Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequential Model-Free Hyperparameter Tuning

Hyperparameter tuning is often done manually but current research has proven that automatic tuning yields effective hyperparameter configurations even faster and does not require any expertise. To further improve the search, recent publications propose transferring knowledge from previous experiments to new experiments. We adapt the sequential model-based optimization by replacing its surrogate model and acquisition function with one policy that is optimized for the task of hyperparameter tuning. This policy generalizes over previous experiments but neither uses a model nor uses meta-features, nevertheless, outperforms the state of the art. We show that a static ranking of hyperparameter combinations yields competitive results and substantially outperforms a random hyperparameter search. Thus, it is a fast and easy alternative to complex hyperparameter tuning strategies and allows practitioners to tune their hyperparameters by simply using a look-up table. We made look-up tables for two classifiers publicly available: SVM and AdaBoost. Furthermore, we propose a similarity measure for data sets that yields more comprehensible results than those using meta-features. We show how this similarity measure can be applied to surrogate models in the SMBO framework and empirically show that this change leads to better hyperparameter configurations in less trials.
Improved Approximation Algorithms for Unsplittable Ow Problems

In the single-source unsplittable ow problem we are given a graph G; a source vertex s and a set of sinks t 1 ; : : :; t k with associated demands. We seek a single s-t i ow path for each commodity i so that the demands are satissed and the total ow routed across any edge e is bounded by its capacity c e : The problem is an NP-hard variant of max ow and a generalization of single-source edge-disjoint paths with applications to scheduling, load balancing and virtual-circuit routing problems. In a signiicant development, Klein-berg gave recently constant-factor approximation algorithms for several natural optimization versions of the problem 18]. In this paper we give a generic framework that yields simpler algorithms and signiicant improvements upon the constant factors. Our framework , with appropriate subroutines, applies to all optimization versions previously considered and treats in a uniied manner directed and undirected graphs. To give a avor of our results, consider minimizing relative congestion, i.e. the maximum ratio over all edges e of the ow through e divided by the capacity c e : This metric was a primary testbed for randomized rounding techniques and has been studied extensively. We give a simple (3:23 + o(1))-approximation algorithm for both directed and undirected graphs. The previously known bounds were 16 for the directed and 8:25 for the undirected case. Our approach also gives the rst constant-factor approximation for minimum-cost unsplittable ow on directed graphs and improves considerably upon the approximation ratio for the minimum cost version on undirected graphs. The algorithmic techniques we introduce are quite general and apply to related problems as well. For example we use them to give a constructive proof of the following fact. If there exists an algorithm A for (multisource) edge-disjoint paths such that A outputs an approximation for relative congestion that is times the fractional optimum, then a corresponding O()-approximation algorithm exists for multisource unsplittable ow with arbitrary demands and capacities. On the negative side we show that for the problem with two sources, no-approximation with < 2 can be achieved, unless P=NP. We also examine connections with parallel machine scheduling. A lower bound of 3=2 exists for the approx-imability of minimum makespan on parallel machines when a job j can be processed only on a subset M(j) of the available machines. This scheduling problem is known to have an approximation-preserving reduction to …
Correctness of gossip-based membership under message loss

Due to their simplicity and effectiveness, gossip-based membership protocols have become the method of choice for maintaining partial membership in large P2P systems. A variety of gossip-based membership protocols were proposed. Some were shown to be effective empirically, lacking analytic understanding of their properties. Others were analyzed under simplifying assumptions, such as lossless and delay-less network. It is not clear whether the analysis results hold in dynamic networks where both nodes and network links can fail. In this paper we try to bridge this gap. We first enumerate the desirable properties of a gossip-based membership protocol, such as view uniformity, independence, and load balance. We then propose a simple Send & Forget protocol, and show that even in the presence of message loss, it achieves the desirable properties.
Estimating Semantic Similarity between Expanded Query and Tweet Content for Microblog Retrieval

This paper reports the systems we submitted to the Microblog Track shared in TREC 2014 which focuses on ad hoc retrieval (i.e., retrieving top 1, 000 relevant tweet for every given topic). To address this task, we adopted a two-stage framework, i.e., firstly, we performed query expansion (i.e., expanding relevant inforamtion using pseudorelevance feedback and Google search engine results) to retrieve more relevant tweets, then extracted several effective semantic features (e.g., Jansen-Shannon Distance, Overlap Similarity, Lucene Score, etc) from retrieved results and built ranking model using supervised machine learning algorithms with the aid of these features to perform re-ranking. Our systems ranked 3th out of 21 teams.
A Survey of Maneuvering Target Tracking—Part III: Measurement Models

This is the third part of a series of papers that provide a comprehensive survey of the techniques for tracking maneuvering targets without addressing the so-called measurement-origin uncertainty. Part I [1] and Part II [2] deal with general target motion models and ballistic target motion models, respectively. This part surveys measurement models, including measurement model-based techniques, used in target tracking. Models in Cartesian, sensor measurement, their mixed, and other coordinates are covered. The stress is on more recent advances - topics that have received more attention recently are discussed in greater details.
Objectives : To estimate the incidence of PsA in patients with psoriasis and to identify risk factors for its development

3 Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Lihi Eder is supported by the Krembil Foundation and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) fellowship award. The Psoriatic Arthritis Program is funded in part by The Arthritis Society, CIHR and the Krembil Foundation. AUTHOR FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Dr. Dafna D. Gladman Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital 399 Bathurst St., 1E-410B, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8. Tel: 416-603-5753; fax: 416-603-9387; Email: dafna.gladman@utoronto.ca
DOA Estimation of Wideband Signals

For many applications, wideband signals are exploited for localization. A wideband signal is any signal whose energy is distributed over a bandwidth that is large in comparison to the signal’s center frequency. For example, ultrawideband (UWB) noise radars use wideband offering low probability of detection (LPD), while achieving good target detection and high resolution [1]. In the acoustic vehicle tracking scenario, the target emits a set of narrowband harmonics [2]. Direct exploitation of an array of raw wideband signals for localization using traditional narrowband techniques will fail miserably. The shortcoming is that the narrowband methods exploit the fact that time delays directly translate to a phase shift in the frequency domain [3].
The Pro-Apoptotic Proteins, Bid and Bax, Cause a Limited Permeabilization of the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane That Is Enhanced by Cytosol

During apoptosis, an important pathway leading to caspase activation involves the release of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space of mitochondria. Using a cell-free system based on Xenopus egg extracts, we examined changes in the outer mitochondrial membrane accompanying cytochrome c efflux. The pro-apoptotic proteins, Bid and Bax, as well as factors present in Xenopus egg cytosol, each induced cytochrome c release when incubated with isolated mitochondria. These factors caused a permeabilization of the outer membrane that allowed the corelease of multiple intermembrane space proteins: cytochrome c, adenylate kinase and sulfite oxidase. The efflux process is thus nonspecific. None of the cytochrome c-releasing factors caused detectable mitochondrial swelling, arguing that matrix swelling is not required for outer membrane permeability in this system. Bid and Bax caused complete release of cytochrome c but only a limited permeabilization of the outer membrane, as measured by the accessibility of inner membrane-associated respiratory complexes III and IV to exogenously added cytochrome c. However, outer membrane permeability was strikingly increased by a macromolecular cytosolic factor, termed PEF (permeability enhancing factor). We hypothesize that PEF activity could help determine whether cells can recover from mitochondrial cytochrome c release.
PDE Methods for the Maximum Drawdown

Maximum drawdown is a risk measure that plays an important role in portfolio management. In this paper, we address the question of computing the expected value of the maximum drawdown using a partial dierential equation (PDE) approach. First, we derive a two-dimensional convection-diusi on pricing equation for the maximum drawdown in the Black-Scholes framework. Due to the properties of the maximum drawdown, this equation has a nonstandard boundary condition. We apply an alternating direction implicit method to solve the equation numerically. We also discuss stability and convergence of the numerical method.
The Use of Distributed Displays of Operating Room Video When Real-Time Occupancy Status Was Available

INTRODUCTION:On the day of surgery, real-time information of both room occupancy and activities within the operating room (OR) is needed for management of staff, equipment, and unexpected events. METHODS:A status display system showed color OR video with controllable image quality and showed times that patients entered and exited each OR (obtained automatically). The system was installed and its use was studied in a 6-OR trauma suite and at four locations in a 19-OR tertiary suite. Trauma staff were surveyed for their perceptions of the system. RESULTS:Evidence of staff acceptance of distributed OR video included its operational use for >3 yr in the two suites, with no administrative complaints. Individuals of all job categories used the video. Anesthesiologists were the most frequent users for more than half of the days (95% confidence interval [CI] >50%) in the tertiary ORs. The OR charge nurses accessed the video mostly early in the day when the OR occupancy was high. In comparison (P < 0.001), anesthesiologists accessed it mostly at the end of the workday when occupancy was declining and few cases were starting. Of all 30-min periods during which the video was accessed in the trauma suite, many accesses (95% CI >42%) occurred in periods with no cases starting or ending (i.e., the video was used during the middle of cases). The three stated reasons for using video that had median surveyed responses of “very useful” were “to see if cases are finished,” “to see if a room is ready,” and “to see when cases are about to finish. ” CONCLUSIONS:Our nurses and physicians both accepted and used distributed OR video as it provided useful information, regardless of whether real-time display of milestones was available (e.g., through anesthesia information system data).
Tangle: Route-oriented dynamic voltage minimization for variation-afflicted, energy-efficient on-chip networks

On-chip networks are especially vulnerable to within-die parameter variations. Since they connect distant parts of the chip, they need to be designed to work under the most unfavorable parameter values in the chip. This results in energy-inefficient designs. To improve the energy efficiency of on-chip networks, this paper presents a novel approach that relies on monitoring the errors of messages as they traverse the network. Based on the observed errors of messages, the system dynamically decreases or increases the voltage (Vdd) of groups of network routers. With this approach, called Tangle, the different Vdd values applied to different groups of network routers progressively converge to their lowest, variation-aware, error-free values - always keeping the network frequency unchanged. This saves substantial network energy. In a simulated 64-router network with 4 Vdd domains, Tangle reduces the network energy consumption by an average of 22% with negligible performance impact. In a future network design with one Vdd domain per router, Tangle lowers the network Vdd by an average of 21%, reducing the network energy consumption by an average of 28% with negligible performance impact.
qnr Prevalence in Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and None-ESBLs Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections in Central of Iran

Objective(s) Extensive use of quinolones has been associated with raising level of resistance. In the current, we focused on assessing the prevalence of Escherichia coli resistance to quinolones and frequency of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS in non ESBLs (extended spectrum beta-lactamases) and ESBLs producing E. coli with blaSHV and blaTEM. Materials and Methods One hundred and fifty E. coli isolates were identified during Mar. 2007 to Apr. 2008 in Milad () hospital. They were tested for ESBLs production as well as quinolone resistance. PCR was performed for detection of blaSHV and blaTEM as well as qnrA, B and S. Results Of 150 isolates, forty-two (28%) ESBLs producing and one hundred and eight (72%) non-ESBLs producing E. coli were identified. 64.2% (n= 24) of E. coli producing ESBLs and 4.62% (n= 5) of non-ESBLs E. coli were resistance to ciprofloxacin. 95.2% (n= 40) and 26.1% (n= 11) of the isolates harbored blaTEM and blaSHV, respectively. 23.8% (n= 10) had both genes. 37.5% (n= 9) and 20.8% (n= 4) of ESBLs producing E. coli were positive for qnrA and qnrB respectively. qnrS was not identified in any isolate. Conclusion Our study showed high frequency of ESBLs producing E. coli as well as quinolone resistance genes (qnrA, qnrB) in Milad hospital.
Pre- and post-operative risk factors associated with cerebrovascular accidents in patients supported by left ventricular assist device. -Single center's experience in japan-.

BACKGROUND Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a major adverse event following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery. This study investigates pre- and post-operative factors associated with CVA in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent LVAD surgery at our institution between April 1994 and April 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics, hemodynamic data, and laboratory indexes associated with CVA after LVAD surgery were analyzed. In total, 57 (48.3%) patients developed CVA 133.5 ± 184.7 days after surgery. The combination of baseline heart disease, type of LVAD surgery, mean right atrial pressure (mRA), serum total bilirubin and total protein concentration, and right ventricular end-diastolic dimension (RVEDd) was associated with CVA at any time after LVAD surgery, with a discriminant probability of 718%. With regard to CVA development later than 3 months after surgery, the combination of mRA and RVEDd before surgery [odds ratio (OR), 1.24, 1.20; 95% confidential interval (CI), 1.07-1.42, 1.06-1.34; P = 0.004, P = 0.006, respectively], positive blood culture, and C-reactive protein after surgery (OR, 7.66, 2.19; 95%CI, 1.50-39.0, 1.47-3.25; P = 0.015, P < 0.0001, respectively) was associated with CVA with a discriminant probability of 85.9%. CONCLUSIONS Patients' general condition including malnutrition, in addition to device selection, contributed to overall CVA development after surgery. In the chronic phase after surgery, pre-LVAD right heart failure and post-LVAD systemic infection were highly associated with CVA development.
Neurological deficit and extent of neuronal necrosis attributable to middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Statistical validation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Occluding a large intracranial artery in rats produces a brain lesion that grows in terms of an increase in both surface area and number of necrotic neurons. The present study investigated whether reperfusing the ischemic territory 30 to 60 minutes after the arterial occlusion would have a beneficial effect on either the clinical or the histological outcome of the lesion. METHODS One hundred four adult rats (including appropriate controls) were used; 97 had a middle cerebral artery occluded by inserting a nylon monofilament via the right external carotid artery. The arterial occlusion was transient in two groups and permanent in another; survival times were comparable for all groups. Control animals were subjected to a sham operation during which the artery was occluded for less than 1 minute. The outcome was evaluated by measuring the extent of the neurological deficit and the severity of the histological injury. RESULTS Mean neurological score and mean number of necrotic neurons in the cortex were more favorable after transient (30- to 60-minute) compared with permanent arterial occlusion (P < .005). Moreover, the correlation between mean neurological score and mean number of necrotic neurons was highly significant: r = . 951; P < . 001. CONCLUSIONS The histological effects of an intracranial arterial occlusion in the adult rat can be predicted on day 1 by the neurological score described in this report. Significant improvement can be obtained in these animals by reestablishing arterial flow 60 minutes or sooner after the ictus. The pattern of cortical pannecrosis observed after permanent occlusion (> or = 72 hours) was transformed into incomplete ischemic injury in most instances of transient occlusion.
On the Processing of Proghrelin to Ghrelin*

The orexigenic hormone ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid peptide derived from a 99-amino-acid precursor and acylated at Ser-3, which was initially isolated from rat stomach. In addition to stimulating appetite and growth, it also plays various important roles in energy homeostasis and in the cardiovascular and immune systems. Although analysis of its physiological effects has yielded many significant results, much less information is available on its biosynthesis and the mechanism of its acylation. In this report, we have studied the endoproteolytic processing of this molecule from its precursor (proghrelin) into mature ghrelin in various prohormone convertase null mouse strains generated in our laboratory and have identified the convertase responsible for this event. Using Western blotting, mass spectrometry, and immunocytochemical methods, we have demonstrated that (a) in mouse stomach, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) is the endoprotease responsible for the conversion of proghrelin to ghrelin, (b) the acylation of this peptide is processing-independent, and (c) the expression of proghrelin mRNA is increased in the processing-deficient (PC1/3 null) mouse.
Temporal Game Challenge Tailoring

Digital games often center on a series of challenges designed to vary in difficulty over the course of the game. Designers, however, lack ways to ensure challenges are suitably tailored to the abilities of each game player, often resulting in player boredom or frustration. Challenge tailoring refers to the general problem of matching designer-intended challenges to player abilities. We present an approach to predict temporal player performance and select appropriate content to solve the challenge tailoring problem. Our temporal collaborative filtering approach-tensor factorization-captures similarities among players and the challenges they face to predict player performance on unseen, future challenges. Tensor factorization accounts for varying player abilities over time and is a generic approach capable of modeling many kinds of players. We use constraint solving to optimize content selection to match player skills to a designer-specified level of performance and present a model-performance curves-for designers to specify desired, temporally changing player behavior. We evaluate our approach in a role-playing game through two empirical studies of humans and one study using simulated agents. Our studies show tensor factorization scales in multiple game-relevant data dimensions, can be used for modestly effective game adaptation, and can predict divergent player learning trends.
Natural Products: Source of Potential Drugs

2 Abstract: Natural products isolated from various sources especially derived from plants, have long been used in treatment of human ailments. For long time, the approach to new drugs through natural products was proved to be the single most successful strategy for the discovery of new drugs. Despite the initial success, chemical diversity and specific action on target, drug discovery from natural products, has been deemphasized by many pharmaceutical companies in favour of approaches based on combinatorial chemistry and genomics. Besides covering the historical notes and the drugs already isolated from different natural sources like plants, fungi, marine organisms and animals, this review article is also presenting the reasons for the leg back in the field. Natural products have a large unexplored range of compounds, which is almost impossible to imitate; they will always remain a potential source of future drug discovery.
Computational Studies of Darunavir into HIV-1 Protease and DMPC Bilayer: Necessary Conditions for Effective Binding and the Role of the Flaps

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease (HIV-1 PR) is one of the main targets toward AIDS therapy. We have selected the potent drug darunavir and a weak inhibitor (fullerene analog) as HIV-1 PR substrates to compare protease's conformational features upon binding. Molecular dynamics (MD), molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA), and quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations indicated the importance of the stability of HIV-1 PR flaps toward effective binding: a weak inhibitor may induce flexibility to the flaps, which convert between closed and semiopen states. A water molecule in the darunavir-HIV-1 PR complex bridged the two flap tips of the protease through hydrogen bonding (HB) interactions in a stable structure, a feature that was not observed for the fullerene-HIV-1 PR complex. Additionally, despite that van der Waals interactions and nonpolar contribution to solvation favored permanent fullerene entrapment into the cavity, these interactions alone were not sufficient for effective binding; enhanced electrostatic interactions as observed in the darunavir-complex were the crucial component of the binding energy. An alternative pathway to the usual way of a ligand to access the cavity was also observed for both compounds. Each ligand entered the binding cavity through an opening between the one flap of the protease and a neighboring loop. This suggested that access to the cavity is not necessarily regulated by flap opening. Darunavir exerts its biological action inside the cell, after crossing the membrane barrier. Thus, we also initiated a study on the interactions between darunavir and the DMPC bilayer to reveal that the drug was accommodated inside the bilayer in conformations that resembled its structure into HIV-1 PR, being stabilized via HBs with the lipids and water molecules.