Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast simulation of yttrium-90 bremsstrahlung photons with GATE.

PURPOSE Multiple investigators have recently reported the use of yttrium-90 (Y90) bremsstrahlung single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging for the dosimetry of targeted radionuclide therapies. Because Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are useful for studying SPECT imaging, this study investigates the MC simulation of Y90 bremsstrahlung photons in SPECT. To overcome the computationally expensive simulation of electrons, the authors propose a fast way to simulate the emission of Y90 bremsstrahlung photons based on prerecorded bremsstrahlung photon probability density functions (PDFs). METHODS The accuracy of bremsstrahlung photon simulation is evaluated in two steps. First, the validity of the fast bremsstrahlung photon generator is checked. To that end, fast and analog simulations of photons emitted from a Y90 point source in a water phantom are compared. The same setup is then used to verify the accuracy of the bremsstrahlung photon simulations, comparing the results obtained with PDFs generated from both simulated and measured data to measurements. In both cases, the energy spectra and point spread functions of the photons detected in a scintillation camera are used. RESULTS Results show that the fast simulation method is responsible for a 5% overestimation of the low-energy fluence (below 75 keV) of the bremsstrahlung photons detected using a scintillation camera. The spatial distribution of the detected photons is, however, accurately reproduced with the fast method and a computational acceleration of ∼17-fold is achieved. When measured PDFs are used in the simulations, the simulated energy spectrum of photons emitted from a point source of Y90 in a water phantom and detected in a scintillation camera closely approximates the measured spectrum. The PSF of the photons imaged in the 50-300 keV energy window is also accurately estimated with a 12.4% underestimation of the full width at half maximum and 4.5% underestimation of the full width at tenth maximum. CONCLUSIONS Despite its limited accuracy, the fast bremsstrahlung photon generator is well suited for the simulation of bremsstrahlung photons emitted in large homogeneous organs, such as the liver, and detected in a scintillation camera. The computational acceleration makes it very useful for future investigations of Y90 bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging.
TREC 2007 Enterprise Track at CSIRO

The goals of CSIRO’s participation in the Enterprise track were formed by the nature of the tasks. With the expert finding search task, we sought to use a variety of means to associate topical expertise with individuals previously located within the collection. With the document search task, we were primarily interested in exploring issues of result diversity based on different characterisations of documents within the collection. We completed both expert and document search tasks by the submission deadline. In both cases, we submitted four runs for each task. The algorithms used for the runs for both tasks used a query-only baseline with subsequent variations. In both cases, we incorporated use of the PADRE retrieval system [2], in which the Okapi BM25 relevance function was implemented as the core ranking component. Incorporation of additional evidence such as anchor text and other characteristics of Web documents is used in the default ranking formula associated with the retrieval system.
Health literacy variables related to parents' understanding of their child's cancer prognosis

Obtaining an accurate understanding of a child's cancer prognosis can help parents make informed decisions about treatment. Research has shown that parents tend to overestimate their child's cancer prognosis relative to physicians. Thus, we examined whether the content of physician communication, parent sources of medical information, and parent demographic factors affected the association between oncologist and parent estimates of a child's cancer prognosis.
A new fast method for the reconstruction of 2-D microwave images of rotating objects

In this paper, the problem of microwave imaging of rotating objects is approached from a digital signal processing point of view. Attention is focused on the reconstruction of the two-dimensional (2-D) image of an object obtained by processing complex samples of the continuous wave (CW) signal return received for different object aspect angles covering a 2pi total variation. The effects of a polar sampling of the Fourier transform (FT) of the target reflectivity function on the impulse response of the imaging system are analyzed. A criterion for the choice of the angular sampling interval in order to control the image blurring is given. Finally, a new and fast digital signal processing method for image reconstruction is proposed. This method reconstructs high resolution images of rotating targets illuminated by a CW electromagnetic signal or by a large bandwidth transmitted signal. This algorithm is suitable for processing wideband received signal of targets observed for a large variation of the viewing angle, so it is very attractive for the reconstruction of very high spatial resolution target images in SAR/ISAR systems. To show the performance of the method we finally present and discuss the results obtained by applying the proposed technique on simulated and experimental data.
Discovering usage patterns of telecommunication subscribers based on polytomous logistic regression

Discovering patterns from telecommunication usage logs requires methodical procedures yet could reveal hidden information. In this paper, polytomous logistic regression has been applied to facilitate the discovery of these patterns. With an objective of determining characteristics of different categories of subscribers, data mining methods and techniques were used to extract and select data from collated text messages of network users. These were further normalized and cross-validated for model creation. Results disclosed hidden distinct attributes associated with each type of SMS users. These characteristics could facilitate the creation of new schemes of SMS packages as well as bundling of other services, hence a tipoff for improvement of business strategies for maximizing revenue of telecommunication companies.
Building a Pilot Software Quality-in-Use Benchmark Dataset

Prepared domain specific datasets plays an important role to supervised learning approaches. In this article a new sentence dataset for software quality-in-use is proposed. Three experts were chosen to annotate the data using a proposed annotation scheme. Then the data were reconciled in a (no match eliminate) process to reduce bias. The Kappa, k statistics revealed an acceptable level of agreement; moderate to substantial agreement between the experts. The built data can be used to evaluate software quality-in-use models in sentiment analysis models. Moreover, the annotation scheme can be used to extend the current dataset.
Lessons Learned About Data Utilization From Classroom Observations

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of classroom observational assessments to monitor program quality and inform quality improvement efforts across a variety of early childhood initiatives and settings. Despite this recent increase in the use of observational assessments, there has been limited discussion about processes and mechanisms for sharing and using the data from these tools to drive program improvement. The purpose of this article is to articulate lessons learned about the data-sharing process from the embedded evaluator paradigm of assessment and feedback used in Educare, an early childhood program model, to inform the initiatives emerging in the larger field. Research Findings: The application of principles from developmental evaluation and self-determination theory resulted in numerous processes that facilitated the utilization of classroom observation data. These processes, which involved the 3 main steps of establishing a Research-Program Partnership, implementing classroom observations, and sharing the results, are described and discussed. Across these 3 steps, processes were developed to support relatedness, competence, and autonomy as critical needs to be met to facilitate data internalization and use. Practice or Policy: Implications are drawn for the larger early childhood field, including settings without an embedded evaluator.
Supplementary file for: Collect-Cut: Segmentation with Top-Down Cues Discovered in Multi-Object Images

We first show segmentation results as a function of the number of clusters k (see Figure 1). We compare against the initial bottom-up multiple segmentations baseline and the single-image graph cuts baseline. For each k, we compute a single score by averaging the scores of all unknown instances. Our results are stable over k (they improve slightly as k increases, i.e., as the groups get more coherent), and are significantly better than either baseline. The baseline results are constant over k, since their segmentations are independent of the number of clusters. These results confirm the advantage of discovering shared structure in the unlabeled set of images when computing segmentations.
Recurrent Neural Networks Hardware Implementation on FPGA

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) have the ability to retain memory and learn data sequences. Due to the recurrent nature of RNNs, it is sometimes hard to parallelize all its computations on conventional hardware. CPUs do not currently offer large parallelism, while GPUs offer limited parallelism due to sequential components of RNN models. In this paper we present a hardware implementation of Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) recurrent network on the programmable logic Zynq 7020 FPGA from Xilinx. We implemented a RNN with $2$ layers and $128$ hidden units in hardware and it has been tested using a character level language model. The implementation is more than $21\times$ faster than the ARM CPU embedded on the Zynq 7020 FPGA. This work can potentially evolve to a RNN co-processor for future mobile devices.
Comparing Word Relatedness Measures Based on Google n-grams

Estimating word relatedness is essential in natural language processing (NLP), and in many other related areas. Corpus-based word relatedness has its advantages over knowledge-based supervised measures. There are many corpus-based measures in the literature that can not be compared to each other as they use a different corpus. The purpose of this paper is to show how to evaluate different corpus-based measures of word relatedness by calculating them over a common corpus (i.e., the Google n-grams) and then assessing their performance with respect to gold standard relatedness datasets. We evaluate six of these measures as a starting point, all of which are re-implemented using the Google n-gram corpus as their only resource, by comparing their performance in five different data sets. We also show how a word relatedness measure based on a web search engine can be implemented using the Google n-gram corpus.
Effect of some substances produced in the pre-simbiontic phase on the morphology of Tuber borchii Vittad. mycelium

Abstract Effects of 6 substances of 29 specifically expressed in the pre-simbiotic phase of Tuber borchii - Tilia americana interaction and root extracts obtained in water and ethanol were tested on T. borchii mycelium. Root extracts increased hyphal branching; this is in agree with data obtained using only endo-mycorhhizal fungi. The tested substances showed various effects on morphology and features of mycelia. Probably lipophylic substance is present in root extracts and causes an increase of hyphal branching, wheres the other substances, perhaps except benzothia-zol, do not seem directly involved in the pre-simbiotic interaction.
IRF6 Is Involved in the Regulation of Cell Proliferation and Transformation in MCF10A Cells Downstream of Notch Signaling

IRF6, a member of Interferon Regulatory Factors (IRF) family, is involved in orofacial and epidermal development. In breast cancer cell lines ectopic expression of IRF6 reduces cell numbers suggesting a role as negative regulator of cell cycle. IRF6 is a direct target of canonical Notch signaling in keratinocyte differentiation. Notch is involved in luminal cell fate determination and stem cell regulation in the normal breast and is implicated as an oncogene in breast cancer. Notch activation is sufficient to induce proliferation and transformation in non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell line, MCF10A. ΔNp63, which is downregulated by Notch activation in the breast, regulates IRF6 expression in keratinocytes. In this report, we investigate Notch-IRF6 and ΔNp63-IRF6 interactions in MCF10A and MDA MB 231 cells. We observed that in these cells, IRF6 expression is partially regulated by canonical Notch signaling and ΔNp63 downregulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IRF6 abrogation impairs Notch-induced proliferation and transformation in MCF10A cells. Thus, we confirm the previous findings by showing a tissue independent regulation of IRF6 by Notch signaling, and extend them by proposing a context dependent role for IRF6, which acts as a positive regulator of proliferation and transformation in MCF10A cells downstream of Notch signaling.
Lack of germ line changes in KISS1 and KAI1 genes in sporadic head and neck cancer patients of Pakistani origin.

BACKGROUND Head and neck cancer is included among the top five most commonly prevailing cancers worldwide. Abnormalities of either genetic or epigenetic factors are found responsible for the development and progression of head and neck cancer. Metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with head and neck cancer. Down regulation of metastasis suppressor genes (MSGs) expression have been frequently observed in advanced tumours. METHODOLOGY The present study was designed to screen two of the most frequently down-regulated MSGs (KISS1 and KAI1) for mutations in 120 diagnosed head and neck cancer affected Pakistani patients. The questionnaire was filled for basic information about age, gender, smoking habits and area of cancer affected and other relevant details. Primers for both genes were designed using "Primer 3" software in such a way that both intron exon boundaries were included in this region. DNA isolation and estimation was done by using organic method and agarose gel electrophoresis. Single Strand conformational polymorphism technique was used after amplification of the respective genes. Mobility patterns were analyzed using BioDoc Analyzer. RESULTS Data of patients were analyzed on the basis of age, sex and type of cancer as variables. The mean age of patients and controls was 44 years. There were 53% females and 47% males in this group of study, 63% nonsmokers and 37% smokers and larynx cancer was found to be most frequent type of cancer with a percentage of 64. Lack of germ line mutation was observed in the entire coding region in both coding regions as well as splice sites of the respective genes. CONCLUSION Germ line mutations in KISS1 and KAI1 are thus considered to be a less frequent event in head and neck cancer patients. However, two polymorphisms in intronic region of exon 3 and exon 9 of KAI1 gene were observed in 1% of patients. In non coding region downstream of exon 3 (KAI1), there was a C 29166 T substitution and in intronic region upstream exon 9 of KAI1 gene, a C 52840 A substitution was observed. Both patients were females with ages 47 and 50 years respectively. A detailed analysis of regulatory mechanism is required to explore the genetic basis of down regulation of these MSGs for a better understanding of head and neck cancer progression.
A natural history of mind: the role of evolutionary explanations in psychology

Evolutionary theory has been employed to explain psychological and social phenomena for over a hundred years. However, despite various claims that evolutionary theory should be considered the dominant theoretical framework for psychology, mainstream psychologists have resisted the widespread use of evolutionary explanations in their domain. This thesis aims to clarify the role of evolutionary explanations in psychology. In particular, I demonstrate that a clearer understanding of the role of evolutionary explanations in psy~hology is obtained by drawing on some recent literature in the philosophy of science. Evolutionary theory, I argue offers a coherent, unifying, explanatory framework for psychology, and evolutionary explanations should have a more prominent role in psychological science than they have had in the past. However, mainstream psychological theory will not be entirely replaced by theories drawn from the evolutionary research programme. The relationship between evolutionary explanations and other sorts of explanations in psychology is clarified, and some suggestions as to what evolutionary theory offers the future of psychology are forwarded.
Fora: Leveraging the Power of Internet Communities for Question Answering

This paper introduces a system for searching question answer pairs automatically extracted from the discussions in internet communities. The system, named Fora, aggregates discussions from multiple forums and newsgroups in the same domain, automatically extracts question answer pairs from the data, and provides searches of the question answer pairs. The system also ofiers expert search, query suggestion, page search, and other features. This paper explains the main features and technologies of Fora. It describes how the system extracts and ranks question answer pairs.
Retargetable C Compiler for Network Processors

Application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIP) are widely used in network processors. With a high demand from the market for faster new product development, retargetable compilers, and the associated knowledge, become essential for development. Based on the LCC retagetable C compiler, we added an ASIP target derived from the DLX instruction set, which was successfully used in a network platform. Therefore, network processor application programs are now written using C instead of assembler code.
Projection of the Lumbar Pedicle and its Morphometric Analysis

Study Design. This study defined the projection point of the lumbar pedicle on its posterior aspect and its relation to a reliable landmark and reported pedicle dimensions based on 50 lumbar spines. Objectives. To establish the best starting point for a pedicle screw for passing the screw down the center (axis) of the pedicle; to describe quantitatively the relations of the pedicle projection point to a reliable landmark; and to evaluate the linear and angular dimensions of the lumbar pedicle. Summary of Background Data. Posterior transpedicular screw fixation has been most widely used for management of the unstable lumbar spine. Several studies of pedicular anatomy exist, but little quantitative data regarding the location of the lumbar pedicle axis for each level have been reported. Methods. Fifty dry lumbar specimens (250 lumbar vertebrae) were obtained for study of the lumbar pedicle. Anatomic evaluation focused on determination of the projection point of the lumbar pedicle axis on the junction of the superior facet and the transverse process and measured the distance from the projection point to the midline of the transverse process for each level of the lumbar vertebrae. Pedicle dimensions, including linear and angular, also were measured. Results. Differences in dimensions between men and women were not found to be statistically significant. The average distance from the projection point to the midline of the transverse process consistently changed from L1 to L5. Above L4, the projection point for men and women averaged 3.9 mm for L1, 2.8 mm for L2, and 1.4 mm for L3 superior to the midline of the transverse process, respectively. At L4, the projection point was close to the midline of the transverse process (0.5 mm inferior). At L5, the projection point was an average of 1.5 mm inferior to the midline of the transverse process. Conclusions. The average distance from the projection point of the lumbar pedicle axis to the midline of the transverse process consistently varied at different levels. This information may prove helpful in the placement of screws into the lumbar pedicle.
Tweeting on Catalonia’s Independence: The Dynamics of Political Discussion and Group Polarisation

This article provides evidence in favour of social media serving as facilitators of public deliberation, in contrast with the hypothesis that emphasises the dominance of the “echo chamber” effect. It focuses on conversational interactions on Twitter between supporters from opposite sides in a potentially highly polarised political issue, i.e. the debate on the independence of Catalonia, which is used as a case study. Methodologically we rely on a random sample of communications on the Twitter reply network, involving for and against independence supporters. Remarkably, despite the tendency of forming homophilic networks, we find that communication across political lines is relatively frequent. Furthermore, heterogeneous conversations (where opposing sides are engaged in a dialogue) tend to be significantly longer than homogenous ones (where all participants share the same view), which can be seen as a sign of genuine deliberation based on reasonably exchanging arguments between competing viewpoints.
HIV Testing and Counseling Leads to Immediate Consistent Condom Use Among South African Stable HIV-Discordant Couples

Objective:Effective behavioral HIV prevention is needed for stable HIV-discordant couples at risk for HIV, especially those without access to biomedical prevention. This analysis addressed whether HIV testing and counseling with ongoing counseling and condom distribution lead to reduced unprotected sex in HIV-discordant couples. Methods:Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study was a randomized trial conducted from 2004 to 2008 assessing whether acyclovir reduced HIV transmission from HSV-2/HIV-1–coinfected persons to HIV-uninfected sex partners. This analysis relied on self-reported behavioral data from 508 HIV-infected South African participants. The exposure was timing of first HIV testing and counseling: 0–7, 8–14, 15–30, or >30 days before baseline. In each exposure group, predicted probabilities of unprotected sex in the last month were calculated at baseline, month 1, and month 12 using generalized estimating equations with a logit link and exchangeable correlation matrix. Results:At baseline, participants who knew their HIV status for less time experienced higher predicted probabilities of unprotected sex in the last month: 0–7 days, 0.71; 8–14 days, 0.52; 15–30 days, 0.49; >30 days, 0.26. At month 1, once all participants had been aware of being in HIV-discordant relationships for ≥1 month, predicted probabilities declined: 0–7 days, 0.08; 8–14 days, 0.08; 15–30 days, 0.15; >30 days, 0.14. Lower predicted probabilities were sustained through month 12: 0–7 days, 0.08; 8–14 days, 0.11; 15–30 days, 0.05; >30 days, 0.19. Conclusions:Unprotected sex declined after HIV-positive diagnosis and declined further after awareness of HIV discordance. Identifying HIV-discordant couples for behavioral prevention is important for reducing HIV transmission risk.
Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Concept and Practice of Written Text Documentary Content Analysis (Wtdca)

Content analysis, restricted within the limits of written textual documents (wtdca), is a field which is greatly in need of extensive interdisciplinary research. This would clarify certain concepts, especially those concerned with ‘text’, as a new central nucleus of semiotic research, and ‘content’, or the informative power of text. The objective reality (syntax) of the written document should be, in the cognitive process that all content analysis entails, interpreted (semantically and pragmatically) in an intersubjective manner with regard to the context, the analyst's knowledge base and the documentary objectives. The contributions of semiolinguistics (textual), logic (formal) and psychology (cognitive) are fundamental to the conduct of these activities. The criteria used to validate the results obtained complete the necessary conceptual reference panorama.