Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The web as a resource for WSD 1

Why general Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD) systems are not (to the best of our knowledge) being used in real-world applications? In our opinion, some plausible reasons are: • General Word Sense Disambiguation, as an intermediate task, is frequently harder than the final application. This is probably the case of the most commonly mentioned WSD applications: mono and multilingual Information Retrieval and Machine Translation. • Different applications demand different sense distinctions and different sense granularities. • Unsupervised systems still have poor performance. • . and supervised systems, in general, hardly have resources to be supervised with. Currently, supervised systems can only attempt an “all-words” WSD task in English, and with very scarce resources. In order to find out whether WSD systems can play a significant role in Human Language Technologies, a necessary step is to make supervised WSD algorithms applicable, finding ways of acquiring lexical information and, in particular, building training corpora at a low cost.
Specifying and Implementing an Eventual Leader Service for Dynamic Systems

The election of an eventual leader in an asynchronous system prone to process crashes is an important problem of fault-tolerant distributed computing. This problem is known as the implementation of the failure detector Omega. Nearly all papers that propose algorithms implementing such an eventual leader service consider a static system. In contrast this paper considers a dynamic system, i.e., a system in which processes can enter and leave. The paper has three contributions. It first proposes a specification of $\Omega$ suited to dynamic systems. Then, it presents and proves correct an algorithm implementing this specification. Finally, the paper discusses the notion of an eventual leader suited to dynamic systems. It introduces an additional property related to system stability. The design of an algorithm satisfying this last property remains an open challenging problem.
Ionic Currents Underlying Spontaneous Action Potentials in Isolated Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons

Acutely dissociated cell bodies of mouse Purkinje neurons spontaneously fired action potentials at ∼50 Hz (25°C). To directly measure the ionic currents underlying spontaneous activity, we voltage-clamped the cells using prerecorded spontaneous action potentials (spike trains) as voltage commands and used ionic substitution and selective blockers to isolate individual currents. The largest current flowing during the interspike interval was tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current (approximately −50 pA between −65 and −60 mV). Although the neurons had large voltage-dependent calcium currents, the net current blocked by cobalt substitution for calcium was outward at all times during spike trains. Thus, the electrical effect of calcium current is apparently dominated by rapidly activated calcium-dependent potassium currents. Under current clamp, all cells continued firing spontaneously (though ∼30% more slowly) after block of T-type calcium current by mibefradil, and most cells continued to fire after block of all calcium current by cobalt substitution. Although the neurons possessed hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih), little current flowed during spike trains, and block by 1 mm cesium had no effect on firing frequency. The outward potassium currents underlying the repolarization of the spikes were completely blocked by 1 mm TEA. These currents deactivated quickly (<1 msec) after each spike. We conclude that the spontaneous firing of Purkinje neuron cell bodies depends mainly on tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current flowing between spikes. The high firing rate is promoted by large potassium currents that repolarize the cell rapidly and deactivate quickly, thus preventing strong hyperpolarization and restoring a high input resistance for subsequent depolarization.
The French MEDIA/EVALDA Project: the Evaluation of the Understanding Capability of Spoken Language Dialogue Systems

The aim of the MEDIA project is to design and test a methodology for the evaluat ion of context-dependent and independent spoken dialogue systems. We propose an evaluation paradigm based on the use of test suites from real-world corpora and a common semantic representation and common metrics. This paradigm should allow us to diagnose the context-sensitive understanding capability of dialogue system s. This paradigm will be used within an evaluation campaign involving several si tes all of which will carry out the task of querying information from a database .
Rate-Adaptive nonbinary-LDPC-coded modulation with backpropagation for long-haul optical transport networks

We propose a novel rate-adaptive, polarization-multiplexed, nonbinary-LDPC-coded modulation scheme with backpropagation as an enabling technology for high-speed data transmission over long-haul optical transport networks. We show that the proposed scheme with a very simple dispersion map ensures transmission at information bit rates of 200 Gb/s, 300 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s even in the worst channel conditions over reaches exceeding 6400 km, 3900 km and 2100 km, respectively.
A cognitive schema approach to diagnose intuitiveness: an application to onboard computers

Intuitive use is met when prior knowledge is transferred to new task environments. The empirical fact that transfer relies on schemas led us to diagnose intuitiveness based on schema induction. Two cognitive tasks were designed to make novice users perceive versus induce all the states of a prototype onboard computer. Subsequent interaction performances with the system validated the induction effect of the procedure and its interaction with familiarity, known as a primary factor of intuitive use. Implications for the diagnosis and the design of intuitive interfaces are discussed.
TeamPortal: Providing Team Awareness On the Web

Working on a team that is geographically split is more than personally annoying; it has been shown both to cause delay and introduce errors due to communications difficulty and to lower inter-team levels of trust and hence cooperation. Tools to combat this problem are becoming more necessary with the evolving globalization of business. In this paper we demonstrate TeamPortal, a technology for building team awareness that is minimally intrusive, facilitates communication and leverages the growing public familiarity with instant messaging and web portals. TeamPortal is a web-based set of Java applets that monitor presence information deduced by the network, present the results to team members and allow them rapidly to initiate communication using a variety of media at the earliest convenient moment. We discuss TeamPortal’s design considerations and implementation and highlight issues that are surfacing with respect to future research with this tool.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks in Prediction of Compressive Strength of Concrete by Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocities

As widely known, concrete is an essential material in civil engineering. However, its properties can vary considerably, depending on the nature and proportions of its constituents, the construction methods applied to create it, and the loading and environmental conditions to which it will be subjected over time. Therefore, the development of control methods to determine the condition and ascertain the quality of concrete is critical. Ultrasonic methods can play an important role in this area, since they allow us to monitor the density and homogeneity of concrete, providing information about the strength development and the existence of internal flaws and defects. To ensure that the information provided is reliable, expert knowledge is needed for interpreting the ultrasonic data. Computational tools that support the interpretation of ultrasonic (and other NDT) data might facilitate the job, reducing bias and helping specialists to analyze, in a consistent way, the great amount of data generated by the test. In this context, the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) techniques is seen as a viable and adequate strategy to develop such tools. This study is focused on the evaluation of the feasibility of developing a specialist ANN tool. This kind of technique allows the emulation of the processes of specialists when dealing with uncertainty. Using a neural model, it is Possible to establish a non-linear correlation between known input data, such as ultrasonic readings and a certain output in this case, compressive strength, because this is the most used parameter to determine concrete quality.
Real Time Animation of Virtual Humans: A Trade‐off Between Naturalness and Control

Virtual humans are employed in many interactive applications using 3D virtual environments, including (serious) games. The motion of such virtual humans should look realistic (or ‘natural’) and allow interaction with the surroundings and other (virtual) humans. Current animation techniques differ in the trade‐off they offer between motion naturalness and the control that can be exerted over the motion. We show mechanisms to parametrize, combine (on different body parts) and concatenate motions generated by different animation techniques. We discuss several aspects of motion naturalness and show how it can be evaluated. We conclude by showing the promise of combinations of different animation paradigms to enhance both naturalness and control.
Improved residual data coding for high efficiency video coding lossless extension

This paper describes an extension of the new high efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard for supporting lossless video coding. Since HEVC is originally designed for lossy video compression, it cannot provide outstanding performances in lossless video coding. In this paper, we propose new residual data coding methods based on the statistical characteristics of lossless intra coding. The proposed method consists of improved level coding and the binarization table selection with the weighted sum of previously encoded level values. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves approximately 2.41% bit saving and reaches up to 5.34% bit saving, compared to HEVC lossless intra coding.
Freedom of Religion or Belief Across the Commonwealth: Hard Cases, Diverse Approaches

Abstract This paper addresses freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) issues that have been emerging in the Asian Commonwealth, including religious minorities, violent extremism, religion and development, rising secularism, and religious equality and around nondiscrimination. Pakistan and India have turned their attention to addressing the situation of minorities. Other nations, Bangladesh, with concerns about rising Islamism and secularism; Sri Lanka, with its legacy of inter-ethnic conflict; and Malaysia, with multiculturalism alongside religious protections, have recently advocated tolerance, respect, unity, harmony, and peace, even as interreligious tensions appear to be rising. This paper will examine the state of FoRB in these Commonwealth nations.
A note on relation between the Fourier coefficients and the interaction effects in the experimental design

In this paper, we present the theorem of the relation between the Fourier coefficients and the 3-factor interaction effects. From this theorem, the 3-factor interaction effects can be easily obtained from the Fourier coefficients. Therefore, it is possible to implement the estimation procedures easily as well as to understand how any interaction affects the response variable in the model based on an orthonormal system.
Sequestosome 1/p62 Is a Polyubiquitin Chain Binding Protein Involved in Ubiquitin Proteasome Degradation

ABSTRACT Herein, we demonstrate that the ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain of sequestosome 1/p62 displays a preference for binding K63-polyubiquitinated substrates. Furthermore, the UBA domain of p62 was necessary for aggregate sequestration and cell survival. However, the inhibition of proteasome function compromised survival in cells with aggregates. Mutational analysis of the UBA domain reveals that the conserved hydrophobic patch MGF as well as the conserved leucine in helix 2 are necessary for binding polyubiquitinated proteins and for sequestration-aggregate formation. We report that p62 interacts with the proteasome by pull-down assay, coimmunoprecipitation, and colocalization. Depletion of p62 levels results in an inhibition of ubiquitin proteasome-mediated degradation and an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that p62 may act as a critical ubiquitin chain-targeting factor that shuttles substrates for proteasomal degradation.
Putting the Hobson-Rogers model to the test.

In this paper, we take the model of Hobson & Rogers (1998) for the movement of an asset, and we flt it to data. The model of Hobson & Rogers is a stochastic volatility model, where the volatility depends on the ofiset of the current log-price from its exponentially-weighted historical value. As such, the model is complete, and there are unique preference-independent prices. In the datasets we study, there is very clear evidence that the volatility does indeed vary with ofiset; we use PDE methods, and simulation methods, to flt the model to data, and flnd that the flt is generally better than the Heston model.
Factors of Urbanisation in the Nineteenth Century Developed Countries

This paper describes the situation from the beginning of the industrial revolution when levels of urbanisation were dependent on geography and the historical situation and when the general level of urbanisation was low, through the nineteenth century in which agricultural productivity and industrialisation determined the levels of urbanisation. This period represents a dramatic increase in the levels of urbanisation during which the present urban structures were put into place. A comparative econometric study, finds that economic growth pushed urbanisation, with industrialisation being the most important factor for Europe and agricultural productivity being quite important for the European settled countries. Other important factors are found to be, trade, total population, topography, and form of industrialisation. Railroad networks more or less extensive than normal were not found to be influential.
Orchestrating nomadic mashups using workflows

Middleware for mashups is currently not able to compose the services residing in a nomadic network. Its transient connections and connection volatility result in a highly dynamic environment where services can appear and disappear at any point in time. The consequence is that these services must be discovered at runtime in an ad hoc fashion and must execute asynchronously to prevent a disconnected service to block the execution of an entire mashup. Orchestrating loosely coupled asynchronously executing services calls for a process-aware approach. This paper proposes the use of workflow patterns to enable a high level specification of the interactions between the mobile services constituting a nomadic mashup.
Architecture of the Oasis Mobile Shared Virtual Memory System

Oasis is a memory-based storage system designed to support collaborative mobile computing applications. These applications require peer-to-peer and client-server interactions in conditions of less than ideal network connectivity. The architecture is based on a memory model where the address space is logicall y partitioned into regions used for sharing. Mobile units may disconnect from the backbone, cache portions of the regions, operate, and later reconnect. The backbone is kept strongly consistent, whereas disconnected units operate off local cached copies that have the potential of becoming inconsistent with the backbone. A time-based coherency approach is used for voluntary disconnection that limits inconsistency between disconnected units and the backbone. For inconsistencies that do arise, mechanisms are provided to detect and resolve update conflicts. Oasis also addresses issues of autonomous operation, reliability, and locking. ∗ Supported by a grant from IBM Corporation, the UC Micro program and Computer Marketplace, Inc.
Self-adaptivity for constraint satisfaction: learning penalty functions

Treating constrained problems with EAs is a very challenging problem. Whether one considers constrained optimization problems or constraint satisfaction problems, the presence of a fitness function (penalty function) reflecting constraint violation is essential. The definition of such a penalty function has a great impact on the GA performance, and it is therefore very important to choose it properly. We show that ad hoc setting of penalties for constraint violations can be circumvented by using self-adaptivity. We illustrate the matter on a discrete CSP, the Zebra problem, and show that the penalties learned by the GA are to a large extent independent of the applied genetic operators as well as the initial constraint weights.
Algorithms for tracking on the manifold of symmetric positive definite matrices

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of the Philosophy ALGORITHMS FOR TRACKING ON THE MANIFOLD OF SYMMETRIC POSITIVE DEFINITE MATRICES By Guang Cheng May 2012 Chair: Baba C. Vemuri Major: Computer Engineering The problem of tracking on the manifold of n × n symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrices is an important problem and has many applications in several areas such as computer vision and medical imaging. The aim of this dissertation is to develop novel tracking algorithms on Pn for several different applications. One of the basic tracking problems on Pn is to recursively estimate the Karcher expectation – an generalization of the expectation to the Riemannian manifold, which can be viewed as tracking a static system. In this dissertation, we proposed a novel recursive Karcher expectation estimator (RKEE), and we further proved its unbiasedness and L2-convergence to the Karcher expectation under symmetric distribution on Pn. Synthetic experiments showed RKEE the similar accuracy as the Karcher mean but more efficient for sequential data. We then developed a fast DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) segmentation algorithm based RKEE. The experiments on the real data of rat spinal cord and rat brain with comparison to Karcher mean and other type of centres based algorithms demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of RKEE. To further tackle the dynamic system tracking on Pn, we studied and discovered several properties of the generalized Gaussian distribution on Pn, based on which a novel probabilistic dynamic model is proposed in conjunction with an intrinsic recursive filter for tracking a time sequence of SPD matrix measurements in a Bayesian framework. This newly developed filtering method can then be used for the covariance
Multi-line (sub)millimetre observations of the high-mass proto cluster IRAS 05358+3543

Context. Since most high- and intermediate-mass protostars are at great distance and form in clusters, high linear resolution observations are needed to investigate their physical properties. Aims. To study the gas in the innermost region around the protostars in the proto-cluster IRAS 05358+3543, we observed the source in several transitions of methanol and other molecular species with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer and the Submillimeter Array, reaching a linear resolution of 1100 AU. Methods. We determine the kinetic temperature of the gas around the protostars through an LVG and LTE analysis of their molecular emission; the column densities of CH 3 OH, CH 3 CN and SO 2 are also derived. Constraints on the density of the gas are estimated for two of the protostellar cores. Results. We find that the dust condensations are in various evolutionary stages. The powerhouse of the cluster, mm1a, harbours a hot core with $T\sim 220~(75<T<330)$ K. A double-peaked profile is detected in several transitions toward mm1a, and we found a velocity gradient along a linear structure which could be perpendicular to one of the outflows from the vicinity of mm1a. Since the size of the double-peaked emission is less than 1100 AU, we suggest that mm1a might host a massive circumstellar disk. The other sources are in earlier stages of star formation. The least active source, mm3, could be a starless massive core, since it is cold ($T<20$ K), with a large reservoir of accreting material ($M\sim 19~M_\odot$), but no molecular emission peaks on it.
New algorithms for related machines with temporary jobs

We consider the on-line problem of assigning temporary jobs to related machines. In this model machines have speeds and the jobs are weighted and may be temporary (i.e. may expire after some unknown nite amount of time). The cost of an assignment is the maximum load on a machine at any time. We present two new algorithms: a 6 + 2 p 5 10:47-competitive deterministic algorithm and a 9:572-competitive randomized algorithm. The previously known best upper bound is achieved by a 20-competitive deterministic algorithm whose randomized version is 5e = 13:59-competitive.
The evolution of cluster E and S0 galaxies measured from the Fundamental Plane

Photometry has been obtained for magnitude-limited samples of galaxies in the rich clusters Abell 665 (37 galaxies) and Abell 2218 (61 galaxies), Both clusters have a redshift of 0.18. The limiting magnitude of the samples is 19 mag in the I band. Spectroscopy has been obtained for seven galaxies in A665 and nine galaxies in A2218, all of which also have available photometry, Spectroscopy has been obtained for two additional galaxies in A2218, one of which is a background galaxy, Effective radii r(e) and mean surface brightnesses [I](e) are derived from the photometry, The typical uncertainties are +/-0.078 in log r(e) and +/-0.12 in log[I](e). The combination log r(e) + 0.82 log[I](e) that enters the Fundamental Plane (FP) has an uncertainty of only +/-0.018. The spectroscopy was used for measurements of the velocity dispersions, sigma. The typical uncertainty is +/-0.023 in log sigma. The data are used to establish the FP, log r(e) = alpha log sigma + beta log[I](e) + gamma, for the clusters. The FP for these two clusters adds important knowledge about the properties of E and SO galaxies in the relatively unexplored redshift interval 0.05 to 0.3. We have compared the FP for A665 and A2218 with the FP for the clusters CL0024 + 16, CL1358 + 62 and MS2053 - 04 with redshifts between 0.33 and 0.58, and with the FP for the Coma cluster. The scatter around the FP is similar for all six clusters. We find that the FP for the intermediate-redshift clusters has a smaller coefficient a than found for the Coma cluster and other nearby clusters. This may be caused either by selection effects for the intermediate-redshift clusters or by differences in the evolution of low-luminosity galaxies and high-luminosity galaxies. The mass-to-light (M/L) ratios, as measured from the FP, change with redshift, At z = 0.18 the M/L ratio for photometry in Gunn r in the rest frame of the clusters is 11 +/- 7 per cent smaller than for the Coma cluster, Using the data for A665 and A2218, together with the previously published data for CL0024 + 16, CL1358 + 62 and MS2053 - 04, we find that the M/L ratios for photometry calibrated to Gunn r change with redshift as Delta logM/L-r = (-0.26 +/- 0.06)Delta z for q(0) = 0.5. This change in the M/L ratio is equivalent to the absolute magnitudes changing as Delta M-rT = (-0.65 +/- 0.15)Delta z. These new results are consistent with the previously published analysis for CL0024 + 16, CL1358 + 62 and MS2053-04. For q(0) = 0.5 the results are consistent with passive evolution of a stellar population which formed at a redshift larger than 5. For q(0) = 0.15 the formation redshift must be larger than 1.7. Our new data for A665 and A2218 confirm the gradual and slow evolution of the bright E and SO galaxies. However, possible star formation in E and SO galaxies during the last 3-4 Gyr of the history of the Universe, as well as selection effects, complicates the interpretation of the data.