Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An effective experts mining technique in online discussion forums

Online question and answer forums have proven to be of great success in knowledge sharing. In these communities, askers post questions and wait for others to answer based on their personal knowledge. This process may lead to misguidance as the provided information has very less authenticity. Due to increasing demand of such forums, it is vital to find experts. Therefore, the shared information will be accurate and authentic in reality. In this paper, FB-Rank technique is presented with an aim to find expertise level of users. For this purpose, content based novel features are used. In addition, H-index, I-index and G-index methods are also used in this research domain. Experiments have been performed on StackOverflow dataset to evaluate the performance of FB-Rank. Kendall's, Spearman's rank and Osim correlation techniques are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the FB-Rank in a comparative manner.
Evaluating Evaluation Measures with Worst-Case Confidence Interval Widths

IR evaluation measures are oen compared in terms of rank correlation between two system rankings, agreement with the users’ preferences, the swap method, and discriminative power. While we view the agreement with real users as the most important, this paper proposes to use the Worst-case Condence interval Width (WCW) curves to supplement it in test-collection environments. WCW is the worst-case width of a condence interval (CI) for the dierence between any two systems, given a topic set size. We argue that WCW curves are more useful than the swap method and discriminative power, since they provide a statistically well-founded overview of the comparison of measures over various topic set sizes, and visualise what levels of dierences across measures might be of practical importance. First, we prove that Sakai’s ANOVA-based topic set size design tool can be used for discussing WCW instead of his CI-based tool that cannot handle large topic set sizes. We then provide some case studies of evaluating evaluation measures using WCW curves based on the ANOVA-based tool, using data from TREC and NTCIR.
Robust H∞ filtering for uncertain systems based on sampled measurement

The problem of robust Hinfin filtering based on sampled measurement for uncertain systems is studied. Based on piecewise Lyapunov stability criterion, the sample interval dependent conditions for the existence of such filters are established, which are less conservative. The admissible filters can be obtained from the solution of convex optimization problems in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which can be solved via efficient interior-point algorithms. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Risk factors for interruptions to training occurring before the first trial start of 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses

Abstract AIM: To quantify the time from the start of training to thefirst interruption and to identify horse and training riskfactors for voluntary interruptions and interruptions dueto musculoskeletal injury occurring before the first trial. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was used to collect data on the training activity of 2-year-old racehorses, from 14 trainers in the Northern and Central Districts of New Zealand, over two racing seasons (2008/09 and 2009/10). Daily training data were recorded for each horse, including, distances worked at canter (>15 seconds/200 m), three measures of high-speed exercise (15, 13, and <12 seconds/200 m) and reasons why horses were not working. Competing risks survival analysis was used to investigate associations between risk factors and voluntary interruptions (no known condition or disease present), or interruptions due to musculoskeletal injury occurring before the first official trial. RESULTS: A total of 205 horses spent 11,051 training days at risk of an interruption before the first trial. There were 134/205 (65.4%) cases of interruptions, of which 115/134 (85.8%) were voluntary interruptions and 19/134 (14.2%) were due to musculoskeletal injury. In the final multivariable models, the risk of voluntary interruptions decreased with increasing age at the start of training, and increased with the number of days off during training, but was not associated with gender. Females had a decreased risk of interruptions dueto musculoskeletal injury compared with males. There wasno association between the number of high-speed events and either voluntary interruptions or interruptions due to musculoskeletal injury. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study highlighted horse and training risk factors associated with two types of interruptions occurring during training. Identification of modifiable risk factors may help to reduce the proportion of horses experiencing an interruption before the first trial start, reducing the number of lost training days and the associated cost.
A Modular Approach of Decision-Making in the Context of Robot Navigation in Domestic Environments

Decision processes in Artificial Intelligence are often organized hierarchically. One example is robot navigation with a global path planner and a local executor. This paper examines whether a shift from optimizing the two typical modules in navigation towards a dynamic interaction of more, not necessarily hierarchically linked, modules leads to robust navigation behavior. We empirically evaluate different organizations of modules for navigation in a simulated household with a simulated PR2 robot.
WINDING THERMAL ANALYZING OF DRY TYPE TRANSFORMERS A .

Transformers are the most important power conversion units used in the electrical systems considering their prices. The life of transformers has a considerable economic impact on the operation of electrical systems. Though the transformer life expectancy depends on the operating temperature, the life expectancy at various operating temperatures is not accurately known. The information regarding loss of life of insulation is considered to be the best way through which the transformer life expectancy can be expected. The most important parameter in transformers life expectancy is the insulation temperature value. The aim of this paper is to present a new and more accurate winding thermal model for dry-type transformers based on heat transfer theory, application of the lumped capacitance method and the thermal-electrical analogy. The proposed model is verified using experimental results, which have been obtained from temperature rise test performed on a 5 kVA dry-type transformer.
Stereotactic lesions for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

OBJECT The use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) has recently been expanded to the investigational treatment of specific psychiatric disorders. Much like movement disorders, the targets selected for DBS are based on past experience with stereotactic lesions. A literature review of past studies incorporating stereotactic lesions for psychiatric disorders was performed to provide historical context and possible guidance for current and future attempts at treating psychiatric disorders with DBS. METHODS Original copies of the proceedings of the second, third, fourth, and fifth World Congresses of Psychiatric Surgery meetings were reviewed, and a Medline search was conducted for studies with the word "psychosurgery" and each of 14 highly prevalent psychiatric conditions identified by the National Institute of Mental Health. Postoperative results for 1145 patients with stereotactic brain lesions targeting various anatomical foci were standardized using a 5-point scale (3 [free of symptoms] to -1 [worse]). Each patient was entered into a database as a unique data point and used for this literature review. RESULTS General anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder had the greatest reported improvements from anterior capsulotomy, and bipolar disorder, depression, and schizoaffective disorder had the greatest reported improvements from anterior cingulotomy, supporting these areas for DBS investigation. Addiction and schizophrenia showed the least improvement from surgery. Therefore, pursuing the treatment of these disorders with DBS using the targets in these studies may be ineffective. CONCLUSIONS This study provides retrospective data that suggest which anatomical focus may be effective to lesion or stimulate for the treatment of each of several psychiatric disorders.
Serum C-reactive protein in Canadian Inuit and its association with genetic variation on chromosome 1q21.

Mortality from cardiovascular disease among Inuit living in the far north of Canada is ∼40% lower than in the rest of the country (1). This might be attributable to the protection resulting from environmental factors such as dietary ω-3 fatty acids in Arctic fish (1). Genetic factors may also be important. For example, the thermolabile variant of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is much less prevalent among Inuit than among subjects of European origin (2). However, there are also paradoxical genetic findings in these people. For example, some common genetic variants associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, such as the APOE E4 and AGT T235 alleles, are more prevalent among Inuit than among subjects of European origin (3). These apparent inconsistencies may be related to the fact that there are numerous determinants of susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and that these determinants may differ among ethnic groups (4). As newer determinants of cardiovascular disease risk are identified, these can be evaluated in the Inuit. C-Reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase reactant originally detected through its interaction with pneumococcal C polysaccharide (5), has been proposed to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (6). When detected with a high-sensitivity assay (6), increased serum CRP could be related to increased vascular disease risk either directly through its association with inflammation (7) or indirectly through its association with obesity and insulin resistance (8). The serum CRP concentration in the Inuit has not been reported. Furthermore, the role of possible genetic …
Interactions of Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate (IP3) Receptors with Synthetic Poly(ethylene glycol)-linked Dimers of IP3 Suggest Close Spacing of the IP3-binding Sites*

The distances between the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-binding sites of tetrameric IP3 receptors were probed using dimers of IP3linked by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules of differing lengths (1–8 nm). Each of the dimers potently stimulated45Ca2+ release from permeabilized cells expressing predominantly type 1 (SH-SY5Y cells) or type 2 (hepatocytes) IP3 receptors. The shortest dimers, with PEG linkers of an effective length of 1.5 nm or less, were the most potent, being 3–4-fold more potent than IP3. In radioligand binding experiments using cerebellar membranes, the shortest dimers bound with highest affinity, although the longest dimer (8 nm) also bound with almost 4-fold greater affinity than IP3. The affinity of monomeric IP3 with only the PEG attached was 2-fold weaker than IP3, confirming that the increased affinity of the dimers requires the presence of both IP3 motifs. The increased affinity of the long dimer probably results from the linked IP3 molecules binding to sites on different receptors, because the dimer bound with greater affinity than IP3 to cerebellar membranes, where receptors are densely packed, but with the same affinity as IP3 to purified receptors. IP3and the IP3 dimers, irrespective of their length, bound with similar affinity to a monomeric IP3-binding domain of the type 1 IP3 receptor expressed in bacteria. Short dimers therefore bind with increased affinity only when the receptor is tetrameric. We conclude that the four IP3-binding sites of an IP3 receptor may be separated by as little as 1.5 nm and are therefore likely to be placed centrally in this large (25 × 25 nm) structure, consistent with previous work indicating a close association between the central pore and the IP3-binding sites of the IP3 receptor.
16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for epidemiological surveys of bacteria in wildlife: the importance of cleaning post-sequencing data before estimating positivity, prevalence and co-infection

Human impact on natural habitats is increasing the complexity of human-wildlife interfaces and leading to the emergence of infectious diseases worldwide. Highly successful synanthropic wildlife species, such as rodents, will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in transmitting zoonotic diseases. We investigated the potential for recent developments in 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to facilitate the multiplexing of large numbers of samples needed to improve our understanding of the risk of zoonotic disease transmission posed by urban rodents in West Africa. In addition to listing pathogenic bacteria in wild populations, as in other high-throughput sequencing (HTS) studies, our approach can estimate essential parameters for studies of zoonotic risk, such as prevalence and patterns of coinfection within individual hosts. However, the estimation of these parameters requires cleaning of the raw data to mitigate the biases generated by HTS methods. We present here an extensive review of these biases and of their consequences, and we propose a comprehensive trimming strategy for managing these biases. We demonstrated the application of this strategy using 711 commensal rodents collected from 24 villages in Senegal, including 208 Mus musculus domesticus, 189 Rattus rattus, 93 Mastomys natalensis and 221 Mastomys erythroleucus. Seven major genera of pathogenic bacteria were detected in their spleens: Borrelia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Streptobacillus and Orientia. The last five of these genera have never before been detected in West African rodents. Bacterial prevalence ranged from 0% to 90% of individuals per site, depending on the bacterial taxon, rodent species and site considered, and 26% of rodents displayed coinfection. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing strategy presented here has the advantage over other molecular surveillance tools of dealing with a large spectrum of bacterial pathogens without requiring assumptions about their presence in the samples. This approach is therefore particularly suitable for continuous pathogen surveillance in the context of disease monitoring programs.
A Study of Adaptation Mechanisms for Simulation Algorithms

The performance of a program can sometimes greatly improve if it was known in advance the features of the input the program is supposed to process, the actual operating parameters it is supposed to work with, or the specific environment it is to run on. However, this information is typically not available until too late in the program’s operation to take advantage of it. This is especially true for simulation algorithms, which are sensitive to this late-arriving information, and whose role in the solution of decision-making, inference and valuation problems is crucial. To overcome this limitation we need to provide the flexibility for a program to adapt its behaviour to late-arriving information once it becomes available. In this thesis, I study three adaptation mechanisms: run-time code generation, model-specific (quasi) Monte Carlo sampling and dynamic computation offloading, and evaluate their benefits on Monte Carlo algorithms. First, run-time code generation is studied in the context of Monte Carlo algorithms for time-series filtering in the form of the Input-Adaptive Kalman filter, a dynamically generated state estimator for non-linear, non-Gaussian dynamic systems. The second adaptation mechanism consists of the application of the functional-ANOVA decomposition to generate model-specific QMC-samplers which can then be used to improve Monte Carlo-based integration. The third adaptive mechanism treated here, dynamic computation offloading, is applied to wireless communication management, where network conditions are assessed via option valuation techniques to determine whether a program should offload computations or carry them out locally in order to achieve higher run-time (and correspondingly battery-usage) efficiency. This ability makes the program well suited for operation in mobile environments. At their core, all these applications carry out or make use of (quasi) Monte Carlo simulations on dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs). The DBN formalism and its associated simulation-based algorithms are of great value in the solution to problems with a large uncertainty component. This characteristic makes adaptation techniques like those studied here likely to gain relevance in a world where computers are endowed with perception
The IMPRESS DDT: a database design toolbox based on a formal specification language

The Database Design Tool prototype is being developed in the IMPRESS project (Esprit project 6355). The IMPRESS project started in May 1992 and aims at creating a low-level storage manager tailored for multimedia applications, together with a library of efficient operators, a programming environment, high-level design tools and methodology. The DDT is part of this last effort. The project focuses on the field of Technical Information Systems, where there is a need for tools supporting modeling of complex objects. Designers in this field usually use incremental design or step by step prototyping, because this seems to be best suited for users coping with complexity and uncertainty about their own needs or requirements. The IMPRESS DDT aims at supporting the database design part of this process.
ÇAkmak Revisited: Turkish Flintknappers Today

Abstract Flintknappers from the village of Çakmak in western Turkey made flint blades for threshing sledges until the early 1980s. Former knappers are still able to provide a description of mining, knapping, and distribution, consistent with information collected by previous archaeologists. Informants agree that the mines provided an excellent living but, compared to a similar village industry making gunflints at Brandon, England, there is little local or national interest in Çakmak's now extinct craft. The social and symbolic meanings of stone tool technologies to their practitioners are separate from simple economic concerns and the encouragement of external forces may be necessary to maintain these meanings.
Effective Reuse of Electroplating Rinse Wastewater by Combining PAC with H2O2/UV Process

This study evaluated the performance of treating electroplating rinse wastewater by powder activated carbon (PAC) adsorption, H2O2/UV oxidation, and their combination to remove organic compounds and heavy metals. The results showed that neither the process of PAC adsorption nor H2O2/UV oxidation could reduce COD to 100 mg/L, as enforced by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency. On the other hand, the water sample treated by the combined approach of using PAC (5 g/L) pre‐adsorption and H2O2/UV post‐oxidation (UV of 64 W, H2O2 of 100 mg/L, oxidation time of 90 min), COD and DOC were reduced to 8.2 mg/L and 3.8 mg/L, respectively. Also, the combined approach reduced heavy metals to meet the effluent standards and to satisfy the in‐house water reuse criteria for the electroplating factory. The reaction constant analysis indicated that the reaction proceeded much more rapidly for the combined process. Hence, it is a more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly process.
Single-Electron Charging and Discharging Analyses in Ge-Nanocrystal Memories

The transient charging/discharging of electrons in Ge-nanocrystal (NC) memories are measured by a pump-and-probe method that allows keeping track of the number of electrons per NC. The experiments are simulated with a quantum kinetic mechanical model based on the density-functional theory, which can describe the NCs' charging state. In the transient charging, electrons are captured faster than predicted by simulations. This was attributed to the presence of defects in the NC surface, action of which is twofold: 1) The incoming electrons are captured by NC states and are quickly thermalized down to the surface traps. 2) Those traps enlarge the spatial distribution of the confined wave functions, increasing their penetration in the tunneling oxide and the incoming transition rates. As for the discharging, the calculations and experiments agree until there are only few electrons left per NC. Then, the out tunneling becomes slower than predicted by calculations. The remaining electrons are confined in trap states with energies located in the NC bandgap, and they have to be thermally excited to NC states and to tunnel out to the substrate.
Cost-Effective Quality Assurance For Long-Lived Software Using Automated Static Analysis

When large software is maintained for decades, code quality often gradually decays, increasing costs for future change requests. As counter measure, many development teams installed static analysis tools. Nevertheless, their code quality does not improve in the long term. We present a cost-effective approach to apply static analysis successfully as quality assurance technique. We evaluated the approach with several industrial case studies.
A fast estimating method of initial phase offset for airborne dual-antenna INSAR system

In this paper, a high precision algorithm to estimate initial phase offset fast is presented for airborne dual-antenna InSAR system. Firstly, the factors influencing the initial phase offset are analyzed, and then the influence of the initial phase offset to DEM is given. According to the analysis, the algorithm of real-time estimation of the initial phase offset with high precision is presented. In order to evaluate the performance of the algorithm, two sets of real airborne dual-antennal InSAR data from the Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IECAS) are processed. The results prove the algorithm can get superior precision initial phase offset in real-time, which is very useful for real-time InSAR system.
Simultaneous tuning of metaheuristic parameters for various computing budgets

Many heuristics require a number of parameters to be tuned. One way to do this is meta-optimization: a higher level heuristic searches for the best parameter settings of a lower level heuristic which solves the optimization problem. However, the optimal parameter settings depend on the computational budget or running time available to the lower level heuristic. In this paper, we present a new meta-optimization approach to identify the best parameter settings simultaneously for various computational budgets.