Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Riskr: A Low-Technological Web2.0 Disaster Service to Monitor and Share Information

Disaster management using the World Wide Web is an emergent field that uses technology to enhance user collaboration around disasters. While there exist a number of dedicated 'disaster portals', large social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, can facilitate the analysis and sharing of a collective intelligence regarding disaster information on a far greater scale. Social networks have the potential to increase accessibility to, and the use of a disaster portal. This paper presents the 'Riskr' project, which applies a low-technological solution to creating disaster portals fed by social networking messages, and the strategies used in its development. The system has been implemented using Twitter and tested by users to determine whether there is merit in having interoperability between social networks and disaster portals. Preliminary results suggest there is some benefit in using Twitter as a middleware between users and the implemented disaster service. A usability study showed that 70.5% of the users were able to estimate the location of a disaster within a certain error margin. Furthermore, 95% of users were able to successfully adapt to using the system. The results from the Riskr project suggest that the combination of online services and interoperability between disaster portals and social networks can further enhance disaster management initiatives.
Dynamic Path-Switching: A Multiple Constrained QoS Routing Algorithm for Manets

The rapid development of communication systems in the last few decades has increased the deployment of multimedia and real-time applications within it. These applications require the support of Quality of Service routing algorithms that support multiple constraints to provide a service the meets the user expectations. Applying QoS on mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET) raises the challenge because of MANET's dynamic nature. In this paper, a novel QoS routing algorithm is proposed, called Dynamic Path-Switching algorithm (DPS). DPS expands the normal QoS routing algorithms by trying to prevent path breakage instead of trying to maintain them. First, DPS discovers all paths that satisfy the QoS constraints for a particular service and chooses the highest stability. After sending data on the optimal path, DPS re-generates a path discovery request. When a new path is found, DPS starts sending data on it and discards the old path. This mechanism reduces path breakage because it changes transmission to new path before the old path breaks. DPS is simulated again AODV and MAODV in NS-2 simulator where simulation results showed that DPS performs better than both AODV and AOMDV algorithms. Simulation results also show that DPS is scalable and performs well in high mobile environments.
Decoration of Human Face in Video Image by Estimating Eye Positions with Particle Filter

Decorating human face in video image by estimating eye positions with particle filter has been proposed. Estimation of eye positions is presented in a sequential manner by formulating a face motion in a state space model. The model consists of simplified twodimensional face with two dimensional motion and rotation. The positions of the two eyes in an image frame play a key role in estimating the face posture. Real-time estimation of eye positions has been realized by particle filter algorithm with likelihood computation consisting of adequacy of face and eyes. Eye decoration works as a result for enlarging the areas of eyes by estimating pupil positions. Experiments with different conditions of face, such as static scene, rotation, parallel motion, and some other motions have conducted to demonstrate performance of the proposed method.
Theory of sequence-dependent DNA elasticity

The elastic properties of a molecule of duplex DNA are strongly dependent on nucleotide sequence. In the theory developed here the contribution ψn of the nth base-pair step to the elastic energy is assumed to be given by a function ψn of six kinematical variables, called tilt, roll, twist, shift, slide, and rise, that describe the relative orientation and displacement of the nth and (n+1)th base pairs. The sequence dependence of elastic properties is determined when one specifies the way ψn depends on the nucleotides of the two base pairs of the nth step. Among the items discussed are the symmetry relations imposed on ψn by the complementarity of bases, i.e., of A to T and C to G, the antiparallel nature of the DNA sugar–phosphate chains, and the requirement that ψn be independent of the choice of the direction of increasing n. Variational equations of mechanical equilibrium are here derived without special assumptions about the form of the functions ψn, and numerical solutions of those equations are shown for illustrative cases in which ψn is, for each n, a quadratic form and the DNA forms a closed, 150 base-pair, minicircle that can be called a DNA o-ring because it has a nearly circular stress-free configuration. Examples are given of noncircular equilibrium configurations of naked DNA o-rings and of cases in which the interaction with ligands induces changes in configuration that are markedly different from those undergone by a minicircle of intrinsically straight DNA. When a minicircle of intrinsically straight DNA interacts with an intercalating agent that upon binding to DNA causes a local reduction of intrinsic twist, the configuration that minimizes elastic energy depends on the number of intercalated molecules, but is independent of the spatial distribution of those molecules along the minicircle. In contrast, it is shown here that the configuration and elastic energy of a DNA o-ring can depend strongly on the spatial distribution of the intercalated molecules. As others have observed in calculations for Kirchhoff rods with intrinsic curvature, an o-ring that has its intrinsic twist reduced at a single base-pair step can undergo large deformations with localized untwisting and bending at remote steps, even when the amount α of twist reduction is less than the amount required to induce supercoiling in rings of intrinsically straight DNA. We here find that the presence in the functions ψn of cross-terms coupling twist to roll can amplify the configurational changes induced by local untwisting to the point where there can be a value of α at which a first-order transition occurs between two distinct stable noncircular configurations with equal elastic energy.
Wavelet transform based coherence function for multi-channel speech enhancement

This paper addresses the problem of enhancing a speech signal acquired by a microphone array used for hands-free voice communication applications. A new algorithm based on the coherence function developed in the wavelet domain and applied to the beamforming output signal is presented. The wavelet coherence function based nonlinear post-filtering provides a further noise suppression. Its performances is comparable to that of the wavelet Wiener filter proposed in our earlier work [1].
Human evaluation of Kea, an automatic keyphrasing system

This paper describes an evaluation of the Kea automatic keyphrase extr action algorithm. Tools that automatically identify keyphrases are desirable because document keyphrases have numerous applications in digital library systems, but are costly and time consuming to manually assign. Keyphrase extraction algorithms are usually evaluated by comparison to author-specified keywords, but this methodology has several well-known shortcomings. The results presented in this paper are based on subjective evaluations of the quality and appropriateness of keyphrases by human assessors, and make a number of contributions. First, they validate previous evaluations of Kea that rely on author keywords. Second, they show Kea's performance is comparable to that of similar systems that have been evaluated by human assessors. Finally, they justify the use of author keyphrases as a performance metric by showing that authors generally choose good keywords.
Digital Cash Payment Systems

The recent explosion in the popularity of the Internet has been accompanied by considerable interest in using this worldwide collection of interconnected computers as a medium for commerce. While electronic commerce in general is not itself a novel concept, the dizzying pace of change in the computer networking landscape of late promises to bring with it exciting new ways for individuals and companies to conduct business. In this paper, we begin by presenting a broad overview of current electronic commerce technologies. We then focus on one particularly interesting form of electronic payment: digital cash. We deene speciically what is meant by digital cash, what a digital cash system entails, how such a payment system compares to other existing and proposed payment systems, and discuss the challenges that must be addressed in implementing digital currency on a wide scale. We provide a detailed description of several emerging digital cash systems, and address the advantages and disadvantages that the proliferation of a such a system might entail.
Global and local structural similarity in protein–protein complexes: Implications for template‐based docking

The increasing amount of structural information on protein–protein interactions makes it possible to predict the structure of protein–protein complexes by comparison/alignment of the interacting proteins to the ones in cocrystallized complexes. In the predictions based on structure similarity, the template search is performed by structural alignment of the target interactors with the entire structures or with the interface only of the subunits in cocrystallized complexes. This study investigates the scope of the structural similarity that facilitates the detection of a broad range of templates significantly divergent from the targets. The analysis of the target‐template similarity is based on models of protein–protein complexes in a large representative set of heterodimers. The similarity of the biological and crystal packing interfaces, dissimilar interface structural motifs in overall similar structures, interface similarity to the full structure, and local similarity away from the interface were analyzed. The structural similarity at the protein–protein interfaces only was observed in ∼25% of target‐template pairs with sequence identity <20% and primarily homodimeric templates. For ∼50% of the target‐template pairs, the similarity at the interface was accompanied by the similarity of the whole structure. However, the structural similarity at the interfaces was still stronger than that of the noninterface parts. The study provides insights into structural and functional diversity of protein–protein complexes, and relative performance of the interface and full structure alignment in docking. Proteins 2013; 81:2137–2142. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enriching Digital Cultural Heritage Collections via Annotations: The CULTURA approach

This paper introduces the main characteristics of the CULTURA project and of the IPSA collection, which constitutes one relevant use case presently in use in the CULTURA environment. We describe the innovative annotation features of the CULTURA portal for digital humanities; these features are aimed at improving the interaction of users with digital cultural heritage (CH) content. The annotation functions consist of two modules: the FAST annotation service as back-end and the CAT Web front-end integrated in the CULTURA portal. The annotation service also adds a semantic layer over the managed collections enhancing discoverability and interoperability capabilities of cultural heritage resources. A user-based evaluation of the environment has been carried out.
Active Learning in a Summer Genetics Course: Positive Shifts in Attitudes with CLASS-Bio

We describe a newly developed summer genetics course based upon active learning within a social community. To gauge the success of the course, we examined the attitudes of 72 genetics students on a continuum from novice to more expert-like thinking using the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Biology (CLASS-Bio) (Semsar, Knight, Birol and Smith, 2011). The study occurred during two summer courses in 2015 (N=55) and 2017 (N=57) that were designed as active learning communities. By the end of the course, the perceptions of students in both years became more expert-like or positive in all categories on the CLASS-Bio. There were both substantive (Cohen’s d effect size ≥ .3) and statistically, significant (p ≤ .05) differences between pre-and postmeans in the following categories in 2015: Problem-Solving Synthesis & Application, Conceptual Connections, and Problem-Solving Strategies and in the following categories in 2017: Enjoyment, Real World, Problem-Solving Synthesis & Application, Problem-Solving Effort and Conceptual Connections. We demonstrate that there were significant shifts in student attitudes towards more positive and expert-like views in a newly designed summer genetics course. These results were consistent in both of the years.
Providing feedback in web-based learning

In distance learning supported by LMS, it is extremely important to provide automated or partially automated feedback about learning outcomes to students as well as feedback about the efficiency and quality of teaching and learning to teachers and to management of the institution that provides web-based learning courses. In this article, we present the solutions implemented in the LMS eCampus that are theoretically grounded and have been proved in praxis.
A Novel Semi-Adaptive Routing Algorithm for Delay Reduction in Networks on Chip

Increasing of operating frequency of CPUs and using of modern architectural in design of them, has caused ten times more powerful of a modern CPUs in processing due to the previous CPUs. Being a network of processors on a chip, is new architecture that is rapidly developing in modern systems. Networks on the chip are as a good way for the wire scheme to achieve high performance. The purpose of this study is to study and evaluation of existing routing algorithms in Network on Chip (NoC), present new routing algorithm based on the combined firm and adaptive routing algorithms and then comparison between amount of delay and the ability of this algorithm with existing routing algorithms have been presented.
The Ikaros Transcription Factor Regulates Responsiveness to IL-12 and Expression of IL-2 Receptor Alpha in Mature, Activated CD8 T Cells

The Ikaros family of transcription factors is critical for normal T cell development while limiting malignant transformation. Mature CD8 T cells express multiple Ikaros family members, yet little is known about their function in this context. To test the functions of this gene family, we used retroviral transduction to express a naturally occurring, dominant negative (DN) isoform of Ikaros in activated CD8 T cells. Notably, expression of DN Ikaros profoundly enhanced the competitive advantage of activated CD8 T cells cultured in IL-12, such that by 6 days of culture, DN Ikaros-transduced cells were 100-fold more abundant than control cells. Expression of a DN isoform of Helios, a related Ikaros-family transcription factor, conferred a similar advantage to transduced cells in IL-12. While DN Ikaros-transduced cells had higher expression of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain, DN Ikaros-transduced cells achieved their competitive advantage through an IL-2 independent mechanism. Finally, the competitive advantage of DN Ikaros-transduced cells was manifested in vivo, following adoptive transfer of transduced cells. These data identify the Ikaros family of transcription factors as regulators of cytokine responsiveness in activated CD8 T cells, and suggest a role for this family in influencing effector and memory CD8 T cell differentiation.
Gene network inference from incomplete expression data: transcriptional control of hematopoietic commitment

MOTIVATION The topology and function of gene regulation networks are commonly inferred from time series of gene expression levels in cell populations. This strategy is usually invalid if the gene expression in different cells of the population is not synchronous. A promising, though technically more demanding alternative is therefore to measure the gene expression levels in single cells individually. The inference of a gene regulation network requires knowledge of the gene expression levels at successive time points, at least before and after a network transition. However, owing to experimental limitations a complete determination of the precursor state is not possible. RESULTS We investigate a strategy for the inference of gene regulatory networks from incomplete expression data based on dynamic Bayesian networks. This permits prediction of the number of experiments necessary for network inference depending on parameters including noise in the data, prior knowledge and limited attainability of initial states. Our strategy combines a gradual 'Partial Learning' approach based solely on true experimental observations for the network topology with expectation maximization for the network parameters. We illustrate our strategy by extensive computer simulations in a high-dimensional parameter space in a simulated single-cell-based example of hematopoietic stem cell commitment and in random networks of different sizes. We find that the feasibility of network inferences increases significantly with the experimental ability to force the system into different initial network states, with prior knowledge and with noise reduction. AVAILABILITY Source code is available under: www.izbi. uni-leipzig.de/services/NetwPartLearn.html SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary Data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Population-Specific Regulation of Chmp2b by Lbx1 during Onset of Synaptogenesis in Lateral Association Interneurons

Chmp2b is closely related to Vps2, a key component of the yeast protein complex that creates the intralumenal vesicles of multivesicular bodies. Dominant negative mutations in Chmp2b cause autophagosome accumulation and neurodegenerative disease. Loss of Chmp2b causes failure of dendritic spine maturation in cultured neurons. The homeobox gene Lbx1 plays an essential role in specifying postmitotic dorsal interneuron populations during late pattern formation in the neural tube. We have discovered that Chmp2b is one of the most highly regulated cell-autonomous targets of Lbx1 in the embryonic mouse neural tube. Chmp2b was expressed and depended on Lbx1 in only two of the five nascent, Lbx1-expressing, postmitotic, dorsal interneuron populations. It was also expressed in neural tube cell populations that lacked Lbx1 protein. The observed population-specific expression of Chmp2b indicated that only certain population-specific combinations of sequence specific transcription factors allow Chmp2b expression. The cell populations that expressed Chmp2b corresponded, in time and location, to neurons that make the first synapses of the spinal cord. Chmp2b protein was transported into neurites within the motor- and association-neuropils, where the first synapses are known to form between E11.5 and E12.5 in mouse neural tubes. Selective, developmentally-specified gene expression of Chmp2b may therefore be used to endow particular neuronal populations with the ability to mature dendritic spines. Such a mechanism could explain how mammalian embryos reproducibly establish the disynaptic cutaneous reflex only between particular cell populations.
A dual vector spectral element method for waveguide analysis

A dual vector spectral element method is proposed for waveguide analysis. An electromagnetic waveguide problem is cast from the Lagrangian system with single variable (electric or magnetic field), into the Hamiltonian system with dual variables (both electric and magnetic fields). Higher order curl-conforming and divergence-conforming vector basis functions based on the Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre polynomials are employed to construct the dual vector spectral element method for solving eigenvalue problems of an electromagnetic waveguide. Numerical results demonstrate that the dual vector spectral element method is free of spurious modes, and it can achieve spectral accuracy with the increase of interpolation degrees of basis functions.
The scale and evolution of coordination needs in large-scale distributed projects: implications for the future generation of collaborative tools

The past decade has witnessed the development of a new class of coordination tools that focus on automatically providing individuals a rich context for facilitating the coordination of their work. Despite their valuable contributions, current coordination tools have mostly been designed without taking into account scalability aspects beyond the small-group level. The increasing pervasiveness of large-scale projects suggests that those mechanisms need to scale dramatically to adequately support such work settings. In this paper, we used data from five distinct large-scale projects from three different companies to study the scale, range, and volatility of the coordination requirements that emerged over time within those projects. Our results showed that coordination requirements tend to be quite volatile, vary significantly in their magnitude across project members and a significant proportion of the coordination requirements cut across organizational and geographical boundaries. Furthermore, new coordination requirements represent, on average, a third of the coordination requirements faced by a project member on a monthly basis. The implications of these results for the design of collaborative tools are discussed.
A Novel Radial Intensity Based Edge Operator

A novel edge operator is introduced based on steerable asymmetric linear filters consisting of radial wedge segments. An intensity profile is computed by averaging intensity values along a radial wedge segment as it "sweeps" about a small circular neighborhood. The "steerability" of the filters allows for interpolation of a continuous profile function for n discretely sampled postions of the radial wedge segments. Edge strength is then calculated as a simple difference of conditinal means of the resulting intensity profile. This paper introduces the basic paradigm of using asymmetric filters for low-level image processing tasks and shows how this approach is utilized to design a novel edge operator (the Radial InTensity Edge, or RITE, operator). Features of the RITE operator include: (1) a mathematically simple algorithm with comparable performance to the well-known gradient-based Deriche operator; (2) better performance at points where several edges intersect; (3) an average time complexity reduction by a factor of 1.7 to 2.1 over the Deriche operator.
Compiling dynamic mappings with array copies

Array remapping are useful to many applications on distributed memory parallel machines. They are available in High Performance Fortran, a Fortran-based data-parallel language. This paper describes techniques to handle dynamic mappings through simple array copies: array remapping are translated into copies between statically mapped distinct versions of the array. It discusses the language restrictions required to do so. The remapping graph which captures all remapping and liveness information is presented, as well as additional data-flow optimizations that can be performed on this graph, so as to avoid useless remapping at run time. Such useless remapping appear for arrays that are not used after a remapping. Live array copies are also kept to avoid other flow-dependent useless remappings. Finally the code generation and runtime required by our scheme are discussed. These techniques are implemented in our prototype HPF compiler.