Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Formal Interpretation of Semantic Annotation

In this paper we present a novel approach to the incremental incorporation of semantic information in natural language processing which does not fall victim to the notorious problems of ambiguity and lack of robustness, namely through the formal interpretation of semantic annotation. We present a formal semantics for a language for the integrated annotation of several types of semantic information, such as (co-)reference relations, temporal information, and semantic roles. This semantics has the form of a compositional translation into second-order logic. We show that a truly semantic approach to the annotation of different types of semantic information raises interesting issues relating to the borders between these areas of semantics, and to the consistency of semantic annotations in multiple areas or in multiple annotation layers. The approach is compositional, in the sense that every well-formed subexpression of the annotation language can be translated to formal logic (and hence interpreted) independent of the rest of the annotation structure. The approach is also incremental in the sense that it is designed to be extendable to the semantic annotation of many other types of semantic information, such as spatial information, noun-noun relations, or quantification and modification structures.
Kato-Katz and Lumbreras rapid sedimentation test to evaluate helminth prevalence in the setting of a school-based deworming program

The sensitivity of the Kato-Katz test is suboptimal for the evaluation of intestinal helminth prevalence. Moreover, during mass deworming, as helminth egg burden decreases, the sensitivity is likely to decrease. The Lumbreras rapid sedimentation (Lumbreras) is a low-cost non-quantitative test, but may provide useful information in low burden areas. We compared the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections assessed by the Kato-Katz and the Lumbreras rapid sedimentation test on 3 stool specimens from each of 1083 children. The sensitivities were compared using the McNemar paired test. Using the combined outcome of the 3 different stool tests as the standard, Kato-Katz had lower sensitivity than Lumbreras rapid sedimentation tests for Ascaris lumbricoides (85.1% vs. 95.1%, p = 0.03), Hymenolepis nana (77.7% vs. 97.9%, p < 0.01), Trichuris trichura (41.7% vs. 100%, p = 0.01), hookworm (0% vs. 100%, p = 0.01), and Strongyloides stercoralis (0% vs. 88%, p < 0.01). Kato-Katz demonstrated significantly lower sensitivity, missing most T. trichiura, hookworm, and S. stercoralis infections. The combination of Kato-Katz and Lumbreras rapid sedimentation tests enables the detection of more intestinal helminths infections in post-deworming low prevalence areas.
Towards a Methodology for Building Ontologies

We outline some requirements for a comprehensive methodology for building on(cid:2) tologies(cid:3) and review some important work that has been done in the area which could contribute to this goal(cid:4) We describe our own experiences in constructing a signi(cid:5)cant ontology(cid:3) emphasising the ontology capture phase(cid:4) We (cid:5)rst consider the very general issue of categorisation in modelling(cid:3) and relate it to the process of ontology capture(cid:4) We then describe the procedure that we used to identify the terms and produce de(cid:5)nitions(cid:4) We describe a successful way to handle ambiguous terms(cid:3) which can be an enormous obstacle to reaching a shared understand(cid:2) ing(cid:4) Other important (cid:5)ndings include(cid:6) it may not be necessary to identify competency questions before building the ontology(cid:7) the meta(cid:2)ontology can be chosen after detailed text de(cid:5)nitions are produced(cid:7) de(cid:5)ning terms which are (cid:8)cognitively basic(cid:8) (cid:5)rst can lead to less re(cid:2)work(cid:4)
Risk-Driven Framework for Decision Support in Cloud Service Selection

The growth in the number of cloud computing users has led to the availability of a variety of cloud based services provided by different vendors. This has made the task of selecting suitable set of services quite difficult. There has been a lot of research towards the development of suitable decision support system (DSS) to assist users in making an optimal selection of cloud services. However, existing decision support systems cannot address two crucial issues: firstly, the involvement of both business and technical perspectives in decision making simultaneously and, secondly, the multiple-clouds services based selection using single DSS. In this paper, we tackle these issues in the light of solving the problem of cloud service discovery. In particular, we present the following novel contributions: Firstly, we present critical analysis of the state-of-the-art in decision support systems. Based on our analysis, we identify critical shortcomings in the existent tools and develop the set of requirements which should be met by a potential DSS. Secondly, we present a new holistic framework for the development of DSS which allows a pragmatic description of user requirements. Additionally, the data gathering and analysis is studied as an integral part of the proposedDSS and therefore, we present concrete algorithms to assess the data for an optimal service discovery. Thirdly, we assess our framework for applicability to cloud service selection using an industrial case study. We also demonstrate the implementation and performance of our proposed framework using a prototype which serves as a proof of concept. Overall, this paper provides novel and holistic framework for development of a multiple cloud service discovery based decision support system.
TDMA-based exchange policies for multi-robot communication of world information

Abstract The aim of this paper is to present a distributed world model system for multi-robot cooperation. Information is stored in semantic form in an ontology, allowing unlimited new concepts to be added. Automatic exchange of information is driven by the prioritised information needs of each vehicle, and is robust in the face of high latency, low bandwidth, lossy acoustic communications. The performances of different TDMA-based exchange policies were compared to a standard acknowledgement policy, through tests in simulation. Under certain conditions, particularly high packet loss, the matrix-based acknowledgement policies introduced here substantially reduced time to reliable exchange; the results suggest an adaptive exchange policy may perform best under varying conditions.
Examining the statistical properties of fine‐scale mapping in large‐scale association studies

Interpretation of dense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) follow‐up of genome‐wide association or linkage scan signals can be facilitated by establishing expectation for the behaviour of primary mapping signals upon fine‐mapping, under both null and alternative hypotheses. We examined the inferences that can be made regarding the posterior probability of a real genetic effect and considered different disease‐mapping strategies and prior probabilities of association. We investigated the impact of the extent of linkage disequilibrium between the disease SNP and the primary analysis signal and the extent to which the disease gene can be physically localised under these scenarios. We found that large increases in significance (>2 orders of magnitude) appear in the exclusive domain of genuine genetic effects, especially in the follow‐up of genome‐wide association scans or consensus regions from multiple linkage scans. Fine‐mapping significant association signals that reside directly under linkage peaks yield little improvement in an already high posterior probability of a real effect. Following fine‐mapping, those signals that increase in significance also demonstrate improved localisation. We found local linkage disequiliptium patterns around the primary analysis signal(s) and tagging efficacy of typed markers to play an important role in determining a suitable interval for fine‐mapping. Our findings help inform the interpretation and design of dense SNP‐mapping follow‐up studies, thus facilitating discrimination between a genuine genetic effect and chance fluctuation (false positive). Genet. Epidemiol. 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FSMs state encoding targeting at logic level minimization

The paper concerns the problem of state assignment for finite state machines (FSM), targeting at PAL-based CPLDs implementations. Presented in the paper approach is dedicated to state encoding of fast automata. The main idea is to determine the number of logic levels of the transition function before the state encoding process, and keep the constraints during the process. The number of implicants of every single transition function must be known while assigning states, so elements of two level minimization based on Primary and Secondary Merging Conditions are implemented in the algorithm. The method is based on code length extraction if necessary. In one of the most basic stages of the logic synthesis of sequential devices, the elements referring to constraints of PAL-based CPLDs are taken into account.
Polygraph Principles: A Literature Review

Since the emergence of polygraphy as a field practice in the first half of the 20th century the discipline has been beset with internal debates over which methodologies were the best. This contest is better understood in the context of how polygraphy evolved. Polygraph practitioners became the pioneers who would chart the course for the profession. Virtually none had educational preparation for test development. All of these pioneers were in private practice, all had commercial polygraph schools, and all developed methodologies which they aggressively promoted and taught in their individual schools. Consequently, the debate about which methods were “best” was inextricably tied to entrenched economic interests. Polygraph research began in earnest in the 1970s, some decades after many of the schools had staked out their territories. Today, nearly all legacy techniques have components that have since been borne out in research; nearly all of them included erroneous elements that are the product of bias, self-interest, and often naivete regarding psychometrics, psychophysiology, and decision theory. This paper sets out to identify and summarize 20 separate polygraph principles based on published research that transcend any particular polygraph technique. Awareness of these principles may be beneficial to professional examiners sorting through the claims of polygraph authorities, and help in the selection and execution of their polygraph practices.
Persistent Biomechanical Alterations After ACL Reconstruction Are Associated With Early Cartilage Matrix Changes Detected by Quantitative MR

Background: The effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in preventing early osteoarthritis is debated. Restoring the original biomechanics may potentially prevent degeneration, but apparent pathomechanisms have yet to be described. Newer quantitative magnetic resonance (qMR) imaging techniques, specifically T1ρ and T2, offer novel, noninvasive methods of visualizing and quantifying early cartilage degeneration. Purpose: To determine the tibiofemoral biomechanical alterations before and after ACL reconstruction using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate the association between biomechanics and cartilage degeneration using T1ρ and T2. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Knee MRIs of 51 individuals (mean age, 29.5 ± 8.4 years) with unilateral ACL injuries were obtained prior to surgery; 19 control subjects (mean age, 30.7 ± 5.3 years) were also scanned. Follow-up MRIs were obtained at 6 months and 1 year. Tibial position (TP), internal tibial rotation (ITR), and T1ρ and T2 were calculated using an in-house Matlab program. Student t tests, repeated measures, and regression models were used to compare differences between injured and uninjured sides, observe longitudinal changes, and evaluate correlations between TP, ITR, and T1ρ and T2. Results: TP was significantly more anterior on the injured side at all time points (P < .001). ITR was significantly increased on the injured side prior to surgery (P = .033). At 1 year, a more anterior TP was associated with elevated T1ρ (P = .002) and T2 (P = .026) in the posterolateral tibia and with decreased T2 in the central lateral femur (P = .048); ITR was associated with increased T1ρ in the posteromedial femur (P = .009). ITR at 6 months was associated with increased T1ρ at 1 year in the posteromedial tibia (P = .029). Conclusion: Persistent biomechanical alterations after ACL reconstruction are related to significant changes in cartilage T1ρ and T2 at 1 year postreconstruction. Longitudinal correlations between ITR and T1ρ suggest that these alterations may be indicative of future cartilage injury, leading to degeneration and osteoarthritis. Clinical Relevance: Newer surgical techniques should be developed to eliminate the persistent anterior tibial translation commonly seen after ACL reconstruction. qMR will be a useful tool to evaluate the ability of these newer techniques to prevent cartilage changes.
Relationship between Social Support and Problem Behaviors of the Left-home-kids in Junior Middle School

Social support scale and the problem behaviors questionnaire were used to explore the relationship between social support and problem behaviors of the left-home-kids in junior middle school.The results showed that:(1) On the support utilization,left-home-kids' scores were lower than that of comparison group;on the illegal behavior and deregulation behavior,the result was diverse. (2) As for left-home-kids,Subjective support was the significantly negative predictor for the illegal behavior,deceptive behavior and deregulation behavior.Support utilization was the significantly negative predictor for health-risk behavior. (3) Compared with those who under the situation of lower-level social support,the left-home-kids who under the situation of higher-level social support reported less health-risk behavior,illegal behavior,deceptive behavior and deregulation behavior.Whether the level of social support was lower or higher,left-home-boys reported more health-risk behavior than left-home-girls.
Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods Semi-parametric Non-proportional Hazard Model with Time Varying Covariate Semi-parametric Non-proportional Hazard Model with Time Varying Covariate I Sincerely Acknowledge the Contributions of Dr Abdul-raheem Akindele, a Lecturer in the Department of Psy

The application of survival analysis has extended the importance of statistical methods for time to event data that incorporate time dependent covariates. The Cox proportional hazards model is one such method that is widely used. An extension of the Cox model with time-dependent covariates was adopted when proportionality assumption are violated. The purpose of this study is to validate the model assumption when hazard rate varies with time. This approach is applied to model data on duration of infertility subject to time varying covariate. Validity is assessed by a set of simulation experiments and results indicate that a non proportional hazard model performs well in the phase of violated assumptions of the Cox proportional hazards.
The potential of compression to improve memory system performance, power consumption, and cost

The continuing exponential growth in processor performance, combined with technology, architecture, and application trends, places enormous demands on the memory system to allow information storage and exchange at a high-enough performance (i.e., to provide low latency and high bandwidth access to large amounts of information), at low power, and cost-effectively. The paper comprehensively analyzes the redundancy in the information (addresses, instructions, and data) stored and exchanged between the processor and the memory system and evaluates the potential of compression in improving performance, power consumption, and cost of the memory system. Traces obtained with Sun Microsystems' simulator simulating SPARC executables of nine integer and six floating-point programs in the SPEC CPU2000 benchmark suite and analyzed using Markov entropy models, existing compression schemes, and CACTI 3.0 and SimplePower timing, power, and area models yield impressive results.
Nonlysosomal, pre-Golgi degradation of unassembled asialoglycoprotein receptor subunits: a TLCK- and TPCK-sensitive cleavage within the ER

The human asialoglycoprotein receptor subunit H2a is cotranslationally inserted into the ER membrane. When expressed together with subunit H1 in mouse fibroblasts part forms a hetero-oligomer that is transported to the cell surface, but when expressed alone it is all rapidly degraded. Degradation is insensitive to lysosomotropic agents and the undegraded precursor is last detected in the ER region of the cell. Small amounts of an intermediate 35-kD degradation product can be detected (Amara, J. F., G. Lederkremer, and H. F. Lodish. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:3315). We show here that the oligosaccharides on both precursor H2a and the 35-kD fragment are Man6-9GlcNAc2, structures typically found in pre-Golgi compartments. Subcellular fractionation shows that the intermediate degradation product does not cofractionate with the lysosomal enzyme beta-galactosidase, but is found in a part of the ER that contains ribosomes. Thus the intermediate degradation product is localized in the ER, indicating that the initial degradation event does take place in the ER. All degradation of H2a, including the initial endoproteolytic cleavage generating the 35-kD intermediate, is blocked by the protease inhibitors N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone. These drugs do not inhibit ER-to-Golgi transport of H1. Depleting the cells of ATP or inhibiting protein synthesis allows the initial endoproteolytic cleavage to occur, but blocks further degradation of the 35-kD intermediate; thus we can convert all cellular H2 into the 35-kD intermediate. Approximately 50% of H2b, a splicing variant differing from H2a by a five amino acid deletion, can be transported to the cell surface, and the rest appears to be degraded by the same pathway as H2a, both when expressed alone in fibroblasts and together with H1 in HepG2 cells. Addition of N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone or N- tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone blocks degradation of the approximately 50% that is not transported, but does not affect the fraction of H2b that moves to the Golgi region. Thus, a protein destined for degradation will not be transported to the Golgi region if degradation is inhibited.
A method for access authorisation through delegation networks

Owners of systems and resources usually want to control who can access them. This must be based on having a process for authorising certain parties, combined with mechanisms for enforcing that only authorised parties are actually able to access those systems and resources. In distributed systems, the authorisation process can include negative authorisation (e.g. black listing), and delegation of authorisation rights, which potentially can lead to conflicts. This paper describes a method for giving authorisations through a delegation network, and where each delegation and authorisation is expressed in the form of a belief measure. An entity's total authorisation for a given resource object and access type can be derived by analysing the delegation network using subjective logic. Access decisions are made by comparing the derived authorisation measure with required threshold levels, which makes authorisations non-categorical. By setting the threshold level higher than the assigned measure of a single authorisation, it is possible to require multiple authorisations for accessing specifc resources. The model is simple, intuitive and algebraic.
A new variant of Radix-4 FFT

Rader abd Brenner's `real-factor' FFT can be applied to Radix-4 FFT to fetch saving in the multiplication counts. However in turn the number of addition count increases which results in increase in total flop count. For this in this paper two levels of saving ideas are proposed. First is a slight modification to Rader and Brenner's `real-factor' FFT for Radix-4, which not only reduces the multiplication but also makes the total flop count equals to standard Radix-4 FFT. Second is to apply the scaling operation to the Twidlle Factors(TF) similar to Tangent FFT like one proposed by Frigo for split radix so that the net computational complexity is of the order of 4Nlog2N computation, where N is the size of FFT. As such the complexity order is same as Standard Split Radix FFT.
Research on An-Based Decode of Tail-Biting Convolutional Codes and Their Performance Analyses Used in LTE System

Tail-biting convolutional codes has been used in Physical broadcast channel and Physical downlink control channel of LTE, this paper introduces the architecture of the convolutional encoder and Physical broadcast channel used in LTE, elaborating two common Viterbi algorithm, then a new CVA-based improved scheme is proposed, and in Physical broadcast channel system simulation is carried out. The conclusions indicate that the tail-biting convolutional codes can meet the requirements of LTE channel. Furthermore, the result proved that the Double Traceback Viterbi algorithm process improves the error performance.
Ring Signature and Identity-Based Ring Signature from Lattice Basis Delegation

In this paper, we propose a set of ring signature (RS) schemes and identity-based ring signature (IBRS) schemes using the lattice basis delegation technique due to [10,22]. The schemes are unforgeable and hold anonymity in the random oracle model. Using the method in [28,29], we also extend our constructions to obtain RS and IBRS schemes in the standard model. Our proposed ring signature schemes fit with ring trapdoor functions introduced by Brakerski and Kalai [31]. However, their work does not include ring signature in the random oracle model and identity-based ring signature schemes. For the lattice-based ring signature in the standard model, our construction is motivated by Boyen’s work [28] and results in shorter signatures than Brakeski-Kalai scheme. 1
Neuronal activity in human lateral temporal cortex during serial retrieval from short-term memory

Neuronal activity was recorded extracellularly from 20 populations in the lateral cortex of the left anterior temporal lobe of 11 patients undergoing awake craniotomy for epilepsy, during an input-distraction- retrieval measure of recent verbal memory that also included two later successive retrievals of the same information after additional distracting tasks. Changes in activity were determined for each 1 sec epoch in three major comparisons: (1) the same visual cues used for naming an input to recent memory, naming without a memory component, and a spatial matching task; (2) memory input (MI), distraction (S), and initial cued retrieval (R1) from memory, where object naming was the input to memory and naming of other objects the distractors; (3) initial retrieval (R1) and the two subsequent serial retrievals of the same information (R2, R3). Control comparisons were also made with serial naming and viewing of blank slides, and repeated naming of the same objects. In comparison 1, 13 of the 20 populations showed consistently increased activity during memory input (“memory units”); two others showed changes during language measures. In comparison 2, a significant proportion of all 20 populations, and the 13 memory units considered alone showed increased activity in initial epochs of MI and R1, confirming earlier findings of increased lateral temporal neuronal activity at memory entry and initial retrieval. In comparison 3, a significant proportion of the memory units showed increased activity in early epochs of R1 and decreased activity in late epochs of R3. This decrease in populations with increased activity at R1 was also evident when R1 was compared to R2 or R2 to R3. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)