Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating Tree-Structured Covariance Matrices via Mixed-Integer Programming

We present a novel method for estimating tree-structured covariance matrices directly from observed continuous data. Specifically, we estimate a covariance matrix from observations of p continuous random variables encoding a stochastic process over a tree with p leaves. A representation of these classes of matrices as linear combinations of rank-one matrices indicating object partitions is used to formulate estimation as instances of well-studied numerical optimization problems.In particular, our estimates are based on projection, where the covariance estimate is the nearest tree-structured covariance matrix to an observed sample covariance matrix. The problem is posed as a linear or quadratic mixed-integer program (MIP) where a setting of the integer variables in the MIP specifies a set of tree topologies of the structured covariance matrix. We solve these problems to optimality using efficient and robust existing MIP solvers.We present a case study in phylogenetic analysis of gene expression and a simulation study comparing our method to distance-based tree estimating procedures.
Who Should Label What? Instance Allocation in Multiple Expert Active Learning

The active learning (AL) framework is an increasingly popular strategy for reducing the amount of human labeling effort required to induce a predictive model. Most work in AL has assumed that a single, infallible oracle provides labels requested by the learner at a fixed cost. However, real-world applications suitable for AL often include multiple domain experts who provide labels of varying cost and quality. We explore this multiple expert active learning (MEAL) scenario and develop a novel algorithm for instance allocation that exploits the meta-cognitive abilities of novice (cheap) experts in order to make the best use of the experienced (expensive) annotators. We demonstrate that this strategy outperforms strong baseline approaches to MEAL on both a sentiment analysis dataset and two datasets from our motivating application of biomedical citation screening. Furthermore, we provide evidence that novice labelers are often aware of which instances they are likely to mislabel.
Power-centric design of high-speed I/Os

With increasing aggregate off-chip bandwidths exceeding terabits/second (Tb/s), the power dissipation is a serious design consideration. Additionally, design of I/O links is constrained by a complex set of specifications such as voltage levels, voltage noise, signal deterministic jitter, random jitter, slew rate, BER etc. These specifications lead to complex tradeoffs for both circuits and circuit architecture in order to minimize power. This paper presents a design framework that enables the analysis of tradeoffs in the design of an I/O transmitter. The design framework includes BER analysis with a channel model coupled with logic sizing optimization that is constrained by the desired signaling specification
Inductive Conformal Martingales for Change-Point Detection

We consider the problem of quickest change-point detection in data streams. Classical change-point detection procedures, such as CUSUM, Shiryaev-Roberts and Posterior Probability statistics, are optimal only if the change-point model is known, which is an unrealistic assumption in typical applied problems. Instead we propose a new method for change-point detection based on Inductive Conformal Martingales, which requires only the independence and identical distribution of observations. We compare the proposed approach to standard methods, as well as to change-point detection oracles, which model a typical practical situation when we have only imprecise (albeit parametric) information about pre- and post-change data distributions. Results of comparison provide evidence that change-point detection based on Inductive Conformal Martingales is an efficient tool, capable to work under quite general conditions unlike traditional approaches.
Design guidelines and control of DC-DC cascaded buck converters

This paper deals with the voltage control of DC-DC cascaded buck converters. A steady-state analysis is presented, providing the design guidelines for all the parameters of two cascaded buck converters based on analytical expressions. In the sequence, a state feedback model of the converter is obtained, and after linearized. A small-signal model in the state space is provided and then augmented with an extra state variable representing integral action. A state feedback controller is used, and its gains are computed with the help of a linear quadratic regulator (LQR). The impact of parametric variations over the dynamic response are investigated and simulation results of the closed-loop system are presented, confirming good transient and steady state performances of the converter under load variations.
Evidence that the caudal brainstem is a target for the inhibitory effect of leptin on food intake.

Three experiments were performed to investigate the hypothesis that leptin action within the caudal brain stem (CBS) contributes to its intake inhibitory effects. The first experiment evaluated the anatomical distribution of leptin receptor mRNA in rat CBS using a sensitive fluorescence in situ hybridization method with a riboprobe specific for the long form of the leptin receptor (Ob-Rb). An Ob-Rb mRNA hybridization signal was detected in neurons of several CBS nuclei involved in the control of food intake, including the dorsal vagal complex and parabrachial nucleus. A strong hybridization signal was also obtained from neuronal cell bodies of a number of other structures including the hypoglossal, trigeminal, lateral reticular, and cochlear nuclei; locus ceruleus; and inferior olive. The anatomical profile revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization was in good agreement with immunocytochemical analysis with an antibody specific to Ob-Rb. In a second experiment, exploring the relevance of CBS Ob-Rb to feeding behavior, rats were given a fourth intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of leptin (0.1, 0.83, or 5.0 microg; n = 9-11/group) or vehicle 30 min before lights-out on three consecutive days. The two higher doses reduced food intake significantly at 2, 4, and 24 h after injection and caused significant reductions of body weight. The dose-response profiles for fourth i.c. v. administration were indistinguishable from those obtained from separate groups of rats that received leptin via a lateral i.c. v. cannula. In the last experiment, a ventricle-subthreshold dose of leptin (0.1 microg) microinjected unilaterally into the dorsal vagal complex suppressed food intake at 2, 4, and 24 h. The results indicate that the CBS contains neurons that are potentially direct targets for the action of leptin in the control of energy homeostasis.
Gender Difference in Symptom Presentations Among Patients With Bone Metastases in Gender-Specific and Gender-Neutral Primary Cancers

Background Studies have assessed gender differences on symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients at various stages in their disease trajectory using heterogeneous cancer populations with different tumor types. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of gender on symptoms among patients with bone metastases while controlling for gender-specific malignancies. Methods A retrospective review of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases was conducted on patients that completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) or Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaires from 1999 - 2004. Baseline and follow-up BPI and ESAS symptom scores were compared between males and females, with and without controlling for gender-specific tumors. Results A total of 900 patients completed baseline questionnaires: ESAS (n = 508) or BPI (n = 392). The most common tumor types were lung (26%), breast (25%) and prostate (24%). In all ESAS patients, females had significantly greater severity of tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety and breathlessness. In the subgroup analysis when gender-specific primary cancers were removed (i.e., breast, prostate and gynecological), no significant differences in ESAS symptoms were found between genders. The BPI functional item of walking ability was significantly worse for females in both the overall and subgroup analyses. Females had worse symptoms at follow-up prior to the removal of gender-specific primaries in both ESAS and BPI. Conclusions Gender-specific cancers may significantly bias gender studies of cancer-related symptoms when primary tumor type is not taken into account. Gender differences are best assessed in gender-neutral primaries.
Synthesized Speech Quality Evaluation Using ITU-T P.563

In this paper a method for speech quality evaluation of TTS system is presented and its usability is assessed. The ITU-T P.563 is used as a reference-free objective measurement method for speech sequences synthesized by concatenative TTS system. The method was examined and the achieved results were compared to those measured by subjective auditory tests and their correlation values were observed. It was shown that this method is useful for automatic evaluation of synthetic speech quality after major revisions of TTS systems, without the need for preparation and execution of time consuming and expensive subjective tests.
User Recommendations in Reciprocal and Bipartite Social Networks--An Online Dating Case Study

Many social networks in our daily life are bipartite networks built on reciprocity. How can we make recommendations to others so that the user is interested in and attractive to those other users whom we've recommended? We propose a new collaborative-filtering model to improve user recommendations in bipartite and reciprocal social networks. The model considers a user's taste in picking others and attractiveness in being picked by others. A case study of an online dating network shows that the approach offers good performance in recommending both initial and reciprocal contacts.
Study of Multi-Freedom Myoelectric Prostheses with Tactile Sense

This paper designs a bionic artificial hand that has a tactile sensing, two degrees of freedom, driven by surface electro-myography (SEMG). The tactile sensor applying PVDF as a sensitive material, fitted the finger of artificial hand, has a good dynamic response. The tactile sense is spread to the user by an electric shock generator. Using improved power spectrum ratio and data fusion method based on statistical decision-making of Bayes, the movements of hand are recognized from SEMG. The experiment proves that it is a good way that the hand is controlled by SEMG combining with tactile sensor
Predicting RF field penetration in heterogeneous bodies using a 3‐D finite element approach: Preliminary results

We present preliminary results for a 3D finite element calculation to evaluate RF penetration in conducting dielectric materials at high field strengths. A tetrahedral mesh is used along with a Coulomb gauge constraint in a finite element method that yields excellent numerical stability at high frequencies. Accuracy is verified by comparisons with analytic solutions for single‐layer and multiple‐layer heterogeneous systems and for a 3D spherical model. We have also compared the finite element model with experimental results presented by Foo et al., Magn. Reson. Med. 23, (1992). Agreement is very good and argues for the usefulness of the method in the calculation of RF penetration and RF power deposition effects in heterogeneous objects.
Basilar artery vasospasm after pretuncal non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage responding to milrinone

Pretruncal (perimesencephalic) non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (PNSAH) is uniformly associated with an excellent outcome. Although cerebral vasospasm remains a common complication of SAH and constitutes an important predictor of outcome, in the setting of PNSAH, it is extremely rare. Preturnal non-aneurysmal subarac refers to a subset of SAH patients with a characteristic pattern of localized blood on CT of the head, normal cerebral angiography, and benign course when compared to the aneurysmal SAH population. The presence of radiological or even clinical vasospasm does not exclude the diagnosis of PNSAH. To our knowledge, this is the first case of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm due to PNSAH that responded to milrinone.
HGT-Finder: A New Tool for Horizontal Gene Transfer Finding and Application to Aspergillus genomes

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a fast-track mechanism that allows genetically unrelated organisms to exchange genes for rapid environmental adaptation. We developed a new phyletic distribution-based software, HGT-Finder, which implements a novel bioinformatics algorithm to calculate a horizontal transfer index and a probability value for each query gene. Applying this new tool to the Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus nidulans genomes, we found 273, 542, and 715 transferred genes (HTGs), respectively. HTGs have shorter length, higher guanine-cytosine (GC) content, and relaxed selection pressure. Metabolic process and secondary metabolism functions are significantly enriched in HTGs. Gene clustering analysis showed that 61%, 41% and 74% of HTGs in the three genomes form physically linked gene clusters (HTGCs). Overlapping manually curated, secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGCs) with HTGCs found that 9 of the 33 A. fumigatus SMGCs and 31 of the 65 A. nidulans SMGCs share genes with HTGCs, and that HTGs are significantly enriched in SMGCs. Our genome-wide analysis thus presented very strong evidence to support the hypothesis that HGT has played a very critical role in the evolution of SMGCs. The program is freely available at http://cys.bios. niu.edu/HGTFinder/HGTFinder.tar. gz.
Use of Platelet Indices for Determining Illness Severity and Predicting Prognosis in Critically Ill Patients

Background: Decreased platelet (PLT) count is one of the independent risk factors for mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study was to investigate the relationship between PLT indices and illness severity and their performances in predicting hospital mortality. Methods: Adult patients who admitted to ICU of Changzheng Hospital from January 2011 to September 2012 and met inclusion criteria were included in this study. Univariate analysis was used to identify potential independent risk factors for mortality. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio for mortality in patients with normal or abnormal PLT indices. The relationship between PLT indices and illness severity were assessed by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores or sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores in patients with normal and abnormal PLT indices. The performances of PLT indices in predicting mortality were assessed by receiver operating curves and diagnostic parameters. The survival curves between patients with normal and abnormal PLT indices were compared using Kaplan–Meier method. Results: From January 2011 to September 2012, 261 of 361 patients (204 survivors and 57 nonsurvivors) met the inclusion criteria. After adjustment for clinical variables, PLT count <100 × 1012/L (P = 0.011), plateletcrit (PCT) <0.108 (P = 0.002), mean platelet volume (MPV) >11.3 fL (P = 0.023) and platelet distribution width (PDW) percentage >17% (P = 0.009) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. The APACHE II and SOFA scores were 14.0 (9.0–20.0) and 7.0 (5.0–10.5) in the “low PLT” tertile, 13.0 (8.0–16.0) and 7.0 (4.0–11.0) in the “low PCT” tertile, 14.0 (9.3–19.0) and 7.0 (4.0–9.8) in the “high MPV” tertile, 14.0 (10.5–20.0) and 7.0 (5.0–11.0) in the “high PDW” tertile, all of which were higher than those in patients with normal indices. Patients with decreased PLT and PCT values (all P < 0.001), or increased MPV and PDW values (P = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively) had shortened length of survival than those with normal PLT indices. Conclusions: Patients with abnormally low PLT count, high MPV value, and high PDW value were associated with more severe illness and had higher risk of death as compared to patients with normal PLT indices.
TENDON DRIVEN ROBOTIC HANDS : A REVIEW

As the development of light weight, small volume and versatile manipulators has grown in the field of robotics, the need for more efficient and relevant power transmission systems in the manipulators has become increasingly apparent. It is clear that the advent of efficient, low friction and backlash free actuation systems promises to provide significant gains in manipulator performance. Tendon transmission has been widely used to actuate small volume and light weight articulated manipulators such as dexterous mechanical hands, for it permits actuators to be installed remotely from the end effector, thus reducing the bulk and inertia of the manipulator system. Hence a fundamental understanding of tendon transmission is becoming necessary and important in the field of robotics. This study serves as survey and compiles different aspects of tendon driven robotic hand existing in literature.
The influence of social dependencies on decision-making: initial investigations with a new game

This paper describes a new multi-player computer game, Colored Trails (CT), which may be played by people, computers and heterogeneous groups. CT was designed to enable investigation of properties of decision-making strategies in multi-agent situations of varying complexity. The paper presents the results of an initial series of experiments of CT games in which agentsý choices affected not only their own outcomes but also the outcomes of other agents. It compares the behavior of people with that of computer agents deploying a variety of decision-making strategies. The results align with behavioral economics studies in showing that people cooperate when they play and that factors of social dependency influence their levels of cooperation. Preliminary results indicate that people design agents to play strategies closer to game-theory predictions, yielding lower utility. Additional experiments show that such agents perform worse than agents designed to make choices that resemble human cooperative behavior. The paper describes challenges raised by these results for designers of agents, especially agents that need to operate in heterogeneous groups that include people.
The Problem Of Verbal Reports In Recreation Research: Review, Recommendations, and New Directions

-Recent work of cognitive and social psychologists has questioned the ability of subjects to accurately remember and report their experiences. This has particular significance for recreation research as the survey questions we ask of visitors change from more stable visit and group characteristics to reports of conditions, experiences and feelings. Strategies exist to encourage accurate recall, particlarly by minimizing the delay between event and report such as is provided by the Experience Sampling Method.
Efficient Block Device Sharing over Myrinet with Memory Bypass

Efficient sharing of block devices over an interconnection network is an important step in deploying a shared-disk parallel file system on a cluster of SMPs. In this paper represent gmbock, a client/server system for network sharing of storage devices over Myrinet, which uses an optimized data path in order to transfer data directly from the storage medium to the NIC, bypassing the host CPU and main memory bus. Its design enhances existing programming abstractions, combining the user level networking characteristics of Myrinet with Linux's virtual memory infrastructure, in order to construct the datapath in a way that is independent of the type of block device used. Experimental evaluation of a prototype system shows that remote I/O bandwidth can improve up to 36.5%, compared to an RDMA-based implementation. Moreover, interference on the main memory bus of the host is minimized, leading to an up to 41% improvement in the execution time of memory-intensive applications.
Grammatikalisierung im Deutschen

The contributions in this volume examine a representative spectrum of phenomena in the grammaticalization of the German language. At the center of the study is the question concerning the legitimacy of the often hypothetically-postulated unidirectionality of grammaticalization cycles. The volume documents the trends in current linguistic research discussions, in which typological, diachronic, and synchronic questions come together.
New Method for Removing Thermosensitive Acrylic Punctal Plugs From Lacrimal Puncta

Purpose: This study explored a new method for removing thermosensitive acrylic punctal plugs from lacrimal puncta. Methods: A total of 14 dry eye patients (14 eyes), who required the removal of thermosensitive acrylic punctal plugs from the lacrimal puncta because of serious complications, were recruited. Among the 14 patients, lacrimal punctal granuloma formation occurred in 3 patients, tearing occurred in 6 patients, canaliculitis occurred in 3 patients, and chronic inflammation of the ocular surface occurred in 2 patients. The plugs were removed using a new method. Briefly, after local anesthesia was administered, a small lid clamp was used to flip the eyelid outward. After the application of the lid clamp, the plug could be removed without the use of any additional tools if the lacrimal punctum was large enough. If the lacrimal punctum was not large enough, microforceps were used to expand the lacrimal punctum before the application of the lid clamp. If the plug still could not be removed after the expansion of the lacrimal punctum, we moved the small lid clamp from the distal side of the lacrimal ductule to the lacrimal punctum. Results: Using this method, the plug was successfully removed in all of the patients. Conclusions: This is a simple and effective method for removing thermosensitive acrylic punctal plugs from lacrimal puncta. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-IPR-14005476.
Task assignment and scheduling under memory constraints

Many DSP and image processing embedded systems have hard memory constraints which makes it difficult to find a good task assignment and scheduling which fulfill these constraints. The paper presents a new heuristic developed for task assignment and scheduling for such systems. These systems also have a large number of constraints of different nature, such as cost, execution time, memory capacity and limitations on resource usage. The heterogeneous constraints require new synthesis methods which will take them into account while searching for a valid solution. The heuristic presented in the paper is a part of the CLASS system (Constraint Logic Programming based System Synthesis).
TAF neural network for handwritten digits recognition

This paper investigates the application of TAF (trainable activation function) neural network to handwritten digit recognition. A three-layer feedforward TAF neural network is used as digits recognizer. Each TAF neuron in the hidden layer acts as a two-class classifier which distinguishes the two pattern classes from each other. The output layer gives output for decision making. While many approaches have bean suggested for this application the proposed method is new and has the advantage of small network size and good recognition performance. Experiments performed on selected digits from NIST database demonstrated that about 99% correct recognition rate has been achieved.