Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning the Direction of a Sound Source Using Head Motions and Spectral Features

In this paper we address the problem of localizing a sound-source by combining binaural or monaural spectral features with head movements. Based on a number of psychophysical and behavioral studies suggesting that the problem of spatial hearing is both listener-dependent and dynamic, we propose to address the problem at hand within the framework of unsupervised learning. More precisely, our method is able to retrieve an intrinsic low-dimensional parameterization from the high-dimensional spectral representation of the acoustic input. We address both binaural and monaural spatial localization with both static and dynamic cues. We show that the recovered low-dimensional representations are homeomorphic to the two-dimensional manifold associated with the motor states of a robotic head with two rotational degrees of freedom. We describe the experimental setup and protocols allowing us to gather acoustic data sets with ground truth for both the emitter-to-listener directions and precise head motions. We validate our method using extensive experiments that consist in classifying acoustic vectors from a test set, based on manifold learning with a different training set. Our method strongly contrasts with current approaches in sound localization because it puts forward the role of learning.
SymbolicData: SDEval - Benchmarking for Everyone

In this paper we will present SDeval, a software project that contains tools for creating and running benchmarks with a focus on problems in computer algebra. It is built on top of the Symbolic Data project, able to translate problems in the database into executable code for various computer algebra systems. The included tools are designed to be very flexible to use and to extend, such that they can be utilized even in contexts of other communities. With the presentation of SDEval, we will also address particularities of benchmarking in the field of computer algebra. Furthermore, with SDEval, we provide a feasible and automatizable way of reproducing benchmarks published in current research works, which appears to be a difficult task in general due to the customizability of the available programs. We will simultaneously present the current developments in the Symbolic Data project.
The Role of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in Infectious and Noninfectious Inflammation

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) belongs to the family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). They are highly conserved receptors that recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), thus representing the first line of defense against infections. TLR4 has been long recognized as the sensing receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, it also binds endogenous molecules produced as a result of tissue injury. Hence, TLR4 represents a key receptor on which both infectious and noninfectious stimuli converge to induce a proinflammatory response. TLR4-mediated inflammation, triggered by exogenous or endogenous ligands, is also involved in several acute and chronic diseases, having a pivotal role as amplifier of the inflammatory response. This review focuses on the research progress about the role of TLR4 activation in infectious and noninfectious (e.g., sterile) inflammation and the effects of TLR4 signaling in some pathological conditions.
A Perspective from Exploiting Heterogeneity on Networks-on-Chip Based on Dark Silicon Mitigation

Dark silicon leads the integration development of multi-core chip to a standstill, which is mainly due to on-chip power constraints. NoC power occupies a significant portion of system power. Therefore, reducing the NoC power can reduce the dark silicon degree and reduce the performance degradation caused by the dark silicon. In this paper, we firstly analyzed the NoC power variation on the dark silicon degree, which has not been done before, and proposed a heterogeneous NoC scheme to reduce the dark silicon degree. By evaluating the power of homogeneous NoCs and heterogeneous NoCs separately under different power budgets, we verified that when NoCs adopt this heterogeneous scheme, most of the workloads would get one more core power saving from the dark silicon. In other words, at least one more core could be lighted on and the dark silicon degree can be reduced.
Glucagon Secreting Cells Responds to Insulin Secretion In vitro Using Immunocytochemistry

In the present study, pancreas of rats were dissected and transferred to HEPES buffer (25 mM, pH 7.4). The control tissue pieces were kept in culture medium for one hour and the treated tissues were kept in same medium for 30 minutes and incubated with Insulin (10 nm and 100 nm) for another half hour, then tissues were transferred to Bouin‘s fixative (overnight at 40 ° Cc), cryosectioned (15 µm at -16 0 c) and subjected to immunocytochemical labeling with antibodies against Glucagon. Results: In the sections of control tissue, the Glucagon Immunoreactive Cells (GIC) were distinctly visible; on average 40-50 cells were counted in each islet. However in vitro treatment with 10 nm insulin caused 285.89 % increase in the GIC and was found to be highly significant (P< 0.001). Whereas in 100 nm Insulin treatment, 206.41% increase in GIC was seen, this was significant with the control but non-significant with 10 nm Insulin treatment
Modelling Mappings of Parallel Programs onto Parallel Architectures with the Prm-net Model

For parallel systems constituted by communicating sequential processes executing on multiprocessor hardware with distributed memory, a Petri net based hierarchically de-composable integrated model, the PRM-net model has been developed. PRM-nets (Program Resource Mapping-nets) provide a modular concept for modelling parallel programs or algorithms with a Petri net like graphical formalism called P-nets. P-nets model (multiple) ows in parallel programs making concurrency, sequential execution, communication and synchro-nisation points explicit. Synthesis rules are given to model complex structures of processes by hierarchically folding process graphs to single transitions to allow investigations at any desired level of abstraction. Modelling the pool of resources (processors, communication media) and their arrangement (connectivity, topology etc.) is also done by a Petri net like formalism: R-nets. Finally the assignmet of the P-net (parallel program) to the R-net (resources) is modelled by arcs with origin in one net and sink in the other net. Performance indices of the system are derived by simulation of the PRM-net, where deterministic ring delays of process transitions are generated at the ring instant. The modelling power of PRM-nets is illustrated in an example modelling the mapping of a neural network onto a distributed memory multiprocessor system and nding the optimal mapping in terms of achievable speedup.
Associations among body size, body image perceptions, and weight loss attempts among African American, Latino, and White youth: a test of a mediational model.

OBJECTIVE Little is known about influences on weight loss attempts, yet about one-half report making such attempts during adolescence. The aim was to examine the relationships among weight loss attempts, body size, and body perception in racially/ethnically diverse young adolescents. METHODS 3,954 African American, Latino, and White 5th-graders completed the Self-Perception Profile-Physical Appearance Scale and questions regarding body perceptions and past and current weight loss attempts, and had their weight and height measured. RESULTS Latino youth most often and White youth least often reported weight loss attempts. Larger body size and negative body perception were related to more reported weight loss attempts in White and Latino youth. Body perception mediated the relationship between body size and weight loss attempts for White youth. CONCLUSION Motivations to lose weight appear to differ among racial/ethnic groups, suggesting that interventions for healthy weight control in youth may need to target racial/ethnic groups differently.
Radial Basis Function Network-Based Transform for a Nonlinear Support Vector Machine as Optimized by a Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Application to QSAR Studies

The support vector machine (SVM) has been receiving increasing interest in an area of QSAR study for its ability in function approximation and remarkable generalization performance. However, selection of support vectors and intensive optimization of kernel width of a nonlinear SVM are inclined to get trapped into local optima, leading to an increased risk of underfitting or overfitting. To overcome these problems, a new nonlinear SVM algorithm is proposed using adaptive kernel transform based on a radial basis function network (RBFN) as optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO). The new algorithm incorporates a nonlinear transform of the original variables to feature space via a RBFN with one input and one hidden layer. Such a transform intrinsically yields a kernel transform of the original variables. A synergetic optimization of all parameters including kernel centers and kernel widths as well as SVM model coefficients using PSO enables the determination of a flexible kernel transform according to the performance of the total model. The implementation of PSO demonstrates a relatively high efficiency in convergence to a desired optimum. Applications of the proposed algorithm to QSAR studies of binding affinity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors and activity of 1-phenylbenzimidazoles reveal that the new algorithm provides superior performance to the backpropagation neural network and a conventional nonlinear SVM, indicating that this algorithm holds great promise in nonlinear SVM learning.
Recommending Informative Links

The goal of one type of recommenders is to minimize the number of clicks users need to reach the information they are looking for. Recommenders typically estimate the probability that pages contain the user’s target information and provide the user with links to the most promising pages. In this paper we show that this greedy strategy can lead to recommendations that are suboptimal in terms of the number of clicks. We present a recommendation method which aims at gathering information about the user’s targets rather than guessing the target immediately. This method uses recommendations as questions and clicks on links as answers. Evaluation shows that this strategy leads to significantly shorter user sessions than the greedy strategy.
Disability and work: the experiences of American and German men

This paper compares the economic well-being of men with disabilities in the United States and Germany. The results indicate that while the prevalence of disability is similar, the social institutions developed in the two countries result in quite different patterns of employment, transfer receipt, and economic well-being among the population with disabilities. However, while work is more important among German men with disabilities, it also is a very important component of the economic well-being of American men with disabilities. Furthermore, at least initially, a significant fraction of men are able to adjust to their disability and maintain their work status and income.
Noise-Assisted Correlation Algorithm for Suppressing Noise-Induced Artifacts in Ultrasonic Nakagami Images

Ultrasonic Nakagami images can complement conventional B-mode images for scatterer characterization. White noise in anechoic areas leads to artifacts that affect the Nakagami image to characterize tissues. Artifact removal requires rejection of the white noise without deforming the backscattered waveform. This study proposes a noise-assisted correlation algorithm (NCA) and carries out simulations, phantom experiments, and clinical measurements to validate its feasibility and practicality. The simulation results show that the NCA can reject white noise in an anechoic area without any deformation of the backscattered waveforms. The results obtained from phantoms and tissues further demonstrate that the proposed NCA can suppress a Nakagami image artifact without changing the texture of the Nakagami image of the scattering background. The NCA is an essential algorithm to construct artifact-free Nakagami image for correctly reflecting scatterer properties of biological tissues.
Real-Time News Cer tification System on Sina Weibo

In this paper, we propose a novel framework for real-time news certification. Traditional methods detect rumors on message-level and analyze the credibility of one tweet. However, in most occasions, we only remember the keywords of an event and it's hard for us to completely describe an event in a tweet. Based on the keywords of an event, we gather related microblogs through a distributed data acquisition system which solves the real-time processing needs. Then, we build an ensemble model that combine user-based, propagation-based and content-based model. The experiments show that our system can give a response at 35 seconds on average per query which is critical for real-time system. Most importantly, our ensemble model boost the performance. We also offer some important information such as key users, key microblogs and timeline of events for further investigation of an event.Our system is already deployed in the Xihua News Agency for half a year. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real-time news certification system for verifying social media contents.
The mediation effect of preservice teacher attitude toward inclusion for students with autism in South Korea: a structural equation modelling approach

ABSTRACT Giving preservice teachers experience in working with students with autism is essential for successful teacher preparation. Structural equation modelling was employed to identify the factors affecting preservice teachers’ attitudes toward the use of inclusive settings for students with autism. The results indicated that their coursework influenced attitudes toward full inclusion both directly and indirectly, but had no effect on their perceptions of partial inclusion and self-contained classroom settings. Preservice teachers’ beliefs toward special education exerted a mediation effect between special education coursework and full inclusion. Similarly, preservice teacher attitudes toward students with autism presented a mediation effect between field experience and inclusion.
Using the OPT improvement approach in the SQL/DS development environment

This paper presents the results of an exploratory case study in which the OPT method was applied to a real software development environment. The OPT method is an iterative software development improvement process. It is specifically aimed at organizational structures and development processes. The steps include modeling the relationship between the organization and the process measuring various properties of this relationship, and choosing organizational and process changes that will satisfy a set of goals and constraints. Applying OPT to the IBM Software Solutions Toronto Laboratory SQL/DS project demonstrated that this method helps to clarify issues that arise in the design of software development organizations and processes. Specifically, OPT made it possible to refine general improvement goals and to identify specific changes to be made to the environment to fulfill these goals. This paper summarizes the OPT approach and presents results from the SQL/DS case study.
A BICEPHALOUS MODEL OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE AND WORKPLACE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Until now, empirical research has been unable to reliably identify the impact of organizational dispute resolution systems (DRSs) on the resident workforce, in part because of the dearth of data tracking employee perceptions preand postimplementation. This study begins to fill this major gap by exploiting survey data from a single, geographically-expansive, US firm with well over 100,000 employees in over a thousand locations. The research design allows us to examine employment relations and human resource measures, namely, perceptions of justice, organizational commitment, and perceived legal compliance, in the same locations before and after the implementation of a typical, multistep DRS that begins with informal reporting to local managers and culminates with mandatory arbitration. Holding all timeconstant, location-level variables in place, we find that introduction of the DRS is associated with elevated perceptions of informal procedural justice and interactive justice, but diminished perceptions of formal procedural justice. We also find no discernible effect on organizational commitment, but a significant boost to perceived legal compliance by the company. The authors draw upon these findings to offer a revamped model for conceptualizing the relationship among perceptions of justice, perceived legal compliance, and formal versus informal aspects of dispute resolution mechanisms. * Author names are in alphabetical order. Zev J. Eigen is an Assistant Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law, and Adam Seth Litwin is an Assistant Professor at the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University and a research affiliate at the Employment Policy Research Network. The authors acknowledge the generosity of “Gilda’s, Inc.” and, more specifically, of managers in its Human Resources Department for their assistance and patience. The authors also thank Kenneth Ayotte, John-Paul Ferguson, Thomas A. Kochan, Roberto Fernandez, David Lewin, the participants of Northwestern University School of Law’s Internal Faculty Workshop, and MIT’s IWER seminar for their helpful guidance and suggestions.
Increasing Capacity for the Treatment of Common Musculoskeletal Problems: A Non-Inferiority RCT and Economic Analysis of Corticosteroid Injection for Shoulder Pain Comparing a Physiotherapist and Orthopaedic Surgeon

Background Role substitution is a strategy employed to assist health services manage the growing demand for musculoskeletal care. Corticosteroid injection is a common treatment in this population but the efficacy of its prescription and delivery by physiotherapists has not been established against orthopaedic standards. This paper investigates whether corticosteroid injection given by a physiotherapist for shoulder pain is as clinically and cost effective as that from an orthopaedic surgeon. Methods A double blind non-inferiority randomized controlled trial was conducted in an Australian public hospital orthopaedic outpatient service, from January 2013 to June 2014. Adults with a General Practitioner referral to Orthopaedics for shoulder pain received subacromial corticosteroid and local anaesthetic injection prescribed and delivered independently by a physiotherapist or a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The main outcome measure was total Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score at baseline, six and 12 weeks, applying a non-inferiority margin of 15 points. Secondary outcomes tested for superiority included pain, shoulder movement, perceived improvement, adverse events, satisfaction, quality of life and costs. Results 278 participants were independently assessed by the physiotherapist and the orthopaedic surgeon, with 64 randomised (physiotherapist 33, orthopaedic surgeon 31). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Non-inferiority of injection by the physiotherapist was declared from total SPADI scores at 6 and 12 weeks (upper limit of the 95% one-sided confidence interval 13.34 and 7.17 at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences between groups on any outcome measures at 6 or 12 weeks. From the perspective of the health funder, the physiotherapist was less expensive. Conclusions Corticosteroid injection for shoulder pain, provided by a suitably qualified physiotherapist is at least as clinically effective, and less expensive, compared with similar care delivered by an orthopaedic surgeon. Policy makers and service providers should consider implementing this model of care. Trial Registration Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 12612000532808
Ground truth evaluation of the Stixel representation using laser scanners

Modern real-time dense stereo vision provides precise depth information for nearly every pixel of an image, indicating stereo cameras as a key sensor for future vehicle safety systems. Efficient analysis of this large amount of data by different tasks running in parallel asks for a medium level representation that decouples application specific analysis from low-level vision. Recently, the so called “Stixel World” has been proposed. It models the objects in the scene, implicitly separates them from the ground plane, encodes the freespace to maneuver and thus represents the scene in a highly compact manner that supports different recognition tasks efficiently. The potential of this new representation depends on the accuracy that can be achieved. Therefore, this paper analyzes the precision of this representation using a high performance laser scanner as reference sensor. The statistical analysis confirms the high accuracy as expected from visual inspection.
The Design-to-Criteria Scheduler : A Component for Complex Agent Control

Complex autonomous agents operating in open, dynamic environments must be able to address deadlines and resource limitations in their problem solving. This is partly due to characteristics of the environment, and partly due to the complexity of the applications typically handled by software agents in our research. In open environments, requests for service can arrive at the local agent at any time, thus making it difficult to fully plan or predict the agent’s future workload. In dynamic environments, assumptions made when planning may change, or unpredicted failures may occur 1. In most real applications, deadlines or other time constraints are present on the agent’s problem solving [5, 4]. For example, in an anti-submarine warfare information gathering application [2], there is a deadline by which the mission planners require the information. Resource limitations may also stem from agents having multiple different tasks to perform and having bounded resources in which to perform them. Temporal constraints may also originate with agent interactions in general, in order for agent ~ to coordinate with agent a, the agents require mutual temporal information so that they can plan downstream from the interaction. For agents to adapt rationally to their changing problem solving context, which includes changes in the environment 2 and changes to the set of duties for the agent to perform, they must be able to:
Direct Observation of Staphylococcus aureus Cell Wall Digestion by Lysostaphin

ABSTRACT The advent of Staphylococcus aureus strains that are resistant to virtually all antibiotics has increased the need for new antistaphylococcal agents. An example of such a potential therapeutic is lysostaphin, an enzyme that specifically cleaves the S. aureus peptidoglycan, thereby lysing the bacteria. Here we tracked over time the structural and physical dynamics of single S. aureus cells exposed to lysostaphin, using atomic force microscopy. Topographic images of native cells revealed a smooth surface morphology decorated with concentric rings attributed to newly formed peptidoglycan. Time-lapse images collected following addition of lysostaphin revealed major structural changes in the form of cell swelling, splitting of the septum, and creation of nanoscale perforations. Notably, treatment of the cells with lysostaphin was also found to decrease the bacterial spring constant and the cell wall stiffness, demonstrating that structural changes were correlated with major differences in cell wall nanomechanical properties. We interpret these modifications as resulting from the digestion of peptidoglycan by lysostaphin, eventually leading to the formation of osmotically fragile cells. This study provides new insight into the lytic activity of lysostaphin and offers promising prospects for the study of new antistaphylococcal agents.