Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ranking Competitors Using Degree-Neutralized Random Walks

Competition is ubiquitous in many complex biological, social, and technological systems, playing an integral role in the evolutionary dynamics of the systems. It is often useful to determine the dominance hierarchy or the rankings of the components of the system that compete for survival and success based on the outcomes of the competitions between them. Here we propose a ranking method based on the random walk on the network representing the competitors as nodes and competitions as directed edges with asymmetric weights. We use the edge weights and node degrees to define the gradient on each edge that guides the random walker towards the weaker (or the stronger) node, which enables us to interpret the steady-state occupancy as the measure of the node's weakness (or strength) that is free of unwarranted degree-induced bias. We apply our method to two real-world competition networks and explore the issues of ranking stabilization and prediction accuracy, finding that our method outperforms other methods including the baseline win–loss differential method in sparse networks.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis

1. Introduction 2. Creating a CFA Model 3. Requirements for Conducting CFA: Data Considerations 4. Assessing CFA Model Fit and Model Revision 5. Use of CFA with Multiple Groups 6. Other Issues in CFA Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Brief Introduction to Using Amos Endnotes References Index
XAV: a fast and flexible tracing framework for network simulation

With current network simulators, simulation results are obtained from flat trace files via sequential data access. To speed up simulation output analysis, we propose to store the simulation traces into data warehouse. Our proposed framework relies on a three-layer architecture, with the intermediary database layer serving the trace file post processing services. The trace files are accessed through SQL-like queries which greatly enhances the flexibility of the post processing tools. Furthermore, the database paradigm allows to separate the packets data from the nodes send and receive operations and thus to remove redundant information between simulation events. The global system relies on a new trace file format based on the popular XML language. XML pointers are used to create relationships between data so that post processing tools can navigate into simulation outputs. The tests are carried out under the MonetDB database. The obtained results show considerable response time improvement compared to traditional sequential access mode.
HLA Footprints on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Are Associated with Interclade Polymorphisms and Intraclade Phylogenetic Clustering

ABSTRACT The selection of escape mutations has a major impact on immune control of infections with viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Viral evasion of CD8+ T-cell responses leaves predictable combinations of escape mutations, termed HLA “footprints. ” The most clearly defined footprints are those associated with HLA alleles that are linked with successful control of HIV, such as HLA-B*57. Here we investigated the extent to which HLA footprint sites in HIV type 1 (HIV-1) are associated with viral evolution among and within clades. First, we examined the extent to which amino acid differences between HIV-1 clades share identity with sites of HLA-mediated selection pressure and observed a strong association, in particular with respect to sites of HLA-B selection (P < 10−6). Similarly, the sites of amino acid variability within a clade were found to overlap with sites of HLA-selected mutation. Second, we studied the impact of HLA selection on interclade phylogeny. Removing the sites of amino acid variability did not significantly affect clade-specific clustering, reflecting the central role of founder effects in establishing distinct clades. However, HLA footprints may underpin founder strains, and we show that amino acid substitutions between clades alter phylogeny, underlining a potentially substantial role for HLA in driving ongoing viral evolution. Finally, we investigated the impact of HLA selection on within-clade phylogeny and demonstrate that even a single HLA allele footprint can result in significant phylogenetic clustering of sequences. In conclusion, these data highlight the fact that HLA can be a strong selection force for both intra- and interclade HIV evolution at a population level.
Hierarchical Place Recognition for Topological Mapping

In this paper, we propose a novel appearance-based approach for topological mapping based on a hierarchical decomposition of the environment. In our map, images with similar visual properties are grouped together in nodes, which are represented by means of an average global descriptor and an index of binary features based on a bag-of-words online approach. Each image is represented by means of a global descriptor and a set of local features, and this information is used in a two-level loop closure approach, where first global descriptors are employed to obtain the most likely nodes of the map and then binary image features are used to retrieve the most likely images inside these nodes. This hierarchical scheme enables us to reduce the search space when recognizing places, maintaining high accuracy when creating a map. Our approach is validated using several public datasets and compared against several state-of-the-art techniques. The accuracy and the sparsity of the generated maps are also discussed.
Current practices in mycobacteriology: results of a survey of state public health laboratories

Fifty-six state and territorial public health laboratories were surveyed to determine whether currently available rapid methods for the identification and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were being performed. Forty (71%) laboratories use fluorochrome rather than conventional basic fuchsin stains for screening clinical specimens for acid-fast bacilli. Of the 55 laboratories that routinely culture for mycobacteria, 16 (29%) use the more rapid radiometric methods. Species identification of isolates is done by biochemical tests in 13 (23%) laboratories; 40 (72%) use nucleic acid probes, high-performance liquid chromatography, or the BACTEC p-nitro-alpha-acetylamino-beta-hydroxypropiophenone (NAP) test (rapid tests); 3 laboratories do not perform species identification. Drug susceptibility testing is performed with solid media by 36 of 45 (80%) laboratories, while the more rapid radiometric methods are used by 9 (20%) laboratories. Compared with the laboratories that use conventional methods, laboratories that use rapid methods report results more quickly: for species identification, 43 days (conventional) versus 22 days (rapid); for drug susceptibility testing, 44 days (conventional) versus 31 days (rapid) from specimen processing. Rapid technologies for microscopy and species identification are being used by many, but not all, state and territorial public health laboratories; however, most laboratories do not use the more rapid radiometric methods for routine culture or drug susceptibility testing of mycobacteria. Implementation of such rapid technologies can shorten turnaround times for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis and recognition of drug resistance.
An instrument to measure the approach to learning for assessment in economics

Economics education research studies conducted in the UK, USA and Australia to investigate the effects of learning inputs on academic performance have been dominated by the input-output model (Shanahan and Meyer, 2001). In the Student Experience of Learning framework, however, the link between learning inputs and outputs is mediated by students' learning approaches which in turn are influenced by their perceptions of the learning contexts (Evans, Kirby, & Fabrigar, 2003). Many learning inventories such as Biggs' Study Process Questionnaires and Entwistle and Ramsden' Approaches to Study Inventory have been designed to measure approaches to academic learning. However, there is a limitation to using generalised learning inventories in that they tend to aggregate different learning approaches utilised in different assessments. As a result, important relationships between learning approaches and learning outcomes that exist in specific assessment context(s) will be missed (Lizzio, Wilson, & Simons, 2002). This paper documents the construction of an assessment specific instrument to measure learning approaches in economics. The post-dictive validity of the instrument was evaluated by examining the association of learning approaches to students' perceived assessment demand in different assessment contexts.
Maternal Anxiety and Child Behavioral Problems: Mediating and Moderating Processes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the complex relationship between maternal anxiety, harsh parenting, and childhood behavioral problems in a sample of at-risk parents. The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which provided longitudinal data from a large and diverse population of families and their newborn children, was utilized to examine the intervening variables that might affect the relations between anxiety and child behavior problems. The results of this study indicated that harsh parenting served as a partial mediator of the relations between anxiety and subsequent behavior problems. Maternal family mental health history, presence or absence of the child's birth father, and child gender on the pattern of relations were examined as moderators of the relation between maternal anxiety and child behavioral outcomes but the analyses failed to support the proposed moderating relations. The implications for considering the effects of maternal anxiety on child behavior problems within a stress-processing model are
Combining Knowledge Sources to Reorder N-Best Speech Hypothesis Lists

A simple and general method is described that can combine different knowledge sources to reorder N-best lists of hypotheses produced by a speech recognizer. The method is automatically trainable, acquiring information from both positive and negative examples. In experiments, the method was tested on a 1000-utterance sample of unseen ATIS data.
A novel fuzzy logic model for multiple gas sensor array

Gas sensors have the issue of non linearity, low selectivity and cross sensitivity to other gases which cause a huge aberration from the expected results. These can be alleviated if sensors are integrated and studied. While Artificial Neural Network models are not accurate in identification of complex mixtures of gases, this is improved by using a fuzzy logic model for an array of gas sensors which identifies the presence and the concentration of gases efficiently.
Tempo: An energy harvesting mote resilient to power outages

We present the design of the Tempo mote that operates on ambient energy harvested from the environment. Equipped with a ultra low-power timing module that acquires Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) information from a longrange radio transmitter, Tempo can persistently access the global time and is thereby resilient to power outages. A prototype implementation of the Tempo mote shows that it achieves millisecond level accuracy at 100 µA current draw. We argue that one can more generally leverage the access to global time across all nodes of a wireless sensor network to overcome the challenges related to the very tight energy budget that is inherent with harvesting ambient energy.
The electrophysiological and mechanical effects of 2,3‐butane‐dione monoxime and cytochalasin‐D in the Langendorff perfused rabbit heart

Procedures that reduce contraction are used to facilitate optical measurements of membrane potential, but it is unclear to what extent they affect the excitability of the heart. This study has examined the electrophysiological consequences of a range of extracellular [Ca2+] (0.7–2.5 mmol l−1), 2,3‐butane‐dione monoxime (BDM; 1–20 mmol l−1) and cytochalasin‐D (Cyto‐D; 1–5 μmol l−1). Methods. Monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded from the basal epicardial surface of the left ventricle of isolated rabbit hearts. Conduction delay (CD) and time to 90% repolarisation of the monophasic action potential (MAPD90) were measured. The effects of BDM and Cyto‐D on restitution were studied at a [Ca2+] of 1.9 mmol l−1. Restitution curves for MAPD90 were generated using a standard S1–S2 protocol. Results. All manoeuvres decreased left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP): 0.7 mmol l−1 Ca2+ to 74.0 ± 6.1%, 20 mmol l−1 BDM to 4.5 ± 1.0%, and 5 μmol l−1 Cyto‐D to 12.8 ± 3.5% of control value. CD decreased from a control value (33.3 ± 1.0 ms, n= 16) to 93.0 ± 2.2% in 0.7 mmol l−1 Ca2+, but increased to 133.7 ± 10.5% in 20 mmol l−1 BDM and 127.4 ± 10.6% in 5 μmol l−1 Cyto‐D. At 350 ms pacing cycle length, MAPD90 (control = 119.6 ± 1.7 ms n= 16) was prolonged by reduced extracellular [Ca2+]. BDM had no effects on MAPD90 at control pacing rates. Cyto‐D caused a significant prolongation (to 115.0 ± 3.0% of control, n= 6) at the highest concentration studied (5 μmol l−1). Both BDM (20 mmol l−1) and Cyto‐D (3 μmol l−1) flattened the restitution curves but neither agent altered maximum MAPD90. Conclusions. Extracellular [Ca2+] of 1.9 mmol l−1 in conjunction with a moderate dose of Cyto‐D (3 μmol l−1) reduced contractility with minimal effects on action potential duration and conduction at a fixed pacing cycle length. However, both BDM and Cyto‐D had pronounced effects on electrical restitution.
Yawn contagion in humans and bonobos: emotional affinity matters more than species

In humans and apes, yawn contagion echoes emotional contagion, the basal layer of empathy. Hence, yawn contagion is a unique tool to compare empathy across species. If humans are the most empathic animal species, they should show the highest empathic response also at the level of emotional contagion. We gathered data on yawn contagion in humans (Homo sapiens) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) by applying the same observational paradigm and identical operational definitions. We selected a naturalistic approach because experimental management practices can produce different psychological and behavioural biases in the two species, and differential attention to artificial stimuli. Within species, yawn contagion was highest between strongly bonded subjects. Between species, sensitivity to others’ yawns was higher in humans than in bonobos when involving kin and friends but was similar when considering weakly-bonded subjects. Thus, emotional contagion is not always highest in humans. The cognitive components concur in empowering emotional affinity between individuals. Yet, when they are not in play, humans climb down from the empathic podium to return to the “understory”, which our species shares with apes.
On/off macrocells and load balancing in heterogeneous cellular networks

The rate distribution in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) greatly benefits from load balancing, by which mobile users are pushed onto lightly-loaded small cells despite the resulting loss in SINR. This offloading can be made more aggressive and robust if the macrocells leave a fraction of time/frequency resource blank, which reduces the interference to the offloaded users. We investigate the joint optimization of this technique - referred to in 3GPP as enhanced intercell interference coordination (eICIC) via almost blank subframes (ABSs) - with offloading in this paper. Although the joint cell association and blank resource (BR) problem is nominally combinatorial, by allowing users to associate with multiple base stations (BSs), the problem becomes convex, and upper bounds the performance versus a binary association. We show both theoretically and through simulation that the optimal solution of the relaxed problem still results in an association that is mostly binary. The optimal association differs significantly when the macrocell is on or off; in particular the offloading can be much more aggressive when the resource is left blank by macro BSs. Further, we observe that jointly optimizing the offloading with BR is important. The rate gain for cell edge users (the worst 3-10%) is very large - on the order of 5-10x - versus a naive association strategy without macrocell blanking.
Network Density as a Double-Edged Sword: A User Adaptation Approach of IT System Use

Recently, few studies have investigated the relationships between advice seeking and giving network densities and IT system use. To fill the gap, this study explores IT system use by drawing on theories of advice networks, user adaptation and IT system use. Specifically, four types of user adaptation are examined, including IT adaptation, task adaptation, positive reappraisal and emotional venting. We predict that advice seeking and giving network densities play different roles in each type of user adaptation. Furthermore, IT adaptation, task adaptation and positive reappraisal will positively influence IT system use, whereas emotional venting will negatively influence it. To investigate the research model, a two-phase network survey is being conducted in the context of a newly implemented EMR in a hospital. We aim to theoretically open the black box between advice networks and IT system use, and provide practical insights for implementing, designing and using IT systems in organizations.
Trade area analysis using user generated mobile location data

In this paper, we illustrate how User Generated Mobile Location Data (UGMLD) like Foursquare check-ins can be used in Trade Area Analysis (TAA) by introducing a new framework and corresponding analytic methods. Three key processes were created: identifying the activity center of a mobile user, profiling users based on their location history, and modeling users' preference probability. Extensions to traditional TAA are introduced, including customer-centric distance decay analysis and check-in sequence analysis. Adopting the rich content and context of UGMLD, these methods introduce new dimensions to modeling and delineating trade areas. Analyzing customers' visits to a business in the context of their daily life sheds new light on the nature and performance of the venue. This work has important business implications in the field of mobile computing.
Fish market prices drive overfishing of the ‘big ones’

The relationship between fish market price and body size has not been explored much in fisheries science. Here, the mean market prices and fish body size were collected in order to examine the hypothesis that large fish, both among- and within-species, are being selectively targeted by fisheries because they may yield greater profit. Trophic levels, vulnerability to fishing and global landings were also collected because these variables may also be related to the market fish price. These relationships were examined using generalized additive models (GAM), which showed that, among species, fish market price was positively dependent on maximum total length (P = 0.0024) and negatively on landings (P = 0.0006), whereas it was independent of trophic level (P > 0.05) and vulnerability to fishing (P > 0.05). When the fish price vs. size relationship was tested within-species, large individuals were consistently attaining higher market prices compared to their medium and small-sized counterparts. We conclude that the selective removal of the larger fish, which is driven by their market price and to a lesser extent by their availability, may contribute to their overfishing.
Detection of p53 Protein in Induced Sputum After Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica

Objective: To examine the possibility of detecting p53 protein in the supernatant of induced sputum (IS) of workers exposed to crystalline silica. Methods: Personal interviews were used to obtain demographic data, occupational and exposure histories, and health habits of the study participants. Sputum samples were collected from all subjects. Results: The all-male study cohort included 35 workers (mean age 43.8 years) exposed to silica and 7 unexposed workers (34.7 years, P < 0.05). The mean duration of exposure was 13.4 years, and the range of exposure levels to silica was 0.02 to 0.33 ppm. The mean level of p53 protein was higher in the exposed group compared with in the unexposed group (76.47 pg/mL and 62.43 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusions: p53 may serve as a biomarker to identify workers at high risk for developing pulmonary malignancies. IS can detect p53 protein in sputum.
A method of camera selection based on partially observable Markov decision process model in camera networks

Camera selection in camera networks is a dynamic decision-making process based on the analysis and evaluation of visual content. In this paper, a novel camera selection method based on a partially observable Markov decision process model (POMDP) is proposed, in which the belief states of the model are used to represent noisy visual information and an innovative evaluation function is defined to identify the most informative of several multi-view video streams. Our experiments show that these proposed visual evaluation criteria successfully measure changes in scenes and our camera selection method effectively reduces camera switching when compared to other state-of-the-art methods.
Development and Its Preliminary Standardization of Pictures of Facial Expressions for Affective Neurosciences

Objectives：In recent years there has been a discernible increase of interest in facial expressions as a tool for affective neurosciences research which investigates the neural circuit for emotional perception and control. Though substantial researches have documented the universality of several emotional expressions, researches have shown evidences for cross-cultural differences of facial emotion recognition. Therefore the need for facial expressions of Koreans is gathering strength. Thus we developed the images of facial expressions of Korean people as a research tool for affective neurosciences and standardized them. Methods：Three professional actors and three actresses were participated in this study (two in their twenties, two in their forties, two in their sixties). They were asked to pose each of the following facial expressions in turn：happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise. And facial emotion identification test was done for one hundred common person to get percent of judgment of each emotion and intensity ratings for each photographs. Results：Six facial expressions in each subject were obtained. Among six emotions, subjects performed better on the recognition of happiness and worse on the recognition of fear and disgust. Also, each emotion term was presented with a 9-point (0-8) scale on which subjects rated. All emotion terms displayed 4.7-7.0 point scale. Conclusion：We could obtain facial expressions of Koreans for happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, surprise and neutral, and then standardized them. As a tool for affective neurosciences, it can be used for the investigation of neural circuit for emotion recognition and control
Posibilidades pedagógicas: redes sociales y comunidades educativas

Las redes sociales son una de las estructuras sociales mas potentes e innovadoras para el trabajo en red, que pueden convertirse en comunidades de aprendizaje o en redes de conocimiento (knowledge networking). Se ha creado una ciencia a partir del concepto "redes", que implica, por un lado, los analisis de los grafos y de redes sociales con sistemas metricos; y por otro lado, software de analisis de redes sociales. En este trabajo trataremos de analizar los distintos componentes de algunas de las redes sociales educativas para establecer sus posibilidades en un centro educativo.