Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CMA package vignette

For the last few years, microarray-based class prediction has been a major topic in statistics and machine learning. Traditional methods often yield unsatisfactory results or are even inapplicable in the p n setting. Hence, microarray studies have stimulated the development of new approaches and motivated the adaptation of known traditional methods to high-dimensional data. Moreover, model selection and evaluation of prediction rules proves to be highly difficult in this situation for several reasons. Firstly, the hazard of overfitting, which is common to all prediction problems, is increased by high dimensionality. Secondly, the usual evaluation scheme based on the splitting into learning and test data sets often applies only partially in the case of small samples. Lastly, modern classification techniques rely on the proper choice of hyperparameters whose optimization is highly computer-intensive, especially in the case of high-dimensional data.
Unificational Combinatory Categorial Grammar. Combining Information Structure and Discourse Representations

In this paper we present a grammar formalism that combines the insights from Combinatory Categorial Grammar with feature structure unification. We show how information structure can be incorporated with syntactic and semantic representations in a principled way. We focus on the way theme, rheme, and focus are integrated in the compositional semantics, using Discourse Representation Theory as first-order semantic theory. UCCG can be used for parsing and generating prosodically annotated text, and therefore has the potential to advance spoken dialogue systems.
Key features of the design methodology enabling a multi-core SoC implementation of a first-generation CELL processor

This paper reviews the design challenges that current and future processors must face, with stringent power limits and high frequency targets, and the design methods required to overcome the above challenges and address the continuing Giga-scale system integration trend. This paper then describes the details behind the design methodology that was used to successfully implement a first-generation CELL processor - a multi-core SoC. Key features of this methodology are broad optimization with fast rule-based analysis engines using macro-level abstraction for constraints propagation up/down the design hierarchy, coupled with accurate transistor level simulation for detailed analysis. The methodology fostered the modular design concept that is inherent to the CELL architecture, enabling a high frequency design by maximizing custom circuit content through re-use, and balanced power, frequency, and die size targets through global convergence capabilities. The design has roughly 241 million transistors implemented in 90 nm SOI technology with 8 levels of copper interconnects and one local interconnect layer. The chip has been tested at various temperatures, voltages, and frequencies. Correct operation has been observed in the lab on first pass silicon at frequencies well over 4GHz.
The Nonstructural Proteins of Nipah Virus Play a Key Role in Pathogenicity in Experimentally Infected Animals

Nipah virus (NiV) P gene encodes P protein and three accessory proteins (V, C and W). It has been reported that all four P gene products have IFN antagonist activity when the proteins were transiently expressed. However, the role of those accessory proteins in natural infection with NiV remains unknown. We generated recombinant NiVs lacking V, C or W protein, rNiV(V−), rNiV(C−), and rNiV(W−), respectively, to analyze the functions of these proteins in infected cells and the implications in in vivo pathogenicity. All the recombinants grew well in cell culture, although the maximum titers of rNiV(V−) and rNiV(C−) were lower than the other recombinants. The rNiV(V−), rNiV(C−) and rNiV(W−) suppressed the IFN response as well as the parental rNiV, thereby indicating that the lack of each accessory protein does not significantly affect the inhibition of IFN signaling in infected cells. In experimentally infected golden hamsters, rNiV(V−) and rNiV(C−) but not the rNiV(W−) virus showed a significant reduction in virulence. These results suggest that V and C proteins play key roles in NiV pathogenicity, and the roles are independent of their IFN-antagonist activity. This is the first report that identifies the molecular determinants of NiV in pathogenicity in vivo.
Revisiting the capital‐structure puzzle: UK evidence

Purpose - This paper seeks to explore the potential drivers of corporate capital structure. Design/methodology/approach - The paper applies both fixed effects panel models and random effects tobit models to examine this issue. A sample of 379 firms is used across the period from 1991 to 2002. Findings - It is found that corporate characteristics (firm size, firm risk, firm growth rate, firm profitability and asset tangibility) and corporate governance characteristics (board size and outside directorships) are the main drivers of capital structure of UK firms. In addition, the results show that changing the definition of capital structure may result in changing the sign and the significance of these potential drivers. Originality/value - The paper argues that another dimension of the capital structure puzzle can be introduced which is related to the definition of capital structure used in prior studies. It is worth noting that the aim of this paper is not to provide an optimal set of factors that may affect the decision of capital structure, but to highlight the effect of the different definitions of capital structure that can be used by different studies, which makes the comparison between such studies difficult or even erroneous.
The Effects of Restrictions on Number of Connections in OSNs: A Case-Study on Twitter

Most popular Online Social Networks (OSNs) in today's world, such as Facebook, Orkut and Twitter impose restrictions on the number of friends/connections that a member can have in the network. This is primarily due to two reasons - to limit spam and to reduce the strain on the system due to member-to-all-friends communication. We study the effects of such restrictions on node-degree, on the topological properties of the OSN networks, taking the restriction imposed by Twitter as a case-study. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of its nature, on any OSN. Towards this end, we use a network growth model based on preferential attachment to develop an analytical framework that can be used to assess the effects of various forms of restrictions on OSNs, as well as to design new restrictions of varying rigidity.
Vacuum type I spacetimes and aligned Papapetrou fields: symmetries

We analyse type I vacuum solutions admitting an isometry whose Killing 2-form is aligned with a principal bivector of the Weyl tensor, and we show that these solutions belong to a family of type I metrics which admit a group G3 of isometries. We give a classification of this family and study the Bianchi type for each class. The classes compatible with an aligned Killing 2-form are also determined. The Szekeres–Brans theorem is extended to non-vacuum spacetimes with vanishing Cotton tensor.
Breadth, Depth and Agreement among Provincial Formularies in Canada

Background: Previous studies have concluded that there is significant variation in drug coverage across Canadian provinces because conventional measures of inter-rater reliability for formulary listings are low. We sought to investigate whether conventional methods are appropriate for formulary concordance measurement by testing the hypotheses that (a) conventionally measured variations in provincial formularies are driven by disagreement over large numbers of drugs that represent very small segments of the market and (b) patterns in coverage levels and agreement across therapeutic categories might provide evidence of “potentially legitimate” variation in provincial formularies. Methods: We studied December 2006 formulary listings for general pharmacare programs in all but the smallest Canadian province. We characterized formularies in terms of the simple percentage of all available drugs that were listed on them and by a similar percentage that weighted each drug by its total national retail sales during 2006. We measured agreement among formularies using conventional inter-rater reliability scores (Kappa statistics) and a simple coverage-agreement measure. Results: Provincial formularies studied here listed between 55% and 73% of the 796 drugs analyzed. When formulary listings were weighted by national retail sales, the measure of formulary coverage exceeded 86% in all provinces studied. Conventional inter-rater reliability scores (Kappa statistics) indicate that coverage agreement among most provincial formularies was low to moderate; however, drugs that were listed on all nine provincial formularies studied accounted for 77% of total retail spending in Canada. When analyzed by therapeutic category, the extent of coverage offered was relatively consistent across provinces in all but three leading categories: anti-migraine drugs, anti-dementia drugs and sedatives. Conclusion: specific drug classes and drug products areas investigation and policy consideration, Canada currently with formulary” way provincial
So close and yet so far away: A psychological distance account of the effectiveness of leader appeals.

Contradictory recommendations persist on how leaders best communicate goals to followers. Whereas scholars of visionary leadership recommend emphasizing the desirability of preferred end-states, scholars of goal setting argue that the perceived feasibility of a goal determines motivation. This paper proposes and tests a synthesis based on construal level theory. Under relatively high (i.e., abstract) levels of construal, such as when leader–follower distance is relatively large, leader appeals that emphasize desirability (i.e., desirable appeals) are more likely to be effective than appeals that emphasize feasibility (i.e., feasible appeals). Under relatively low (i.e., concrete) levels of construal, such as when leader–follower distance is relatively small, feasible appeals are more likely to be effective. Two experimental studies in two different countries provide support for our predictions.
Experimental Comparison of Different Problem Transformation Methods for Multi-Label Classification using MEKA

Classification of multi-label and multi-target data is challenging task for machine learning community. It includes converting the problem in other easily solvable form or extending the existing algorithms to directly cope up with multi-label or multi-target data. There are several approaches in both these category. Since this problem has many applications in image classification, document classification, bio data classification etc. much research is going on in this specific domain. In this paper some experiments are performed on real multi-label datasets and three measures like hamming loss, exact match and accuracy are compared of different problem transformation methods. Finally what is effect of these results on further research is also highlighted. General Terms Single-label Classification, Multi-label Classification
Design and Business Gaps: From Literature to Practice

It is undoubted that design is of great importance for companies at present. Therefore, an increasing number of companies decide to align their offerings with user needs and desires and deliver recognized design values in final products or services. Nevertheless, the role of business is to deliver profitable products or services, which bring return on investment as well as meet other company requirements. Although a high interest in design deliverables might be distinguished, in practice design values tend to fall behind business decisions and overall low awareness of user needs can be observed throughout the company. Finally, there is the gap between the design and business. This article describes work in progress aimed at investigating and systematizing the understanding of the gaps between the design and business. On the basis of the literature review and conducted interviews it identifies relevant research gaps and questions that would benefit future scholarly attention.
DYNAMICAL MASSES OF EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES AT z ∼ 2: ARE THEY TRULY SUPERDENSE?

We measured stellar velocity dispersions σ and derived dynamical masses of nine massive (M ≈ 1011 M☉) early-type galaxies (ETGs) from the Galaxy Mass Assembly ultra-deep Spectroscopic Survey (GMASS) sample at redshift 1.4 ≲ z ≲ 2.0. The σ are based on individual spectra for two galaxies at z ≈ 1.4 and on a stacked spectrum for seven galaxies with 1.6 < z < 2.0, with 202 hr of exposure at the ESO Very Large Telescope. We constructed detailed axisymmetric dynamical models for the objects, based on the Jeans equations, taking the observed surface brightness (from deep HST/ACS observations), point-spread function, and slit effects into account. Our dynamical masses MJeans agree within ≲30% with virial estimates Mvir = 5 × Reσ2/G, although the latter tend to be smaller. Our MJeans also agrees within a factor ≲2 with the Mpop previously derived using stellar population models and 11 bands photometry. This confirms that the galaxies are intrinsically massive. The inferred mass-to-light ratios (M/L)U in the very age-sensitive rest-frame U band are consistent with passive evolution in the past ∼1 Gyr (formation redshift zf ∼ 3). A “bottom-light” stellar initial mass function appears to be required to ensure close agreement between MJeans and Mpop at z ∼ 2, as it does at z ∼ 0. The GMASS ETGs are on average more dense than their local counterpart. However, a few percent of local ETGs of similar dynamical masses also have comparable σ and mass surface density Σ50 inside Re.
Simultaneous electro-optical upconversion, remote oscillator generation and air transmission of multiple optical WDM channels for a 60 GHz high capacity indoor system

The system concept and data transmission experiments for a mobile broad-band communication system at 60 GHz are presented in this paper. Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is advantageously applied for simultaneous electrooptical upconversion of all optical channels carrying individual intermediate-frequency signals by means of a single external modulator. Thus, simple, but flexible, millimetric signal generation is obtained. Using this concept, data transmission experiments at 60 GHz have been carried out. Furthermore, the transponder noise performance is analyzed. Results of coded and uncoded 512-carrier orthogonal frequency division multiplex transmission with 50-Mb/s (subcarrier modulation quaternary phase-shift keying), 100 Mb/s (subcarrier modulation 16-quadrature amplitude modulation) as well as single-carrier modulation at 156 Mb/s utilizing three operational DWDM channels are presented. Uplink and downlink transmission has been realized. The significant performance improvement due to the application of coding is demonstrated in some experiments and line-of-sight transmission is compared to nonline-of-sight transmission. Low bit error rates, employing realistic air link conditions, have been obtained in all experiments.
An investigation of parental responses to child experiences of trauma

Childhood trauma exposure is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Parents are often children’s main source of support following a trauma. However, little is known about the experiences of parents in supporting their child post-trauma and research into the relationship between parenting and childhood PTSD has yielded mixed findings. The five papers in this thesis aimed to investigate the role of parental responses in child adjustment following child trauma exposure. Paper 1 presents a meta-analytic review of the association between parenting and child PTSD symptoms. A small, yet highly significant relationship between parenting and child PTSD was identified, but given the limited number of studies available and the potential influence of methodological factors, only tentative conclusions are made. Nonetheless, the finding that parenting is associated with child PTSD informed the following four papers in this thesis. Paper 2 qualitatively examined parents’ experiences of supporting their children following single-incident trauma and presentation at an Emergency Department. As no child in Paper 2 accessed psychological treatment post-trauma, Paper 3 presents an investigation of parents’ views of providing care for children with clinically significant levels of post-traumatic distress. The trauma-specific aspects of parental support identified in Papers 2 and 3 highlight the need for a validated measure of post-trauma parental responses. Paper 4 describes the development and preliminary evaluation of a measure of parental appraisals and behaviours following trauma exposure. Finally, the majority of studies that examined parenting behaviours in Paper 1 were conducted in a Western, low-risk context; therefore, the aim of Paper 5 was to examine the views of parents of trauma exposed children in the peri-urban settlement of Khayelitsha, South Africa. Overall, the results indicate that parental responses are associated with child PTSD symptoms and highlight the strategies used by parents to promote child recovery.
Multiple Analytical Approaches Demonstrate a Complex Relationship of Genetic and Nongenetic Factors with Cisplatin- and Carboplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Lung Cancer Patients

Background. Cisplatin and carboplatin cause nephrotoxicity by forming platinum-DNA adducts and lead to cell death. Methods. One-hundred and sixteen Taiwanese lung cancer patients who received cisplatin or carboplatin more than twice were recruited, and their genotypes were determined. The risk of renal dysfunction, injury to the kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function, and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria were used to evaluate the occurrence of nephrotoxicity. A logistic regression, multiple regression with a classification and regression tree (CART), and the Framingham study risk score were used to analyze interactions between genetic and nongenetic factors in producing platinum-induced nephrotoxicity. Results. ERCC1 118C and TP53 72Arg polymorphisms were associated with increased risks of platinum-induced nephrotoxicity. Other risk factors found included the platinum type, baseline serum creatinine (Scr), coadministration of vinorelbine, and the number of chemotherapy cycles. The overall prediction rate of the CART was 82.7%, with a sensitivity of 0.630 and specificity of 0.896. The Framingham study risk prediction model contained 7 factors. Its prediction rate was 84.5%, with a sensitivity of 0.643 and specificity of 0.909. Conclusions. Genetic polymorphisms of ERCC1 and TP53 are risk factors for nephrotoxicity. The CART analysis may provide a clinically applicable model to predict the risk of cisplatin- and carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Effectiveness of physical education to promote motor competence in primary school children

ABSTRACT Background: Motor skill (MS) competence is an important contributing factor for healthy development. Purpose: The goal was to test the effectiveness of primary school physical education (PE) on MS and physical fitness (PF) development. Methods: Three classes (n = 60, aged 9.0 ± 0.9) were randomly assigned to three diverse conditions during a school year: two PE lessons/week (PE-2), three PE lessons/week (PE-3), and no PE lessons control group (CG). BMI, skinfolds, PF (9-min run/walk, sit-up, modified pull-ups), gymnastics, soccer, handball, basketball and track-and-field skills were evaluated. Effect sizes (d) were reported as magnitude of change. Results: Skinfolds significantly increased only in CG (d = 1.21). PF composite z-scores improved in PE-3 (d = 0.61), but decreased in PE-2 (d = 0.57), and had no changes in CG. Statistically significant improvement was verified in gymnastics and handball skills in both experimental groups (gymnastic: d = 2.95 and d = 2.61 for PE-3 and PE-2, respectively; handball: d = 1.87 and d = 0.57 for PE-3 and PE-2, respectively), and no changes were seen in CG. In soccer, there were improvements only in the PE-3 (d = 0.55), and in basketball only in PE-2 (d = 0.46). There were no changes in any group for track-and-field skills. Conclusions: PE programs can effectively promote PF and MS development.
Trans-β-Caryophyllene: An Effective Antileishmanial Compound Found in Commercial Copaiba Oil (Copaifera spp.)

This study investigated the leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis of four commercial oils from Copaifera spp. named as C1, C2, C3, and C4, the sesquiterpene and diterpene pools obtained from distilling C4, and isolated β-caryophyllene (CAR). Copaiba oils chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography and correlated with biological activities. Diterpenes-rich oils C2 and C3 showed antipromastigote activity. Sesquiterpenes-rich C1 and C4, and isolated CAR presented a dose-dependent activity against intracellular amastigotes, with IC50s of 2.9 µg/mL, 2.3 µg/mL, and 1.3 µg/mL (6.4 µM), respectively. Based on the highest antiamastigote activity and the low toxicity to the host cells, C4 was steamdistillated to separate pools of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes. Both pools were less active against L. amazonensis and more toxic for the macrophages than the whole C4 oil. The leishmanicidal activity of C3 and C4 oils, as well as C4 fractions and CAR, appears to be independent of nitric oxide production by macrophages. This study pointed out β-caryophyllene as an effective antileishmanial compound and also to its role as potential chemical marker in copaiba oils or fractions derived thereof, aiming further development of this rainforest raw material for leishmaniasis therapy.
Fast human detection using selective block-based HOG-LBP

We propose a speed up method for the Histograms of Oriented Gradients - Local Binary Pattern (HOG-LBP) based pedestrian detector. Our method is based on the two-stage cascade structure. In the first stage evaluation, instead of extracting the features from all the region inside the detection window like in the conventional method, we extract the features from the regions which best characterize the pedestrian only. By reducing the features to be evaluated, each candidate is evaluated faster. To determine which regions are best for characterizing the pedestrian, we train the AdaBoost classifier to select the blocks whose Support Vector Machine responses of the pedestrian samples are most different from the non-pedestrians. In the second stage, we simply use the conventional HOG-LBP classifier to reevaluate the candidates which pass the first stage evaluation. Experimental results show that the detection algorithm is about three times faster than the conventional HOG-LBP SVM algorithm.
ParticipAct: A Large-Scale Crowdsensing Platform

In recent years, the widespread availability of sensor-provided smartphones has enabled the possibility of harvesting large quantities of data in urban areas exploiting user devices, so enabling the so-called crowdsensing that allows to realize complex applications impossible without the involvement of the research community. While many efforts have been made to improve specific techniques - spanning from signal processing to the assignment of data collection campaigns to users, and to the entire data processing - to the best of our knowledge, there are no active experiments aimed to explore the challenging issues raised by the management of large-scale crowdsensing campaigns as real-world experiments. This paper presents the ParticipAct platform and its ParticipAct living lab, an ongoing experiment at the University of Bologna that involves 170 students for one year in several crowdsensing campaigns that can access passively smartphone sensors and also prompt for user active collaboration. In this paper, we describe the guidelines behind the design of ParticipAct, its features, its architecture, and report quantitative results that assess and confirm the feasibility, obtained via intelligent coordination and management of crowdsensing campaigns.