Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Syntactic Features for Pronoun Resolution Using Context-Sensitive Convolution Tree Kernel

This paper proposes to use a convolution kernel over parse tree to model syntactic structure information for pronoun resolution. Our study reveals that the syntactic structure features embedded in a parse tree are very effective for pronoun resolution and these features can be well captured by the context-sensitive convolution tree kernel. Evaluation on the ACE 2003 corpus shows that among all structured syntactic feature space, Shortest Path Tree achieves the best performance. Then we incorporate more features into SPT, result shows that SPT can use successfully with normal features. Finally, we compare our system with other pronoun resolution systems, our results are outstanding in success rate than normal features and tree kernel-based method of Yang.
Transmission line modelling method for planar boundaries containing positive and negative index media

In this paper, the analysis of the planar boundaries containing positive and negative index media by using transmission line modeling method is presented. This method is based on the similarity between the basic equations for uniform plane waves propagating through the boundaries and waves traveling across the connections of transmission lines. At the end of the analysis, it is observed that the proposed method is easier, faster and more straightforward than the conventional method.
Social entities are not biological entities: some reflections about autopoiesis and self-organized groups

development and unintended events in work organization, including various degrees of social selforganization. The solution that I would defend is to adopt the concept of 'social game' (together with the concept of 'style') which is already widely applied in theories of the human and social sciences. This is not associated with 'game theory', but strongly inspired by Wittgenstein's idea of language games (the German "spiel" also has the meaning of the English "play"). The concept of 'social games' much better than 'social systems' captures the semi-structured features of social life, e.g. that the structuration of professional work performance is in accord with but not predictable from social rules and resources. In this way we can explain the utility and usability of socio-technical systems in the contexts and situations of actual work processes. Let us briefly see where this takes us.
Observer Effects on Quantum Randomness: Testing Micro-Psychokinetic Effects of Smokers on Addiction-Related Stimuli

A vivid discussion revolves around the role of the human mind in the quantum measurement process. While some authors argue that conscious observation is a necessary element to achieve the transition from quantum to classical states during measurement (Wigner 1963), some go even further and propose a more active influence of the human mind on the probabilities of quantum measurement outcomes (e.g., Atmanspacher, Römer, & Walach 2002, Penrose & Hameroff 2011). This proposition was tested in micro-psychokinesis (micro-Pk) research in which intentional observer effects on quantum random number generators (RNGs) were investigated. In the studies presented here, we extended this line of research and tested the impact of unconscious goals on micro-Pk. Our focus was cigarette addiction as an unconscious drive, and we hypothesized that regular cigarette smokers would influence the outcome of a quantum RNG that determined whether the participant was going to see a smoking-related or a neutral picture. Study 1 revealed strong evidence for micro-Pk (BF = 66.06), supporting H1. As expected, no deviation from chance was found with non-smokers. In Study 2, a pre-registered highly powered replication attempt failed to reproduce this result and showed strong evidence for H0 (BF = 11.07). When the data from both studies are combined, a remarkable change in effect across time (resembling a combination of appearance followed by decline) can be seen only in the smokers’ subsample. Appearance and decline effects were absent in the non-smokers’ sample and in a simulation. Based on von Lucadou’s Model of Pragmatic Information, we suggest that (micro-)Pk effects follow a systematic pattern comparable to a dampened harmonic oscillation. This concept may shed new light on past and future Pk research.
Low-energy supersymmetry breaking from string flux compactifications: Benchmark scenarios

Soft supersymmetry breaking terms were recently derived for type IIB string flux compactifications with all moduli stabilised. Depending on the choice of the discrete input parameters of the compactification such as fluxes and ranks of hidden gauge groups, the string scale was found to have any value between the TeV and GUT scales. We study the phenomenological implications of these compactifications at low energy. Three realistic scenarios can be identified depending on whether the Standard Model lies on D3 or D7 branes and on the value of the string scale. For the MSSM on D7 branes and the string scale between 1012 GeV and 1017 GeV we find that the LSP is a neutralino, while for lower scales it is the stop. At the GUT scale the results of the fluxed MSSM are reproduced, but now with all moduli stabilised. For the MSSM on D3 branes we identify two realistic scenarios. The first one corresponds to an intermediate string scale version of split supersymmetry. The second is a stringy mSUGRA scenario. This requires tuning of the flux parameters to obtain the GUT scale. Phenomenological constraints from dark matter, (g−2)μ and BR(b→sγ) are considered for the three scenarios. We provide benchmark points with the MSSM spectrum, making the models suitable for a detailed phenomenological analysis.
Research on flexibly extensible simulation system framework

With the rapid advance of component-based technology in software engineering, component-based software has been widely used to develop highly modular simulation environments. The integration of component-based technology with M&S (modeling and simulation) environments gives the latter powerful capability and greatly supports reusability of components and interoperability of simulation environments. BOMs (base object models) supported by SISO (Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization) are intended to provide a key mechanism in facilitating interoperability, reusability, and composability and support and promote reuse of simulation model components and agile, rapid, and efficient development and maintenance of models. BOM-based simulation model components are designed and assembled to rapidly build dynamic federates in HLA. A flexibly extensible simulation framework is developed to provide a component-oriented methodology for M&S and a common extensible simulation framework for various federates by composing BOM-based simulation model components to improve reusability and interoperability of HLA. The middleware technique is applied to design the simulation engine of the simulation framework and separates simulation model components with different running platforms so that federates can be agilely reconfigured and customized.
Recent Advances and Challenges of mTOR Inhibitors Use in the Treatment of Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic condition characterized by the presence of benign, noninvasive, and tumor-like lesions called hamartomas that can affect multiple organ systems and are responsible for the clinical features of the disease. In the majority of cases, TSC results from mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes, leading to the overactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway, which controls several cell functions, including cell growth, proliferation, and survival. The establishment of a connection between TSC and mTOR led to the clinical use of drugs known as mTOR inhibitors (like rapamycin, also known as sirolimus and everolimus), which are becoming an increasingly interesting tool in the management of TSC-associated features, such as subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, renal angiomyolipomas, and also epilepsy. However, the intrinsic characteristics of these drugs and their systemic effects in such a heterogeneous condition pose many challenges in clinical practice, so that some questions remain unanswered. This article provides an overview of the pharmacological aspects of mTOR inhibitors about the clinical trials leading to their approval in TSC-related conditions and exposes current challenges and future directions associated with this promising therapeutic line.
Simulation Studies as Designed Experiments: The Comparison of Penalized Regression Models in the “Large p, Small n” Setting

New algorithms are continuously proposed in computational biology. Performance evaluation of novel methods is important in practice. Nonetheless, the field experiences a lack of rigorous methodology aimed to systematically and objectively evaluate competing approaches. Simulation studies are frequently used to show that a particular method outperforms another. Often times, however, simulation studies are not well designed, and it is hard to characterize the particular conditions under which different methods perform better. In this paper we propose the adoption of well established techniques in the design of computer and physical experiments for developing effective simulation studies. By following best practices in planning of experiments we are better able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of competing algorithms leading to more informed decisions about which method to use for a particular task. We illustrate the application of our proposed simulation framework with a detailed comparison of the ridge-regression, lasso and elastic-net algorithms in a large scale study investigating the effects on predictive performance of sample size, number of features, true model sparsity, signal-to-noise ratio, and feature correlation, in situations where the number of covariates is usually much larger than sample size. Analysis of data sets containing tens of thousands of features but only a few hundred samples is nowadays routine in computational biology, where “omics” features such as gene expression, copy number variation and sequence data are frequently used in the predictive modeling of complex phenotypes such as anticancer drug response. The penalized regression approaches investigated in this study are popular choices in this setting and our simulations corroborate well established results concerning the conditions under which each one of these methods is expected to perform best while providing several novel insights.
A Forward Regridding Method With Minimal Oversampling for Accurate and Efficient Iterative Tomographic Algorithms

Reconstruction of underconstrained tomographic data sets remains a major challenge. Standard analytical techniques frequently lead to unsatisfactory results due to insufficient information. Several iterative algorithms, which can easily integrate a priori knowledge, have been developed to tackle this problem during the last few decades. Most of these iterative algorithms are based on an implementation of the Radon transform that acts as forward projector. This operator and its adjoint, the backprojector, are typically called few times per iteration and represent the computational bottleneck of the reconstruction process. Here, we present a Fourier-based forward projector, founded on the regridding method with minimal oversampling. We show that this implementation of the Radon transform significantly outperforms in efficiency other state-of-the-art operators with O(N2log2N) complexity. Despite its reduced computational cost, this regridding method provides comparable accuracy to more sophisticated projectors and can, therefore, be exploited in iterative algorithms to substantially decrease the time required for the reconstruction of underconstrained tomographic data sets without loss in the quality of the results.
A Contextual Bandits Framework for Personalized Learning Action Selection

Recent developments in machine learning have the potential to revolutionize education by providing an optimized, personalized learning experience for each student. We study the problem of selecting the best personalized learning action that each student should take next given their learning history; possible actions could include reading a textbook section, watching a lecture video, interacting with a simulation or lab, solving a practice question, and so on. We ﬁrst estimate each student’s knowledge proﬁle from their binary-valued graded responses to questions in their previous assessments using the SPARFA framework. We then employ these knowledge proﬁles as contexts in the contextual (multi-armed) bandits framework to learn a policy that selects the personalized learning actions that maximize each student’s immediate success, i.e., their performance on their next assessment. We develop two algorithms for personalized learning action selection. While one is mainly of theoretical interest, we experimentally validate the other using a real-world educational dataset. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieves superior or comparable performance as compared to existing algorithms in terms of maximizing the students’ immediate success.
Modeling of the magnetic field-induced martensitic variant reorientation and the associated magnetic shape memory effect in MSMAs

This work is concerned with the magnetic field-induced rearrangement of martensitic variants in magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs). In addition to the variant reorientation, the rotation of the magnetization and magnetic domain wall motion are considered as the microstructural mechanisms causing the macroscopically observable constitutive response. The considered free energy terms are the elastic strain energy, the Zeeman energy and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy. It is shown how thermodynamic constraints on the magnetization rotation lead to only partial reorientation of the martensitic variants under higher stresses. A straightforward methodology has been devised for the calibration of model parameters based on experimental data. The presented model predictions indicate an improvement of the predictability of the nonlinear strain hysteresis and in particular the magnetization hysteresis.
Geometric invariant theory and flips

We study the dependence of geometric invariant theory quotients on the choice of a linearization. We show that, in good cases, two such quotients are related by a flip in the sense of Mori, and explain the relationship with the minimal model programme. Moreover, we express the flip as the blow-up and blow-down of specific ideal sheaves, leading, under certain hypotheses, to a quite explicit description of the flip. We apply these ideas to various familiar moduli problems, recovering results of Kirwan, Boden-Hu, Bertram-Daskalopoulos- Wentworth, and the author. Along the way we display a chamber structure, following Duistermaat-Heckman, on the space of all linearizations. We also give a new, easy proof of the Bialynicki-Birula decomposition theorem.
Predictive Validity of 4 Risk Assessment Scales for Prediction of Pressure Ulcer Development in a Hospital Setting

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine and compare the predictive validity of 4 risk assessment scales used for the prediction of pressure ulcer (PrU) development and to identify risk factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: A general hospital in Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (all aged ≥18 years) admitted to medical, surgical, orthopedic, oncology, and rehabilitation wards. Of 412 patients available, a total of 346 patients participated in the study. METHOD: Data were collected using the Swedish version of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel minimum data set as well as the Norton, Modified Norton, Braden, and Risk Assessment Pressure Sore (Ulcer) (RAPS) scales. The predictive validity was estimated by measuring sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors associated with PrUs. RESULTS: The RAPS scale reached best balance between sensitivity and specificity at the recommended cutoff level of ⩽29, followed by the Braden scale and the Norton scale at recommended cutoff levels ⩽18 versus ⩽16, respectively. The modified Norton scale also reached an acceptable balance between sensitivity and specificity but at the cutoff level of ⩽23, which is a higher cutoff level than recommended. General physical condition, physical activity, moisture, friction, and shear emerged as significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results support that the recommended cutoff levels of the RAPS, Norton, and Braden scales are valid in a general hospital setting. However, the recommended cutoff level of the modified Norton scale (⩽20) has to be increased when used in this care context.
Comparative ecology of sympatric orange-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi) and yellow-crowned parakeets (C. auriceps), South Island, New Zealand

Sympatric orange-fronted (Cyanoramphus malherbi) and yellow-crowned parakeets (C. auriceps) were surveyed in a South Island beech (Nothofagus spp.) forest during the spring and summer of 1998/99. Habitat use, behaviour and diet were recorded for each parakeet identified. A single observer did all recording. Both species were seen most frequently in the upper-most 20% of the forest stratum. Orange-fronted parakeets were seen more frequently than yellow-crowned parakeets in the lowest 20% of the forest stratum. Orange-fronted parakeets were seen calling less frequently and comforting more frequently than yellow-crowned parakeets, and this may reflect a difference in breeding period behaviour. Both species were usually seen feeding. In summer, both species were seen feeding mostly on seeds, predominantly from mountain beech — but this was a beech mast year. The spring diet of both species appeared to be largely flowers and invertebrates. Orange-fronted parakeets were seen feeding on flowers less frequently and on invertebrates more frequently than yellow-crowned parakeets. We suggest factors that may have contributed to the decline in abundance of both species: (1) greater competition between the two species in a habitat substantially modified by humans; (2) competition with introduced finch species; (3) competition with wasps for invertebrates; and (4) vulnerability to introduced predators. These last two factors are likely to affect orange-fronted parakeets in particular, because they appear to feed more on invertebrates and make greater use of the ground and low-growing plants.
The moderating effect of self-compassion on relationships between performance and subsequent coping and motivation

In this investigation, self-compassion was examined as a potential moderator of relationships between athletes’ subjective appraisals of performance and coping or motivational outcomes after a performance episode. Data were obtained online from competitive swimmers (N = 121, Mage = 15.53, SDage = 2.23). Significant moderation effects were observed in the prediction of post episode task-oriented coping and self-determined motivation. Self-compassion was the only significant predictor of post episode disengagement-oriented coping and trended toward being the only significant predictor of post episode externally-regulated motivation. These findings suggest that there is potential value in developing self-compassion among athletes in performance-based sport.
Nilpotent Completions of Groups, Grothendieck Pairs, and Four Problems of Baumslag

Two groups are said to have the same nilpotent genus if they have the same nilpotent quotients. We answer four questions of Baumslag concerning nilpotent completions. (i) There exists a pair of finitely generated, residually torsion-free-nilpotent groups of the same nilpotent genus such that one is finitely presented and the other is not. (ii) There exists a pair of finitely presented, residually torsion-free-nilpotent groups of the same nilpotent genus such that one has a solvable conjugacy problem and the other does not. (iii) There exists a pair of finitely generated, residually torsion-free-nilpotent groups of the same nilpotent genus such that one has finitely generated second homology H2(−,Z) and the other does not. (iv) A non-trivial normal subgroup of infinite index in a finitely generated parafree group cannot be finitely generated. In proving this last result, we establish that the first L-Betti number of a finitely generated parafree group in the same nilpotent genus as a free group of rank r is r− 1. It follows that the reduced C-algebra of the group is simple if r ≥ 2, and that a version of the Freiheitssatz holds for parafree groups.
AD LOC: Location-based Infrastructure-free Annotation

We introduce AD LOC, a system for mobile users to collaboratively tie persistent virtual notes to physical locations without the need for any servers embedded in the environment or accessed via the Internet. Instead, all notes are proactively cached solely on the mobile devices of passing participants and served up to others in the vicinity via ad hoc wireless protocols like WiFi. By making use of any of the increasingly ubiquitous positioning technologies, such as GPS, devices attempt to ensure notes remain cached at the physical locations they were published. Through simulation we demonstrate AD LOC’s behaviour under different scenarios and caching strategies. Our results show that despite the unpredictable and inconstant storage medium, surprisingly few participants are required for remarkably robust note persistence. Furthermore, the number of transmissions between devices needed to realise the caching strategies is relatively low and increases linearly with the number of participants.
Contextualized Access to Electronical Health Records in Cardiology

In this paper, we propose a new approach for accessing the electronical health records (EHR), and we apply it to the cardiology medical specialty. Though the use of EHR improves the storage and access to the information in it regarding the previous health records in papers, it entails the risk of having the same problems of huge size and of becoming inoperative and really difficult to handle, especially if the user is looking for a specific data item. Our proposal is based on the contextualization of the access, providing the user with the most important information for the assistance act in which he/she is involved. To do this, we define the set of possible contexts and consider different aspects of the pertinence of the documents to each context. We do it by using fuzzy logic and pay special attention to the efficiency, due to the huge size of the involved databases. Our proposal does not limit the access to the EHR, but establishes a prioritization based on the access needs, which provides the system with an additional advantage, easily enabling the use of new terminals and devices like tablet PCs and PDAs, which have great limitations in the interfaces.