Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TAGs: scalable threshold-based algorithms for proximity computation in graphs

A fundamental and very useful operation in graphs is the computation of the proximity between nodes, i.e., the degree of dissimilarity (or similarity) between two nodes v and u. This is an important tool both in graph databases and graph mining applications, because it provides the base to support more complex tasks such as graph partitioning, clustering, classification, to name a few. All methods proposed in the literature assume that proximity is computed on a single graph by using a single distance measure. In addition, most of them focus on the proximity between node pairs. In this work, we present for the first time, scalable algorithms that: (i) they support proximity computation in multiple graph instances, (ii) they enable the utilization of several distance measures, (iii) they support proximity queries around a source node without limiting to node pairs and (iv) they support extensions for metric-based and skyline query processing. The main result of our work is the design of Threshold Algorithms for Graphs (denoted as TAGs), which are studied and evaluated experimentally by using real-life as well as synthetic graphs, based on both the G(n, p) Erdõs-Rényi model and power law degree distributions.
Root Cause Analysis of Intermittent Digital System Reset and Its Reliability Evaluation

With the advancement of technology, modern electronic devices have mostly transitioned to using touchscreens instead of physical buttons for their operation, aiming for a more aesthetic and intuitive user experience. However, certain special buttons have been retained despite technological evolution, such as the power button and the reset button. The main reason for preserving the reset button is its crucial importance in certain situations, particularly when a device encounters a malfunction or system anomaly. In some cases, a device may become stuck in a state where it cannot enter the system, rendering the operation through a touchscreen unavailable. In such scenario, only the use of a physical “reset button” can restore the device back to normal. This work shares a case study from an operator of China railway transportation industry. The customer utilized Moxa's products at their stations to transmit train operation data from the station to the Communication Based Train Control (CBTC). After two years of operation, the customer reported a failed case that the device reset to its factory default settings by itself, resulting in the loss of previously saved system configurations. This work aims to identify the root cause of the reported failure, through the identification of the failure mechanism which is found to be related to silver electrochemical migration. After knowing the failure mechanism, the design of the experiment (DOE) method was also applied to determine the most feasible solution to this failure. Additionally, to assess the risk of the devices installed at the customer's field site, the warranty data analysis was conducted to develop a failure model so as to evaluate its reliability in the field.
Automatic ultrasound kidney's centroid detection system

Currently, kidney stone and tumor removal can be done without surgery. For this purpose, it is required imaging modalities that able to visualize kidney accurately. In order to improve the accuracy of kidney visualization in a short time, an automatic kidney centroid detection is required. This project developed a software to automatically detect the centroid of human kidney. The software was developed using MATLAB with smoothing filter, texture filter and morphological operators. They were used for image segmentation in order to extract important features. Test result shows the software achieve until 96.43% of accuracy in detecting the centroid. The detected centroid can be used as initial point to create ellipse model, which can be used to detect kidney's contour in further research. This software can be implemented in the most US machine that will be used as segmentation tool to reduce human errors and time.
Three coupled ultraslow temporal solitons in a five-level tripod atomic system

We propose a scheme to generate three coupled ultraslow optical solitons in a five-level tripod atomic system. We show that the detrimental distortions of the three weak probe fields due to dispersion effects under weak driving conditions can be well balanced by self- and cross-phase-modulation effects, which leads to the three coupled ultraslow temporal optical solitons with the temporal, group velocity, and amplitude values nearly matched. In contrast to other schemes, our model uses optical fibers, including multichromatic optical solitons in the stimulated Raman scattering, and produces three coupled ultraslow optical solitons in a small propagation distance of less than 1 cm with (1/2) Rabi frequency of the driving field, typically less than 100 MHz.
Building Ontologies from Collaborative Knowledge Bases to Search and Interpret Multilingual Corpora

Tools and techniques that automate the interpretation of multilingual corpora are useful on many fronts; scholars, as an example, could use such tools to more readily pinpoint relevant articles from journals in a wide variety of languages. This work describes techniques to build and characterize ontologies using collaborative knowledge bases, e.g., Wikipedia. These ontologies can then be used to search and classify texts. Originally developed for monolingual corpora, we extend the approach to multilingual texts and test the methods with Mandarin scientific abstracts. The presented techniques provide a novel and efficient mechanism to obtain contextually rich ontologies and measure document relevancy within multilingual corpora.
Performance Analysis of RIS-Assisted Satellite-Aerial-Terrestrial Integrated Network

In this paper, the performance of an reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) assisted satellite-aerial-terrestrial integrated network (RSATIN) is analyzed. Specifically, an RSATIN scenario involves an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with RIS reflecting signals from satellites and delivers them to terrestrial users. A passive beamforming scheme in the considered RSATIN is proposed to attain asymptotically optimal performance, and the capacity under this configuration is asymptotically analyzed. Furthermore, performance is analyzed with respect to the frequency reuse configuration among multiple beams, as interference among beams may occur due to the radiation pattern of the satellite beam. Simulation results demonstrate the ability to accurately and analytically predict the performance of RIS-based satellite communication systems and validate the asymptotic optimality of the proposed scheme.
A constraint-based approach to incorporate prior knowledge in causal models

In this paper we address the problem of incorporating prior knowledge, in the form of causal relations, in causal models. Prior ap- proaches mostly consider knowledge about the presence or absence of edges in the model. We use the formalism of Maximal Ancestral Graphs (MAGs) and adapt cSAT+ to solve this problem, an algorithm for reasoning with datasets defined over different variable sets.
What does attachment theory tell us about working with distressing voices?

Drawing on attachment and dissociation literatures, we propose that disorganised internal working models and dissociative processes contribute to the development of voice-hearing. We then focus on how attachment theory can inform assessment, formulation and intervention with people with distressing voices, and as such, argue that attachment theory and its clinical implications should be a fundamental element of training and supervision for clinicians working with voice-hearers.
The Current State of Targeted Agents in Rectal Cancer

Targeted biologic agents have an established role in treating metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), and the integration of targeted therapies into the treatment of CRC has resulted in significant improvements in outcomes. Rapidly growing insight into the molecular biology of CRC, as well as recent developments in gene sequencing and molecular diagnostics, has led to high expectations for the identification of molecular markers to be used in personalized treatment regimens. The mechanisms of action and toxicities of targeted therapies differ from those of traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Targeted therapy has raised new insight about the possibility of tailoring treatment to an individual's disease, the assessment of drug effectiveness and toxicity, and the economics of cancer care. This paper covers the last decade of clinical trials that have explored the toxicity and efficacy of targeted agents in locally advanced and metastatic CRC and how their role may benefit patients with rectal cancer. Future efforts should include prospective studies of these agents in biomarker-defined subpopulations, as well as studies of novel agents that target angiogenesis, tumor-stromal interaction, and the cell signaling pathways implicated in rectal cancer.
Hardware Prototyping of Handwritten Character Recognition using VEGA Soft Core Processor

In this paper, we propose the design and implementation of a hardware prototype system to recognise handwritten English alphabets using a multi-layer perceptron network (MLP). The proposed system is based on the indigenous soft core VEGA processor, which runs on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The system is able to accurately recognise upper and lower case English alphabets. A detailed analysis of the system architecture and hardware is also presented.
The Artistic Approach of Mandanipour on Farsi Language Applied in Shargh-e Banafshe Book

The formalist linguists are of the opinion that the literary language is formed by polishing and foregrounding the practiced slang. Many of this literary tricks used in foregrounding are categorized; but there exist some literary tricks that have not been dealt with and are not named or addressed in the available categories. The attempt is made in this study to find an answer to the questions that why has Mandanipour in his masterpiece, “Shargh-e Banafshe” achieved a superior language that is outstanding among his colleagues of the same era and has become a model in advanced language for the writers to come based on adopting defamiliarization theory in the Leech foregrounding format? Assessing the language of this unique work indicates that in addition to introducing an innovation in the usual styles in contemporary writing and the themes he has allowed assimilation and metaphor and other obsolete styles in his language; and yet has used special literary tricks that have never been tried or tested before. This approach has pat language in story writing to a high position.
Integration of AI in the Realm of Software Development

Software engineering has increasingly utilized "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) to improve self-organizing IT solutions. This research aims to fill the existing void in the thorough examination of artificial intelligence's (AI) impact on software engineering. To achieve this, the study used a combination of an extensive literature review and qualitative Conversations with software engineers. The objective of the study is to evaluate the present status of AI integration, possible progress, and the accompanying hazards in the realm of software development. The results demonstrate that artificial intelligence has made substantial progress in multiple domains. By employing algorithmic methodologies, it has automated time-consuming chores such as debugging and documentation, resulting in a more efficient software development and testing process. AI has facilitated the methodical examination of extensive datasets, detecting patterns and novel clusters of information. Moreover, the utilization of neural networks has enabled comprehensive analysis of these datasets. Hence, AI expedites progress, diminishes development expenses, and augments total efficacy in software engineering.
Sport and leisure in the civilizing process : critique and counter-critique

Figurational sociology is associated with the writings of Norbert Elias. In his theory of 'the civilizing process' and his work on the activity of sociology, Elias devised an approach to the study of human life which is now recognized as one of the major contributions to twentieth-century social science.Working in collaboration with Eric Dunning, Elias developed a series of writings on sport and leisure. These have been so influential that in some circles they are identified as the leading approach in the field. However, the figurational approach has also been widely criticized. For some critics it exhibits all of the worst features of the now discredited 'liberal,' 'functionalist' school of sociology.This collection provides a major critical assessment of the figurational approach to our understanding of sport and leisure. Contributors explore the distinctive features of such an approach and show its application to matters of sport and leisure. However, this is not a one-sided collection. The editors invited critics of figurational sociology to set out their points of view. Feminist and neo-Marxist contributors, for example, spell out why they judge the approach to be of limited value. The concluding chapter, written by Eric Dunning, offers a major statement of what figurational sociologists argue and how their arguments differ from other leading approaches both generally and in the field of sport and leisure. This unique and accessible collection is an important contribution to the growing area of sport and leisure studies.
Cultural and Institutional Determinants of Social Dominance Orientation: A Cross‐Cultural Meta‐Analysis of 27 Societies

We investigate macrocontextual antecedents of national levels of Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). The majority of previous research, in contrast, has tended to focus on individual-level correlates of SDO. We extend research on Social Dominance Theory by modelling national-level differences in institutional discrimination, macroeconomic development, and value ideologies as broad situational factors affecting SDO mean levels in previous studies. Our hypotheses were tested in a three-level meta-analysis of aggregate data from 50,971 individuals in 95 samples from 27 different societies. Strong effects for hierarchy-attenuating legitimizing ideologies and gender empowerment were found. Aggregate discrimination against arbitrary-set groups was less consistently linked to SDO, suggesting that these hierarchies are context-specific. Using mixed-effects three-level modelling, the patterns can be generalized to new contexts and suggest a particular institutional and social climate that fosters high SDO.
A Generalized Zero-Forcing Precoder With Successive Dirty-Paper Coding in MISO Broadcast Channels

In this paper, we consider precoder designs for multiuser multiple-input-single-output broadcasting channels. Instead of using a traditional linear zero-forcing (ZF) precoder, we propose a generalized ZF (GZF) precoder in conjunction with successive dirty-paper coding (DPC) for data transmissions, namely, the GZF-DP precoder, where the suffix “DP” stands for “dirty-paper. ” The GZF-DP precoder is designed to generate a band-shaped and lower triangular effective channel <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${F}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, such that only the entries along the main diagonal and the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\nu $ </tex-math></inline-formula> first lower-diagonals can take non-zero values. Utilizing the successive DPC, the known non-causal inter-user interferences from the other (up to) <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\nu $ </tex-math></inline-formula> users are canceled through successive encoding. We analyze optimal GZF-DP precoder designs both for sum-rate and minimum user-rate maximizations. Utilizing Lagrange multipliers, the optimal precoders for both cases are solved in closed-forms in relation to optimal power allocations. For the sum-rate maximization, the optimal power allocation can be found through water filling, but with modified water levels depending on the parameter <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\nu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, while for the minimum user-rate maximization that measures the quality of the service, the optimal power allocation is directly solved in closed-form, which also depends on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\nu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Moreover, we propose two low-complexity user-ordering algorithms for the GZF-DP precoder designs for both maximizations, respectively. We show, through numerical results, that the proposed GZF-DP precoder with a small <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\nu $ </tex-math></inline-formula> value (≤ 3) renders significant rate increments compared with the previous precoder designs, such as the linear ZF and the user-grouping-based DPC precoders.
A high-ELD tolerant Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta Modulator for Bluetooth with DWA calibration

A Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta (ΣΔ) Modulator for Bluetooth with 52MHz sampling frequency in a 1.2V 65nm CMOS process is presented. The modulator has a proposed single-stage 3rd-order 4-bit architecture, which employs a dual-loop feedback method to compensate the loop delay up to one clock period. A 4-bit flash ADC and a 4-bit current-steering DAC are used to improve the resolution and stability. Non-Return-Zero (NRZ) pulse shape of feedback-DAC is adopted to alleviate jitter sensitivity. Feedforward gains of the loop filter are realized by capacitors ratios. This approach can reduce the power consumption and provide better linearity. The basic data-weighted-averaging (DWA) digital linearization circuit is used to compensate the DAC mismatch errors efficiently. The co-simulation result at circuit level can achieve 80dB DR within 1MHz signal bandwidth without clock jitter or device noise.
A TD-DFT Study on the Photo-Physicochemical Properties of Chrysophanol from Rheum

As a naturally occurring anthraquinone pigment, chrysophanol (MHAQ) has attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to its efficient photosensitivity under the solar spectrum. Considering the successful use of time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) in investigating the photo-physicochemical behaviors of dyes and pigments, we performed a study by means of TD-DFT calculations, which provided us with various excited state properties of chrysophanol, including absorption spectrum, lowest triplet excited-state energy, vertical electron affinity and vertical ionization potential. On the basis of the calculated results, the photosensitive mechanisms of chrysophanol were discussed and some deeper insights were gained. First, we indicated that the experimentally observed chrysophanol’s photo-damage to DNA in oxygen-free media is more likely to arise from MHAQ•+ rather than from T1 state chrysophanol. Second, we revealed that it is the MHAQ•− that is responsible for the O2•− generation in solvents. Based on the photosensitive activities, chrysophanol may be potentially used as the photodynamic medicine for clinical therapy of the diseases occurring on the shallow surface and vascular capillary diseases.
Analysis of the Humoral Immune Response toChlamydia Outer Membrane Protein 2

ABSTRACT The humoral immune response to Chlamydia outer membrane protein 2 (Omp2) was studied. Omp2 is a highly genus-conserved structural protein of all Chlamydia species, containing a variable N-terminal fragment. To analyze where the immunogenic parts were localized, seven highly purified truncated fusion proteins constituting different regions of the protein were produced (Chlamydia pneumoniae-Omp2aa23-aa93,Chlamydia psittaci-Omp2aa23-aa94, andChlamydia trachomatis-Omp2aa23-aa84, aa87-aa547, aa23-aa182, aa167-aa434, aa420-aa547). By an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with serologically defined patient sera, Omp2 was found to be a major immunogen of both C. pneumoniae andC. trachomatis infections (P ≪ 0.0001). The humoral immune responses were not confined to any particular region of the Omp2 protein, and no species-specific anti-Omp2 immunoglobulins were detected.
Real-time scene recognition on embedded system with SIFT keypoints and a new descriptor

The vision system of a mobile robot has to interpret the environment in real time at low power. As a good algorithm for extracting information from images, SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) is widely used in computer vision. However, the high computational complexity makes it hard to achieve real-time performance of SIFT with pure software. This paper presents a machine vision system implementing the SIFT algorithm on an embedded image processing card, where real-time scene recognition is accomplished with low power consumption through the cooperation between an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip. The original SIFT keypoint detection algorithm is adapted for parallel computation and implemented with a hardware pipeline in the FPGA. Although our current system is designed for 360×288 video frames, this pipelined architecture can be applied to images with arbitrary resolution. Meanwhile, the original 128-dimensional SIFT descriptor is replaced by an 18-dimensional new descriptor which can be generated more efficiently and can be matched according to an absolute distance threshold with the distance defined by infinity-norm. On this basis, a five-branch-tree data structure is designed for fast searching and matching of descriptors, and robust scene recognition is realized through the combination of keypoints. Since our new descriptor allows one keypoint to be matched to several keypoints, which is a distinct property from the original SIFT algorithm, our system can recognize multiple images with overlapping contents simultaneously. In addition, compared with traditional work that needs off-line training, our system can perform fast on-line learning, which is a desirable property for mobile robots.
Comparative Studies of Vertebrate Beta Integrin Genes and Proteins: Ancient Genes in Vertebrate Evolution

Intregins are heterodimeric α- and β-subunit containing membrane receptor proteins which serve various cell adhesion roles in tissue repair, hemostasis, immune response, embryogenesis and metastasis. At least 18 α- (ITA or ITGA) and 8 β-integrin subunits (ITB or ITGB) are encoded on mammalian genomes. Comparative ITB amino acid sequences and protein structures and ITB gene locations were examined using data from several vertebrate genome projects. Vertebrate ITB genes usually contained 13–16 coding exons and encoded protein subunits with ∼800 amino acids, whereas vertebrate ITB4 genes contained 36-39 coding exons and encoded larger proteins with ∼1800 amino acids. The ITB sequences exhibited several conserved domains including signal peptide, extracellular β-integrin, β-tail domain and integrin β-cytoplasmic domains. Sequence alignments of the integrin β-cytoplasmic domains revealed highly conserved regions possibly for performing essential functions and its maintenance during vertebrate evolution. With the exception of the human ITB8 sequence, the other ITB sequences shared a predicted 19 residue α-helix for this region. Potential sites for regulating human ITB gene expression were identified which included CpG islands, transcription factor binding sites and microRNA binding sites within the 3′-UTR of human ITB genes. Phylogenetic analyses examined the relationships of vertebrate beta-integrin genes which were consistent with four major groups: 1: ITB1, ITB2, ITB7; 2: ITB3, ITB5, ITB6; 3: ITB4; and 4: ITB8 and a common evolutionary origin from an ancestral gene, prior to the appearance of fish during vertebrate evolution. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that ITB4 is the most likely primordial form of the vertebrate β integrin subunit encoding genes, that is the only β subunit expressed as a constituent of the sole integrin receptor ‘α6β4’ in the hemidesmosomes of unicellular organisms.