Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LETHA: Learning from High Quality Inputs for 3D Pose Estimation in Low Quality Images

We introduce LETHA (Learning on Easy data, Test on Hard), a new learning paradigm consisting of building strong priors from high quality training data, and combining them with discriminative machine learning to deal with low-quality test data. Our main contribution is an implementation of that concept for pose estimation. We first automatically build a 3D model of the object of interest from high-definition images, and devise from it a pose-indexed feature extraction scheme. We then train a single classifier to process these feature vectors. Given a low quality test image, we visit many hypothetical poses, extract features consistently and evaluate the response of the classifier. Since this process uses locations recorded during learning, it does not require matching points anymore. We use a boosting procedure to train this classifier common to all poses, which is able to deal with missing features, due in this context to self-occlusion. Our results demonstrate that the method combines the strengths of global image representations, discriminative even for very tiny images, and the robustness to occlusions of approaches based on local feature point descriptors.
Transmit Power Control Policies for Energy Harvesting Sensors With Retransmissions

This paper addresses the problem of finding outage- optimal power control policies for wireless energy harvesting sensor (EHS) nodes with automatic repeat request (ARQ)-based packet transmissions. The power control policy of the EHS specifies the transmission power for each packet transmission attempt, based on all the information available at the EHS. In particular, the acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) messages received provide the EHS with partial information about the channel state. We solve the problem of finding an optimal power control policy by casting it as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). We study the structure of the optimal power policy in two ways. First, for the special case of binary power levels at the EHS, we show that the optimal policy for the underlying Markov decision process (MDP) when the channel state is observable is a threshold policy in the battery state. Second, we benchmark the performance of the EHS by rigorously analyzing the outage probability of a general fixed-power transmission scheme, where the EHS uses a predetermined power level at each slot within the frame. Monte Carlo simulation results illustrate the performance of the POMDP approach and verify the accuracy of the analysis. They also show that the POMDP solutions can significantly outperform conventional ad hoc approaches.
Active Learning in Noisy Conditions for Spoken Language Understanding

Active learning has proved effective in many fields of natural language processing. However, in the field of spoken language understanding which is always dealing with noise, no complete comparison between different active learning methods has been done. This paper compares the best known active learning methods in noisy conditions for spoken language understanding. Additionally a new method based on Fisher information named as Weighted Gradient Uncertainty (WGU) is proposed. Furthermore, Strict Local Density (SLD) method is proposed based on a new concept of local density and a new technique of utilizing information density measures. Results demonstrate that both proposed methods outperform the best performance of the previous methods in noisy and noise-free conditions with SLD being superior to WGU slightly.
Estimation of pleiotropy between complex diseases using single-nucleotide polymorphism-derived genomic relationships and restricted maximum likelihood

SUMMARY Genetic correlations are the genome-wide aggregate effects of causal variants affecting multiple traits. Traditionally, genetic correlations between complex traits are estimated from pedigree studies, but such estimates can be confounded by shared environmental factors. Moreover, for diseases, low prevalence rates imply that even if the true genetic correlation between disorders was high, co-aggregation of disorders in families might not occur or could not be distinguished from chance. We have developed and implemented statistical methods based on linear mixed models to obtain unbiased estimates of the genetic correlation between pairs of quantitative traits or pairs of binary traits of complex diseases using population-based case-control studies with genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data. The method is validated in a simulation study and applied to estimate genetic correlation between various diseases from Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium data in a series of bivariate analyses. We estimate a significant positive genetic correlation between risk of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension of ~0.31 (SE 0.14, P = 0.024). AVAILABILITY Our methods, appropriate for both quantitative and binary traits, are implemented in the freely available software GCTA (http://www.complextraitgenomics.com/software/gcta/reml_bivar.html). CONTACT hong.lee@uq.edu. au SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
An improved magnetic property modeling for electrical steel sheets based on double-exciting type 2D measuring system

This paper presents an improved modeling of vector magnetic property of electrical steel sheet based on Fourier series of measured B and H waveforms in the viewpoint of engineering application. In order to obtain smooth approximation of measured data, the B-spline interpolation is adopted to obtain the reluctivity coefficients in the proposed model. The accuracy of proposed model is verified with the experimental measurement data.
On the automatic categorisation of android applications

The presence of mobile devices has increased in our lives offering almost the same functionality as a personal computer. Android devices have appeared lately and, since then, the number of applications available for this operating system have increased exponentially. Google already has its Android Market where applications are offered and, as happens with every popular media, is prone to misuse. A malware writer may insert a malicious application into this market without being noticed. Indeed, there are already several cases of Android malware within the Android Market. Therefore, an approach that can automatically characterise the different types of applications can be helpful for both organising the Android Market and detecting fraudulent or malicious applications. In this paper, we propose a new method for categorising Android applications through machine-learning techniques. To represent each application, our method extracts different feature sets: (i) the frequency of occurrence of the printable strings, (ii) the different permissions of the application itself and (iii) the permissions of the application extracted from the Android Market. We evaluate this approach of automatically categorisation of Android applications and show that achieves a high performance.
Multi-Period Performance Persistence Analysis of Hedge Funds

Abstract Since hedge funds specify significant lock-up periods, we investigate persistence in the performance of hedge funds using a multi-period framework in which the likelihood of observing persistence by chance is lower than in the traditional two-period framework. Under the null hypothesis of no manager skill (no persistence), the theoretical distribution of observing wins or losses follows a binormial distribution. We test this hypothesis using the traditional two-period framework and compare the findings with the results obtained using our multi-period framework. We examine whether persistence is sensitive to the length of return measurement intervals by using quarterly, half-yearly and yearly returns. We find maximum persistence at the quarterly horizon indicating that presistence among hedge fund managers is short term in nature.
An Efficient Algorithm for Computing the Generalized Null Space Decomposition

The generalized null space decomposition (GNSD) is a unitary reduction of a general matrix $A$ of order $n$ to a block upper triangular form that reveals the structure of the Jordan blocks of $A$ corresponding to a zero eigenvalue. The reduction was introduced by Kublanovskaya. It was extended first by Ruhe and then by Golub and Wilkinson, who based the reduction on the singular value decomposition. Unfortunately, if $A$ has large Jordan blocks, the complexity of these algorithms can approach the order of $n^4$. This paper presents an alternative algorithm, based on repeated updates of a QR decomposition of $A$, that is guaranteed to be of order $n^{3}$. Numerical experiments confirm the stability of this algorithm, which turns out to produce essentially the same form as that of Golub and Wilkinson. The effect of errors in $A$ on the ability to recover the original structure is investigated empirically. Several applications are discussed, including the computation of the Drazin inverse.
Metallicity as a criterion to select H2-bearing damped Lyman-α systems

Aims. We characterize the importance of metallicity on the presence of molecular hydrogen in damped Lyman-α (DLA) systems. Methods. We constructed a representative sample of 18 DLA/sub-DLA systems with log N(H i) > 19.5 at high redshift (zabs > 1.8) and with metallicities relative to solar [X/H] > −1.3 (with [X/H] = log N(X)/N(H)−log (X/H)� and X either Zn, S or Si). We gathered data covering the expected wavelength range of redshifted H2 absorption lines on all systems in the sample from either the literature (10 DLAs), the UVES-archive, or new VLT-UVES observations for four of them. The sample is large enough to allow us to discuss for the first time the importance of metallicity as a criterion for the presence of molecular hydrogen in the neutral phase at high-z. Results. From the new observations, we report two new detections of molecular hydrogen in the systems at zabs = 2.431 toward Q 2343+125 and at zabs = 2.426 toward Q 2348−011. Q 2348−011, From a comparison of the H2 detection fraction in the highmetallicity sample with earlier results, we find that the fraction of DLA systems with log f = log 2N(H2)/(2N(H2) + N(H i)) > − 4i s as large as 50% for [X/H] > −0.7, when it is only ∼5% for [X/H] < −1.3 and ∼15% in the overall sample (with −2.5 < [X/H] < −0.3). This demonstrates that the presence of molecular hydrogen at high redshift is strongly correlated with metallicity.
A Realist Philosophy of Social Science: Explanation and understanding in the social sciences

This introduction to the philosophy of social science provides an original conception of the task and nature of social inquiry. Peter Manicas discusses the role of causality seen in the physical sciences and offers a reassessment of the problem of explanation from a realist perspective. He argues that the fundamental goal of theory in both the natural and social sciences is not, contrary to widespread opinion, prediction and control, or the explanation of events (including behaviour). Instead, theory aims to provide an understanding of the processes which, together, produce the contingent outcomes of experience. Offering a host of concrete illustrations and examples of critical ideas and issues, this accessible book will be of interest to students of the philosophy of social science, and social scientists from a range of disciplines.
Manufacturing Services and Servicing Manufacturing: Knowledge-based Cities and Changing Forms of Production

There is an important shift away from production that is dependent upon material resources to production that utilises knowledge as the key source of competitiveness and innovation. Urban areas are key locations for a process that is also changing the way in which goods and services are consumed. The decade of the 1990s was a period of innovation and revitalisation in economic geography; it was also a time when economic geographers began again to explore old concepts in different ways-for example, new industrial spaces-intent on explaining the changing economic landscapes of capitalism. There is a real danger, however, that for economic geography the first decade of the 21st century will be a period of repetition and extension rather than one of development. This paper reviews aspects of the debate about the distinction between service and manufacturing activities and suggests that it needs to be reconsidered in relation to on-going and important changes in the production process that are as important for cities as they are for the economy as a whole.
Epidemiological studies ( parasitological , serological and molecular techniques ) of Trypanosoma evansi infection in camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) in Egypt

Trypanosomosis in camel caused by Trypanosoma evansi is still a serious problem in camel husbandry causes considerable economic losses in many camel-rearing regions of the world. In the present study 193 camels clinically suspected for surra were examined parasitologically by Giemsa stained blood smear (GSBS) and haematocrit centrifugation technique, serologically for detection of anti-trypanosomal antibodies by card agglutination test for trypanosomes (CATT), and for DNA amplification, by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with primers yielding a 177 bp PCR product for the specific detection of Trypanozoan parasites. Out of 193, eight camels were positive by GSBS (4.1%) while 12 were positive with haematocrit centrifugation technique (6.2%). Detection of anti-trypanosomal antibodies with CATT yielded 84 positive samples (43.5%). Using PCR 110 out of 193 were positive (56.9 %). PCR technique is accurate, more sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of trypanosome infected camels than parasitological techniques; it overcomes the problem of specificity and can detect low parasitemic camels in chronic cases. The PCR proved to be the best test used for detection of camel trypanosomosis in Egypt.
A Rational Function Model of Spatial Summation and SingleNeuron Computation Based on Equivalent Circuit

In this work, neuronal spatial summation is studied by using equivalent circuit models. The whole membrane surface is considered as a pavement of small, nonoverlapping patches. Accordingly, the equivalent circuit model of a cell membrane consists of a set of patch modules interconnected through an axial resistance network. Based on the equivalent circuit model a closed-form formulation for spatial summation is developed. It is demonstrated that the spatial summation follows strictly the rule of weighted-averaging, which essentially prescribes a nonlinear relation between the spatial summation and individual patch electromotive potentials. By considering the transmitter-gated conductances as functions of presynaptic neuronal activities, we develop a rational function model for neuronal interactions. This new model of single neurons aaords all four basic arithmetic operations. We show that through suitable, biologically plausible, arrangement of parameters in the proposed model, single neurons can eeectively perform complicated nonlinear computations.
Child Maltreatment and Vulnerable Narcissism

Exposure to maltreatment during childhood (physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, physical or emotional neglect) is associated with increased risk for narcissistic personality pathology (Lobbestael, Arntz, and Bernstein 2010), although studies examining this relationship have looked primarily at DSM-IV criteria for narcissistic personality disorder rather than narcissistic character styles. Yet recent conceptualizations of narcissistic pathology have noted that narcissistic personality disorder likely reflects only one subtype of narcissistic pathology, referred to as “grandiose narcissism” (Cain, Pincus, and Ansell 2008). As a result, most investigations of the developmental precursors of pathological narcissism, including child maltreatment (CM), have focused only on its grandiose presentation. However, an alternative presentation of narcissism, marked by selfconsciousness, shame, and helplessness and collectively referred to as “vulnerable narcissism,” has been shown to be equally maladaptive (Pincus et al. 2009). There is thus a need to empirically evaluate the potential risk factors for vulnerable narcissism in survivors of CM. Kohut’s developmental model of pathological narcissism (1971) lends theoretical support to the notion that early maladaptive experiences with caregivers, including CM, may result in the type of emotional and relational internal experience that has since been conceptualized as vulnerable narcissism. In Kohut’s formulation, caregivers are experienced as “selfobjects,” or emerging parts of one’s sense of self. Caregivers fulfill needs considered central to optimal narcissistic development, which for Kohut is the bedrock of optimal personality functioning. When needs are unmet, the infant is left with impaired abilities to regulate self-esteem and may defensively avoid and disavow them. The end result of disavowed needs may therefore be the phenomenon now known as narcissistic vulnerability. However, few studies have examined the specific maladaptive developmental experiences associated with avoidance of selfobject needs.
Molecular genetic characterization of a developmentally regulated human perinatal myosin heavy chain

We have isolated a human cDNA which corresponds to a developmentally regulated sarcomeric myosin heavy chain. RNA hybridization and DNA sequence analysis indicate that this cDNA, called SMHCP, encodes a perinatal myosin heavy chain isoform. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the 3.4-kb cDNA insert show strong homology with other sarcomeric myosin heavy chains. The strongest homology is to a previously described 970-bp cDNA encoding a rat perinatal isoform (Periasamy, M., D. F. Wieczorek, and B. Nadal-Ginard. 1984. J. Biol. Chem. 259:13573-13578). The homology between the analogous human and rat perinatal myosin heavy chain cDNAs is maintained through the highly isoform-specific final 20 carboxyl-terminal amino acids, as well as the 3' untranslated region. Ribonuclease protection studies show that the mRNA encoding this isoform is expressed at high levels in 21-wk fetal skeletal tissue and not in fetal cardiac muscle. In contrast to the rat perinatal isoform, which was not found to be expressed in adult hind- leg tissue, the gene encoding SMHCP continues to be expressed in adult human skeletal tissue, but at lower levels relative to fetal skeletal tissue.
Fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel diseases: update and perspectives

Abstract Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic diseases that result from the inflammation of the intestinal wall, suspected in any patient presenting with intestinal symptoms. Until recently, the diagnosis was mainly based on both clinical and endoscopic arguments. The use of an easy, fast, reliable, non-invasive, and inexpensive biological assay is mandatory not only in diagnosis but also in evolutionary and therapeutic monitoring. To date, the fecal calprotectin is the most documented in this perspective. This marker allows the discrimination between functional and organic bowel processes with good performance. The determination of the fecal calprotectin level contributes to the evaluation of the degree of disease activity and to monitoring of therapeutic response.
ULLA-X: a unified programmatic middleware for on-demand network reconfiguration

Software-defined networking provides new tools and offers more opportunities to actively manage large-scale network setups during runtime. However, controlling such installations in a unified and adaptive manner is inherently complex due to the remarkable diversity of management tools. In this paper we propose ULLA-X, a novel middleware that unifies network monitoring and on-demand reconfiguration through a universal network programming language. We introduce ULLA-X architecture and usage concept, which aims at bridging sophisticated network planning with practical network maintenance tools, resembling an “autonomic nervous system” for communication networks. Through its modular design, ULLA-X can be easily integrated into current network setups. While this paper is focused on introducing the ULLA-X concept and framework, we also present initial results from a prototype implementation for National Instruments wireless networked devices.
Toward Automatic Generation of Intrusion Detection Verification Rules

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a crucial element of a network security posture. One class of IDS, called signature-based network IDSs, monitors network traffic, looking for evidence of malicious behavior as specified in attack descriptions (referred to as signatures). Many studies have reported that IDSs can generate thousands of alarms a day, many of which are false alarms. The problem often lies in the low accuracy of IDS signatures. It is therefore important to have more accurate signatures in order to reduce the number of false alarms. One part of the false alarm problem is the inability of IDSs to verify attacks (i.e. distinguish between successful and failed attacks). If IDSs were able to accurately verify attacks, this would reduce the number of false alarms a network administrator has to investigate. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a data mining algorithm to automatically generate IDS verification rules. We show that this automated approach is effective in reducing the number of false alarms when compared to other widely used and maintained IDSs.
The Oxford handbook of music psychology

PART 1: THE ORIGINS AND FUNCTIONS OF MUSIC PART 2: MUSIC PERCEPTION PART 3: RESPONSES TO MUSIC PART 4: MUSIC AND THE BRAIN PART 5: MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT PART 6: LEARNING MUSICAL SKILLS PART 7: MUSICAL PERFORMANCE PART 8: COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION PART 9: THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES PART 10: MUSIC THERAPY PART 11: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS, RESEARCH METHODS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Dispersion-Strengthened Silver Alumina for Sheathing $ \hbox{Bi}_{2}\hbox{Sr}_{2}\hbox{CaCu}_{2}\hbox{O}_{8 + {x}}$ Multifilamentary Wire

High-strength high-elastic-modulus dispersion-strengthened (DS) silver aluminum alloys are studied for sheathing Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + x (Bi2212) round wire. DS is an effective method for producing a fine grain metallurgical structure that is resistant to softening during high-temperature heat treatment. Here, DS Ag/0.5-wt. % Al (AgAl) alloy sheet is produced using powder metallurgy and is compared with Ag/0.2-wt. % Mg (AgMg) alloy, which is currently the most common alloy used for Bi2212 wire. Room temperature (RT), 77- and 4.0-K tensile tests, Vickers microhardness, optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and electrical resistivity measurements are compared. Furthermore, Bi2212/AgMg and Bi2212/AgAl wires are produced and compared for short-sample and coil Ic (4.2 K; self-field). It is found that the AgAl solid wire shows high yield stress and ultimate tensile strength in the annealed condition at both RT and 4.0 K, as well as significant ductility at 4.0 K. Electrical transport measurements show that the Bi2212/AgAl wires perform as well or better than Bi2212/AgMg wires. Furthermore, no leakage is observed after partial melt processing (PMP) of Bi2212/AgAl spirals. After PMP, the Bi2212/AgAl wire not only has yield and tensile stresses slightly higher than those of the Bi2212/AgMg wire but also exhibits >; 2% elongation, which is several times higher than that of Bi2212/AgMg.