Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer‐based measurement of letter and word acuity

Determining causes of poor reading ability is an important step in trying to ameliorate reading performance in low‐vision patients. One important parameter is word acuity. The principal aim of the current study is to develop a method to reliably measure acuities for isolated lowercase letters and words of differing length that can be used to test low‐vision patients. Using isolated stimuli means that testing is relatively free of potential crowding and/or distracting attentional effects from surrounding words, it is unambiguous which stimulus subjects are trying to read and response times can be recorded for each stimulus. Across a series of experiments, subjects with normal vision were asked to read isolated lowercase single letters and lowercase words of 4, 7 and 10 letters, in separate tests. Acuities for uppercase Sloan letters were also measured to provide a reference, as they are commonly used to measure visual acuity. Each test was based upon the design principles and scoring procedures used in the Bailey–Lovie and ETDRS charts. Acuities for uppercase Sloan letters were found to be equivalent whether measured using ETDRS charts or the computer‐based method. Measurement of acuities for lowercase single letters and lowercase words of 4, 7 and 10 letters had a reliability that was no worse than acuities for uppercase Sloan letters. Lowercase word acuities were essentially independent of word length. Acuities for single lowercase letters and lowercase words were slightly better than uppercase Sloan letters acuity. Optimal processing of lowercase single letters and 4‐, 7‐ and 10‐letter words occurred at character sizes that were at least 0.2–0.40 log MAR above acuity threshold, i.e. between 1.5 and 3 times threshold acuity for that particular stimulus. In general, critical character sizes appear similar across word lengths as progressive increases or decreases in these values were not observed as a function of the number of letters in the stimulus. We conclude that a computer‐based method of stimulus presentation can be used to obtain highly repeatable measures of acuity for lowercase single letters and lowercase words in normal vision.
Supracondylar-Y fractures of the humerus.

indication of the poor quality of the results often obtained. In the words of Watson-Jones (1943) “ no injury of the elbow gives rise to more difficulty in treatment. It may be impossible to secure perfect replacement by manipulation and traction. Operative reduction is very difficult ; it involves a free dissection of the triceps and capsule of the joint, and there is usually no natural stability of the fragments, so that reduction can only be maintained by screws and plates. Adhesion of the triceps, contraction of the capsule, avascular necrosis contribute to dense adhesion formation and permanent stiffness. Despite the perfect anatomical reposition which may have been secured the final range of movement is usually less satisfactory than after manipulation, even when manipulative reduction has been less accurate. Operative reduction is not justified by the results. Two alternatives are available: 1) To secure the best possible position by manipulation and traction. 2) In grossly comminuted fractures with irreparable joint injury to perform an immediate arthroplasty. ‘ ‘ Watson-Jones goes on to describe manipulative reduction followed by plaster immobilisation, a method which the author has found to be followed by considerable joint stiffness. Perhaps more commonly used is the so-called ‘ ‘ bag of bones ‘ ‘ technique, whereby the arm is supported in a collar and cuff, and immediate active movements practised. This is certainly a valuable method in the elderly, as a considerable range of movement may be obtained. The joint, however, is apt to be unstable and much power is lost, so that it cannot be said to lead to a satisfactory result in the younger patient. Late traumatic arthritis must not be forgotten; the elbow is a non-weight-bearing joint, but gross disorganisation of the joint surfaces does lead to arthritis in time. If operative reduction is advocated the Campbell posterior approach is most favoured, with accurate fixation of all the main fragments by plates or multiple screws-a procedure calculated to lead to considerable limitation of movement. Surely a simpler approach to the treatment of this difficult injury is needed. The ordinary supracondylar fracture of the humerus is not difficult, and the Y-fracture can be converted into a supracondylar by the accurate reduction and fixation of the condylar fragments. Furthermore, the alignment of the intraarticular surfaces is thus restored, and good lasting function may be expected, provided the operative approach has done no harm. Any residual displacement between the two fixed condylar fragments and the shaft may be corrected by subsequent manipulation, and, even if it persists, will not have any great deleterious effect upon the ultimate function.
THE FAST JOHNSON-LINDENSTRAUSS TRANSFORM

While we omit the proof, we remark that it is constructive. Specifically, A is a linear map consisting of random projections onto subspaces of Rd. These projections can be computed by n matrix multiplications, which take time O(nkd). This is fast enough to make the Johnson-Lindenstrauss transform (JLT) a practical and widespread algorithm for dimensionality reduction, which in turn motivates the desire for an even faster transform. In this report, we will discuss the work of Ailon and Chazelle [2], which speeds up the JLT using a Fourier transform. Observe that the norms in Johnson-Lindenstrauss are Euclidean. Johnson-Lindenstrauss appears to be a subtle result about `2; simple counterexamples prevent dimensionality reduction in `∞, and lower bounds prevent significant reduction in `1 [3]. The picture is not so gloomy for embeddings. In this report, we will describe a fast method to compute approximate distance-preserving embeddings from (Rd, ‖ · ‖2) into (Rk, ‖ · ‖1). The same methods extend to the classic `2 setting that embeds (Rd, ‖ · ‖2) into (Rk, ‖ · ‖2). Before moving on, we note that the Johnson-Lindenstrauss reduction is tight [4]. That is, for any n, there exist points y1, . , yn ∈ Rd such that any embedding A : Rd → Rk (linear or otherwise) that approximately preserves distances in the sense of equation (1) must have
Sequential Detection Using Least Squares Temporal Difference Methods

This paper considers sequential detection problems where we learn from sets of training sequences. The sufficient statistics can be learned quickly using a least squares temporal difference (TD) learning algorithm. This algorithm converges much quicker than previously applied TD learning algorithms. The algorithm can easily be implemented in an on-line manner and can also be applied to more complicated decentralized detection problems
Retinoic acid modulates intrahippocampal levels of corticosterone in middle-aged mice: consequences on hippocampal plasticity and contextual memory

It is now established that vitamin A and its derivatives, retinoic acid (RA), are required for cognitive functions in adulthood. RA hyposignaling and hyperactivity of glucocorticoid (GC) pathway appear concomitantly during aging and would contribute to the deterioration of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and functions. Furthermore, recent data have evidenced counteracting effects of retinoids on GC signaling pathway. In the present study, we addressed the following issue: whether the stimulation of RA pathway could modulate intrahippocampal corticosterone (CORT) levels in middle-aged mice and thereby impact on hippocampal plasticity and cognitive functions. We firstly investigated the effects of vitamin A supplementation and RA treatment in middle-aged mice, on contextual serial discrimination task, a paradigm which allows the detection of early signs of age-related hippocampal-dependent memory dysfunction. We then measured intrahippocampal CORT concentrations by microdialysis before and after a novelty-induced stress. Our results show that both RA treatment and vitamin A supplementation improve “episodic-like” memory in middle-aged mice but RA treatment appears to be more efficient. Moreover, we show that the beneficial effect of RA on memory is associated to an increase in hippocampal PSD-95 expression. In addition, intrahippocampal CORT levels are reduced after novelty-induced stress in RA-treated animals. This effect cannot be related to a modulation of hippocampal 11β-HSD1 expression. Interestingly, RA treatment induces a modulation of RA receptors RARα and RARβ expression in middle-aged mice, a finding which has been correlated with the amplitude of intrahippocampal CORT levels after novelty-induced stress. Taken together, our results suggest that the preventive action of RA treatment on age-related memory deficits in middle-aged mice could be, at least in part, due to an inhibitory effect of retinoids on GC activity.
Mergers, Innovation, and Productivity: Evidence from Japanese manufacturing firms

We investigate the impact of merger on innovation and efficiency using a micro dataset of Japanese manufacturing firms including unlisted firms during the period of 1995-1999. We find that the acquirer's total factor productivity (TFP) decreases immediately after mergers and does not significantly recover to the pre-merger level within three years after mergers. We also find that the R&D intensity does not significantly change after mergers in spite of a significant increase in the debt-to-asset ratio. Our results suggest that the costs of business integration are large and persistent. To take into considering large integration costs, we also analyze the post-merger performance from one year after mergers, finding no significant increase in TFP or R&D intensity up to three years after mergers. Given the heterogeneity of mergers, we analyze the post-merger performance by classifying merger types. We find that the recovery of TFP after mergers is significant for mergers across industries or within the same business group, suggesting that a synergy effect works well and integration costs are small for those types of mergers.
Robustness, evolvability, and accessibility in the signal-integration space of gene regulatory circuits

Gene expression is commonly modulated by a set of regulating gene products, which bind to a gene’s cis-regulatory region. This region encodes an input-output function, referred to as signal-integration logic, that maps a specific combination of regulatory signals (inputs) to a particular gene expression state (output). The space of all possible signalintegration functions (genotypes) is vast and highly redundant: for the same set of inputs, many functions yield the same expression output (phenotype). Here, we exhaustively characterize signal-integration space within a computational model of genetic regulation. Our goal is to understand how the inherent redundancy of signal-integration space affects the relationship between robustness and evolvability in regulatory circuits. Among a number of results, we show that robust phenotypes are (i) evolvable, (ii) easily identified by random mutation, and (iii) mutationally biased toward other robust phenotypes. We then explore the implications of these results for mutation-based evolution by conducting an ensemble of random walks between randomly chosen source and target phenotypes. We demonstrate that the time required to identify the target phenotype is independent of the properties of the source phenotype.
Validation of Simple Sequence Length Polymorphism Regions of Commonly Used Mouse Strains for Marker Assisted Speed Congenics Screening

Marker assisted speed congenics technique is commonly used to facilitate backcrossing of mouse strains in nearly half the time it normally takes otherwise. Traditionally, the technique is performed by analyzing PCR amplified regions of simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers between the recipient and donor strains: offspring with the highest number of markers showing the recipient genome across all chromosomes is chosen for the next generation. Although there are well-defined panels of SSLP makers established between certain pairs of mice strains, they are incomplete for most strains. The availability of well-established marker sets for speed congenic screens would enable the scientific community to transfer mutations across strain backgrounds. In this study, we tested the suitability of over 400 SSLP marker sets among 10 mouse strains commonly used for generating genetically engineered models. The panel of markers presented here can readily identify the specified strains and will be quite useful in marker assisted speed congenic screens. Moreover, unlike newer single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array methods which require sophisticated equipment, the SSLP markers panel described here only uses PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis of amplified products; therefore it can be performed in most research laboratories.
Force-based flexible path plans for robotic electrode insertion

Rapidly deployable surgical robots pose minimal interruption to surgical workflow and require minimal setup time and equipment to support deployment. This paper explores the concept of rapid deployment through the use of in-vivo sensory information to adapt a pre-operative surgical plan and to increase robustness against registration and misalignment errors during robot deployment. Robotic insertion of cochlear implant electrode arrays is presented as a benchmark application demonstrating this concept. Two key ideas are presented within the context of this application: First, a hybrid position and admittance controller is used to define an insertion path plan that is modified based on in-vivo force measurements in order to reduce sensitivity to misalignment errors. Secondly, a new concept allowing the use of force cues to determine the onset of advance-off stylet electrode array insertion is presented. The new controller is tested with electrode insertions in both plastic models and human cadaveric specimens. The experiments show that insertion forces may be maintained or reduced compared to preplanned trajectories relying solely on the initial registration.
Mean Weight Behavior of the NLMS Algorithm for Correlated Gaussian Inputs

This letter presents a novel approach for evaluating the mean behavior of the well known normalized least mean squares (NLMS) adaptive algorithm for a circularly correlated Gaussian input. The mean analysis of the NLMS algorithm requires the calculation of some normalized moments of the input. This is done by first expressing these moments in terms of ratios of quadratic forms of spherically symmetric random variables and finding the cumulative density function (CDF) of these variables. The CDF is then used to calculate the required moments. As a result, we obtain explicit expressions for the mean behavior of the NLMS algorithm.
Clonal Selection-Based Neural Classifier

Artificial immune systems (AIS) constitute an emerging and promising field, and have been applied to pattern recognition and classification tasks to a limited extent so far. This work is a first attempt of applying the clonal selection principle to the training of multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs). The clonal selection based neural classifier (CSNC) uses the basic concepts of clonal selection to evolve MLPs, which are represented as real-valued linear antibodies. The proposed system is actually a multi-classifier, consisting of multiple sets of MLPs, each one devoted to the recognition of a different class of the input data. The final trained classifier is comprised of the best MLPs from each set. The proposed classifier is tested against a set of benchmark problems and yields promising results.
A Prototype Embedding of Bluespec SystemVerilog in the PVS Theorem Prover

Bluespec SystemVerilog (BSV) is a Hardware Description Language based on the guarded action model of concurrency. It has an elegant semantics, which makes it well suited for formal reasoning. To date, a number of BSV designs have been verified with hand proofs, but little work has been conducted on the application of automated reasoning. We present a prototype shallow embedding of BSV in the PVS theorem prover. Our embedding is compatible with the PVS model checker, which can automatically prove an important class of theorems, and can also be used in conjunction with the powerful proof strategies of PVS to verify a broader class of properties than can be achieved with model checking alone.
The presence of the ancestral insect telomeric motif in kissing bugs (Triatominae) rules out the hypothesis of its loss in evolutionarily advanced Heteroptera (Cimicomorpha)

Abstract Next-generation sequencing data analysis on Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 (Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha, Reduviidae) revealed the presence of the ancestral insect (TTAGG)n telomeric motif in its genome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirms that chromosomes bear this telomeric sequence in their chromosomal ends. Furthermore, motif amount estimation was about 0.03% of the total genome, so that the average telomere length in each chromosomal end is almost 18 kb long. We also detected the presence of (TTAGG)n telomeric repeat in mitotic and meiotic chromosomes in other three species of Triatominae: Triatoma dimidiata Latreille, 1811, Dipetalogaster maxima Uhler, 1894, and Rhodnius prolixus Ståhl, 1859. This is the first report of the (TTAGG)n telomeric repeat in the infraorder Cimicomorpha, contradicting the currently accepted hypothesis that evolutionarily recent heteropterans lack this ancestral insect telomeric sequence.
A Novel Approach for Generating Clustered Based Ensemble of Classifiers

In this paper, we have presented a novel concept for constructing ensemble of classifiers. Here, we have considered a situation where data is available over the period of time. If enough remotely located data points are available at the classification system, the current system may not cope with newer data instances. In that case, existing settings or parameters of the classifiers need to be modified to act properly on newer instances. In this paper, we have presented a general technique for detecting enough remotely located data points arrived at the classifiers so that existing classification model can longer suitable for the new situation and proposed a change of settings to cope with the newer situation. We have performed detail analysis of our approach. Our approach has showed satisfactory results in dynamic environments.
Resiliency as a predictor of students' future academic performance and graduation from high school

This study evaluated the predictive power of social and emotional factors on students’ academic performance and graduation vs. dropout status. Using a sample of 5,158 students from a large urban school district, the researcher found that three variables, Importance of Education, Money Difficulties, and Bad Feelings, accounted for 4.2% of the variance in Year 1 Attendance, 12.4% of the variance of residual GPA values and 4.4% of the variance of residual cumulative courses failed. Academic measures combined with the resilience measures correctly predicted 79.1% of students who dropped out and 81.6% of students who graduated. The inclusion of the resiliency variables did not increase the accuracy of prediction of dropouts when academic measures were considered alone. Through an examination of the predicted values’ group membership, the researcher found that the resilience measures correctly predicted 8.1% of students who dropped out that were incorrectly predicted to graduate by the academic measures. The form and content of this abstract are approved. I recommend its publication. Approved: Alan Davis
Reliably Evaluating Summaries of Twitter Timelines

The primary view of the Twitter social network service for most users is the timeline, a heterogenous, reverse-chronological list of posts from all connected authors. Previous tweet ranking and summarisation work has heavily relied on retweets as a gold standardfor evaluation. This paper first argues that this is unsatisfactory, since retweets only account for certain kinds of post relevance. The focus of the paper is on designing a user study, through which to create a gold standard for evaluating automatically generated summaries of personal timelines.
Towards recovering and maintaining trace links for model sketches across interactive displays

In complex software projects, it is often difficult for a team of stakeholders with heterogeneous backgrounds to maintain a common understanding of the system's structure and the challenges in its implementation. In this paper, we therefore introduce the concept of an augmented “Interaction Room”, i.e. a physical room whose walls are outfitted with wall-sized touchscreens that visualize different aspects of a software system. The information displayed on the walls is related, so when a user changes the content on one wall, e.g. by editing or navigating a diagram, the contents on the other walls should change correspondingly. This raises the need for traceability techniques to recover trace links between the walls and to maintain them in real-time. In contrast to how one works with existing modeling tools, the pragmatic methodology of the Interaction Room encourages users to work with sketches that may often remain incomplete and inconsistent. This makes the identification and maintenance of trace links particularly difficult. We therefore describe how a combination of prospective and retrospective traceability techniques can be used to recover and maintain the trace links in such an interactive room.
Face Pose Estimate Technology and Its Application in Video Invigilation

This article mentioned an integral projection algorithm basing on narrowing region, and this algorithm can focus face characters from video picture sequence, so it supplies precision guarantee for face pose estimate. This article realized face pose estimate based on face ellipse circle and feature points. The basic thought is that establish the mapping relationship between position parameters and face three-dimensional pose by using the positions of face oval models and feature points matrixes in images, then apply the face pose in intelligent video examination monitoring system according to the gesture parameters obtained from inputted face images, and the experiment showed the system can run well.
Rating for sub-properties using latent topics

Tripadvisor is a travel website which provides user generated reviews for travel-related content. I used the Tripadvisor dataset available here here. The dataset has a total of 1621956 reviews about 12,773 hotels with an average of 126 reviews for each hotel. Hotel’s information provided includes its name, location, price etc. A review for a hotel includes the author’s location, date, rating and review text. The rating aspect of Tripadvisor dataset is particularly interesting as it provides ratings for other aspects/sub-properties of the hotel in addition to the overall rating. This information is helpful for a customer to take an informed decision about his choice based on his specific preferences. From the number of ratings per month, we can see that there are particular months during which people take vacation the region from Aug-December. It is consistent with the general knowledge that people take vacation during holidays. This trend is observed during all the years from 2003 to 2012 from 2. It can also be seen that the number of people using/rating places on Tripadvisor increased almost exponentially over the years.