Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel Sparse Subspace Clustering via Joint Sample and Parameter Blockwise Partition

Sparse subspace clustering (SSC) is a classical method to cluster data with specific subspace structure for each group. It has many desirable theoretical properties and has been shown to be effective in various applications. However, under the condition of a large-scale dataset, learning the sparse sample affinity graph is computationally expensive. To tackle the computation time cost challenge, we develop a memory-efficient parallel framework for computing SSC via an alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM) algorithm. The proposed framework partitions the data matrix into column blocks and then decomposes the original problem into parallel multivariate Lasso regression subproblems and samplewise operations. The proposed method allows us to allocate multiple cores/machines for the processing of individual column blocks. We propose a stochastic optimization algorithm to minimize the objective function. Experimental results on real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed blockwise ADMM framework is substantially more efficient than its matrix counterpart used by SSC, without sacrificing performance in applications. Moreover, our approach is directly applicable to parallel neighborhood selection for Gaussian graphical models structure estimation.
Up-to techniques using sized types

Up-to techniques are used to make it easier—or feasible—to construct, for instance, proofs of bisimilarity. This text shows how many up-to techniques can be framed as size-preserving functions, using sized types to keep track of sizes. Through a number of examples it is argued that this approach to up-to techniques is often convenient to use in practice. Some examples of functions that cannot be made size-preserving are also included, in order to illustrate the limits of the approach. On the more theoretical side a class of up-to techniques intended to capture a natural mode of use of size-preserving functions is defined. This class turns out to correspond closely to "functions below the companion", a notion recently introduced by Pous.
Institutional Diffusion of eParticipation in the English Local Government: Is Central Policy the Way Forward?

Opportunities to examine how policy shapes eParticipation have so far been limited. This study assesses the requirement for local government authorities in England to have provided an online petitioning facility by the end of 2010. Based on an analysis of 353 web sites, the findings show that the impact of this policy was ambiguous: compliance was achieved, but most systems were only basically implemented and attracted limited use. Institutional variables were very influential in this outcome.
Methanol and Ethanol Decomposition in Supercritical Water

Abstract The decomposition of CH3OH and C2H5OH in supercritical water was studied in a flow reactor tube (Ni/Mo/Cr/Fe alloy) in the temperature range 597 ≤ T/K ≤ 797 at a pressure of p = 315 bar for technical application of scH2O for hazardous chemical waste destruction. The CH3OH and C2H5OH concentrations in the liquid as a function of the residence times were determined by a Raman spectrometer. The [CH3OH] and [C2H5OH] resp. decay followed first order kinetics and a rate constant k1(653 K) = 1.3 × 10−2 s−1 for CH3OH and k2(653 K) = 5.5 × 10−2 s−1 for C2H5OH was determined. The rate constant k1 was found to be independent of the initial CH3OH concentration in the mass fraction range 0.002 ≤ xm ≤ 0.04. The rate depended on the history of the reactor. Treatment with NH4OH, C2H5OH or with H2O2 at T = 653 K, did not change the rate. Treatment with HNO3/H2O2, however, at T = 838 K reduced the rate by about a factor of 1000. The Arrhenius-activation energy over the above temperature range was determined to be EA = 164 kJ/mol for methanol and EA = 145 kJ/mol for ethanol. The major products from methanol decomposition were CH4, H2, and CO2 as observed by gas chromatography and CH4 and CO2 by FTIR-spectrometry. No other products were found. The products were not effected by the pretreatment of the reactor wall. A non-radical mechanism, which explains the formation of only these products, will be discussed.
The E 3 Ubiquitin Ligase SCFTIR 1 / AFB and Membrane Sterols Play Key Roles in Auxin Regulation of Endocytosis , Recycling , and Plasma Membrane Accumulation of the Auxin Efflux Transporter PIN 2 in Arabidopsis thaliana

The PIN family of auxin efflux transporters exhibit polar plasma membrane (PM) localization and play a key role in auxin gradient-mediated developmental processes. Auxin inhibits PIN2 endocytosis and promotes its PM localization. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that the inhibitory effect of auxin on PIN2 endocytosis was impaired in SCFTIR1/AFB auxin signaling mutants. Similarly, reducing membrane sterols impaired auxin inhibition of PIN2 endocytosis. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses indicate that membrane sterols were significantly reduced in SCFTIR1/AFB mutants, supporting a link between membrane sterols and auxin signaling in regulating PIN2 endocytosis. We show that auxin promoted PIN2 recycling from endosomes to the PM and increased PIN2 steady state levels in the PM fraction. Furthermore, we show that the positive effect of auxin on PIN2 levels in the PM was impaired by inhibiting membrane sterols or auxin signaling. Consistent with this, the sterol biosynthetic mutant fk-J79 exhibited pronounced defects in primary root elongation and gravitropic response. Our data collectively indicate that, although there are distinct processes involved in endocytic regulation of specific PM-resident proteins, the SCFTIR1/AFB-dependent processes are required for auxin regulation of endocytosis, recycling, and PM accumulation of the auxin efflux transporter PIN2 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Cloning and transcriptional regulation of Sdrac encoding a Rac/Rop small guanosine 5'-triphosphate-binding protein gene from Scoparia dulcis

A cDNA clone designated Sdrac (965 bp) was isolated from the seedlings of Scoparia dulcis. This gene contains an open reading frame encoding the protein of 196 amino acid residues with high homology to Rac/Rop small GTPases from various plant sources. In Southern hybridization analysis, the partial hydrolysates of genomic DNA of S. dulcis prepared by the digestion with XbaI, XhoI, or EcoRI showed one main band together with a few weakly hybridized signals. The change in the transcriptional activity of Sdrac was analyzed by RT-PCR under various conditions, and it showed a marked increase by the treatment of the leaf tissues of the plant with methyl jasmonate and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, an ethylene-generating reagent. However, no significant change in the expression activity was observed upon the treatment of the leaves with Ca2+-ionophore A23187. Treatment of the leaves with high concentration of NaCl also did not affect the expression level of the gene. These results suggest the possibility that Sdrac product plays roles in a certain cellular event in the signal transduction processes evoked by methyl jasmonate and ethylene accompanying the change in the transcriptional activity.
Developmental Origins of Disease - Crisis Precipitates Change

The concept of developmental origins of diseases has gained a huge interest in recent years and is a constantly emerging scientific field. First observations hereof originated from epidemiological studies, linking impaired birth outcomes to adult chronic, noncommunicable disease. By now there is a considerable amount of both epidemiological and experimental evidence highlighting the impact of early life events on later life disease susceptibility. Albeit far from being completely understood, more recent studies managed to elucidate underlying mechanisms, with epigenetics having become almost synonymous with developmental programming. The aim of this review was to give a comprehensive overview of various aspects and mechanisms of developmental origins of diseases. Starting from initial research foci mainly centered on a nutritionally impaired intrauterine environment, more recent findings such as postnatal nutrition, preterm birth, paternal programming and putative interventional approaches are summarized. The review outlines general underlying mechanisms and particularly discusses mechanistic explanations for sexual dimorphism in developmental programming. Furthermore, novel hypotheses are presented emphasizing a non-mendelian impact of parental genes on the offspring's phenotype.
In situ localization of the genetic locus encoding the lysosomal acid lipase/cholesteryl esterase (LIPA) deficient in Wolman disease to chromosome 10q23.2-q23.3.

Human acid lipase/cholesteryl esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) is a 46-kDa glycoprotein required for the lysosomal hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides that cells acquire through the receptor-mediated endocytosis of low-density lipoproteins. This activity is essential in the provision of free cholesterol for cell metabolism as well as for the feedback signal that modulates endogenous cellular cholesterol production. The extremely low level of lysosomal acid lipase in patients afflicted with the hereditary, allelic lysosomal storage disorders Woman disease (WD) and cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) (MIM Number 278000 (6)) is associated with the massive intralysosomal lipid storage and derangements in the regulation of cellular cholesterol production (10). Both WD and CESD cells lack a specific acid lipase isoenzyme and it is thought that the different mutations associated with WD and CESD are in the structural gene for this isoenzyme, LIPA. Analysis of the activity of the acid lipase isoenzyme in cell extracts from human-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids (4, 11) demonstrated the concordant segregation of the gene locus for lysosomal acid lipase with the glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase-1 (GOT1) enzyme marker for human chromosome 10 which was subsequently localized to 10q24.1 q25.1 (8). 11 refs., 1 figs.
Transcription automatique de la parole spontanée

Dans le cadre de la reconnaissance automatique de la parole continue a grand vocabulaire, que l'on utilise par exemple pour transcrire des emissions radiophoniques d'information, la qualite des transcriptions varie selon le type de parole contenu dans les documents. Le travail de cette these vise le traitement de la parole spontanee. L'objectif principal est de proposer des solutions pour ameliorer les performances des systemes de RAP sur ce type de parole. Nous avons choisi d'aborder, dans notre travail, la parole spontanee en tant qu'objet d'etude particulier necessitant des traitements specifiques. Ce besoins de solutions specifiques a egalement oriente une partie de notre travail vers la correction d'un probleme particulierement present en francais : l'homophonie. L'approche se focalise sur la correction automatique de certaines erreurs, auxquelles une solution particuliere est proposee.
CONTEMPORANEOUS AGGREGATION OF TRIANGULAR ARRAY OF RANDOM‐COEFFICIENT AR(1) PROCESSES

We discuss contemporaneous aggregation of independent copies of a triangular array of random‐coefficient processes with i.i. d. innovations belonging to the domain of attraction of an infinitely divisible law W. The limiting aggregated process is shown to exist, under general assumptions on W and the mixing distribution, and is represented as a mixed infinitely divisible moving average {X(t)} in (4). Partial sums process of {X(t)} is discussed under the assumption EW2 < ∞ and a mixing density regularly varying at the ‘unit root’ x = 1 with exponent β > 0. We show that the previous partial sums process may exhibit four different limit behaviors depending on β and the Lévy triplet of W. Finally, we study the disaggregation problem for {X(t)} in spirit of Leipus et al. (2006) and obtain the weak consistency of the corresponding estimator of ϕ(x) in a suitable L2 space.
The inclusion of pupils perceived as experiencing Social and Emotional Difficulties (SEBD): affordances and constraints

This paper takes as its principal theme barriers to the inclusion of pupils perceived as experiencing social and emotional behavioural difficulties (SEBD) and how these might be overcome. It draws upon an evaluative case study of an initiative, devised by the author, to support pupils – the Support Group Initiative (SGI) – which was conducted over a five year period in a Scottish Secondary School situated in an area of multiple deprivation (SENSP, 2003). The central focus of the discussion is the range of variables which impacted upon pupil outcomes, illustrating the ways in which these variables acted as affordances or constraints in the pursuit of inclusive practice. The paper takes as its starting point the contested nature of inclusion and introduces, briefly, the Scottish policy context as it pertains to inclusion before exploring the nature of the problem the barriers to the inclusion of and the difficulties presented by the inclusion of pupils perceived as having SEBD, as discussed within the literature. The findings of the study are discussed in relation to central themes the ethos of the Support Group; the process of re-signification (Cooper, 1993) through which pupils are enabled to effect improvement; the classroom context; and wider variables relating to school policy, practice, ethos and the management of change. The paper concludes by exploring what inclusion has meant to the pupils involved within the intervention, summarising the affordances and constraints to its realisation, before reflecting upon the significance of the study.
Application Of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers For Photolithographic Patterning Of Diverse Mammalian Cell Types In Serum Free Medium

Integration of living cells with novel microdevices requires the development of innovative technologies for manipulating cells. Chemical surface patterning has been proven as an effective method to control the attachment and growth of diverse cell populations. Patterning polyelectrolyte multilayers through the combination of layer-bylayer self-assembly technique and photolithography offers a simple, versatile and silicon compatible approach that overcomes chemical surface patterning limitations, such as short-term stability and low protein adsorption resistance. In this study, direct photolithographic patterning of poly(acrlic acid)(PAA)/poly(acryl amide (PAAm) and PAA/poly(allyl amine hydrochloride) (PAH) polyelectrolyte multilayers was developed to pattern mammalian neuronal, skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. For all studied cell types, PAA/PAAm multilayers behaved as a negative surface, completely preventing cell attachment. In contrast, PAA/PAH multilayers have shown a cell-selective behavior, promoting the attachment and growth of neuronal cells (embryonic rat hippocampal and NG108-15 cells) to a greater extent, while providing a little attachment for neonatal rat cardiac and skeletal muscle cells (C2C12 cell line). PAA/PAAm multilayer cellular patterns have also shown a remarkable protein adsorption resistance. Protein adsorption protocols commonly used for surface treatment in cell culture did not compromise the cell attachment inhibiting feature of the PAA/PAAm multilayer patterns. The combination of polyelectrolyte multilayer patterns with different adsorbed proteins could expand the applicability of this technology to cell types that require specific proteins either on the surface or in the medium for attachment or differentiation, and could not be patterned using the traditional methods.
A Framework for Generalizing Graph-based Representation Learning Methods

Random walks are at the heart of many existing deep learning algorithms for graph data. However, such algorithms have many limitations that arise from the use of random walks, e.g., the features resulting from these methods are unable to transfer to new nodes and graphs as they are tied to node identity. In this work, we introduce the notion of attributed random walks which serves as a basis for generalizing existing methods such as DeepWalk, node2vec, and many others that leverage random walks. Our proposed framework enables these methods to be more widely applicable for both transductive and inductive learning as well as for use on graphs with attributes (if available). This is achieved by learning functions that generalize to new nodes and graphs. We show that our proposed framework is effective with an average AUC improvement of 16.1% while requiring on average 853 times less space than existing methods on a variety of graphs from several domains.
Deployment of churn prediction model in financial services industry

Nowadays, data analytics techniques are playing an increasingly crucial role in financial services due to the huge benefits they bring. To ensure a successful implementation of an analytics project, various factors and procedures need to be considered besides technical issues. This paper introduces some practical lessons from our deployment of a data analytics project in a leading wealth management company in Australia. Specifically, the process of building a customer churn prediction model is described. Besides common steps of data analysis, how to deal with other practical issues like data privacy and change management that are encountered by many financial companies are also introduced.
Characterization of the Uracil-DNA Glycosylase Activity of Epstein-Barr Virus BKRF3 and Its Role in Lytic Viral DNA Replication

ABSTRACT Uracil-DNA glycosylases (UDGs) of the uracil-N-glycosylase (UNG) family are the primary DNA repair enzymes responsible for removal of inappropriate uracil from DNA. Recent studies further suggest that the nuclear human UNG2 and the UDGs of large DNA viruses may coordinate with their DNA polymerase accessory factors to enhance DNA replication. Based on its amino acid sequence, the putative UDG of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BKRF3, belongs to the UNG family of proteins, and it was demonstrated previously to enhance oriLyt-dependent DNA replication in a cotransfection replication assay. However, the expression and enzyme activity of EBV BKRF3 have not yet been characterized. In this study, His-BKRF3 was expressed in bacteria and purified for biochemical analysis. Similar to the case for the Escherichia coli and human UNG enzymes, His-BKRF3 excised uracil from single-stranded DNA more efficiently than from double-stranded DNA and was inhibited by the purified bacteriophage PBS1 inhibitor Ugi. In addition, BKRF3 was able to complement an E. coli ung mutant in rifampin and nalidixic acid resistance mutator assays. The expression kinetics and subcellular localization of BKRF3 products were detected in EBV-positive lymphoid and epithelial cells by using BKRF3-specific mouse antibodies. Expression of BKRF3 is regulated mainly by the immediate-early transcription activator Rta. The efficiency of EBV lytic DNA replication was slightly affected by BKRF3 small interfering RNA (siRNA), whereas cellular UNG2 siRNA or inhibition of cellular and viral UNG activities by expressing Ugi repressed EBV lytic DNA replication. Taking these results together, we demonstrate the UNG activity of BKRF3 in vitro and in vivo and suggest that UNGs may participate in DNA replication or repair and thereby promote efficient production of viral DNA.
Real‐time cartoon animation of smoke

In this paper, we present a practical framework to generate cartoon style animations of smoke, which consists of two components: a smoke simulator and a rendering system. In the simulation stage, the smoke is modelled as a set of smoothed particles and the physical parameters such as velocity and force are defined on particles directly. The smoke is rendered in flicker‐free cartoon style with two‐tone shading and silhouettes. Both the simulation and rendering are intuitive and easy to implement. In the most moderate scale scene, an impressive cartoon animation is generated with about a thousand particles at real‐time frame rate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Microstrip Gap Waveguide on Mushroom-Type EBG for Packaging of Microwave Components

The gap waveguide has been recently presented as a new transmission line technology using artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) to allow the wave propagation only along a desired path. The first validation has been provided using a lid of metal pins as AMC for high frequency applications. In this letter, simulations and measurement results are presented for another version called microstrip gap waveguide, working as inverted microstrip line and realized using a mushroom-type EBG surface. The transmission line is surrounded by mushrooms which create a parallel plate stop band, suppressing cavity modes and unwanted radiations compared to standard packaged microstrip transmission lines. The field propagates in the air gap between the upper lid and the mushrooms layer, providing a low loss compact circuit made in printed technology.
Establishment of a mini-gene expression database for bladder tumor.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Transitional cell carcinoma has been diagnosed mostly in urinary bladder in southern Taiwan and has an exceptionally high mortality rate. To identify the genes associated with bladder cancer, we investigated differential gene expression. Six bladder tumor cDNA libraries were constructed and their sequences were compared and analyzed. METHODS mRNA from bladder tumor cell lines or tissue samples were used to construct two regular cDNA libraries and four subtractive cDNA libraries after subtractive hybridization with cDNA derived from normal bladder epithelial cells. Subsequently, more than 100 cDNA inserts from each library were randomly isolated and sequenced, followed by sequence comparisons with nucleotide and protein sequence databases. RESULTS After searching the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (Blast) databases, the cDNA nucleotide sequences were grouped into novel, known, and common gene categories. Since tumor nucleotide sequences are informative and valuable for research, they were organized as a mini-gene expression database (http://bladder.nhri.org.tw/). Interestingly, in one subtractive cDNA library, the ATPase 6 gene was found to be highly expressed in normal bladder epithelial cells and elevated levels of ATPase 6 mRNA were later confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. However, the role of ATPase 6 in bladder tumorigenesis remains to be investigated. CONCLUSIONS The establishment of this database is an important step to enable systematic screening for bladder tumor-associated genes and may also be useful in developing diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications.
Role of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System in the Heart

Proper protein turnover is required for cardiac homeostasis and, accordingly, impaired proteasomal function appears to contribute to heart disease. Specific proteasomal degradation mechanisms underlying cardiovascular biology and disease have been identified, and such cellular pathways have been proposed to be targets of clinical relevance. This review summarizes the latest literature regarding the specific E3 ligases involved in heart biology, and the general ways that the proteasome regulates protein quality control in heart disease. The potential for therapeutic intervention in Ubiquitin Proteasome System function in heart disease is discussed.