Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HST/NICMOS Imaging Polarimetry of Proto-Planetary Nebulae: Probing of the Dust Shell Structure via Polarized Light

Using NICMOS on HST, we have performed imaging polarimetry of proto-planetary nebulae. Our objective is to study the structure of optically thin circumstellar shells of post-asymptotic giant branch stars by separating dust-scattered, linearly polarized star light from unpolarized direct star light. This unique technique allows us to probe faint reflection nebulae around the bright central star, which can be buried under the point-spread-function of the central star in conventional imaging. Our observations and archival search have yielded polarimetric images for five sources: IRAS 07134+1005 (HD 56126), IRAS 06530-0213, IRAS 04296+3429, IRAS (Z)02229+6208, and IRAS 16594-4656. These images have revealed the circumstellar dust distribution in an unprecedented detail via polarized intensity maps, providing a basis to understand the 3-D structure of these dust shells. We have observationally confirmed the presence of the inner cavity caused by the cessation of AGB mass loss and the internal shell structures which is strongly tied to the progenitor star's mass loss history on the AGB. We have also found that equatorial enhancement in these circumstellar shells comes with various degrees of contrast, suggesting a range of optical depths in these optically thin shells. Our data support the interpretation that the dichotomy of PPN morphologies is due primarily to differences in optical depth and secondary to the inclination effect. The polarization maps reveal a range of inclination angles for these optically thin reflection nebulae, dispelling the notion that elliptical nebulae are pole-on bipolar nebulae.
Modeling user's temporal dynamic profile in micro-blogging using clustering method

To help micro-blogging's users find what they want, we need know what user's interests are, but user's interests are not static but change with time, so it is critical to describe what user's current interests are. The micro-blogging messages published by a user contain the user's interest information; intuitively, the message that was published recently by a user should have a bigger impact on the user's current interest than a message that was published long time ago. This paper uses Latent Dirichlet Allocation to extract topics from all messages posted by a user; then, clusters the user's all messages, and represent user's interests with the centers of the clusters. When clustering objects, if apply a time-varying influence function on each object, each object has different influence on clustering process; we call this clustering process as clustering method with weight. The experiment shows that the centers of clusters generated by clustering method with weight can depict user's temporal dynamic profile more accurately than the centers of clusters generated by clustering method without weight.
Analyzing the Founder Effect in Simulated Evolutionary Processes Using Gene Expression Programming

Gene expression programming is a genotype/phenotype system that evolves computer programs encoded in linear chromosomes of fixed length. The interplay between genotype (chromosomes) and phenotype (expression trees) is made possible by the structural and functional organization of the linear chromosomes. This organization allows the unconstrained operation of important genetic operators such as mutation, transposition, and recombination. Although simple, the genotype/phenotype system of gene expression programming can provide some insights into natural evolutionary processes. In this work the question of the initial diversity in evolving populations of computer programs is addressed by analyzing populations undergoing either mutation or recombination. The results presented here show that populations undergoing mutation recover practically undisturbed from evolutionary bottlenecks whereas populations undergoing recombination alone depend considerably on the size of the founder population and are unable to evolve efficiently if subjected to really tight bottlenecks.
PVALB, a new Hürthle adenoma diagnostic marker identified through gene expression.

CONTEXT A better means to accurately identify malignant thyroid nodules and to distinguish them from benign tumors is needed. We previously identified markers for detecting thyroid malignancy, with sensitivity estimated at or close to 100%. One lingering problem with these markers was that false positives occurred with Hürthle cell adenomas (HCA) which lowered test specificity. METHODS To locate accurate diagnostic markers, we profiled in depth the transcripts of a HCA and a Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC). From 1146 differentially expressed genes, 18 transcripts specifically expressed in HCA were tested by quantitative PCR in a wide range of thyroid tumors (n = 76). Sensibility and specificity were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Selected markers were further validated in an independent set of thyroid tumors (n = 82) by immunohistochemistry. To define the panel that would yield best diagnostic accuracy, these markers were tested in combination with our previous identified markers. RESULTS Seventeen of the 18 genes showed statistical significance based on a mean relative level of expression (P < 0.05). KLK1 (sensitivity = 0.97) and PVALB (sensitivity = 0.94) were the best candidate markers. The combination of PVALB and C1orf24 increased specificity to >97% and maintained sensitivity for detection of carcinoma. CONCLUSION We identified tumor markers that can be used in combination for a more accurate preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules and for postoperative diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in tumor sections. This improved test would help physicians rapidly focus treatment on true malignancies and avoid unnecessary treatment of benign tumors, simultaneously improving medical care and reducing costs.
Road Map Inference: A Segmentation and Grouping Framework

We propose a new segmentation and grouping framework for road map inference from GPS traces. We first present a progressive Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Application with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm with an orientation constraint to partition the whole point set of the traces into clusters that represent road segments. A new point cluster grouping algorithm, according to the topological relationship and spatial proximity of the point clusters to recover the road network, is then developed. After generating the point clusters, the robust Locally-Weighted Scatterplot Smooth (Lowess) method is used to extract their centerlines. We then propose to build the topological relationship of the centerlines by a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based map matching algorithm; and to assess whether the spatial proximity between point clusters by assuming the distances from the points to the centerline comply with a Gaussian distribution. Finally, the point clusters are grouped according to their topological relationship and spatial proximity to form strokes for recovering the road map. Experimental results show that our algorithm is robust to noise and varied sampling rates. The generated road maps show high geometric accuracy.
The alpha 1-alpha 6 subunits of integrins are characteristically expressed in distinct segments of developing and adult human nephron

We studied the distribution of the alpha 1-alpha 6 subunits of beta 1 integrins in developing and adult human kidney using a panel of mAbs in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Uninduced mesenchyme displayed a diffuse immunoreactivity for only the alpha 1 integrin subunit. At the S-shaped body stage of nephron development, several of the alpha subunits were characteristically expressed in distinct fetal nephron segments, and the pattern was retained also in the adult nephron. Thus, the alpha 1 subunit was characteristically expressed in mesangial and endothelial cells, the alpha 2 in glomerular endothelium and distal tubules, the alpha 3 in podocytes, Bowman's capsule, and distal tubules, and the alpha 6 subunit basally in all tubules, and only transiently in podocytes during development. Unlike the alpha 3 and alpha 6 subunits, the alpha 2 subunit displayed an overall cell surface distribution in distal tubules. It was also distinctly expressed in glomerular endothelia during glomerulogenesis. The beta 4 subunit was expressed only in fetal collecting ducts, and hence the alpha 6 subunit seems to be complexed with the beta 1 rather than beta 4 subunit in human kidney. Of the two fibronectin receptor alpha subunits, alpha 4 and alpha 5, only the latter was expressed, confined to endothelia of developing and adult blood vessels, suggesting that these receptor complexes play a minor role during nephrogenesis. The present results suggest that distinct integrins play a role during differentiation of specific nephron segments. They also indicate that alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 1 integrin complexes may function as basement membrane receptors in podocytes and tubular epithelial cells.
Distillation: extracting the essence of programs

In this paper, we present a new transformation algorithm called distillation which can automatically transform higher-order functional programs into equivalent tail-recursive programs. Using this algorithm, it is possible to produce superlinear improvement in the runtime of programs. This represents a significant advance over the supercompilation algorithm, which can only produce a linear improvement. Outline proofs are given that the distillation algorithm is correct and that it always terminates.
Perceived Benefits and Challenges of a Multiethnic-Racial Identity: Insight From Adults With Mixed Heritage

ABSTRACT The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the lived experiences of multiethnic-racial individuals (i.e., individuals with parents from different ethnic-racial groups). In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 adults from the United States with mixed ethnic-racial backgrounds ranging in age from 18 to 52 (female n = 20, male n = 9). We identified a number of themes related to perceived benefits (e.g., pluralistic world views, stronger sense of self) and challenges (e.g., identity tensions, communal concerns) of having a mixed heritage. Findings are discussed in terms of four considerations for ethnic-racial identity of individuals with mixed ethnic-racial backgrounds: emphasizing constellations of experiences, life-span and developmental considerations of identity, (mixed) ethnic-racial identity as constituted in interactions, and the potential promise of pluralistic world views.
Transgenesis upgrades for Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a highly attractive model system for the study of numerous biological questions pertaining to development, genetics, cell biology, neuroscience and disease. Until recently, our ability to manipulate flies genetically relied heavily on the transposon-mediated integration of DNA into fly embryos. However, in recent years significant improvements have been made to the transgenic techniques available in this organism, particularly with respect to integrating DNA at specific sites in the genome. These new approaches will greatly facilitate the structure-function analyses of Drosophila genes, will enhance the ease and speed with which flies can be manipulated, and should advance our understanding of biological processes during normal development and disease.
Collective Face, Politeness Strategies, and Discomfort: Communication of American Domestic Students and Chinese International Students

Abstract This two-by-three between-subjects factorial study tested how American domestic students and Chinese international students responded to a scenario of performance failure by a friend whose membership varies across conditions. The study measured collective face, politeness strategies, and participants’ discomfort feelings. Robust findings were observed in the condition where Chinese participants imagined witnessing an ingroup-friend’s incompetence resulting in the strong correlation between collective face and discomfort. The cultural difference between these two groups regarding relating self-images to group-images is also observed. The implications of the study in assessing collective images, identities, and values for intercultural communication research are discussed.
A short-period super-Earth orbiting the M2.5 dwarf GJ 3634

We report on the detection of GJ 3634b, a super-Earth of mass m sin i = 7.0 +0.9 ―0.8 M ⊕ and period P = 2.64561 ± 0.00066 day. Its host star is a M2.5 dwarf, has a mass of 0.45 ± 0.05 M o , a radius of 0.43 ± 0.03 R ⊙ and lies 19.8 ± 0.6 pc away from our Sun. The planet is detected after a radial-velocity campaign using the ESO/HARPS spectrograph. GJ 3634b had an a priori geometric probability to undergo transit of ∼7% and, if telluric in composition, a non-grazing transit would produce a photometric dip of ≲0.1%. We therefore followed-up upon the RV detection with photometric observations using the 4.5-μm band of the IRAC imager onboard Spitzer. Our six-hour long light curve excludes that a transit occurs for 2σ of the probable transit window, decreasing the probability that GJ 3634b undergoes transit to ∼0.5%.
Symbolic model checking of software product lines

We study the problem of model checking software product line (SPL) behaviours against temporal properties. This is more difficult than for single systems because an SPL with n features yields up to 2n individual systems to verify. As each individual verification suffers from state explosion, it is crucial to propose efficient formalisms and heuristics. We recently proposed featured transition systems (FTS), a compact representation for SPL behaviour, and defined algorithms for model checking FTS against linear temporal properties. Although they showed to outperform individual system verifications, they still face a state explosion problem as they enumerate and visit system states one by one. In this paper, we tackle this latter problem by using symbolic representations of the state space. This lead us to consider computation tree logic (CTL) which is supported by the industry-strength symbolic model checker NuSMV. We first lay the foundations for symbolic SPL model checking by defining a feature-oriented version of CTL and its dedicated algorithms. We then describe an implementation that adapts the NuSMV language and tool infrastructure. Finally, we propose theoretical and empirical evaluations of our results. The benchmarks show that for certain properties, our algorithm is over a hundred times faster than model checking each system with the standard algorithm.
Job Creation and Job Destruction in Estonia: Labour Reallocation and Structural Changes

This article documents and analyses gross job flows and their determinants in Estonia over the years 1995-2001, using a database containing the population of officially registered firms in Estonia (all in all 52,000). Our results show that job creation and job destruction rates have been rather high in Estonia and are comparable to the levels documented for the US. We find that the firm-specific component in job flows excess of employment change had relatively lower importance than in western studies due to the emergence of small and medium-sized enterprises and labour reallocation between the economic sectors. The high inter-sectoral mobility has helped maintain high levels of job flows, while both are high also due to a favourable institutional environment, especially due to low start-up costs and a large share of micro enterprises in Estonia. When investigating job creation and destruction at the firm level by estimating firms' growth equations, we detected a negative effect of their size and age on the growth of firms, especially of domestic firms. The job flows have not decreased recently, although worker flows have dropped. One explanation is provided by labour market institutional framework, while the other one relates to the concept of churning flows (the difference between worker and job flows).
Results from software engineering research into open source development projects using public data

This paper presents first results from research into open source projects from a software engineering perspective. The research methodology employed relies on public data retrieved from the CVS-repository of the GNOME project and relevant discussion groups. This methodology is described in detail and some of the results concerning the special characteristics of open source software development are given. (author's abstract)
18.783 Elliptic Curves Lecture Note 18

converge absolutely for any fixed τ ∈ H, by Lemma 16.11, and uniformly over τ in any compact subset of H. The proof of this last fact is straight-forward but slightly technical; see [1, Thm. 1.15] for the details. It follows that g2(τ) and g3(τ) are both holomorphic on H, and therefore ∆(τ) = g2(τ) 3 − 27g3(τ) is also holomorphic on H. Since ∆(τ) is nonzero for all τ ∈ H, by Lemma 16.21, the j-function j(τ) is holomorphic on H as well. The lattices [1, τ ] and [1,−1/τ ] = −1/τ [1, τ ] are homothetic, and the lattices [1, τ + 1] and [1, τ ] are equal; thus j(−1/τ) = j(τ) and j(τ + 1) = j(τ), by Theorem 17.6.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT : UNIVERSAL OR CONTEXT DEPENDENT ? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION ACROSS THE MANUFACTURING STRATEGY SPECTRUM

Quality management has often been advocated as being universally applicable to organizations and organizations activities. This is in contrast with the manufacturing strategy contingency approach in which the field of Operations Management has been strongly rooted from its inception, which advocates internal and external consistency between manufacturing strategy choices. In addition, as quality management has matured, more recent rigorous academic studies have raised doubts as to the universal validity of its set of practices. Simultaneously, the quality management practitioner literature abounds with reports of problems in implementing quality management. Although proponents of the universal view of quality management would argue that these difficulties are part of moving the organization towards quality, an alternative explanation is that those difficulties result from too great a mismatch between the proposed form of quality management and the particular organizational context. This question has been overlooked by research on quality management implementation. Taking for granted that espoused quality management is universally applicable, the influence of an organization’s context has been ignored. Despite these tensions, there is still little empirical research conducted in quality management aimed at shedding light on the question: Are quality management practices contingent on a plant’s manufacturing strategy context? This article investigates this question by examining the use of process quality management practices a critical and distinctive subset of the whole set of quality management practices using the case study method, across plants in the UK electronics industry representing the three widely accepted configurations of manufacturing strategy: Cost Leader, Broad Differentiator, and Niche Differentiator. By selecting plants mature on quality from a single very competitive industry and controlling for process technology, the study aimed to isolate the effects of a plant’s manufacturing strategy on quality management practice. The study strongly suggests that process quality management practices are contingent on a plant’s manufacturing strategy, and identifies mechanisms by which this takes place. The study also highlights the importance of the interactions between individual process practices, forming an internally coherent quality management practice configuration matching a plant’s manufacturing strategy configuration. The empirical results found strong grounding in existing theory, namely process knowledge theory. The study’s findings can be used to inform the implementation of quality management programs by providing guidelines for which process practices to emphasize in a particular strategic context or for which adverse context characteristics to modify in order to accommodate the use of particular practices.
Cytokines and cardiovascular disease

The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is increasingly evident since the identification of immune/inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis and heart failure. In this review, we describe how innate and adaptive immune cascades trigger the release of cytokines and chemokines, resulting in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. We discuss how cytokines have direct and indirect effects on myocardial function. These include myocardial depressant effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase‐generated NO, as well as the biochemical effects of cytokine‐stimulated arachidonic acid metabolites on cardiomyocytes. Cytokine influences on myocardial function are time‐, concentration‐, and subtype‐specific. We provide a comprehensive review of these cytokine‐mediated immune and inflammatory cascades implicated in the most common forms of cardiovascular disease.
Iris recognition with a database of iris images obtained in visible light using smartphone camera

This paper delivers a new database of iris images collected in visible light using a mobile phone's camera and presents results of experiments involving existing commercial and open-source iris recognition methods, namely: Iri-Core, VeriEye, MIRLIN and OSIRIS. Several important observations are made. First, we manage to show that after simple preprocessing, such images offer good visibility of iris texture even in heavily-pigmented irides. Second, for all four methods, the enrollment stage is not much affected by the fact that different type of data is used as input. This translates to zero or close-to-zero Failure To Enroll, i.e., cases when templates could not be extracted from the samples. Third, we achieved good matching accuracy, with correct genuine match rate exceeding 94.5% for all four methods, while simultaneously being able to maintain zero false match rate in every case. Correct genuine match rate of over 99.5% was achieved using one of the commercial methods, showing that such images can be used with the existing biometric solutions with minimum additional effort required. Finally, the experiments revealed that incorrect image segmentation is the most prevalent cause of recognition accuracy decrease. To our best knowledge, this is the first database of iris images captured using a mobile device, in which image quality exceeds this of a near-infrared illuminated iris images, as defined in ISO/IEC 19794-6 and 29794-6 documents. This database will be publicly available to all researchers.
A Graph-based Method for Entity Linking

In this paper, we formalize the task of finding a knowledge base entry that a given named entity mention refers to, namely entity linking, by identifying the most “important” node among the graph nodes representing the candidate entries. With the aim of ranking these entities by their “importance”, we introduce three degree-based measures of graph connectivity. Experimental results on the TACKBP benchmark data sets show that our graph-based method performs comparably with the state-of-the-art methods. We also show that using the name phrase feature outperforms the commonly used bagof-word feature for entity linking.