" that passes for critical discourse. His intention is to supply the missing organizing principle for criticism, a "central hypothesis" that will put into perspective various partial or fragmentary critical approaches. To study the principles of literary form, Frye relies heavily on both the insights and the methods of anthropology; indeed, he calls the search for archetypes "a kind of literary anthropology. " As a literary anthropologist, he relates narrative to the creation of rituals, imagery
Visuomotor adaptation changes tactile discrimination: an ERP study

Psychology Unit “Gaetano Kanizsa”, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste; IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo, Venice, Italy; Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste; Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste; INSERM Paris, France; Département de Neurologie, Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d'Alzheimer (IM2A), Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Department of Psychology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The output legitimacy of international organizations and the global public interest

In this article I seek to expand our understanding of the output legitimacy of international organizations (IOs). At the conceptual level, I refute the widespread view that output legitimacy is just a synonym for organizational effectiveness or efficiency. I argue instead that output legitimacy has an important democratic dimension. The touchstone of ‘democratic output legitimacy’ is the extent to which systems of governance produce results that cater to the public interest. Accordingly, the democratic output legitimacy of IOs can be understood in terms of their ability to safeguard the global public interest. This ability hinges upon their capacity to keep powerful factions in check, protect human rights, and safeguard a high epistemic quality of decisions. Attaining these qualities may require shielding IOs to some extent from the input dimension of the international political process. I do not, however, unconditionally praise de-politicization of IOs. I engage with the problem of technocratic paternalism, which is imminent when decision-making based on assumed citizen interests escapes confrontation with articulated citizen interests. The challenge is to devise global governance arrangements that enable an encompassing debate over the substance of the global public interest when needed, while keeping pressure from powerful factions at bay.
Image overlay on optical see-through displays for vehicle navigation

In this paper, we propose a method for image overlay on the front glass of a vehicle to navigate a driver to a desired destination. By overlaying the navigation information on the front glass, the driver need not gaze at the console panel. Therefore, accidents caused by gazing at console panel could be reduced. To overlay the image accurately on the target object through the front glass, both the vehicle's position/orientation and the driver's position/information are estimated by vision-based tracking and measuring angular velocities of the vehicle's wheels. Experimental results show the validity of the proposed method.
Cloning, expression, and molecular characterization of the gene encoding an extremely thermostable [4Fe-4S] ferredoxin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

The gene for ferredoxin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The coding region confirmed the determined amino acid sequence. Putative archaeon-type transcriptional regulatory elements were identified. The fdxA gene appears to be an independent transcriptional unit. Recombinant ferredoxin was indistinguishable from the protein purified from P. furiosus in its thermal stability and in the potentiometric and spectroscopic properties of its [4Fe-4S] cluster.
C-Terminal Tail Phosphorylation of N-Formyl Peptide Receptor: Differential Recognition of Two Neutrophil Chemoattractant Receptors by Monoclonal Antibodies NFPR1 and NFPR21

The N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR), a G protein-coupled receptor that binds proinflammatory chemoattractant peptides, serves as a model receptor for leukocyte chemotaxis. Recombinant histidine-tagged FPR (rHis-FPR) was purified in lysophosphatidyl glycerol (LPG) by Ni2+-NTA agarose chromatography to >95% purity with high yield. MALDI-TOF mass analysis (>36% sequence coverage) and immunoblotting confirmed the identity as FPR. The rHis-FPR served as an immunogen for the production of 2 mAbs, NFPR1 and NFPR2, that epitope map to the FPR C-terminal tail sequences, 305-GQDFRERLI-313 and 337-NSTLPSAEVE-346, respectively. Both mAbs specifically immunoblotted rHis-FPR and recombinant FPR (rFPR) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. NFPR1 also recognized recombinant FPRL1, specifically expressed in mouse L fibroblasts. In human neutrophil membranes, both Abs labeled a 45–75 kDa species (peak Mr ∼60 kDa) localized primarily in the plasma membrane with a minor component in the lactoferrin-enriched intracellular fractions, consistent with FPR size and localization. NFPR1 also recognized a band of Mr ∼40 kDa localized, in equal proportions to the plasma membrane and lactoferrin-enriched fractions, consistent with FPRL1 size and localization. Only NFPR2 was capable of immunoprecipitation of rFPR in detergent extracts. The recognition of rFPR by NFPR2 is lost after exposure of cellular rFPR to f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) and regained after alkaline phosphatase treatment of rFPR-bearing membranes. In neutrophils, NFPR2 immunofluorescence was lost upon fMLF stimulation. Immunoblotting ∼60 kDa species, after phosphatase treatment of fMLF-stimulated neutrophil membranes, was also enhanced. We conclude that the region 337–346 of FPR becomes phosphorylated after fMLF activation of rFPR-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells and neutrophils.