Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Importance Sampling for Minibatches

Minibatching is a very well studied and highly popular technique in supervised learning, used by practitioners due to its ability to accelerate training through better utilization of parallel processing power and reduction of stochastic variance. Another popular technique is importance sampling -- a strategy for preferential sampling of more important examples also capable of accelerating the training process. However, despite considerable effort by the community in these areas, and due to the inherent technical difficulty of the problem, there is no existing work combining the power of importance sampling with the strength of minibatching. In this paper we propose the first {\em importance sampling for minibatches} and give simple and rigorous complexity analysis of its performance. We illustrate on synthetic problems that for training data of certain properties, our sampling can lead to several orders of magnitude improvement in training time. We then test the new sampling on several popular datasets, and show that the improvement can reach an order of magnitude.
Hierarchical particle filtering for 3D hand tracking

We present a fast and accurate 3D hand tracking method which relies on RGB-D data. The method follows a model based approach using a hierarchical particle filter variant to track the model's state. The filter estimates the probability density function of the state's posterior. As such, it has increased robustness to observation noise and compares favourably to existing methods that can be trapped in local minima resulting in track loses. The data likelihood term is calculated by measuring the discrepancy between the rendered 3D model and the observations. Extensive experiments with real and simulated data show that hand tracking is achieved at a frame rate of 90fps with less that 10mm average error using a GPU implementation, thus comparing favourably to the state of the art in terms of both speed and tracking accuracy.
Delay-Based Network Utility Maximization

Network utilities are software utilities designed to analyze and configure various aspects of computer networks. The majority of them originated on Unix systems, but several later ports to other operating systems exist. It is well known that max-weight policies based on a queue backlog index can be used to stabilize stochastic networks, and that similar stability results hold if a delay index is used. Using Lyapunov optimization, we extend this analysis to design a utility. Maximizing algorithm that uses explicit delay information from the head-of-line packet at each user. The resulting policy is shown to ensure deterministic worst-case delay guarantees and to yield a throughput utility that differs from the optimally fair value by an amount that is inversely proportional to the delay guarantee. Our results hold for a general class of 1-hop networks, including packet switches and multiuser wireless systems with time-varying reliability.
Research on the Application of Pattern Selection Algorithm in Bioinformatic Data Bases on Mutual Information

Pattern selection is an important part in the research fields of data mining and pattern recognition, especially for the high-dimensional data in the Bioinformatics. In this paper, a new pattern selection algorithm was proposed to finish pattern selection bases on Mutual Information. Pattern subset evaluation index was researched to ensure the best feature subset was selected. The algorithm bases on the correlation of patterns and label, as well as the redundancy between the patterns. Fuzzy Pattern Subset Evaluation Index was researched to make sure which is the best subset for the pattern subset evaluation. To verify the effectiveness of the method, some experiments were finished with the data of gene expression data (Leiden University) and UCI datasets. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm achieved better results.
Technique for measuring speed and visual motion sensitivity in lizards

Testing sensory characteristics on herpetological species has been difficult due to a range of properties related to physiology, responsiveness, performance ability, and the type of reinforcer used. Using the Jacky lizard as a model, we outline a successfully established procedure in which to test the visual sensitivity to motion characteristics. We incorporated modifications to traditional operant paradigms by using three video playback systems to deliver random-dot kinematogram motion stimuli coupled with salient computer-animated secondary reinforcers representative of biologically important appetitive stimuli. This procedure has the capacity to test other visual aspects in lizards as well as other nonhuman species using video playback and computer-animation techniques as experimental tools.
Approximate solutions to a class of nonlinear differential games

A method to find approximate solutions to a class of nonzero-sum differential games without solving partial differential equations is introduced. The solution relies upon the use of a dynamic state feedback control law and the solution of algebraic equations. The two-player case is addressed before the N-player case is discussed and a numerical example with two players illustrates the theory.
Clinical Neuropathology Practice News 4-2012: levels of evidence for brain tumor biomarkers

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently published a task force report on the evaluation of the clinical utility of tumor biomarkers in oncology. In this report, common terminology and the use of levels of evidence scores to aid the evaluation of biomarker tests in oncology were proposed. Furthermore, the task force applied a level of evidence system to selected biomarkers of several cancer types. According to this system, the highest level of evidence, IA, is granted to a biomarker only if it has been evaluated in at least one adequately powered and specifically designed prospective controlled trial. For gliomas, only 1p/19q testing in oligodendroglial tumors was classified as IA by the NCCN task force. For all of the following biomarkers the present evidence level for clinical utility was regarded as lower than that of 1p/19q status: MGMT gene promoter methylation testing (glioblastoma), IDH mutation testing (diffusely growing gliomas), BRAF fusion testing (pilocytic astrocytoma) and CIMP testing (diffusely growing gliomas). The task force acknowledged that the exact application of levels of evidence needs further refinement. To our mind, the implementation of a brain tumor expert panel seems vital to evaluate the evidence levels of neurooncological biomarkers according to generally accepted criteria on a regular basis. Systematic identification of current research needs and widely accepted up-to-date recommendations for efficient biomarker application in everyday practice could be gained.
Aliens versus Humans: Do Avatars Make a Difference in How We Play the Game?

An immersive first-person 3D computer game was designed and developed to investigate if the visual characteristics of a player's avatar influences their behavior. Two types of gender-matched biped avatar were used: Normal looking Humanoids and tougher looking Aliens. In the game, players had to block incoming projectiles fired from two canons with their hands. The number of times the players were hit as well as a measure of how hard they hit the projectiles was recorded. Results show differences in these measures dependent on the type of avatar used, in line with previous findings whereby people appear to be influenced by the perceived characteristics of their digital representation.
Biochemical Parameters for Longitudinal Monitoring of Liver Function in Rat Models of Partial Hepatectomy Following Liver Injury

Background While evaluation of liver function in preclinical animal studies is commonly performed at selected time-points by invasive determination of the liver/body weight ratio and histological analyses, the validation of longitudinal measurement tools for monitoring liver function are of major interest. Aims To longitudinally evaluate serum cholinesterase (CHE) and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels as non-invasive markers to determine injury- and partial hepatectomy (PHx)-induced alterations of liver function in rats. Methods Male and female Lewis rats were subjected to either methionine/choline deficient (MCD) diet or treatment with FOLFOX chemotherapy prior to PHx. Body weight and CHE/TSB levels are determined weekly. Following PHx and at the study end, histological analyses of liver tissue are performed. Results Following MCD diet, but not after FOLFOX chemotherapy treatment, results indicate gender-specific alterations in serum CHE levels and gender-independent alterations in TSB levels. Likewise, histological analyses of resected liver parts indicate significant liver injury following MCD-diet, but not following FOLFOX treatment. While TSB levels rapidly recover following MCD diet/FOLFOX treatment combined with a PHx, serum CHE levels are subject to significant model- and gender-specific differences, despite full histopathological recovery of liver tissue. Conclusions Longitudinal measurements of serum CHE levels and TSB levels in rats are highly complementary as non-invasive parameters for evaluation of liver injury and/or recovery.
Adult stakeholder perceptions of 4th grade participation in children’s forest environmental education programming

Abstract An environmental education (EE) consortium located in the pacific northwest United States coalesced an external evaluation team to research its K-5 EE programming. The purpose of this article is to describe one phase of this program evaluation process including the exploration of adult stakeholder perceptions of EE programming accessed by 4th grade children. The author highlights the goals of the consortium and the context for the program evaluation, and the relevant literature addressing adult perspectives on EE is reviewed. The study framing, method, and qualitative results are reported. Findings suggest that adult stakeholders perceived positive impacts from 4th grade participation in EE, though the programming was viewed as being most beneficial to children coming from economically disadvantaged families. Implications for EE practice and research are discussed.
An integrated method for effective behaviour analysis of distributed systems

Behavioral analysis is a valuable aid for the design and maintenance of well-behaved distributed systems. Dataflow and reachability analyses are two orthogonal, but complementary, behavioral analysis techniques. Individually, each of these techniques may be inadequate for the analysis of large-scale distributed systems. On the one hand, dataflow analysis algorithms, while tractable, may not be sufficiently accurate to provide meaningful detection of errors. On the other hand, reachability analysis, while providing exhaustive analysis, may be computationally too expensive for complex systems. In this paper, we present a method which integrates dataflow and reachability analysis techniques to provide a flexible and effective means for analysing distributed systems at the preliminary and final design stages respectively. We also describe some effective measures taken to improve the adequacy of the individual analysis techniques using the concepts of action dependency and context constraints. A prototype supporting the method has been built, and its performance is described in this paper. A realistic example of a distributed track control system is used as a case study. <<ETX>>
Estimating economic gains for landowners due to time-dependent changes in biotechnology

This paper presents a model for examining the economic value of biotechnologi cal research given time-dependent changes in biotechnology . Previous papers examined this issue assuming a time-neutral change in biotechnology . However, when analyzing the genetic improvements of increasing a tree's resistance to a pathogen, this assumption is untenable. We derive analytical expressions for the optimal rotation age given non-constant changes in biotechnology. Our model is then implemented using (1) growth and yield simulations, (2) optimal rotation calculations, and (3) survey data on genetic resistance of slash pine (Pinus elliotti/) to fusiform rust. Non-parametric regression models are used to estimate the economic gain functions which, forthe cases considered, averaged about 1% of forestland value per year. FOR. SCI. 45(2):163-170.
STATISTICAL TESTS FOR TAXONOMIC DISTINCTIVENESS FROM OBSERVATIONS OF MONOPHYLY

Abstract The observation of monophyly for a specified set of genealogical lineages is often used to place the lineages into a distinctive taxonomic entity. However, it is sometimes possible that monophyly of the lineages can occur by chance as an outcome of the random branching of lineages within a single taxon. Thus, especially for small samples, an observation of monophyly for a set of lineages—even if strongly supported statistically—does not necessarily indicate that the lineages are from a distinctive group. Here I develop a test of the null hypothesis that monophyly is a chance outcome of random branching. I also compute the sample size required so that the probability of chance occurrence of monophyly of a specified set of lineages lies below a prescribed tolerance. Under the null model of random branching, the probability that monophyly of the lineages in an index group occurs by chance is substantial if the sample is highly asymmetric, that is, if only a few of the sampled lineages are from the index group, or if only a few lineages are external to the group. If sample sizes are similar inside and outside the group of interest, however, chance occurrence of monophyly can be rejected at stringent significance levels (P < 10−5) even for quite small samples (≈ 20 total lineages). For a fixed total sample size, rejection of the null hypothesis of random branching in a single taxon occurs at the most stringent level if samples of nearly equal size inside and outside the index group—with a slightly greater size within the index group—are used. Similar results apply, with smaller sample sizes needed, when reciprocal monophyly of two groups, rather than monophyly of a single group, is of interest. The results suggest minimal sample sizes required for inferences to be made about taxonomic distinctiveness from observations of monophyly.
Location-Aware MapReduce in Virtual Cloud

MapReduce is an important programming model for processing and generating large data sets in parallel. It is commonly applied in applications such as web indexing, data mining, machine learning, etc. As an open-source implementation of MapReduce, Hadoop is now widely used in industry. Virtualization, which is easy to configure and economical to use, shows great potential for cloud computing. With the increasing core number in a CPU and involving of virtualization technique, one physical machine can hosts more and more virtual machines, but I/O devices normally do not increase so rapidly. As MapReduce system is often used to running I/O intensive applications, decreasing of data redundancy and load unbalance, which increase I/O interference in virtual cloud, come to be serious problems. This paper builds a model and defines metrics to analyze the data allocation problem in virtual environment theoretically. And we design a location-aware file block allocation strategy that retains compatibility with the native Hadoop. Our model simulation and experiment in real system shows our new strategy can achieve better data redundancy and load balance to reduce I/O interference. Execution time of applications such as RandomWriter, Text Sort and Word Count are reduced by up to 33% and 10% on average.
Manure and Paper Mill Sludge Application Effects on Potato Yield, Nitrogen Efficiency and Disease Incidence

Appropriate organic amendment management is essential in potato production to increase soil productivity and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) quality. The objectives of this two-year field study (2004–2005) were to evaluate the effects of organic amendment applications with or without mineral N fertilizer addition on potato yield, N uptake, N use efficiency (NUE), and on disease incidence. The experimental design was a split-plot, which included nine treatments with four different organic amendments applied in fall 2003 or in spring 2004 at a rate of 40 Mg ha−1 (wet basis) and an unamended control in main plots, and N fertilizer rates (0 and 90 kg N ha−1) in sub-plots. Organic amendments consisted of fresh cattle manure (FCM), composted cattle manure (CCM), paper mill sludge with C/N ratio 15 (PMS2) applied alone (0 kg N ha−1) or supplemented with mineral fertilizer at a rate 90 kg N ha−1. The N fertilizer rate in the unamended control consisted of 0 and 150 kg N ha−1. No organic amendments were applied in 2005 to evaluate residual effects. Fall and spring applications of FCM, CCM and PMS alone significantly increased N uptake and potato marketable yields by 2.5 to 16.4 Mg ha−1, compared to the unfertilized control. Combining organic amendments with N fertilizer at 90 kg N ha−1 increased potato yields, N uptake, and specific gravity, which were comparable to those obtained in mineral N fertilizer treatments (150 kg N ha−1). Residual effects of organic amendments alone had no significant effects on potato yields or on N uptake compared to the unfertilized control. Potato NUE for FCM, CCM and PMS ranged from 6% to 25% in the first year and from 2% to 8% in the residual year. The NUE values were higher for PMS with lower C/N ratio compared to FCM and CCM. This study did not show any difference between organic amendment applied in spring or fall on potato yield and quality. It was also demonstrated that mineral N fertilizer needed to be combined with organic amendments to sustain potato yield and N nutrition. This study showed that appropriate organic amendment management could increase potato yield and quality and reduce N fertilizer requirement.
THE HP PA-8000 RISC CPU

This aggressive, four-way, superscalar microprocessor combines speculative execution with on-the-fly instruction reordering. T he PA-8000 RISC CPU is the first of a new generation of Hewlett-Packard microprocessors. Designed for high-end systems, it is among the world's most powerful and fastest microprocessors. It features an aggressive, four-way, superscalar implementation, combining speculative execution with on-the-fly instruction reordering. The heart of the machine, the instruction reorder buffer, provides out-of-order execution capability. Our primary design objective for the PA-8000 was to attain industry-leading performance in a broad range of applications. In addition, we wanted to provide full support for 64-bit applications. To make the PA-8000 truly useful, we needed to ensure that the processor would not only achieve high benchmark performance but would sustain such performance in large, real-world applications. To achieve this goal, we designed large, external primary caches with the ability to hide memory latency in hardware. We also implemented dynamic instruction reordering in hardware to maximize instruction-level par-allelism available to the execution units. The PA-8000 connects to a high-bandwidth Runway system bus, a 768-Mbyte/s split-transaction bus that allows each processor to generate multiple outstanding memory requests. The processor also provides glue-less support for up to four-way multipro-cessing via the Runway bus. The PA-8000 implements the new PA (Precision Architecture) 2.0, a binary-compatible extension of the previous PA-RISC architecture. All previous code executes on the PA-8000 without recompilation or translation. PA 2.0 incorporates a number of advanced microarchitectural enhancements, most supporting 64-bit computing. We widened the integer registers and functional units, including the shift/merge unit, to 64 bits. PA 2.0 supports flat virtual addressing up to 64 bits, as well as physical addresses greater than 32 bits (40 bits on the PA-8000). A new mode bit governs address formation, creating increased flexibility. In 32-bit addressing mode, the processor can take advantage of 64-bit computing instructions for faster throughput. In 64-bit addressing mode, 32-bit instructions and conditions are available for backward compatibility. In addition, the following extensions help optimize performance for virtual memory and cache management, branching, and floating-point operations: • fast TLB (translation look-aside buffer) insertion instructions, • load and store instructions with 16-bit displacement, • memory prefetch instructions, • support for variable-size pages, • halfword instructions for multimedia support, • branches with 22-bit displacements, • branches with short pointers, • branch prediction hinting, • floating-point multiply-and-accumulate instructions, and • multiple floating-point compare-result bits. Since the PA-8000's completely redesigned core uses no …
The Contribution Of A Unique Supervisory Model To Novice Dance/Movement Therapists

Problem Statement: This pilot study aimed to demonstrate the link between a unique self-supervision model and changes in movement. It is part of a larger study examining the connection between movement measures and emotional intelligence and self-efficacy. Purpose: The self-supervision model combines Authentic Movement and Epimotorics,’ a tool for movement observation and analysis. We examine the model’s impact on novice dance/movement therapists, measuring movement abilities, emotional intelligence, and self-efficacy. We also examine the relationship between the movement and these psychological measures. Methods: The group included dance/movement therapists or those integrating body-movement perspectives in their work. Video recordings captured movement before and after the supervision model training. Analysis of movement measures was informed by Epimotorics’. Findings and results: The results show that some movement parameters were affected more than others. Of 44 measures examined, 12 showed significant changes, e.g. Round curved shaped (Z = -2.24, p < .05 ; Mdnpre=1.00, Mdnpost=3.00). Discussion: These results, significant unto themselves, led to refining the movement parameters for the continued research. They indicated a need for a more specific tool, in order to cross-check the movement parameters with emotional intelligence and self-efficacy questionnaires. If the larger study demonstrates a correlation between these, we can hypothesize that the impact on the relatively small sample would also be present in larger samples. Conclusion: The correlation tested could lead to a breakthrough wherein movement measures may reveal information about emotional intelligence and self-efficacy and vice versa: Questionnaires on emotional intelligence and self-efficacy could provide information about one’s movement. © 2018 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.UK
A deep neural network for image quality assessment

This paper presents a no reference image (NR) quality assessment (IQA) method based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN takes unpreprocessed image patches as an input and estimates the quality without employing any domain knowledge. By that, features and natural scene statistics are learnt purely data driven and combined with pooling and regression in one framework. We evaluate the network on the LIVE database and achieve a linear Pearson correlation superior to state-of-the-art NR IQA methods. We also apply the network to the image forensics task of decoder-sided quantization parameter estimation and also here achieve correlations of r = 0.989.