Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building Fastest Broadcast Trees in Periodically-Varying Graphs

Delay-tolerant networks (DTNs) are characterized by a possible absence of end-to-end communica- tion routes at any instant. Still, connectivity can general ly be established over time and space. The optimality of a temporal path (journey) in this context can be defined in s everal terms, including topological (e.g. shortest in hops) and temporal (e.g. fastest, foremost). The combinatorial problem of computing shortest, foremost, and fastest journeys given full knowledge of the network schedule was addressed a decade ago (Bui-Xuan et al., 2003). A recent line of research has focused on the distributed version of this problem, where foremost, shortest or fastest broadcast are performed without knowing the schedule beforehand. In this paper we show how to build fastest broadcast trees (i.e., trees that minimize the global duration of the broadcast, however late the departure is) in Time-Varying Graphs where intermittent edges are available periodically (it is known that the problem is infeasible in the general case even if various parameters of the graph are know). We address the general case where contacts between nodes can have arbitrary durations and thus fastest routes may consist of a mixture of continuous and discontinuous segments (a more complex scenario than when contacts are punctual and thus routes are only discontinuous). Using the abstraction of T- CLOCKS to compute the temporal distances, we solve the fastest broadcast problem by first learning, at the emitt er, what is its time of minimum temporal eccentricity (i.e. the fastest time to reach all the other nodes), and second by building a foremost broadcast tree relative to this particular emission date.
Extended VTS for noise-robust speech recognition

Model compensation is a standard way of improving speech recognisers' robustness to noise. Currently popular schemes are based on vector Taylor series (VTS) compensation. They often use the continuous time approximation to compensate dynamic parameters. In this paper, the accuracy of dynamic parameter compensation is improved by representing the dynamic features as a linear transformation of a window of static features. A modified version of VTS compensation is applied to the distribution of the window of static features and, importantly, their correlations. These compensated distributions are then transformed to standard static and dynamic distributions. The proposed scheme outperformed the standard VTS scheme by about 10% relative.
Patterns of Substance Use Initiation among Young Adolescents in a Northern Plains American Indian Tribe

Background: Substantial evidence documents problematic substance use in Northern Plains American Indian communities. Studies suggest that disparities can be traced to disproportionate rates of early substance use, but most evidence comes from the retrospective reports of adults or older adolescents. Objective: To use a prospective longitudinal design to examine substance use initiation patterns as they emerge among young American Indian adolescents. Methods: Four waves of data were collected across three consecutive school years from middle school students on a Northern Plains reservation (N = 450). Discrete-time survival analyses were used to estimate risks of initiation of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana from age 10 to 13. Results: Risk for cigarette initiation was relatively high at age 10 and stable until age 13. Marijuana risk was low at age 10 but increased sharply by age 12. Alcohol initiation lagged, not surpassing risk for cigarette initiation until age 13 and remaining below risk for marijuana initiation throughout middle school. Hazards for girls trended higher than those for boys across all substances, but differences did not reach significance. Conclusion: Initiation patterns among these American Indian adolescents differed from patterns reported in other US groups, particularly with respect to deviation from the sequence characterized the initiation of marijuana before alcohol that is predicted by the gateway theory. Scientific Significance: Findings suggest that prevention efforts with youth in this community should begin early with a primary focus on marijuana use. They also suggest the importance of examining sequences of substance initiation among youth in other American Indian communities.
GPU Cost Estimation for Load Balancing in Parallel Ray Tracing

Interactive ray tracing has seen enormous progress in recent years. However, advanced rendering techniques requiring many million rays per second are still not feasible at interactive speed, and are only possible by means of highly parallel ray tracing. When using compute clusters, good load balancing is crucial in order to fully exploit the available computational power, and to not suffer from the overhead involved by synchronization barriers. In this paper, we present a novel GPU method to compute a cost map: a per-pixel cost estimate of the ray tracing rendering process. We show that the cost map is a powerful tool to improve load balancing in parallel ray tracing, and it can be used for adaptive task partitioning and enhanced dynamic load balancing. Its effectiveness has been proven in a parallel ray tracer implementation tailored for a cluster of workstations.
Assessment of human burn scars with optical coherence tomography by imaging the attenuation coefficient of tissue after vascular masking

Abstract. The formation of burn-scar tissue in human skin profoundly alters, among other things, the structure of the dermis. We present a method to characterize dermal scar tissue by the measurement of the near-infrared attenuation coefficient using optical coherence tomography (OCT). To generate accurate en face parametric images of attenuation, we found it critical to first identify (using speckle decorrelation) and mask the tissue vasculature from the three-dimensional OCT data. The resulting attenuation coefficients in the vasculature-masked regions of the dermis of human burn-scar patients are lower in hypertrophic (3.8±0.4 mm−1) and normotrophic (4.2±0.9 mm−1) scars than in contralateral or adjacent normal skin (6.3±0.5 mm−1). Our results suggest that the attenuation coefficient of vasculature-masked tissue could be used as an objective means to assess human burn scars.
Emotional intelligence abilities and their relationships with team processes

Purpose – This paper aims to identify whether relationships exist between emotional intelligence (EI) and specific teamwork behaviours that are associated with transition, action and interpersonal team processes using the ability model of EI.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 68 MBA students comprising 13 randomly assigned teams completed a pencil and paper performance‐based test of emotional intelligence. Some 14 weeks later a score reflecting the extent team members engaged in a number of teamwork behaviours consistent with transition, action and interpersonal team processes was obtained from peer ratings.Findings – Emotional intelligence was found to explain direct and unique variance in transition and interpersonal team processes. However, only three individual branches of EI were found to be of any significance, and these differed in each instance.Practical implications – These findings add to the growing body of literature suggesting emotional intelligence may be an important aspect of individ.
A novel mutation in steroidogenic factor (SF1/NR5A1) gene in a patient with 46 XY DSD without adrenal insufficiency

Steroidogenic factor‐1 (SF‐1), also known as nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1), is a member of orphan receptor subfamily and located on chromosome 9 (9q33). In 46, XY individuals with mutation of SF‐1 gene, adrenal failure, testis dysgenesis, androgen synthesis defects, hypospadias and anorchia with microphallus, infertility can occur from severe to mild. We report a case of a 20‐day‐old male who is admitted to our clinic due to ambiguous genitalia. In this report, we describe a novel heterozygous c.814A > C (p. T272P) NR5A1 mutation in a patient with 46, XY DSD without adrenal insufficiency. We describe a novel missense mutation c.814A > C (p. T272P) in NR5A1 gene which had not previously been reported. Also this report highlights that the potential diagnostic utility of next‐generation sequencing is an effective strategy versus Sanger sequencing to identify genetic mosaicism in clinical practice.
Extracting Sets of Chemical Substructures and Protein Domains Governing Drug-Target Interactions

The identification of rules governing molecular recognition between drug chemical substructures and protein functional sites is a challenging issue at many stages of the drug development process. In this paper we develop a novel method to extract sets of drug chemical substructures and protein domains that govern drug-target interactions on a genome-wide scale. This is made possible using sparse canonical correspondence analysis (SCCA) for analyzing drug substructure profiles and protein domain profiles simultaneously. The method does not depend on the availability of protein 3D structures. From a data set of known drug-target interactions including enzymes, ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, and nuclear receptors, we extract a set of chemical substructures shared by drugs able to bind to a set of protein domains. These two sets of extracted chemical substructures and protein domains form components that can be further exploited in a drug discovery process. This approach successfully clusters protein domains that may be evolutionary unrelated but that bind a common set of chemical substructures. As shown in several examples, it can also be very helpful for predicting new protein-ligand interactions and addressing the problem of ligand specificity. The proposed method constitutes a contribution to the recent field of chemogenomics that aims to connect the chemical space with the biological space.
Degenerative abnormalities in transgenic neocortical neuropeptide Y interneurons expressing tau‐green fluorescent protein

The introduction of a reporter gene into bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) constructs allows a rapid identification of the cell type expressing the gene of interest. Here we used BAC transgenic mice expressing a tau‐sapphire green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the transcriptional control of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) genomic sequence to characterize morphological and electrophysiological properties of NPY‐GFP interneurons of the mouse juvenile primary somatosensory cortex. Electrophysiological whole‐cell recordings and biocytin injections were performed to allow the morphological reconstruction of the recorded neurons in three dimensions. Ninety‐six recorded NPY‐GFP interneurons were compared with 39 wild‐type (WT) NPY interneurons, from which 23 and 19 were reconstructed, respectively. We observed that 91% of the reconstructed NPY‐GFP interneurons had developed an atypical axonal swelling from which emerge numerous ramifications. These abnormalities were very heterogeneous in shape and size. They were immunoreactive for the microtubule‐associated protein tau and the lysosomal‐associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). Moreover, an electron microscopic analysis revealed the accumulation of numerous autophagic and lysosomal vacuoles in swollen axons. Morphological analyses of NPY‐GFP interneurons also indicated that their somata were smaller, their entire dendritic tree was thickened and presented a restricted spatial distribution in comparison with WT NPY interneurons. Finallly, the morphological defects observed in NPY‐GFP interneurons appeared to be associated with alterations of their electrophysiological intrinsic properties. Altogether, these results demonstrate that NPY‐GFP interneurons developed dystrophic axonal swellings and severe morphological and electrophysiological defects that could be due to the overexpression of tau‐coupled reporter constructs. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Study of the Influence of Time-Varying Plasma Sheath on Radar Echo Signal

The time-varying plasma sheath surrounding a reentry spacecraft (or object) can influence the radar detection of the spacecraft seriously, causing detection error or even track loss. To study the influence of plasma sheath on radar detection, a time-varying plasma sheath model based on scattering matrix method is constructed. In the model, the surface media of reentry object is considered, together with some algorithm adjustments to avoid computational singularity, and the time-varying characteristics of plasma sheath are taken into account based on available measured data. By the model, the reflection coefficient of plasma sheath and the radar echo reflected by plasma-covered object are both calculated. And then a processing method of time-varying echo signal based on ambiguity function are put forward, by which the time delay and Doppler frequency of echo signal are analyzed. In the simulation, the rules of a series of time-varying parameters of plasma affecting the reflection coefficient are analyzed. Then, by ambiguity function analysis, the influence rules of plasma sheath on radar echo are revealed, accompanied by some qualitative and quantitative results. The proposed model, method, and simulation results are thought to be helpful for the radar detection of plasma-covered reentry objects.
Multilevel exploratory factor analysis: illustrating its surplus value in educational effectiveness research

This paper illustrates the surplus value of multilevel exploratory factor analysis in educational effectiveness research. Educational researchers often use measures for process variables at the class or school level to explain differences in student outcomes. Recently, van de Vijver and Poortinga (2002) have developed a procedure for multilevel exploratory factor analysis which can be extremely useful in this kind of application. Their procedure, which is based on the “multilevel confirmatory factor analysis” framework of Muthén (1994), is demonstrated by means of constructing measures for school process variables based on teacher data. Every step of the procedure is nicely illustrated and commented on using these data. Furthermore, the meaning of the findings and challenges when using multilevel exploratory factor analysis are emphasized.
Hippocampal and Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in Early-Onset Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Versus Alzheimer’s Disease

Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) may occur with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as well as with normal aging. Prior studies suggest that HS/MTS may be more closely associated with FTLD but have not directly compared the prevalence and clinical characteristics of HS/MTS between neuropathologically confirmed early-onset (age ≤ 65) cohorts of FTLD and AD. We identified patients with early-onset FTLD (n = 136) and AD (n = 267) from National Alzheimer’s Center Consortium databases and compared neuropathological and clinical data between these 2 groups. The FTLD group had a significantly higher prevalence of HS/MTS than that of the AD group. However, HS/MTS was associated with increasing age and memory impairment in the AD group but not in the FTLD group. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that HS/MTS in FTLD occurs as part of the primary pathological process, rather than as a secondary, nonspecific effect of aging on memory and hippocampal function.
Job mobility in Portugal: a Bayesian study with matched worker-firm data

We study job mobility using a multivariate hazard model in discrete time. It involves two correlated random effects, one at the firm level and another at the worker level. Bayesian estimates are based on a Portuguese matched employer-employee dataset. Our results confirm the importance of unobserved heterogeneity at the individual level and at the firm level. Furthermore, the model performs better when allowing for an assortative matching mecanism in terms of employers’ and employees’ unobservables.
Improved acoustic modeling for transcribing Arabic broadcast data

ABSTRACT This paper summarizes our recent progress in improving theautomatic transcription of Arabic broadcast audio data, andsome efforts to address the challenges of the broadcast con-versational speech. Our efforts are aimed at improving theacoustic, pronunciation and language models taking into ac-count speciﬁcities of the Arabic language. In previous work wedemonstrated that explicit modeling of short vowels improvedrecognition performance, even when producing non-vocalizedhypotheses. In addition to modeling short vowels, consonantgemination and nunation are now explicitly modeled, alterna-tive pronunciations have been introduced to better represent di-alectical variants, and a duration model has been integrated.In order to facilitate training on Arabic audio data with non-vocalized transcripts a generic vowel model has been intro-duced. Compared with the previous system (used in the 2006GALE evaluation) the relative word error rate has been reducedby over 10%. Index Terms – Speech recognition, Arabic, broadcast news,broadcast conversations
Partial Volume Effect Correction on the GPU Zsolt Márta

This paper proposes a Partial Volume Effect correction algorithm for PET/CTs, which improves the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) data based on the registered and segmented CT (X-ray Computed Tomography) volume. The algorithm is based on mathematical morphology operations and identifies those regions where both the PET and the CT data have boundaries. The correction is restricted to these regions thus we can avoid the migration of artifacts and boundaries present in the CT but irrelevant for the positron density. Thus, the algorithm also maintains activity correctness. The proposed method is implemented in a massively parallel framework.
Prescribing indications based on successful clinical trials in sepsis: A difficult exercise

T his is a “point of view” article commenting on the indications given several years ago to drotrecogin alpha (activated) for severe sepsis. This appears necessary following the recent publication of studies looking at subgroups within the initial PROWESS study (1– 4), of the phase IV ENHANCE study (5), and of the results of two recent randomized clinical trials looking at the efficacy of this compound: the ADDRESS trial (6) (with an editorial (7)) and a pediatric study (not yet published), both recently stopped for futility.
An Improved Bang-bang PLL Employing a Quaternary Phase Detector

This paper presents a bang-bang PLL architecture that employs two discrete loop gains depending on whether the magnitude of the PLL's phase error is less than or greater than ¿/2. The advantage of this architecture is that the two loop gains can be used to independently optimize both pull-in range and jitter characteristics. A conservative expression to calculate pull-in range is derived and it is shown that pull-in range depends mainly on the PLL's outer loop gain, thus freeing inner loop gain to control PLL dynamics when in lock.
A Confirmatory Investigation of a Job Demands-Resources Model Using a Categorical Estimator

A confirmatory investigation of a job demands-resources model was conducted with alternative methods, in a sample of 15, 633 working adults aggregated from various economic sectors. The proposed model is in line with job demands-resources theory and assumes two psychological processes at work which are collectively coined “the dual process. ” The first process, the energetic, presents that job demands lead to ill-health outcomes due to burnout. The second process, the motivational, indicates that job resources lead to organizational commitment due to work engagement. Structural equation modelling analyses were implemented with a categorical estimator. Mediation analyses of each of the processes included bootstrapped indirect effects and kappa-squared values to apply qualitative labels to effect sizes. The relationship between job resources and organizational commitment was mediated by engagement with a large effect. The relationship between job demands and ill-health was mediated by burnout with a medium effect. The implications of the results for theory and practice were discussed.
Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES): Accomplishments and Challenges

This year marks the 10th year of publication for Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES). An old verse says, “If you want one year of success, grow grain; If you want ten years of success, grow trees. ” In last ten years, MPEES has grown up and stood successfully in the forest of academia. This special issue is a celebration of the MPEES success during the last ten years. I am most grateful to Drs. Baumgartner, Considine, Jackson, Jensen, Morrow, and Mood, who solicited these informativearticlesandshepherdedthemthroughthereviewprocess. I encourage our loyal readers and contributors to read this issue and consider the accomplishments of the last ten years, as well as the challenges that MPEES faces. As we are forging into future, it would be very helpful to evaluate the role MPEES has played in the evolution of the research in physical education and exercise science. In this issue, the authors address the challenges that MPEES has been facing. As the Editor-in-Chief of MPEES, I have had the honor to read the informative articles, and would like to share some of my thoughts in this essay. I am hopeful that this celebration issue will facilitate collegial discussion, suggestions, and collaborative work among our loyal readers and contributors.
Aperçu sur la pédagogie de l’apprentissage par résolution de problèmes

Ideas sobre la pedagogia del aprendizaje por resolucion de problemas. — La resolucion de problemas es una forma de aprendizaje que conviene particularmente cuando se trata de la elaboracion de nuevas nociones para el alumno. Su utilizacion pedagogica no se puede justificar cuando se trata de trasmitir conocimientos de hechos o informaciones donde el metodo por exposicion resulta mas directo y eficaz.
The development of the wireless intelligent network (WIN) and its relation to the international intelligent network standards

This paper summarizes the current International Telecommunication Union — Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) intelligent network (IN) standards in the context of the wireless intelligent network (WIN) and relevant parts of the ANSI-41 family of standards developed in the United States. In addition, this paper outlines the concepts on which the standardization of the IN support of wireless networks should be developed internationally. The principal observation of the paper is that, while the mobile networks based on different standards are substantially dissimilar, it is still feasible to define one standard that would allow these dissimilar mobile networks to access the IN to provide telecommunications services globally and seamlessly. WIN sets the direction for such a standard.