Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution and Incremental Learning in the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma

This paper examines the comparative performance and adaptability of evolutionary, learning, and memetic strategies to different environment settings in the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD). A memetic adaptation framework is developed for IPD strategies to exploit the complementary features of evolution and learning. In the paradigm, learning serves as a form of directed search to guide evolving strategies to attain eventual convergence towards good strategy traits, while evolution helps to minimize disparity in performance among learning strategies. Furthermore, a double-loop incremental learning scheme (ILS) that incorporates a classification component, probabilistic update of strategies and a feedback learning mechanism is proposed and incorporated into the evolutionary process. A series of simulation results verify that the two techniques, when employed together, are able to complement each other's strengths and compensate for each other's weaknesses, leading to the formation of strategies that will adapt and thrive well in complex, dynamic environments.
Novel Method for Detection, Typing, and Quantification of Human Papillomaviruses in Clinical Samples

ABSTRACT We report the development of a novel detection and typing methodology for human papillomaviruses (HPV) based on real-time PCR with the self-probing fluorescent primers known as Scorpions. This technique is quick, simple, specific, sensitive, and capable of estimating viral load per cell. We report the results of over 100 typing reactions performed on cell lines, biopsies, and cervical cytobrush samples which, when compared to the current reference HPV detection and typing technique, present a κ value of 0.89. We further report preliminary data suggesting a relationship between viral load per cell and grade of cervical disease.
Portraying user life status from microblogging posts

Microblogging services provide a novel and popular communication scheme for Web users to share information and express opinions by publishing short posts, which usually reflect the users' daily life. We can thus model the users' daily status and interests according to their posts. Because of the high complexity and the large amount of the content of the microblog users' posts, it is necessary to provide a quick summary of the users' life status, both for personal users and commercial services. It is non-trivial to summarize the life status of microblog users, particularly when the summary is conducted over a long period. In this paper, we present a compact interactive visualization prototype, LifeCircle, as an efficient summary for exploring the long-term life status of microblog users. The radial visualization provides multiple views for a given microblog user, including annual topics, monthly keywords, monthly sentiments, and temporal trends of posts. We tightly integrate interactive visualization with novel and state-of-the-art microblogging analytics to maximize their advantages. We implement LifeCircle on Sina Weibo, the most popular microblogging service in China, and illustrate the effectiveness of our prototype with various case studies. Results show that our prototype makes users nostalgic and makes them reminiscent about past events, which helps them to better understand themselves and others.
Finite element analysis of harmonic frequency for 2.4GHz SAW tags

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags were invented more than 30 years ago, but only nowadays the conditions are united for mass-application. A 2.4GHz SAW tag that is significantly smaller than earlier reported tags can be routinely produced with optical lithography. The operation principle of SAW tag is shown in Fig.1 [1]. When a SAW tag enters the monitoring range of the reader, an interrogating microwave signal from reader antenna is received by the tag antenna and then converted into a surface acoustic wave by the inter-digital transducer (IDT). The excited SAW propagates with a relatively low velocity compared to the speed of electromagnetic wave. Several reflectors locate at the SAW propagating path on the tag surface, and each reflector gives rise a partial reflection of the interrogating pulse. After a certain delay, which is proportional to the distance between the reflectors and the IDT, the reflected SAW is reconverted into an electrical signal by the IDT and is retransmitted by the tag's antenna as a microwave signal to the reader.
Postsurgical chemotherapy in stage IB nonsmall cell lung cancer: Long‐term survival in a randomized study

Although surgical resection is considered the adequate treatment in early stages of nonsmall cell lung cancer, long‐term survival is not satisfactory and recurrence rate is high. We previously showed that postoperative chemotherapy at stage IB reduces recurrences and prolongs overall survival. We extended size and observation period of the study sample and performed a separate analysis for minimally resected patients. The trial was designed as a randomized, 2‐armed study with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery alone as control group. All patients had stage IB disease (pT2N0) assessed after a radical surgical procedure (defined as anatomical or minimal). Chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin (100 mg/m2 day 1) and etoposide (120 mg/m2 days 1–3) for 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary endpoint was disease‐free survival (DFS). One hundred and forty patients entered the study: 70 were assigned to the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 70 to the control group. Groups were homogeneous for conventional risk factors. There was no clinically significant morbidity associated to chemotherapy. Patients were followed for a mean period of 40.31 ± 30.86 months. A significant difference in overall (p = 0.02) and disease‐free (p = 0.0001) survival was observed between patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy vs. control group. Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved both overall (p = 0.02) and DFS (p = 0.003) of anatomically resected patients, but only the DFS (p = 0.02) of minimally resected patients. Our results confirm that adjuvant chemotherapy may have a real impact on long‐term survival in patients with stage IB nonsmall cell lung cancer being this effect especially evident for those anatomically resected. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Amelogenin p.M1T and p.W4S Mutations Underlying Hypoplastic X-linked Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Mutations in the human amelogenin gene (AMELX, Xp22.3) cause a phenotypically diverse set of inherited enamel malformations. We hypothesize that the effects of specific mutations on amelogenin protein structure and expression will correlate with the enamel phenotype, clarify amelogenin structure/function relationships, and improve the clinical diagnosis of X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). We have identified two kindreds with X-linked AI and characterized the AMELX mutations underlying their AI phenotypes. The two missense mutations are both in exon 2 and affect the translation initiation codon and/or the secretion of amelogenin (p.M1T and p.W4S), resulting in hypoplastic enamel. Primary anterior teeth from affected females with the p.M1T mutation were characterized by light and scanning electron microscopy. The thin enamel had defective prism organization, and the surface was rough and pitted. Dentin was normal. The severity of the enamel phenotype correlated with the predicted effects of the mutations on amelogenin expression and secretion.
βig-h3 Represses T-Cell Activation in Type 1 Diabetes

βig-h3/TGF-βi is a secreted protein capable of binding to both extracellular matrix and cells. Human genetic studies recently revealed that in the tgfbi gene encoding for βig-h3, three single nucleotide polymorphisms were significantly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk. Pancreatic islets express βig-h3 in physiological conditions, but this expression is reduced in β-cell insult in T1D. Since the integrity of islets is destroyed by autoimmune T lymphocytes, we thought to investigate the impact of βig-h3 on T-cell activation. We show here that βig-h3 inhibits T-cell activation markers as well as cytotoxic molecule production as granzyme B and IFN-γ. Furthermore, βig-h3 inhibits early T-cell receptor signaling by repressing the activation of the early kinase protein Lck. Moreover, βig-h3–treated T cells are unable to induce T1D upon transfer in Rag2 knockout mice. Our study demonstrates for the first time that T-cell activation is modulated by βig-h3, an islet extracellular protein, in order to efficiently avoid autoimmune response.
Deposition of optically transparent IR reflective coatings on glass.

The TiO2/Ag/TiO2 multilayer configuration forms an optically transparent IR reflective coating. In such multilayer films the dielectric layers are generally deposited by rf sputtering. The deposition of TiO2 films from liquid polymer solutions employed in this work gives substantial advantages over the sputtering method in both cost and adaptability of the coating to various substrate shapes. In this method, however, the optical properties, e.g., refractive index, of the polymer-deposited films, are significantly dependent on certain processing parameters. This manuscript discusses the formation of transparent IR reflective films on fused silica and soda-lime glasses. Particular attention is given to providing spectral transmission characteristics that result in the maximum energy savings in incandescent lighting use, since the tungsten filament radiates over 80% of its energy in the infrared range and recovery of this energy would represent substantial energy conservation. The initial experiments with coated light bulbs showed an increase of efficiency as high as 30–40%.
Role of free space in translocation in sugar beet.

The involvement of the free space in phloem loading of sucrose was studied in sugar beet source leaves (Beta vulgaris, L.). Sucrose, supplied exogenously to the abraded upper surface of leaves at a concentration of 20 mm, was available for translocation at rates similar to those obtained with photosynthesis. The exogenous sucrose substituted as a source of translocate for assimilate derived from photosynthesis when the latter process was disrupted by plasmolysis of the leaf with 0.8 M mannitol. The mesophyll symplast was not completely disrupted by this treatment, however. Data from the sugar uptake experiments indicate that phloem loading can occur from the free space.Isotope trapping of labeled sugars derived from (14)CO(2) was used to intercept and identify sugars passing through the free space prior to phloem loading. Increased translocation rates induced by 4 mm ATP or increased light intensity were accompanied by increased trapping of sucrose but not of glucose. The data support the view that sucrose passes into the free space prior to phloem loading.
Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Coregulators, and Epigenetic Modulation in the Control of Pulmonary Vascular Cell Phenotype: Therapeutic Implications for Pulmonary Hypertension (2015 Grover Conference Series)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex and multifactorial disease involving genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Numerous stimuli and pathological conditions facilitate severe vascular remodeling in PH by activation of a complex cascade of signaling pathways involving vascular cell proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation. Multiple signaling cascades modulate the activity of certain sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) and coregulators that are critical for the transcriptional regulation of gene expression that facilitates PH-associated vascular cell phenotypes, as demonstrated by several studies summarized in this review. Past studies have largely focused on the role of the genetic component in the development of PH, while the presence of epigenetic alterations such as microRNAs, DNA methylation, histone levels, and histone deacetylases in PH is now also receiving increasing attention. Epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure is also recognized to influence gene expression in development or disease states. Therefore, a complete understanding of the mechanisms involved in altered gene expression in diseased cells is vital for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. Recent technological advances in DNA sequencing will provide a comprehensive improvement in our understanding of mechanisms involved in the development of PH. This review summarizes current concepts in TF and epigenetic control of cell phenotype in pulmonary vascular disease and discusses the current issues and possibilities in employing potential epigenetic or TF-based therapies for achieving complete reversal of PH.
On the Relationship between Economic Growth and CO2 Emissions: The Bangladesh Experience

This paper investigate changes in economic structure and trends of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with GDP per capita of Bangladesh. The paper also examine the relationship between economic growth (GDP per capita) and CO2 emissions of Bangladesh based on the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, using World Bank data over 1972-2010. By estimating the EKC for the period 1972-2010, the existence of EKC "U" shape does not hold. It is also seen that a faster structural shift from agriculture to non-agriculture and emergence of services as the dominant part of the economy so CO2 emissions shows uprising trend.
A role for peripheral GDNF signaling in ischemic myalgia development

Group III/IV muscle afferents transduce nociceptive signals and modulate exercise pressor reflexes (EPR). However, the mechanisms governing afferent responsiveness to dually modulate these processes are not well characterized. Peripheral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury provides an opportunity to study both processes simultaneously. We recently showed that ischemic injury induced increased pain-related behaviors and exacerbated EPRs in the same mice. After I/R, ischemic-myalgia-like behaviors correlated with primary muscle afferent sensitization and increased expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in injured muscle and increased expression of GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) in DRGs. Here we report that increased GDNF/GFR1 signaling to sensory neurons from I/R affected muscle modulated pain-related behaviors, increased EPRs, and group III/IV muscle afferent sensitization. This appeared to have taken effect through increased CREB/CREB-binding protein (CBP) mediated expression of the purinergic receptor P2X5 in the DRGs. Inhibition of GFR, P2X5, or CREB/CBP signaling each inhibited the development of pain-related behaviors and altered EPRs post I/R. Anti-GDNF antibodies injected into affected muscle also successfully prevented development of observed ischemic-myalgia-like behaviors. Muscle GDNF signaling to neurons may play an important dual role in nociception and sympathetic reflexes and could provide a novel therapeutic target for treating complications from I/R injuries.
Key issues of incorporating social network effects in product portfolio planning

Recent advances in social media have profound technical and economic implications for innovative product design. With focus on the interface of marketing and engineering design, this paper reviews the emerging trends and key technical issues of incorporating social network effects in product design. Key issues are examined in order to understand how peer influence of one's social networks affects one's preference and choice behavior towards product adoption.
Rehab@home: a tool for home-based motor function rehabilitation

Abstract Purpose: This paper presents the Rehab@home system, a tool specifically developed for helping neurological patients performing rehabilitation exercises at home, without the presence of a physiotherapist. It is centred on the rehabilitation of balance and on the sit-to-stand (STS) movement. Method: Rehab@home is composed of two Wii balance boards, a webcam and a computer, and it has two main software applications: one for patients to perform rehabilitation exercises and another one for therapists to visualize the data of the exercises. During the exercises, data from the boards and the webcam are processed in order to automatically assess the correctness of movements. Results: Rehab@home provides exercises for the rehabilitation of balance (in sitting and in standing positions), and for the execution of the STS movement. It gives automatic feedback to the patient and data are saved for future analysis. The therapist is able to adapt the difficulty of the exercises to match with each patient's needs. A preliminary study with seven patients was conducted for evaluating their feedback. They appreciated using the system and felt the exercises more engaging than conventional therapy. Conclusions: Feedback from patients gives the hope that Rehab@home can become a great tool for complementing their rehabilitation process. Implications for Rehabilitation Rehab@home can be used at home by patients with motor deficits, without the presence of a therapist, as a complement to conventional therapy for accelerating the rehabilitation process. The system provides exercises for improving the balance and the STS movement capabilities of patients, gives automatic feedback, and saves video and load information from the movements for future analysis by the therapist. Its most important feature is adaptability: the therapist is able to tune the difficulty of the exercises for adapting them to the needs of each patient. Patients get more engaged for this type of exercises and think they can take profit from using it.
Wind gust estimation for Mid-European winter storms: towards a probabilistic view

Abstract Three wind gust estimation (WGE) methods implemented in the numerical weather prediction (NWP) model COSMO-CLM are evaluated with respect to their forecast quality using skill scores. Two methods estimate gusts locally from mean wind speed and the turbulence state of the atmosphere, while the third one considers the mixing-down of high momentum within the planetary boundary layer (WGE Brasseur). One hundred and fifty-eight windstorms from the last four decades are simulated and results are compared with gust observations at 37 stations in Germany. Skill scores reveal that the local WGE methods show an overall better behaviour, whilst WGE Brasseur performs less well except for mountain regions. The here introduced WGE turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) permits a probabilistic interpretation using statistical characteristics of gusts at observational sites for an assessment of uncertainty. The WGE TKE formulation has the advantage of a ‘native’ interpretation of wind gusts as result of local appearance of TKE. The inclusion of a probabilistic WGE TKE approach in NWP models has, thus, several advantages over other methods, as it has the potential for an estimation of uncertainties of gusts at observational sites.
A LIGNING GOALS AND MONITORING SUPPLIERS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Involving suppliers in NPD is becoming more important to firms in order to incorporate the latest technology into their products. In such relationships the buying firm is often more powerful than the supplier. However, this paper involves some suppliers that are equally powerful as the buying firm. To study these relationships we apply agency theory on the NPD projects where the buying firm is the principal and the suppliers are the agents. Goal incongruence, control and monitoring of projects are investigated by studying three projects at a high-tech telecommunication firm. To achieve goal alignment, length of the relationship and sharing of technology roadmaps were identified as important mechanisms. In contrast to our expectations, that black-box development would suggest output control, we find that also process and social control are applied in these relationships. Process and social control is present because these suppliers need to be motivated to share technical knowledge. Also, long term commitment from the buying firm was shown to be important. The level of monitoring varied in the projects and depended on the closeness of the relationship as well as the power position of the supplier.
A Randomized Space-Time Spreading Scheme for Massive MIMO Channels

We consider a wireless transmission scheme based on randomized space-time spreading (STS) systems over massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. In the systems, the signals are spread by spreading matrices over time and antenna domains at the transmitter. We propose that the spreading matrices are generated from binary pseudo-noise (PN) and mutual quasi-orthogonal sequences, by partitioning each of the sequences into subsequences treated as real and imagination parts of rows or columns of a spreading matrix. We give a likelihood ascent search (LAS) detector for the STS systems and analyze its computational complexity. The number of multiplication and division operations for the LAS detector does not depend on its iterative process and the number of chips in the bit period. We use Monte Carlo method to solve the bit error rates (BERs) of the STS systems and to count numbers of evaluating bits in the LAS detectors. We choose the system parameters, such as the number of chips in the bit period and the transmission bit rates, according to BER performance and/or the numbers of evaluating bits attained from Monte-Carlo method. With the spreading matrices, the detection, and the suitable parameters, the STS systems achieve BERs near to their single-bit performance, which is the BER of a STS system with a single bit spread by orthonormal sequences at each transmitting antenna. We also compare our systems with V-BLAST-like spatial multiplexing systems with BPSK signals to show the improvement of the BER performance.
Exploitation du contexte sémantique pour améliorer la reconnaissance des noms propres dans les documents audio diachroniques

La nature diachronique des bulletins d'information provoque de fortes variations du contenu linguistique et du vocabulaire dans ces documents. Dans le cadre de la reconnaissance automatique de la parole, cela conduit au probleme de mots hors vocabulaire (Out-Of-Vocabulary, OOV). La plupart des mots OOV sont des noms propres. Les noms propres sont tres importants pour l'indexation automatique de contenus audio-video. De plus, leur bonne identification est importante pour des transcriptions automatiques fiables. Le but de cette these est de proposer des methodes pour recuperer les noms propres manquants dans un systeme de reconnaissance. Nous proposons de modeliser le contexte semantique et d'utiliser des informations thematiques contenus dans les documents audio a transcrire. Des modeles probabilistes de theme et des projections dans un espace continu obtenues a l'aide de reseaux de neurones sont explores pour la tâche de recuperation des noms propres pertinents. Une evaluation approfondie de ces representations contextuelles a ete realisee. Pour modeliser le contexte de nouveaux mots plus efficacement, nous proposons des reseaux de neurones qui maximisent la recuperation des noms propres pertinents. En s'appuyant sur ce modele, nous proposons un nouveau modele (Neural Bag-of-Weighted-Words, NBOW2) qui permet d'estimer un degre d'importance pour chacun des mots du document et a la capacite de capturer des mots specifiques a ce document. Des experiences de reconnaissance automatique de bulletins d'information televises montrent l'efficacite du modele propose. L'evaluation de NBOW2 sur d'autres tâches telles que la classification de textes montre des bonnes performances