Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A non-parametric approach for independent component analysis using kernel density estimation

Learning using independent component analysis (ICA) has found a wide range of applications in the area of computer vision and pattern analysis, ranging from face recognition to speech separation. This paper presents a non-parametric approach to the ICA problem that is robust towards outlier effects. The algorithm, for the first time in the field of ICA, adopts an intuitive and direct approach, focusing on the very definition of independence itself; i.e. the joint probability density function (pdf) of independent sources is factorial over the marginal distributions. In the proposed algorithm, kernel density estimation is employed to approximate the underlying distributions. There are two major advantages of our algorithm. First, existing algorithms focus on learning the independent components by attempting to fulfill necessary conditions (but not sufficient) for independence. For example, the Jade algorithm attempts to approximate independence by minimizing higher order statistics, which are not robust to outliers. Comparatively, our technique is inherently robust towards outlier effects. Second, since the learning employs kernel density estimation, it is naturally free from the assumptions of source distributions (unlike the Infomax algorithm). Experimental results show that the algorithm is able to perform separation of sources in the presence of outliers, whereas existing algorithms like Jade and Infomax break down under such conditions. The results have also shown that the proposed non-parametric approach is generally source distribution independent. In addition, it is able to separate non-Gaussian zero-kurtotic signals unlike the traditional ICA algorithms like Jade and Infomax.
T C C C Beatcs No 109 S C: W M P G S?

The design of efﬁcient algorithms for planar graphs, as a ﬁeld of research, is over forty year old and continues to be an exciting area. There are several new efﬁcient algorithms for a variety of graph optimization problems that exploit planarity and, in general, the structure of low genus graphs and graphs with excluded minors. Efﬁcient space-bounded computations, on the other hand, involve a different genre of algorithmic ideas and exploit the planar graph structure somewhat differently. There has been a ﬂurry of interesting research on this topic in last decade. In this timely and well-written article, Samir Datta and Raghav Kulka-rni focus on planar graphs in the context of space complexity. They discuss several properties of planar graphs and their precise role in the design of space efﬁcient algorithms.
Cognitive Inference of Demographic Data by User Ratings

Cognitive inference of user demographics, such as gender and age, plays an important role in creating user profiles for adjusting marketing strategies and generating personalized recommendations because user demographic data is usually not available due to data privacy concerns. At present, users can readily express feedback regarding products or services that they have purchased. During this process, user demographics are concealed, but the data has never yet been successfully utilized to contribute to the cognitive inference of user demographics. In this paper, we investigate the inference power of user ratings data, and propose a simple yet general cognitive inference model, called rating to profile (R2P), to infer user demographics from user provided ratings. In particular, the proposed R2P model can achieve the following: 1. Correctly integrate user ratings into model training. 2.Infer multiple demographic attributes of users simultaneously, capturing the underlying relevance between different demographic attributes. 3. Train its two components, i.e. feature extractor and classifier, in an integrated manner under a supervised learning paradigm, which effectively helps to discover useful hidden patterns from highly sparse ratings data. We introduce how to incorporate user ratings data into the research field of cognitive inference of user demographic data, and detail the model development and optimization process for the proposed R2P. Extensive experiments are conducted on two real-world ratings datasets against various compared state-of-the-art methods, and the results from multiple aspects demonstrate that our proposed R2P model can significantly improve on the cognitive inference performance of user demographic data.
Prevalence of the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Coastal Southeastern United States

Abstract Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging tick-borne disease recently recognized in the United States. The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the principle vector in the eastern United States. The disease has been commonly reported in the northeastern and upper midwestern states; however, suitable vectors and reservoir hosts exist in the southeast. To assay the prevalence of the HGE agent in vector ticks, we screened 818 individual I. scapularis from 15 locations in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida using nested polymerase chain reaction, which targets the HGE agent 16S rRNA gene. Prevalence among locations ranged from 0 to 20%. The overall average prevalence of 15 sites was 1.6% (n = 818). Verification by sequencing the 16S rDNA from the positive samples showed 99.8–100% nucleotide identities with the sequences of the HGE agent in GenBank. These results were supported by the phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences.
Change in Preoperative Nervousness: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Gynecological Cancer Patients

Patients are often nervous prior to surgery and females might suffer the most. Increased nervousness needs attention as it can negatively affect postoperative recovery. Support from nurses, i.e. being present, attentive, empowering and helpful to the patient, and talking about what is on the patient’s mind, might help to reduce nervousness. However, there is a lack of evidence as to the ideal level of attention and resources to reduce preoperative nervousness. The objective of the current study was to compare a range of care combinations with standard care to female patients prior to sedation and cancer surgery primarily on difference in change in nervousness from admission until sedation before cancer surgery, measured on a Visual Analouge Scale. Using simple randomization and numbers in sealed envelopes, adult gynaecological patients scheduled for open cancer surgery were allocated to care provided by a nurse anaesthetist and: A) a surgical nurse, B) no additional care, C) a known nurse , and D) a relative. Only the statistician was blinded. The trial stopped when the calculated numbers were included. In the full analysis set, compared to standard care A) (n = 61), we observed the following mean changes and [95% confidence intervals]: B) (n = 65) 1.05 [CI: 0.298 to 1.794] with p = 0.006, C) (n = 61): -0.38 [-1.140 to 0.385] with p = 0.330, D) (n = 71): 0.23 [-0.498 to 0.967] with p = 0.528. Female cancer patients will benefit from supportive care by a surgical nurse from the time of arrival on the operating ward plus supportive care from a nurse anesthetist from 5 - 10 minutes after entering the operating ward. It is not recommended at any time to rely fully on the support of relatives. The effect on adults of preoperative painful procedures and patients’ time alone on the operating ward should be further investigated.
Characterization of echinocandin-resistant mutants of Candida albicans: genetic, biochemical, and virulence studies

The pneumocandins are potent antifungal agents of the echinocandin class which are under development for use as broad-spectrum antimycotic therapy. One important consideration for any new therapeutic class for treating serious fungal infections is the potential for drug resistance development. In this study we have isolated and characterized four independent spontaneous Candida albicans mutants resistant to the potent semisynthetic pneumocandin L-733,560. These mutants have many of the properties of FKS1/ETG1 echinocandin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, including (i) cross-resistance to other 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase inhibitors, such as papulacandin and echinocandins, but no change in sensitivity to other antifungal agents; (ii) in vitro glucan synthase activity that is more resistant to pneumocandins than the wild-type parent enzyme; and (iii) semidominant drug resistance in spheroplast fusion strains. The mutants were compared with C. albicans echinocandin-resistant mutants isolated by mutagenesis by L. Beckford and D. Kerridge (mutant M-2) (abstr. PS3.11, in Proceedings of the XI Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, Montreal, Canada, 1992) and by A. Cassone, R. E. Mason, and D. Kerridge (mutant CA-2) (Sabouraudia 19:97-110, 1981). All of the strains had resistant enzyme activity in vitro. M-2 grew poorly and had low levels of enzyme activity. In contrast, CA-2 and the spontaneous mutants grew as well as the parents and had normal levels of glucan synthase activity. These results suggest that these resistant mutants may have alterations in glucan synthase. CA-2 was unable to form germ tubes, an ability retained by the spontaneous mutants. The virulence of the spontaneous mutants was unimpaired in a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis, while M-2 and CA-2 were 2 orders of magnitude less virulent than their parent strains. Significantly, mice challenged with the spontaneous mutant CAI4R1 responded therapeutically to lower levels of L-733,560 than would he predicted by the increase in in vitro susceptibility.
The Diverse Risk Profiles of Persistently Absent Primary Students: Implications for Attendance Policies in Australia

ABSTRACT The risk factors associated with absenteeism are well known. However, children's exposure to combinations of risks and how these relate to absence patterns remains unclear. Understanding variations in risk profiles among persistently non-attending children will inform the development of absence interventions. Using a longitudinal sample of Australian children (6–11 years), a latent class analysis of 19 risks identified four classes of risk exposure. Most children (56%) were exposed to minimal risk, 20% were exposed to parenting, child development, and mental health risks only, 15% were exposed to a greater extent to financial risks only, and 9% had a higher probability of exposure to all risks. Persistently non-attending children were eight times more likely to be in the high-risk group than regular attenders. However, one-third of persistent non-attenders were classified as low-risk. The heterogeneity of risk profiles is discussed in relation to policies using financial penalties to motivate improved attendance.
A Simple Method for Assessment of MDR Bacteria for Over-Expressed Efflux Pumps

It is known that bacteria showing a multi-drug resistance phenotype use several mechanisms to overcome the action of antibiotics. As a result, this phenotype can be a result of several mechanisms or a combination of thereof. The main mechanisms of antibiotic resistance are: mutations in target genes (such as DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV); over-expression of efflux pumps; changes in the cell envelope; down regulation of membrane porins, and modified lipopolysaccharide component of the outer cell membrane (in the case of Gram-negative bacteria). In addition, adaptation to the environment, such as quorum sensing and biofilm formation can also contribute to bacterial persistence. Due to the rapid emergence and spread of bacterial isolates showing resistance to several classes of antibiotics, methods that can rapidly and efficiently identify isolates whose resistance is due to active efflux have been developed. However, there is still a need for faster and more accurate methodologies. Conventional methods that evaluate bacterial efflux pump activity in liquid systems are available. However, these methods usually use common efflux pump substrates, such as ethidium bromide or radioactive antibiotics and therefore, require specialized instrumentation, which is not available in all laboratories. In this review, we will report the results obtained with the Ethidium Bromide-agar Cartwheel method. This is an easy, instrument-free, agar based method that has been modified to afford the simultaneous evaluation of as many as twelve bacterial strains. Due to its simplicity it can be applied to large collections of bacteria to rapidly screen for multi-drug resistant isolates that show an over-expression of their efflux systems. The principle of the method is simple and relies on the ability of the bacteria to expel a fluorescent molecule that is substrate for most efflux pumps, ethidium bromide. In this approach, the higher the concentration of ethidium bromide required to produce fluorescence of the bacterial mass, the greater the efflux capacity of the bacterial cells. We have tested and applied this method to a large number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to detect efflux activity among these multi-drug resistant isolates. The presumptive efflux activity detected by the Ethidium Bromide-agar Cartwheel method was subsequently confirmed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration for several antibiotics in the presence and absence of known efflux pump inhibitors.
Sociology and Simulation: Statistical and Qualitative Cross‐Validation1

Agent‐based simulation modeling enables the construction of formal models that simultaneously can be microvalidated against accounts of individual behavior and macrovalidated against aggregate data that show the characteristics of many socially derived time series. These characteristics (leptokurtosis and clustered volatility) have two important consequences: first, they also appear in suitably structured agent‐based models where, like real social actors, agents are socially embedded and metastable; second, their presence precludes the use of many standard statistical techniques like the chi‐square test. These characteristics in time‐series data indicate that a suitable agent‐based model rather than a standard statistical model will be appropriate. This is illustrated with an agent‐based model of mutual social influence on domestic water demand. The consequences for many frequently used statistical techniques are discussed.
Optimal Cyclic Codes With Generalized Niho-Type Zeros and the Weight Distribution

In this paper, we extend two earlier works further in two directions and compute the weight distribution of these cyclic codes under more relaxed conditions. It is interesting to note that many cyclic codes in the family are optimal and have only a few non-zero weights. Besides using similar ideas, we carry out some subtle manipulation of certain exponential sums.
Academic Self-Concept in Twice-Exceptional Students: An Exploratory Investigation

Academic self-concept relates to students’ perceptions of their academic accomplishments, academic competence and their expectations of academic success or failure. Academic self-concept has been identified as being critical for academic success in school as it underpins educational aspirations, academic interest, course selection, and achievement over time. Twice-exceptional students are gifted with a coexisting disability. Twice-exceptional students present as a dual paradox for education systems, both in terms of being gifted and having a disability, and in terms of the lamentable lack of nurturing of a potential resource both for the individual and also at a national level. The paradox of two, or one, or neither of the exceptionalities being visible in a child in school is due primarily to outward behaviours, lack of community knowledge, and challenges with identification (Vail, 1989). Despite over twenty years of empirical research on twice-exceptional students, the influences on academic self-concept remain virtually unexplored. Australian professional teaching standards call for educators to design and implement learning experiences that value diversity. The teaching standards include identifying individual learning needs and adopting strategies for teaching students with disabilities, for those who are gifted, and for those who are twice-exceptional. Few studies have investigated the ways in which psychosocial, school, and academic experiences influence twice-exceptional students.
In silico Identification and Taxonomic Distribution of Plant Class C GH9 Endoglucanases

The glycoside hydrolase 9 superfamily, mainly comprising the endoglucanases, is represented in all three domains of life. The current division of GH9 enzymes, into three subclasses, namely A, B, and C, is centered on parameters derived from sequence information alone. However, this classification is ambiguous, and is limited by the paralogous ancestry of classes B and C endoglucanases, and paucity of biochemical and structural data. Here, we extend this classification schema to putative GH9 endoglucanases present in green plants, with an emphasis on identifying novel members of the class C subset. These enzymes cleave the β(1 → 4) linkage between non-terminal adjacent D-glucopyranose residues, in both, amorphous and crystalline regions of cellulose. We utilized non redundant plant GH9 enzymes with characterized molecular data, as the training set to construct Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) and train an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The parameters that were used for predicting dominant enzyme function, were derived from this training set, and subsequently refined on 147 sequences with available expression data. Our knowledge-based approach, can ascribe differential endoglucanase activity (A, B, or C) to a query sequence with high confidence, and was used to construct a local repository of class C GH9 endoglucanases (GH9C = 241) from 32 sequenced green plants.
Quantum-mechanical suppression of bremsstrahlung

We have studied quantum-mechanical suppression of bremsstrahlung of low-energy 1-500 MeV photons from high-energy 25 GeV electrons. We measured the LPM effect, where multiple scattering of the radiating electron destroys coherence required for the emission of low-energy photons, and the dielectric effect, where the emitted photon traveling in the radiator medium interferes with itself. For the experiment, the collaboration developed a novel method of extracting a parasitic low-intensity high-energy electron beam into the fixed target area during normal SLC operation of the accelerator. The results agree quantitatively with Migdal`s calculation of the LPM effect. Surface effects, for which there is no satisfactory theoretical prediction, are visible at low photon energies. For very thin targets, the suppression disappears, as expected. Preliminary results on dielectric suppression of bremsstrahlung are in qualitative agreement with the expectation.
An improved algorithm for corner detection

Since detection result is not good enough when detecting real image using line search mechanism corner detection algorithm, a feature selection criterion based on priority and adaptive non-maximal suppression (ANMS) is proposed in this paper to control the number and density of features in the image. Experimental results show that the algorithm can detect corner more reasonable, and can be used in image mosaics well.
PENGARUH PENERAPAN METODE EKSPERIMEN DAN INKUIRI TERBIMBING TERHADAP KETERAMPILAN PROSES SAINSDAN SIKAP ILMIAH SISWA

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruhmetode eksperimen terhadap keterampilan proses sains dan sikap ilmiah siswa, pengaruh metode inkuiri terbimbing terhadap keterampilan proses sains dan sikap ilmiah siswa dan perbandingan metode eksperimen dan inkuiri terbimbing.Populasi penelitian ini seluruh siswa kelas X SMA Negeri 1 Unggul Baitussalam dengan sampel sebanyak 45 orang siswa di mana diambil dengan teknik RandomSampling. Metode penelitian menggunakan eksperimen Pretest-PostestControl Group Design. Analisis datametode eksperimen dan inkuiri terbimbing diperoleh melalui soal tes keterampilan proses sains dan angket sikap ilmiah siswa.Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa metode eksperimen tidak berpengaruh terhadap keterampilan proses sains dan sikap ilmiah siswa, dengan nilai N-Gain keterampilan proses sains sebesar 56% dan sikap ilmiah siswa sebesar 29%. Selanjutnya, metode inkuiri terbimbing berpengaruh terhadap keterampilan proses sains dan sikap ilmiah siswa, dengan nilai N-Gain keterampilan proses sains sebesar 71% dan sikap ilmiah siswa sebesar 52%. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahwa metode inkuiri terbimbing memiliki pengaruh yangsignifikan terhadap keterampilan proses sains dan sikap ilmiah siswa dibandingkan dengan metode eksperimen.
Smart Ubiquitous Projection: Discovering Surfaces for the Projection of Adaptive Content

Ubiquitous projection or "display everywhere" is a popular paradigm, according to which regular rooms are augmented with projected digital content in order to create immersive interactive environments. In this work, we revisit this concept, where instead of considering every physical surface and object as a display, we seek to determine areas that are suitable for the projection and interaction with digital information. After determining a set of requirements that such surfaces need to fulfil, we describe a novel computer vision-based technique to automatically detect rectangular surface regions that are deemed adequate for projection and mark those areas as available placeholders for users to use as "clean" displays. As a proof of concept, we show how content can be adaptively laid out in those placeholders using a simple tablet UI.
Repetitive control of flyback inverter for PV power applications

In this paper, a repetitive controller (RC) is proposed for flyback inverter operating in continuous conduction mode, which has simple structure, low cost, and high efficiency. Conventional controller results in poor control performance due to the effect of the right-half-plane zero in CCM operation. To achieve the fast dynamical response, the repetitive controller is developed and applied to flyback inverter in CCM operation. In RC scheme, a low-pass filter is adopted in the repetitive control scheme to enhance the robustness of repetitive controller. The stability of closed-loop system is derived and the zero tracking error is achieved. Numerical simulations and experiments are performed to validate the proposed control approach.
Determining Zygosity in the Vietnam Era Twin Registry: An Update

Our work assessed the accuracy of the original zygosity classification in the Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry using new information from DNA markers on a subset of participants. We then constructed an updated zygosity classification algorithm. The VET Registry includes 7,375 male–male twin pairs who served in the military during the Vietnam era. During the mid-1980s 4,774 twin pairs completed a zygosity questionnaire of 20 items. Additionally, military record information, including blood group, was available. Items from the zygosity questionnaire and blood group were used in the original zygosity classification. Between 1990–2009 DNA was obtained from 612 twin pairs and concordance between co-twins was used to classify zygosity. Next logistic regression was used to construct predicted probabilities of zygosity using items from the zygosity questionnaire with this subsample. All twins were reclassified according to the new zygosity prediction model and compared with the original zygosity assignment. The original and new predicted probabilities of zygosity were highly correlated (r = 0.962) and concordance for the classification of zygosity was similarly high (kappa = 0.936). Errors in the original zygosity assignment were primarily due to monozygotic twins that were misclassified as dizygotic based on military record blood group data. Removing the military record blood group data markedly improved the accuracy of the original classification. Zygosity assignment based on a zygosity questionnaire was highly predictive of DNA-based zygosity. Augmentation of such a zygosity classification from administrative data, military records, or other records, should be done with caution.