Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting Places of Interest Using Social Media

Place recommender systems are increasingly being used to find places of a given type that are close to a user-specified location. As it is important for these systems to use an up-to-date database with a wide coverage, there is a need for techniques that are capable of expanding place databases in an automated way. On the other hand, social media are a rich source of geographically distributed information. In this paper, we therefore propose an approach to discover new instances of a given place type by exploiting correlations between terms and locations in geotagged social media. For a variety of place types, our approach is able to find places which are not yet included in popular place databases such as Foursquare or Google Places.
Subregion based local descriptor

A novel distinctive descriptor named MSOGH is proposed, which is able to well represent the interest region and is robust to photometric transformations and geometric transformations. According to intensity order, subregions are firstly constructed. Then feature descriptor of the subregion is computed by point permutation of the sample points in each subregion. Finally, feature descriptor of the region is formed by concatenating all subregion feature descriptors. The discriminative power of the proposed descriptor is compared with 5 major existing region descriptors (MROGH, SIFT, GLOH, PCA-SIFT and spin images). Extensive experimental results show that the proposed descriptor achieves better performance than state-of-the-art descriptors.
The Relationship Between Student Retention in Community College Courses and Faculty Employment Status

ABSTRACT Community colleges are under pressure to educate a growing student population while economic resources in higher education are diminishing. One measure of success for colleges is the ability to retain students. Due to the varied nature of the community college population, measuring student retention is challenging. One facet of student retention is course retention, defined as the successful completion of a course with a grade of C or higher. Course retention is associated with the likelihood of degree completion; therefore, it served as the measure of student retention used in this study. Theoretical models show a link between student retention and faculty interaction. Furthermore, faculty/student interactions, both inside and outside of the classroom, are influenced by faculty employment status. While researchers have linked faculty interactions with broad measures of student retention, and faculty behavior with employment status, limited research is available on the relationship between course retention and faculty employment status. In this quantitative correlational research study, student enrollment data and faculty employment data were used to examine the relationship between course retention and faculty employment status in a Florida community college. Differences between course retention rates among faculty employed in permanent positions and those employed in adjunct positions were explored using ANOVA.
Topological black holes in the dimensionally continued gravity

We investigate the topological black holes in a special class of Lovelock gravity. In the odd dimensions, the action is the Chern-Simons form for the anti-de Sitter group. In the even dimensions, it is the Euler density constructed with the Lorentz part of the anti-de Sitter curvature tensor. The Lovelock coefficients are reduced to two independent parameters: cosmological constant and gravitational constant. The event horizons of these topological black holes may have constant positive, zero or negative curvature. Their thermodynamics is analyzed and electrically charged topological black holes are also considered. We emphasize the differences due to the different curvatures of event horizons. As a comparison, we also discuss the topological black holes in the higher dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory with a negative cosmological constant.
Collective intelligence as a source for machine learning self-supervision

The recent growth of virtual communities, social web and information sharing gives to information retrieval and machine learning systems a source of information referred as the "wisdom of crowds". In this work we show that this information could be used not only as a source of knowledge but as a way to bring intelligent systems closer to users by using their opinion as part of the knowledge acquisition/validation allowing self-supervision. For that we have implemented a validation system for the NELL (Never-Ending Language Learner) system using the question answering platform given by the Yahoo! Answers web community. Moreover, we focus in this paper, in the validation of first order rules induced by NELL using its Rule Learning (RL) algorithm. This paper presents the main motivations for using a QA forum instead of other web-based validation sources; describes the proposed approach with a "Macro QA"-based component named SS-Crowd (self-supervisor agent based on the wisdom of crowds) and brings and discusses the obtained results and how they can impact in a never-ending learning system like NELL in which self-supervision plays a crucial role.
Impact of nature of advergames on brand recall and brand attitude among young Indian gamers: moderating roles of game-product congruence and persuasion knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to enhance the knowledge of advertising effects of nature of advergame (game speed) on gamers’ brand recall and attitude. More specifically, this study investigates varying effects of game speed in advergames on young Indian gamers’ brand recall and attitudes under varied game-product congruence and persuasion knowledge conditions from attention, elaboration and persuasion perspectives. Design/methodology/approach – A 2 (nature of advergame: fast or slow) × 2 (game-product congruence: high or low) × 2 (persuasion knowledge: high or low) between-subject measures design is used. Experimental data were collected from 235 Indian graduate students. ANOVAs and MANOVA with pre-planned contrasts are used to test the hypotheses. Findings – The results indicate that for a slow-paced advergame, low game-product congruence result in high brand recall than high game-product congruence. For a fast-paced advergame, there is no difference in brand recall between low game-product con.
Geometric Shock-Capturing ENO Schemes for Subpixel Interpolation, Computation and Curve Evolution

Abstract Subpixel methods that locate curves and their singularities, and that accurately measure geometric quantities, such as orientation and curvature, are of significant importance in computer vision and graphics. Such methods often use local surface fits or structural models for a local neighborhood of the curve to obtain the interpolated curve. Whereas their performance is good in smooth regions of the curve, it is typically poor in the vicinity of singularities. Similarly, the computation of geometric quantities is often regularized to deal with noise present in discrete data. However, in the process, discontinuities are blurred over, leading to poor estimates at them and in their vicinity. In this paper we propose a geometric interpolation technique to overcome these limitations by locating curves and obtaining geometric estimates while (1) not blurring across discontinuities and (2) explicitly and accurately placing them. The essential idea is to avoid the propagation of information across singularities. This is accomplished by a one-sided smoothing technique, where information is propagated from the direction of the side with the “smoother” neighborhood. When both sides are nonsmooth, the two existing discontinuities are relieved by placing a single discontinuity, or shock. The placement of shocks is guided by geometric continuity constraints, resulting in subpixel interpolation with accurate geometric estimates. Since the technique was originally motivated by curve evolution applications, we demonstrate its usefulness in capturing not only smooth evolving curves, but also ones with orientation discontinuities. In particular, the technique is shown to be far better than traditional methods when multiple or entire curves are present in a very small neighborhood.
An investigation of excessive reassurance seeking in OCD

Excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS) is a common problem among individuals dealing with emotional and/or psychological difficulties. Prior research on ERS has focused almost exclusively on the potential consequences of this behaviour in the contexts of Depression and Hypochondriasis, and this research has shown that ERS contributes to interpersonal difficulties and emotional distress. Despite anecdotal evidence that ERS is a hallmark feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), comparatively few studies have examined OCD-related ERS. The goal of the present research was to examine various cognitive, behavioural and affective processes that may be involved in the perpetuation of ERS, specifically within the contexts of OCD and Depression. Given the purported functional equivalence between OCD-related reassurance seeking and compulsive checking (Rachman, 2002), the current investigations also aimed to compare ERS and repeated checking activity across a number of important domains (i.e., content, precipitating factors, function and termination criteria). Toward these goals, Study I employed a semi-structured interview with clinical (OCD and Depression) and non-clinical individuals to examine factors involved in the onset, maintenance and termination of ERS and repeated checking. Results revealed that individuals with OCD tend to seek reassurance about perceived general threats (e.g., fire, theft), whereas ERS tends to be focused on perceived social threats (e.g., abandonment, loss of support) among depressed individuals. Clinical participants reported greater anxiety, sadness and perceived threat in association with ERS and repeated checking than healthy control participants. Study 2 examined how manipulations of threat, responsibility, and ambiguity of feedback impacted upon non-clinical participants' anxiety and compulsive urges (to seek reassurance and to check) in a series of experimental vignettes. Consistent with hypotheses, higher levels of perceived threat, responsibility and ambiguity of feedback were associated with greater anxiety and compulsive urges. Results also suggested that perceived threat and responsibility partially mediated the effects of ambiguity of feedback on anxiety, urges to check, and (for threat) urges to seek reassurance. The collective results of these studies are discussed in terms of cognitive and behavioural models of OCD, and directions for future research are suggested.
Meteorological approach for detection and removal of rain from videos

Rain removal algorithms require certain number of consecutive frames for reducing the visibility of rain from videos. These algorithms are designed for the rain videos captured by the fixed camera. In this study, it is demonstrated that using global motion compensation all the rain removal algorithms developed for fixed camera can be used for moving camera too. In this study a novel, efficient and simple algorithm for detection and removal of rain from video using meteorological properties is proposed. Here meteorological properties are used to separate the rain pixels from the non-rain pixels. The proposed algorithm achieves good accuracy in spite of less number of consecutive frames, which reduces the buffer size and delay. It works only on the intensity plane that further reduces the complexity and execution time significantly. Quantitative and qualitative analyses show that the proposed algorithm removes rain effectively under constrained buffer size and delay in comparison with most of the competing rain removal algorithms.
Control, Planning, Learning, and Imitation with Dynamic Movement Primitives

In both human and humanoid movement science, the topic of movement primitives has become central in understanding the generation of complex motion with high degree-of-freedom bodies. A theory of control, planning, learning, and imitation with movement primitives seems to be crucial in order to reduce the search space during motor learning and achieve a large level of autonomy and ﬂex-ibility in dynamically changing environments. Movement recognition based on the same representations as used for movement generation, i.e., movement primitives, is equally intimately tied into these research questions. This paper discusses a comprehensive framework for motor control with movement primitives using a recently developed theory of dynamic movement primitives (DMP). DMPs are a formulation of movement primitives with autonomous nonlinear diﬀerential equations, whose time evolution creates smooth kinematic movement plans. Model-based con-trol theory is used to convert such movement plans into motor commands. By means of coupling terms, on-line modiﬁcations can be incorporated into the time evolution of the diﬀerential equations, thus providing a rather ﬂexible and reactive framework for motor planning and execution — indeed, DMPs form complete kinematic con-trol policies, not just a particular desired trajectory. The linear parameterization of DMPs lends itself naturally to supervised learning from demonstrations. Moreover, the temporal, scale, and translation invariance of the diﬀerential equations with respect to these parameters provides a useful means for movement recognition. A novel reinforcement learning technique based on natural stochastic policy gradients allows a general approach of improving DMPs by trial and error learning with respect to almost arbitrary optimization criteria, including situations with delayed rewards. We demonstrate the diﬀerent ingredients of the DMP approach in various examples, involving skill learning from demonstration on the humanoid robot DB and an application of learning simulated biped walking from a demonstrated trajectory, including self-improvement of the movement patterns in the spirit of energy eﬃciency through resonance tuning.
Numerical Evidence for a Conjecture in Real Algebraic Geometry

Homotopies provide computational evidence for a challenging instance of a conjecture about whether all solutions are real. By a homotopy we mean a family of polynomial systems that describes algebraically the geometric transition from an easier configuration in special position into the general configuration for the problem we want to solve. The solutions to our problem lie at the end of the solution paths we trace with numerical continuation methods starting at the solutions of the easier, special problem. The numerical difficulties are overcome if we work in the true synthetic spirit of the Schubert calculus, selecting the numerically most favorable equations to represent the geometric problem. Since a well-conditioned polynomial system allows perturbations on the input data without destroying the reality of the solutions we obtain not just one instance, but a whole manifold of systemsthat satisfy the conjecture. Also an instance that involves totally positive matrices has been verified. The optimality of the solving procedure is a promising first step towards the development of numerically stable algorithms for the pole placement problem in linear systems theory.
Histone Deacetylase 11 is an ε-N-Myristoyllysine Hydrolase

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes are important regulators of diverse biological function, including gene expression, rendering them potential targets for intervention in a number of diseases, with a handful of compounds approved for treatment of certain hematologic cancers. Among the human zinc-dependent HDACs, the most recently discovered member, HDAC11, is the only member assigned to subclass IV, the smallest protein, and the least well understood with regards to biological function. Here we show that HDAC11 cleaves long chain acyl modifications on lysine side chains with remarkable efficiency compared to acetyl groups. We further show that several common types of HDAC inhibitors, including the approved drugs romidepsin and vorinostat, do not inhibit this enzymatic activity. Macrocyclic hydroxamic acid-containing peptides, on the other hand, potently inhibit HDAC11 demyristoylation activity. These findings should be taken carefully into consideration in future investigations of the biological function of HDAC11 and will serve as a foundation for the development of selective chemical probes targeting HDAC11.
Pictures of the Mind: What the New Neuroscience Tells Us About Who We Are

Introduction ix Part I: Snapshots Chapter 1: Life, Death, and the Middle Ground 3 Chapter 2: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Powerful Emotions and Our Power to Work with Them 21 Chapter 3: Happiness on the Brain 37 Chapter 4: Cooling the Flame: Pictures of Addiction, Chronic Pain, and Recovery 53 Part II: Landscape Chapter 5: Where Does Morality Live, and When Is It Home? 69 Chapter 6: The Making and Breaking of Memories 89 Chapter 7: Where Am "I"? Experiences of Self, Other, and Neither 109 Resources 141 Notes 145 Acknowledgments 163 About the Author 165 Index 167
Transcriptional Regulation of Fcgr2b Gene by Polymorphic Promoter Region and Its Contribution to Humoral Immune Responses1

FcγRIIB1 molecules serve as negative feedback regulator for B cell Ag receptor-elicited activation of B cells; thus, any impaired FcγRIIB1 function may possibly be related to aberrant B cell activation. We earlier found deletion polymorphism in the Fcgr2b promoter region among mouse strains in which systemic autoimmune disease-prone NZB, BXSB, MRL, and autoimmune diabetes-prone nonobese diabetic, but not NZW, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice have two identical deletion sites, consisting of 13 and 3 nucleotides. In this study, we established congenic C57BL/6 mice for NZB-type Fcgr2b allele and found that NZB-type allele down-regulates FcγRIIB1 expression levels in germinal center B cells and up-regulates IgG Ab responses. We did luciferase reporter assays to determine whether NZB-type deletion polymorphism affects transcriptional regulation of Fcgr2b gene. Although NZW- and BALB/c-derived segments from position −302 to +585 of Fcgr2b upstream region produced significant levels of luciferase activities, only a limited activity was detected in the NZB-derived sequence. EMSA and Southwestern analysis revealed that defect in transcription activity in the NZB-derived segment is likely due to absence of transactivation by AP-4, which binds to the polymorphic 13 nucleotide deletion site. Our data imply that because of the deficient AP-4 binding, the NZB-type Fcgr2b allele polymorphism results in up-regulation of IgG Ab responses through down-regulation of FcγRIIB1 expression levels in germinal center B cells, and that such polymorphism may possibly form the basis of autoimmune susceptibility in combination with other background contributing genes.
Substatiion Ground Impedance: Comparative Field Measurements with High and Low Current Injection Methods

This paper describes ground electrode impedance field measurements and their analysis at Hydro- Quebec's Yamaska substation, using both high and low current injection methods. The results from both techniques are shown to compare satisfactorily. In the low current injection method, numerous measurements were performed in different directions, describing how the mutual coupling effects between the auxiliary current and potential probes can be removed with adequate analytical tools. A comparison is also made between ground impedance values at 60 and 70 Hz. Finally, an appendix includes characteristics of some of the equipment used during these measurements.
Vector field curvature and applications

The treatment of tangent curves is a powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing the behavior of vector fields. Unfortunately, for sufficiently complicated vector fields, the tangent curves can only be implicitly described as the solution of a system of differential equations. In this work we show how to compute the curvature of tangent curves and discuss its usefulness for analyzing and visualizing vector fields. In particular, we investigate the curvature behavior around critical points. We show that the curvature of the tangent curves of a 2D vector field and its perpendicular vector field uniquely describe the vector directions in the vector field. We will also describe special curvature properties of linear vector fields in 2D. Applying the ideas of vector field curvature to vector fields over general parametrized surfaces, we are able to compute the curvature of particular tangent curves on a surface, such as contour lines, lines of curvature, asymptotic lines, isophotes and reflection lines. For special tangent curves, we introduce ”thickness” as another characteristic measure. We discuss the application of the curvature of tangent curves on surfaces as a surface interrogation tool. Finally, using the concepts of curvature of tangent curves, we deduce geometric conditions (necessary and sufficient) for G continuity of surfaces.
Removal of the GLONASS C/A Signal from OH Spectral Line Observations Using a Parametric Modeling Technique

Astronomers use the 1612 MHz OH spectral line emission as a unique window on galactic dynamics and the properties of evolved stars. In recent years, experiments using this OH line have become more difficult because of interference from the GLONASS satellite system. In this paper we demonstrate that the C/A component of the GLONASS signal can be removed using a parametric estimation/subtraction technique that exploits known properties of the modulation and requires no additional antennas. Using actual OH line observations, we demonstrate cancellation greater than 20 dB. This technique can be implemented using present-day digital signal processing hardware, and it does not significantly affect the relatively weak astronomy signals or the sensitivity of the measurement.
Thermal Stresses Relief Carrier-Based PWM Strategy for Single-Phase Multilevel Inverters

Enhancing power cycling capability of power semiconductor devices is highly demanded in order to increase the long-term reliability of multilevel inverters. Ageing of power switches and their cooling systems leads to their accelerated damage due to excess power losses and junction temperatures. Therefore, thermal stresses relief (TSR) is the most effective solution for lifetime extension of power semiconductor devices. This paper presents a new TSR carrier-based pulse width modulation (TSRPWM) strategy for extending the lifetime of semiconductor switches in single-phase multilevel inverters. The proposed strategy benefits the inherent redundancy among switching states in multilevel inverters to optimally relieve the thermally stressed device. The proposed algorithm maintains the inverter operation without increased stresses on healthy switches and without reduction of the output power ratings. In addition, the proposed algorithm preserves voltage balance of the dc-link capacitors. The proposed strategy is validated on a single-phase five-level T-type inverter system with considering different locations of thermal stresses detection. Experimental prototype of the selected case study is built to verify the results. Moreover, comparisons with the most featured strategies in literature are given in detail.