Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Best Response Calculation in Large Extensive Games

One fundamental evaluation criteria of an AI technique is its performance in the worst-case. For static strategies in extensive games, this can be computed using a best response computation. Conventionally, this requires a full game tree traversal. For very large games, such as poker, that traversal is infeasible to perform on modern hardware. In this paper, we detail a general technique for best response computations that can often avoid a full game tree traversal. Additionally, our method is specifically well-suited for parallel environments. We apply this approach to computing the worst-case performance of a number of strategies in heads-up limit Texas hold'em, which, prior to this work, was not possible. We explore these results thoroughly as they provide insight into the effects of abstraction on worst-case performance in large imperfect information games. This is a topic that has received much attention, but could not previously be examined outside of toy domains.
Ultrastructure of Nitrobacter agilis Grown Under Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Conditions

Nitrobacter agilis, grown through seven transfers heterotrophically in the absence of nitrite, was examined in the electron microscope. The ultrastructure of such cells closely resembled that of autotrophically grown N. agilis. It was thus futher established that the organisms growing heterotrophically were indeed N. agilis and, therefore, that N. agilis is a facultative autotroph. Acetate incorporation into poly-β-hydroxybutyrate was confirmed cytologically.
Studies of the use of time domain reflectometry to determine moisture content in finite regions

This thesis addresses several questions related to the sensitivity of TDR to the determination of the moisture in laboratory experiments where the m easurem ent is done noninvasively. Some tests were performed on moistened sand in a plastic box, treating the moisture content as the independent variable. Another set of tests was performed on moistened sand in a plastic tube to find the relationship between the outputs from the TDR with moisture content in systems both with and without water outflow. In addition, a set of tests was perform ed on a layered arrangement of large household ceramic tiles where the gaps between the tiles were or were not saturated with water. In all these tests, it is shown that TDR is effective to measure the moisture content noninvasively. A numerical analysis of a geometry related to those studied experimentally has been performed. Results show the effect of gap location on the TDR indication.
Lipid nanotechnologies for structural studies of membrane‐associated proteins

We present a methodology of lipid nanotubes (LNT) and nanodisks technologies optimized in our laboratory for structural studies of membrane‐associated proteins at close to physiological conditions. The application of these lipid nanotechnologies for structure determination by cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) is fundamental for understanding and modulating their function. The LNTs in our studies are single bilayer galactosylceramide based nanotubes of ∼20 nm inner diameter and a few microns in length, that self‐assemble in aqueous solutions. The lipid nanodisks (NDs) are self‐assembled discoid lipid bilayers of ∼10 nm diameter, which are stabilized in aqueous solutions by a belt of amphipathic helical scaffold proteins. By combining LNT and ND technologies, we can examine structurally how the membrane curvature and lipid composition modulates the function of the membrane‐associated proteins. As proof of principle, we have engineered these lipid nanotechnologies to mimic the activated platelet's phosphtaidylserine rich membrane and have successfully assembled functional membrane‐bound coagulation factor VIII in vitro for structure determination by cryo‐EM. The macromolecular organization of the proteins bound to ND and LNT are further defined by fitting the known atomic structures within the calculated three‐dimensional maps. The combination of LNT and ND technologies offers a means to control the design and assembly of a wide range of functional membrane‐associated proteins and complexes for structural studies by cryo‐EM. The presented results confirm the suitability of the developed methodology for studying the functional structure of membrane‐associated proteins, such as the coagulation factors, at a close to physiological environment. Proteins 2014; 82:2902–2909. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamic response of a plate laying on elastic base during the impact of a conical indenter

The article presents an analytical and numerical study of a dynamic conical indentation during impact process. The circular plate laying on the elastic base is subjected to impact load by the conical indenter. Local deformations in imprint zone are considered as elasticplastic and general plate deformations are only elastic. According to Timoshenko method, the general plate displacement is considered as the sum of the elastic-plastic displacement of the indenter and the elastic displacement of the plate at the impact point. The solution is constructed with Fourier transforms and the Green function of the dynamic process is obtained. The numerical study of impact indentation is received by FEM method. The dependences of displacements, velocities, and accelerations of the plate on time is obtained during impact. The experimental data obtained with the special device is compared with the results of the numerical analysis. The method of an assessment of the mechanical characteristics of steel is proposed on the basis of the research. Analysis of the dynamic response and non-stationary effects on structural elements is carried out on the base of the calculated impact process.
Matching Point-sets using Procrustes Alignment and the EM Algorithm

This paper casts the problem of point-set alignment via Procrustes analysis into a maximum likelihood framework using the EM algorithm. The aim is to improve the robustness of the Procrustes alignment to noise and clutter. By constructing a Gaussian mixture model over the missing correspondences between individual points, we show how alignment can be realised by applying singular value decomposition to a weighted point correlation matrix. Moreover, by gauging the relational consistency of the assigned correspondence matches, we can edit the point sets to remove clutter. We illustrate the effectiveness of the method on matching stereograms. We also provide a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the operational advantages of the method.
It&#8217;s All in the Game: Teaching Software Process Concepts

A major challenge in teaching software engineering to undergraduates is that most students have limited industry experience, so the problems addressed are unknown and hence unappreciated. Issues of scope prevent a realistic software engineering experience, and students often graduate with a simplistic view of software engineering's challenges. Problems and programmers (PnP) is a competitive, physical card game that simulates the software engineering process from requirements specification to product delivery. Deliverables are abstracted, allowing a focus on process issues and for lessons to be learned in a relatively short time. The rules are easy to understand and the game's physical nature allows for face-to-face interaction between players. The game's developers have described PnP in previous publications, but this paper reports the game's use within a larger educational scheme. Students learn and play PnP, and then are required to create a software requirements specification based on the game. Finally, students reflect on the game's strengths and weaknesses and their experiences in an individual essay. The paper discusses this approach, students' experiences and overall outcomes, and offers an independent, critical look at the game, its use, and potential improvements
Influence of Vibration Treatment and Modification of A356 Aluminum Alloy on Its Structure and Mechanical Properties

A series of casting experiments was conducted with A356 aluminum alloys by applying vibration treatment and using Al-TiB2 composite master alloys. The main vibration effects include the promotion of nucleation and a reduction in as-cast grain size. Using composite master alloys with titanium diboride microparticles allows further reduction in the average grain size to 140 µm. The reasons for this behavior are discussed in terms of the complex effect on the melt, considering the destruction of dendrites, and the presence of additional crystallization centers. Tensile tests were performed on the samples obtained during the vibration treatment and with titanium diboride particles. The tensile strength increased from 182 to 227 MPa after the vibration treatment for the alloys containing titanium diboride.
Animated Pedagogical Agents: Face-to-Face Interaction in Interactive Learning Environments

Recent years have witnessed the birth of a new paradigm for learning environments: animated pedagogical agents. These lifelike autonomous characters cohabit learning environments with students to create rich, face-to-face learning interactions. This opens up exciting new possibilities; for example, agents can demonstrate complex tasks, employ locomotion and gesture to focus students' attention on the most salient aspect of the task at hand, and convey emotional responses to the tutorial situation. Animated pedagogical agents offer great promise for broadening the bandwidth of tutorial communication and increasing learning environments' ability to engage and motivate students. This article sets forth the motivations behind animated pedagogical agents, describes the key capabilities they offer, and discusses the technical issues they raise. The discussion is illustrated with descriptions of a number of animated agents that represent the current state of the art.
A new complementary approach for oral health and diabetes management: health coaching.

BACKGROUND Health coaching (HC) is based on 'partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential' to adopt healthy lifestyles through 'building awareness and empowerment'. This study's objective is to assess, for the first time to our knowledge, the effectiveness of HC compared with health education (HE) using clinical and subjective measures among type 2 diabetes (DM2) patients in Turkey and Denmark. METHODS This stratified random prospective study selected type 2 diabetes patients in Turkey (n = 186) (TR) (2010-2012) and in Denmark (n = 116) (DK) (2012-2014). Participants were assigned to HC or HE groups. Selected outcomes were HbA1c, periodontal treatment need index (CPI), health behaviours and anthropometric measures. The study duration was 12 months (6 months initiation-maintenance, 6 months follow-up). RESULTS At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences between the HC and HE groups. Post-intervention, a reduction of HbA1c in the HC groups was observed (TR: 0.8%; DK: 0.4%, P < 0.01) but not in the HE groups. The HC patients had a higher reduction in CPI than the HE group (P < 0.01). Principal component analysis showed that HbA1c, CPI and 'behaviour change' compose one cluster in the HCTR and HETR groups. Three clusters were formed for the HCDK; respectively HbA1c and CPI, lean mass and body fat percentage, 'behaviour change'. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that HC has a greater impact on DM management and health outcomes. There is a need for common health promotion strategies with behavioural interventions such as health coaching for the management of type 2 diabetes that focus on multidisciplinary approaches including oral health.
Throughput analysis for interference limited TDMA and TDMA/CDMA wireless ad hoc networks

The node throughput, which is defined as the total rate received at each node, is evaluated for the interference limited TDMA and TDMA/CDMA wireless ad hoc networks. In the TDMA wireless ad hoc network, there is only one transmission link connected to each node in the same time slot, whereas in the TDMA/CDMA wireless ad hoc network there are multiple transmission links connected to each node in the same time slot. We first derive the node throughput for these two wireless ad hoc networks and then make a comparison of the node throughput between them. The theoretical results and simulation results both reveal that the TDMA wireless ad hoc network outperforms the TDMA/CDMA wireless ad hoc network in the node throughput. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chapter 2 Serotonin 5-HT 2 C Receptors : Chemical Neuronatomy in the Mammalian Brain

Serotonin 5-HT 2C receptors belong to the 5-HT 2 family, which includes 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2B receptors. All three share similarities in their molecular structure, pharmacology, and signal transduction pathways (Barnes and Sharp 1999; Hoyer et al. 1994). Initially named 5-HT 1C, based on the conventions for naming serotonin receptors at the time of its discovery, it was later renamed 5-HT 2C receptors after the cloning of its gene and that of 5-HT 2A (Pazos et al. 1984a; Prichett et al. 1988; Julius et al. 1988, 1990; Hoyer et al. 1985; Lubbert et al. 1987; Pazos and Palacios 1985) (see also Palacios et al., Chap. 1, this volume). Chemical neuroanatomical techniques were pivotal in the discovery of 5-HT 2C receptors, which were first identified by autoradiography after labeling of rat brain sections with the 5-HT 2A and dopamine D 2 receptor ligand mesulergine. This was followed by a thorough pharmacological characterization performed in pig brain choroid plexus, and the binding site was differentiated from the 5-HT 2A receptor. The combined use of membrane receptor binding/pharmacology and brain slice autoradiography allowed its differentiation from 5-HT 1A , 5-HT 1B , and 5-HT 2A receptors; it was then named 5-HT 1C . The pharmacology and distribution of the new site differed from the existing knowledge about other receptors (Pazos et al. 1984a, b; Hoyer et al. 1985). The 5-HT 1C receptor was cloned soon thereafter (Julius et al. 1988). The knowledge of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) sequence and the derived protein sequence of these receptors allowed the development of new important tools for the study of their chemical neuroanatomy. The autoradiographic localization of 5-HT 2C receptors had suffered from the lack of selective ligands. While mesulergine remains the ligand of choice, 5HT 2C sites can also be labeled by other ligands such as 5-HT self, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and DOI (1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane), but
Unmethylated‐maspin DNA in maternal plasma is associated with severe preeclampsia

Cell‐free fetal DNA in maternal plasma is associated with complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia. Determination of levels is affected by fetal gender and genetic polymorphisms. Unmethylated maspin (u‐maspin) is present in the placenta, and is placental‐specific. The purpose of this study was to determine whether u‐maspin DNA in maternal blood could serve as a marker of preeclampsia by measuring levels in different trimesters of normal pregnancies and in those complicated by preeclampsia.
Quantitative Effects of Fiscal Foresight

Changes in fiscal policy typically entail two kinds of lags: the legislative lag--between when legislation is proposed and when it is signed into law--and the implementation lag--from when a new fiscal law is enacted and when it takes effect. These lags imply that substantial time evolves between when news arrives about fiscal changes and when the changes actually take place--time when households and firms can adjust their behavior. We identify two types of fiscal news--government spending and changes in tax policy--and map the news processes into standard DSGE models. We identify news concerning taxes through the municipal bond market. If asset markets are efficient, the yield spread between tax-exempt municipal bonds and treasuries should be a function of the news concerning changes in tax policy. We identify news concerning government spending through the Survey of Professional Forecasters. We conclude that news concerning fiscal variables is a time-varying process that can have important qualitative and quantitative effects.
Analyzing Software Process Models using SAM

Software Process Analysis Method (SAM) is a practical tool for assisting developers to analyze and choose the most appropriate software process for their development. A variety of common software processes are analyzed using SAM in this paper. The results of the analysis demonstrate the use of the tool as well as several interesting relationships between the selected software processes. Keyword: Software process; Software process modeling; Software process analysis
Online Learning with Low Rank Experts

We consider the problem of prediction with expert advice when the losses of the experts have low-dimensional structure: they are restricted to an unknown $d$-dimensional subspace. We devise algorithms with regret bounds that are independent of the number of experts and depend only on the rank $d$. For the stochastic model we show a tight bound of $\Theta(\sqrt{dT})$, and extend it to a setting of an approximate $d$ subspace. For the adversarial model we show an upper bound of $O(d\sqrt{T})$ and a lower bound of $\Omega(\sqrt{dT})$.
Reverse Engineering SPARQL Queries

Semantic Web systems provide open interfaces for end-users to access data via a powerful high-level query language, SPARQL. But users unfamiliar with either the details of SPARQL or properties of the target dataset may find it easier to query by example -- give examples of the information they want (or examples of both what they want and what they do not want) and let the system reverse engineer the desired query from the examples. This approach has been heavily used in the setting of relational databases. We provide here an investigation of the reverse engineering problem in the context of SPARQL. We first provide a theoretical study, formalising variants of the reverse engineering problem and giving tight bounds on its complexity. We next explain an implementation of a reverse engineering tool for positive examples. An experimental analysis of the tool shows that it scales well in the data size, number of examples, and in the size of the smallest query that fits the data. We also give evidence that reverse engineering tools can provide benefits on real-life datasets.
IRIS: a Chat-oriented Dialogue System based on the Vector Space Model

This system demonstration paper presents IRIS (Informal Response Interactive System), a chat-oriented dialogue system based on the vector space model framework. The system belongs to the class of example-based dialogue systems and builds its chat capabilities on a dual search strategy over a large collection of dialogue samples. Additional strategies allowing for system adaptation and learning implemented over the same vector model space framework are also described and discussed.
M ar 2 00 8 FERMILAB-PUB-08-048-T A precise determination of α s from LEP thrust data using effective field theory

Starting from a factorization theorem in Soft-Collinear Effective Theory, the thrust distribution in e+e− collisions is calculated including resummation of the next-to-next-tonext-to leading logarithms. This is a significant improvement over previous calculations which were only valid to next-to-leading logarithmic order. The fixed-order expansion of the resummed result approaches the exact fixed-order distribution towards the kinematic endpoint. This close agreement provides a verification of both the effective field theory expression and recently completed next-to-next-to-leading fixed-order event shapes. The resummed distribution is then matched to fixed order, resulting in a distribution valid over a large range of thrust. A fit to aleph and opal data from lep 1 and lep 2 produces αs(mZ) = 0.1172 ± 0.0010 ± 0.0008 ± 0.0012 ± 0.0012, where the uncertainties are respectively statistical, systematic, hadronic, and perturbative. This is one of the world’s most precise extractions of αs to date.
KCC2 Gates Activity-Driven AMPA Receptor Traffic through Cofilin Phosphorylation

Expression of the neuronal K/Cl transporter KCC2 is tightly regulated throughout development and by both normal and pathological neuronal activity. Changes in KCC2 expression have often been associated with altered chloride homeostasis and GABA signaling. However, recent evidence supports a role of KCC2 in the development and function of glutamatergic synapses through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here we show that suppressing KCC2 expression in rat hippocampal neurons precludes long-term potentiation of glutamatergic synapses specifically by preventing activity-driven membrane delivery of AMPA receptors. This effect is independent of KCC2 transporter function and can be accounted for by increased Rac1/PAK- and LIMK-dependent cofilin phosphorylation and actin polymerization in dendritic spines. Our results demonstrate that KCC2 plays a critical role in the regulation of spine actin cytoskeleton and gates long-term plasticity at excitatory synapses in cortical neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Changes in the expression of neuronal chloride transporters, such as KCC2, occur during postnatal development and are induced in a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Such changes are expected to primarily impact GABA signaling because GABAA receptors are predominantly permeable to chloride ions. However, the KCC2 transporter forms clusters near glutamatergic synapses and interacts with several actin-related proteins. We show that KCC2 is strictly required for LTP expression at hippocampal excitatory synapses. This effect is due to KCC2 interaction with the Rac1/PAK signaling pathway that controls actin polymerization. Suppressing this interaction promotes actin polymerization thereby hindering AMPA receptor traffic upon KCC2 suppression. Alterations of KCC2 expression therefore impact not only GABAergic signaling but also glutamatergic synaptic function and long term plasticity.
Minimum-Speed Motions

We consider the problem of determining how fast an object must be capable of moving for it to be able to reach a given position at a given time while avoiding moving obstacles. The problem is to plan velocity profile along a given path so that collisions with moving obstacles crossing the path are avoided and the maximum velocity along the path is mini mized. Suppose the time-varying environment is fully speci fied, both in space and in time, by n linear constraints. An algorithm is presented that, given a full description of the environment and the initial configuration of the system (that is, initial position and starting time of the object), answers in O(log n) time queries of the form : "What is the lowest speed limit that the object can obey while still being able to reach the query configuration from the initial configuration without colliding with the obstacles? " The algorithm can also be used to compute a motion from the initial configuration to the query configuration that obeys the speed limit in O (n) time. The algorithm requires O(n log n) preprocessing time and O (n) space.