Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Study of the Short‐Term Psychotropic Effects of GPA 2640

Thirty-two anxious nonpsychotic inpatients participated in a four-day, double-blind repeat crossover study of a new drug, GPA 2640, and placebo. Each treatment period lasted for one day, and the study lasted for four days. Twenty patients completed the study, and 28 completed two or three days. The doses were individually adjusted and mostly ranged between 1100 and 1300 mg daily. Several valid observer-rating and self-rating scales were used. There was a slight trend for GPA 2640 to yield somewhat lower anxiety scores on drug days than on placebo days, but none of the differences between rating and self-rating scores reached a significant level. A few patients reported a marked improvement in mood after two to four days, but the significance of this finding cannot be evaluated from this design. Two patients developed temporary paranoid delusions which may have been drug related. Two patients had raised SGOT levels after the study. There were no significant differences in vital signs between drug days and placebo days. The results signify that the drug has no immediate antianxiety effects (such as have been demonstrated with benzodiazepines in two previous studies utilizing the same design). This does not preclude the possibility of delayed anxiolytic effects or of other delayed psychotropic effects such as can be observed with antipsychotic drugs or antidepressants.
Experiments for Evaluating Sensors' Precision in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a set of experiments for evaluating sensors’ precision in measuring received signal strength indicator (RSSI) in wireless sensor networks (WSN). More specifically, a WSN application is implemented for collecting RSSI measurements in different conditions. The application consists of two parts: an experiment control script which runs on a computer, and an experiment sensor firmware which runs on each WSN node. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed to determine if the WSN nodes used are manufactured with enough precision. Obtained results demonstrate that the differences between the sensors are insignificant, even if the RSSI measurements have significant variation.
Evaluation of an In Vitro Assay for Gamma Interferon Production in Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections

ABSTRACT The tuberculin skin test (TST) is the “gold standard” for detecting infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We compared the TST using purified protein derivative to the QuantiFERON-TB test (QFT). Two groups were examined. Group 1 individuals (n = 66) (low risk) were at low risk for exposure to M. tuberculosis and were not Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccinated. Group 2 (n = 29) include individuals who were likely to have been exposed to a high prevalence of M. tuberculosis infections and were BCG vaccinated. Group 1 individuals were given a TST. Group 2 individuals were not given a TST because of possible adverse reactions. A 10- to 15-mm indurated area 48 h after TST was considered positive. A positive QFT result was defined as a significant gamma interferon response to M. tuberculosis antigen, Mycobacterium avium antigen, and a nonspecific mitogen stimulus and no response in the negative control. In group 1, 60 of 66 individuals (90.9%) were negative by both methods, and 1 person was positive by both methods. There was one QFT-negative, TST-positive case, one QFT-positive, TST-negative case, and three conditional QFT-positive, TST-negative cases. In group 2, 12 of 29 (41.4%) were positive by QFT and considered likely to be TST positive because of prior BCG vaccination. QFT testing in our low-risk group resulted in an agreement of 96.8%, a sensitivity of 50%, and a specificity of 98.4% compared with TST results. QFT testing with TST in low-risk groups can aid in the detection of latent M. tuberculosis infections.
Locality-aware Connection Management and Rank Assignment forWide-area MPI

We propose a connection management scheme that limits the number of inter-cluster connections and forwards messages for processes that cannot communicate directly. We also propose a rank assignment scheme that finds rank-process mappings with low communication overhead by solving the quadratic assignment problem. Our proposed methods perform locality-aware communication optimizations, and do so without tedious manual configuration by obtaining latency and traffic information from a short profiling run of the environment and the application. Using these methods, we implemented a wide-area-enabled MPI library called MC-MPI, and evaluated its performance by running the NAS parallel benchmarks on 256 real nodes distributed across 4 clusters. MC-MPI was able to limit the number of process pairs that established connections to just 10% without suffering a performance penalty. Moreover, MC-MPI was able to find rank assignments that resulted in up to 160% better performance than locality-unaware assignments.
NODULE ROOT and COCHLEATA Maintain Nodule Development and Are Legume Orthologs of Arabidopsis BLADE-ON-PETIOLE Genes[W][OA]

Medicago truncatula NOOT and Pisum sativum COCH were found to maintain nodule identity during symbiotic interactions with rhizobia and were identified as orthologs of Arabidopsis BLADE-ON-PETIOLE genes, which are involved in leaf and flower development. During their symbiotic interaction with rhizobia, legume plants develop symbiosis-specific organs on their roots, called nodules, that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The molecular mechanisms governing the identity and maintenance of these organs are unknown. Using Medicago truncatula nodule root (noot) mutants and pea (Pisum sativum) cochleata (coch) mutants, which are characterized by the abnormal development of roots from the nodule, we identified the NOOT and COCH genes as being necessary for the robust maintenance of nodule identity throughout the nodule developmental program. NOOT and COCH are Arabidopsis thaliana BLADE-ON-PETIOLE orthologs, and we have shown that their functions in leaf and flower development are conserved in M. truncatula and pea. The identification of these two genes defines a clade in the BTB/POZ-ankyrin domain proteins that shares conserved functions in eudicot organ development and suggests that NOOT and COCH were recruited to repress root identity in the legume symbiotic organ.
Abstract—an Important Step in Three-dimensional Reconstruction

and computer vision is camera calibrationˈwhose objective is to estimate the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of each camera. In this paper, two linear methods based on the different planes are given. In both methods, the general plane is used to replace the calibration object with very good precision. In the first method, after controlling the camera to undergo five times' translation movements and taking pictures of the orthogonal planes, a set of linear constraints of the camera intrinsic parameters is then derived by means of homography matrix. The second method is to get all camera parameters by taking only one picture of a given radius circle. experiments on simulated data and real images,indicate that our method is reasonable and is a good supplement to camera calibration.
Low Cost Ultrasonic Positioning System for Mobile Robots

This paper describes a simple low-cost 2D and 3D positioning system for mobile robots. The system makes use of both ultrasound and radio frequency signals to achieve positional accuracies better than 1% of the tracked volume. Furthermore, we have integrated the positioning system into the simulation tools Player/Stage, in order to combine simulated robots with real robots in a ‘hybrid’ embodied simulation. The paper presents measurements from using the positioning system for both 3D tracking and 3D closed loop control.
A Meta-analysis Assessing Postsurgical Outcomes between Aseptic and Sterile AlloDerm Regenerative Tissue Matrix

Background: AlloDerm, a human acellular dermal matrix, is available in a ready-to-use (RTU) or freeze-dried (FD) form. A limited number of studies have compared complication rates between RTU and FD in implant-based breast reconstruction. The objective of this report was to conduct a meta-analysis of previously reported complication rates between RTU and FD. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted from 2010 to 2014 and supplemented by hand searches. Included studies compared both RTU and FD. Odds ratios and relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI), taking into account study heterogeneity, were calculated. Studies reporting patient-level results as opposed to breast-level results were excluded from the primary analysis but included in subsequent sensitivity analyses. Variable follow-up time within and between studies was also considered in a sensitivity analysis. Results: Of the 275 identified studies, 115 studies were eligible for detailed review. Only 5 studies compared RTU with FD, and of these, 2 studies had breast-level data and 1 study had patient-level data appropriate for meta-analysis. The 2 studies included in the primary meta-analysis had a pooled sample size: n = 116 RTU and n = 109 FD patients, or 205 and 186 breasts, respectively. Age and body mass index were similar between groups. Across all meta-analyses, there were no differences in complication rates between RTU and FD: cellulitis (RR = 0.863; 95% CI, 0.272–2.740), seroma (RR = 0.553; 95% CI, 0.026–11.830), and explantation (RR = 0.593; 95% CI, 0.247–1.425). Results remained nonsignificant even after adjustment for variable follow-up time. Conclusion: The results suggest that there are no differences in complication rates between RTU and FD forms.
Stochastic Shortest Path Problems Under Weak Conditions

In this paper we weaken the conditions under which some of the basic analytical and algorithmic results for finite-state stochastic shortest path problems hold. We provide an analysis under three types of assumptions, under all of which the standard form of policy iteration may fail, and other anomalies may occur. In the first type of assumptions, we require a standard compactness and continuity condition, as well as the existence of an optimal proper policy, thereby allowing positive and negative costs per stage, and improper policies with finite cost at all states. The analysis is based on introducing an additive perturbation δ > 0 to the cost per stage, which drives the cost of improper policies to infinity. By considering the δ-perturbed problem and taking the limit as δ ↓ 0, we show the validity of Bellman’s equation and value iteration, and we construct a convergent policy iteration algorithm that uses a diminishing sequence of perturbations. In the second type of assumptions we require nonpositive one-stage costs and we give policy iteration algorithms that are optimistic and do not require the use of perturbations. In the third type of assumptions we require nonnegative one-stage costs, as well as the compactness and continuity condition, and we convert the problem to an equivalent stochastic shortest path problem for which the existing theory applies. Using this transformation, we address the uniqueness of solution of Bellman’s equation, the convergence of value iteration, and the convergence of some variants of policy iteration. Our analysis and algorithms under the second and third type of assumptions fully apply to finite-state positive (reward) and negative (reward) dynamic programming models. † Dimitri Bertsekas is with the Dept. of Electr. Engineering and Comp. Science, and the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, M.I. T. , Cambridge, Mass. , 02139. His research was supported by the Air Force Grant FA9550-10-1-0412. ‡ Huizhen Yu is with the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, M.I. T. , Cambridge, Mass. , 02139. Her research was supported by the Air Force Grant FA9550-10-1-0412. 1
Facile and size-controllable preparation of graphene oxide nanosheets using high shear method and ultrasonic method

ABSTRACT The lateral size of the graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets could be controlled by preparation method, and a simple and effective strategy to adjust the lateral size of GO nanosheets by selecting suitable method is presented. The high shear method was introduced to produce GO nanosheets, and the GO nanosheets (few micrometres) prepared by high shear method is about one order of magnitude larger than GO nanosheets (few hundred nanometres) obtained by ultrasonic method, as evidenced by atomic force microscopy. The FTIR, XPS and Raman analysis revealed that there are no distinct differences in composition and functional groups between the GO nanosheets produced by high shear method and ultrasonic method. The cavitation in the procedure of ultrasonic method is favourable for GO exfoliation, but it also could result in damage to GO nanosheets. The shearing force in the process of high shear method is effective for GO delamination with minimal fragmentation. The results indicated that the high shear method proposed in this paper is an efficient exfoliation means to produce single-layer GO nanosheets.
Holographic prism based on photo-thermo-refractive glass

New application of photo-thermo-refractive glass (PTR) named “holographic prism” is presented. In the holographic prism angles between directions are set by the holograms which create “fan” of signal beams. This kind of prism creates several signal beams which are equal to the reflections from facets of the conventional silica prism. Implementation of PTR glass as a holographic medium for this device brought us several advantages and new features. First it leads to decrease in overall size of the prism that positively affects the identification process of the beam's crosspoint. Thus, it increases sensitivity and accuracy of the measure. Second, greater value of the refractive index change in PTR glass in comparison with calcium fluoride crystal allows us to increase quantity of the recorded reference beams for the measure which leads to sensitivity increase. During this work, we established recording schedule for the PTR glass in case of the superimposed gratings recording. Was found that exposure for each grating should be equal to the 1/N fraction of the optimal exposure where N is the number of multiplexed gratings. We proved that in this case the total value of the refractive index modulation amplitude is equal to that for the single grating with optimal exposure. Considering obtained data we successfully performed recording of the holographic prism of the second modification with 14 channels.
Fixed priority scheduling of periodic task sets with arbitrary deadlines

Consideration is given to the problem of fixed priority scheduling of period tasks with arbitrary deadlines. A general criterion for the schedulability of such a task set is given. Worst case bounds are given which generalize the C.L. Liu and J.W. Layland (1973) bound. The results are shown to provide a basis for developing predictable distributed real-time systems. <<ETX>>
Traction inverter that applies compact 3.3 kV / 1200 A SiC hybrid module

A compact 3.3 kV / 1200 A SiC hybrid module which adopts silicon carbide Schottky barrier diodes (SiC-SBDs) and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) has been developed. The size of the developed SiC hybrid module is 130 mm × 140 mm, approximately 2/3rd the size of a conventional IGBT module. Using this SiC hybrid module technology, a new traction inverter for railway applications has been developed. The new inverter has been reduced in weight by up to 40% compared to a conventional IGBT inverter. This has been achieved through the use of SiC modules, active gate control technology, reduced cooling system requirements and lightweight oil-free capacitors. The total energy loss of the new inverter is reduced by approximately 35%, through the use of SiC hybrid modules and active gate control drive circuits.
Test-suite reduction and prioritization for modified condition/decision coverage

Software testing is particularly expensive for developers of high-assurance software, such as software that is produced for commercial airborne systems. One reason for this expense is the Federal Aviation Administration's requirement that test suites be modified condition/decision coverage (MC/DC) adequate. Despite its cost, there is evidence that MC/DC is an effective verification technique, and can help to uncover safety faults. As the software is modified and new test cases are added to the test suite, the test suite grows, and the cost of regression testing increases. To address the test-suite size problem, researchers have investigated the use of test-suite reduction algorithms, which identify a reduced test suite that provides the same coverage of the software, according to some criterion, as the original test suite, and test-suite prioritization algorithms, which identify an ordering of the test cases in the test suite according to some criteria or goals. Existing test-suite reduction and prioritization techniques, however, may not be effective in reducing or prioritizing MC/DC-adequate test suites because they do not consider the complexity of the criterion. The paper presents new algorithms for test-suite reduction and prioritization that can be tailored effectively for use with MC/DC. The paper also presents the results of a case study of the test-suite reduction algorithm.
A visibility graph based Shape Decomposition technique

In this paper, a new shape decomposition method named Visibility Shape Decomposition (VSD) is presented. Inspired from an idealization of the visibility matrix having a block diagonal form, the definition of a neighborhood based visibility graph is proposed and a two step iterative algorithm for its transformation into a block diagonal form, that can be used for a visually meaningful decomposition of the candidate shape, is presented. Although the proposed technique is applied to shapes of the MPEG7 database, it can be extended to 3D objects. The preliminary results we have obtained are promising.
The Frontal Control of Stopping

Stopping is a critical aspect of brain function. Like other voluntary actions, it is defined by its context as much as by its execution. Its neural substrate must therefore reflect both. Here, we distinguish those elements of the underlying brain circuit that preferentially reflect contextual aspects of stopping from those related to its execution. Contextual complexity of stopping was modulated using a novel “Stop/Change-signal” task, which also allowed us to parameterize the duration of the stopping process. Human magnetoencephalographic activity and behavioral responses were simultaneously recorded. Whereas theta/alpha frequency activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus was most closely associated with the duration of the stopping process, earlier gamma frequency activity in the pre-supplementary motor area was unique in showing contextual modulation. These results differentiate the roles of 2 key frontal regions involved in stopping, a crucial aspect of behavioral control.
Geometry of the mapping class groups III: Geometric rank

We give a new proof of the following result of Behrstock and Min-sky. Let S be an oriented surface of finite type of genus g with m punctures. The topological dimension of the asymptotic cone of the mapping class group Mg,m of S equals 3g−3+m, and the geometric rank of Mg,m equals 3g−3+m as well.
A Survey of Various Image Retrieval and Re-ranking Methods to Search Web Images

Web image search has becomes an important feature of multimedia in web search engine. It plays an important role to search images as per user need in daily life. Some image search query results are satisfactory and some are unsatisfactory. The web image search mostly depends on the surrounding text of the image. It is difficult to understand the user intention only by query keywords and this leads to irrelevant image search results. In this paper the methods developed by different researchers in the area of web image search are reviewed. These methods vary from textual information search to user feedback. Also some methods are based on the visual similarities between the images. To improve the result of web image search, strategies like keyword expansion, active re-ranking is also used. This paper focuses on the methods introduced by different authors for development in the area of web image search and re-ranking.
FBK@IWSLT 2012 – ASR track

This paper reports on the participation of FBK at the IWSLT2013 evaluation campaign on automatic speech recognition (ASR): precisely on both English and German ASR track. Only primary submissions have been sent for evaluation. For English, the ASR system features acoustic models trained on a portion of the TED talk recordings that was automatically selected according to the fidelity of the provided transcriptions. Two decoding steps are performed interleaved by acoustic feature normalization and acoustic model adaptation. A final step combines the outputs obtained after having rescored the word graphs generated in the second decoding step with 4 different language models. The latter are trained on: out-of-domain text data, in-domain data and several sets of automatically selected data. For German, acoustic models have been trained on automatically selected portions of a broadcast news corpus, called ”Euronews”. Differently from English, in this case only two decoding steps are carried out without making use of any rescoring procedure.
ampG Gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Role in β-Lactamase Expression

ABSTRACT In enterobacteria, the ampG gene encodes a transmembrane protein (permease) that transports 1,6-GlcNAc-anhydro-MurNAc and the 1,6-GlcNAc-anhydro-MurNAc peptide from the periplasm to the cytoplasm, which serve as signal molecules for the induction of ampC β-lactamase. The role of AmpG as a transporter is also essential for cell wall recycling. Pseudomonas aeruginosa carries two AmpG homologues, AmpG (PA4393) and AmpGh1 (PA4218), with 45 and 41% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, to Escherichia coli AmpG, while the two homologues share only 19% amino acid identity. In P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PAK, inactivation of ampG drastically repressed the intrinsic β-lactam resistance while ampGh1 deletion had little effect on the resistance. Further, deletion of ampG in an ampD-null mutant abolished the high-level β-lactam resistance that is associated with the loss of AmpD activity. The cloned ampG gene is able to complement both the P. aeruginosa and the E. coli ampG mutants, while that of ampGh1 failed to do so, suggesting that PA4393 encodes the only functional AmpG protein in P. aeruginosa. We also demonstrate that the function of AmpG in laboratory strains of P. aeruginosa can effectively be inhibited by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), causing an increased sensitivity to β-lactams among laboratory as well as clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Our results suggest that inhibition of the AmpG activity is a potential strategy for enhancing the efficacy of β-lactams against P. aeruginosa, which carries inducible chromosomal ampC, especially in AmpC-hyperproducing clinical isolates.
Efficient Learning of Ensembles with QuadBoost

We first present a general risk bound for ensembles that depends on the Lp norm of the weighted combination of voters which can be selected from a continuous set. We then propose a boosting method, called QuadBoost, which is strongly supported by the general risk bound and has very simple rules for assigning the voters' weights. Moreover, QuadBoost exhibits a rate of decrease of its empirical error which is slightly faster than the one achieved by AdaBoost. The experimental results confirm the expectation of the theory that QuadBoost is a very efficient method for learning ensembles.