Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scaling Up the Accuracy of Decision-Tree Classifiers: A Naive-Bayes Combination

C4.5 and NB are two of the top 10 algorithms in data mining thanks to their simplicity, effectiveness, and efficiency. In order to integrate their advantages, NBTree builds a naive Bayes classifier on each leaf node of the built decision tree. NBTree significantly outperforms C4.5 and NB in terms of classification accuracy. However, it incurs very high time complexity. In this paper, we propose a very simple, effective, and efficient algorithm based on C4.5 and NB. We simply denote it C4.5-NB. Our motivation is to keep the high classification accuracy of NBTree without incurring the high time complexity. In C4.5-NB, C4.5 and NB are built and evaluated independently at the training time, and the class-membership probabilities are weightily averaged according to their classification accuracies on training data at the test time. Empirical studies on a large number of UCI data sets show that it performs as well as NBTree in terms of classification accuracy, but is significantly more efficient than NBTree.
Softbit speech decoding: a new approach to error concealment

In digital speech communication over noisy channels there is the need for reducing the subjective effects of residual bit errors which have not been eliminated by channel decoding. This task is usually called error concealment. We describe a new and generalizing approach to error concealment as part of a modified robust speech decoder. It can be applied to any speech codec standard and preserves bit exactness in the case of an error free channel. The proposed method requires bit reliability information provided by the demodulator or by the equalizer or specifically by the channel decoder and can exploit additionally a priori knowledge about codec parameters. We apply our algorithms to PCM, ADPCM, and GSM full-rate speech coding using AWGN, fading, and GSM channel models, respectively. It turns out that the speech quality is significantly enhanced, showing the desired inherent muting mechanism or graceful degradation behavior in the case of extreme adverse transmission conditions.
Shading Through Multi-Pass Rendering

Programmable shading is a common technique for production animation, but interactive programmable shading is not yet widely available. We support interactive programmable shading on virtually any 3D graphics hardware using a scene graph library on top of OpenGL. We treat the OpenGL architecture as a general SIMD computer, and translate the high-level shading description into OpenGL rendering passes. While our system uses OpenGL, the techniques described are applicable to any retained mode interface with appropriate extension mechanisms and hardware API with provisions for recirculating data through the graphics pipeline. We present two demonstrations of the method. The first is a constrained shading language that runs on graphics hardware supporting OpenGL 1.2 with a subset of the ARB imaging extensions. We remove the shading language constraints by minimally extending OpenGL. The key extensions are color range (supporting extended range and precision data types) and pixel texture (using framebuffer values as indices into texture maps). Our second demonstration is a renderer supporting the RenderMan Interface and RenderMan Shading Language on a software implementation of this extended OpenGL. For both languages, our compiler technology can take advantage of extensions and performance characteristics unique to any particular graphics hardware. CR categories and subject descriptors: I.3. 3 [Computer Graphics]: Picture/Image generation; I.3. 7 [Image Processing]: Enhancement.
Single-Copy Green Fluorescent Protein Gene Fusions Allow Accurate Measurement of Salmonella Gene Expression In Vitro and during Infection of Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT We developed a reliable and flexible green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based system for measuring gene expression in individual bacterial cells. Until now, most systems have relied upon plasmid-borne gfp gene fusions, risking problems associated with plasmid instability. We show that a recently developed GFP variant, GFP+, is suitable for assessing bacterial gene expression. Various gfp+ transcriptional fusions were constructed and integrated as single copies into the chromosome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. A comparison of the expression levels of proU-lacZ and proU-gfp+ fusions showed that GFP+ reported proU activity in individual Salmonella cells as accurately as β-galactosidase reported activity for entire populations. The single-copy gfp+ fusions were ideal for monitoring up- and downregulation of Salmonella virulence genes. We discovered that in vitro induction of the SPI1gene prgH occurs only in a portion of the population and that the proportion varies with the growth phase. We determined the level of expression of the SPI2 gene ssaG in bacteria released from murine macrophages. Our results demonstrate for the first time that single-copy GFP+ fusions reliably report gene expression in simple and complex environments. This approach promises to allow accurate measurement of gene expression in individual bacteria during animal infection.
Interprofessional Learning: Reasons, Judgement, and Action

This article makes a number of interconnected arguments. First, spatially and temporally distributed project teams constitute a new form of interprofessional work and, as a corollary, a new site for interprofessional learning. Second, researchers in cultural-historical activity theory have generated some concepts and methods, for example, “placeless organisations” (Nardi); “object of activity” (Leont'ev); “knotworking” (Engeström) and “relational agency” (Edwards) that can be used to analyse this new form of working and learning. Third, that when these concepts and methods are supplemented by Guile's (2010) “mediated expressions of learning,” it is possible to provide a new conceptual framework to analyse the interplay between interprofessional working and learning. Finally, that this new framework enables researchers to shed light on the mediated relation between reasons, judgement, and action in interprofessional activity. This article explores this claim through an analysis of a critical incident that occurred in an interprofessional team working in the Creative and Cultural Sector in the United Kingdom.
A Performance and Profit Oriented Data Replication Strategy for Cloud Systems

In today's world, tenants of cloud systems expect timely responses to queries that process ever-increasing sizes of data. However, most cloud providers offer their services without any performance guarantees to their tenants. In this paper we propose a data replication strategy that aims to satisfy performance guarantees for the tenant while ensuring profitability of the cloud provider. Our strategy estimates the response time of the queries, as well as the expenditures that affect the profitability of the cloud provider. The decision of whether to perform replication is determined by the fulfillment of these two criteria. Validity of the proposed strategy is provided by means of a simulation study.
Is the dark matter halo of the Milky Way flattened

We performed an extended analysis of the parameter space for the interaction of the Magellanic System with the Milky Way (MW). The varied parameters cover the phase space parameters, the masses, the structure, and the orientation of both Magellanic Clouds, as well as the flattening of the dark matter halo of the MW. The analysis was done by a specially adopted optimization code searching for the best match between numerical models and the detailed H I map of the Magellanic System by Bruns et al. (2005, A&A, 432, 45). The applied search algorithm is a genetic algorithm combined with a code based on the fast, but approximative restricted Nbody method. By this, we were able to analyze more than 106 models, which makes this study one of the most extended ones for the Magellanic System. Here we focus on the flattening q of the axially symmetric MW dark matter halo potential, that is studied within the range 0.74 ≤ q ≤ 1.20. We show that creation of a trailing tail (Magellanic Stream) and a leading stream (Leading Arm) is quite a common feature of the Magellanic System-MW interaction, and such structures were modeled across the entire range of halo flattening values. However, important differences exist between the models, concerning density distribution and kinematics of H I, and also the dynamical evolution of the Magellanic System. Detailed analysis of the overall agreement between modeled and observed distribution of neutral hydrogen shows that the models assuming an oblate (q < 1.0) dark matter halo of the Galaxy allow for better satisfaction of H I observations than models with other halo configurations.
High-precision biological event extraction with a concept recognizer

We approached the problems of event detection, argument identification, and negation and speculation detection as one of concept recognition and analysis. Our methodology involved using the OpenDMAP semantic parser with manually-written rules. We achieved state-of-the-art precision for two of the three tasks, scoring the highest of 24 teams at precision of 71.81 on Task 1 and the highest of 6 teams at precision of 70.97 on Task 2. The OpenDMAP system and the rule set are available at bionlp.sourceforge. net.
Human Expert-level Performance on a Scientiic Image Analysis Task by a System Using Combined Artiicial Neural Networks

This paper presents the Plannett system, which combines artiicial neural networks to achieve expert-level accuracy on the diicult scientiic task of recognizing volcanos in radar images of the surface of the planet Venus. Plannett uses ANNs that vary along two dimensions: the set of input features used to train and the number of hidden units. The ANNs are combined simply by averaging their output activations. When Plannett is used as the classiication module of a three-stage image analysis system called JAR-tool, the end-to-end accuracy (sensitivity and speci-city) is as good as that of a human planetary geologist on a four-image test suite. JARtool-Plannett also achieves the best algorithmic accuracy on these images to date.
Speaker Identification Based on Weighted FSVQ

This paper proposes a method of weighted finite state vector quantization (WFSVQ) to address the issue existed in traditional vector quantization.The issue is that the recognition rate of traditional vector quantization is low when it has small codeword number.A weighted FSVQ combines the static characteristic of speech with time correlation (dynamic characteristic) of speech frames.It calculates quantization distortion twice and weights them according to their contribution and quantitative accuracy.The weighted sum is used as the final judgment.The experimental results show that this method is superior to traditional vector quantization.Especially in the small codeword number (not more than 8),the recognition rate increases more than 10%.
Quarkonium-nucleus bound states from lattice QCD

Quarkonium-nucleus systems are composed of two interacting hadronic states without common valence quarks, which interact primarily through multi-gluon exchanges, realizing a color van der Waals force. We present lattice QCD calculations of the interactions of strange and charm quarkonia with light nuclei. Both the strangeonium-nucleus and charmonium-nucleus systems are found to be relatively deeply bound when the masses of the three light quarks are set equal to that of the physical strange quark. Extrapolation of these results to the physical light-quark masses suggests that the binding energy of charmonium to nuclear matter is B < 40 MeV.
Rituals of cruise consumption and the 'new' middle class: desiring and 'devouring' maritime cruises

Abstract The consumption of maritime cruises is one of the most striking facets of the phenomenon of a new middle class emergence in Brazil. This study investigates the use of maritime cruises by emerging middle-class consumers to enact their new social status. Specifically, the research looks at ritualistic behaviour performed by consumers before, during, and after a cruise. The research uses a multi-method design characterised by a combination of ethnography and group discussions. The study contributes to enlarge McCracken’s typology of consumption rituals, showing how emerging consumers use the cruise as a rite of passage, during which they perform rituals of preparation, production, possession, and divestment. It also sheds light on specific rituals performed by consumers in order to transfer meanings from the cruise to their own selves. Finally, the findings suggest that consumption rituals in the context of social ascent may not have the transformative power of traditional rites.
GPU-accelerated computation for texture features using OpenCL framework

Texture Features introduced by Haralick in 1973 which rely on computing the so-called Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), are being used extensively by many applications to understand and enhance images acquired from various scientific contexts. The main limitations of these features are their high computational costs pertaining to memory usage and processing time. In this paper a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-based parallel implementation for computing the GLCM along with the features is introduced using the Open Computing Language (OpenCL) framework to be exploited in Segmenting Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. An optimized, sequential C-language version of the software computing GLCM and features is presented then our parallel implementation is explained pointing out the speed up achieved, which hits a factor of 340x compared to the sequential implementation.
Task Knowledge in Abstractive Summarization

This paper discusses the path towards asb- tractive summarization and proposes a new knowledge-based methodology called K- BABS as a step forward on this path. We pro- pose to use both world knowledge, to identify useful content, and task knowledge, to filter out unreliable content, to generate more ac- curate summaries. This approach was imple- mented for guided summarization. The eval- uation shows that, used in combination with a state-of-the-art system, our K-BABS system significantly improves content coverage in the summaries.
Nash equilibrium in a pay-as-bid electricity market: Part 1 – existence and characterization

We consider a model of a pay-as-bid electricity market based on a multi-leader-common-follower approach where the producers as leaders are at the upper level and the regulator as a common follower is at the lower level. We fully characterize Nash equilibria for this model by describing necessary and sufficient conditions for their existence as well as providing explicit formulas of such equilibria in the market.
A new Kernel non-negative matrix factorization and its application in microarray data analysis

Non-negative factorization (NMF) has been a popular machine learning method for analyzing microarray data. Kernel approaches can capture more non-linear discriminative features than linear ones. In this paper, we propose a novel kernel NMF (KNMF) approach for feature extraction and classification of microarray data. Our approach is also generalized to kernel high-order NMF (HONMF). Extensive experiments on eight microarray datasets show that our approach generally outperforms the traditional NMF and existing KNMFs. Preliminary experiment on a high-order microarray data shows that our KHONMF is a promising approach given a suitable kernel function.
The Design and Implementations of Locality-Aware Approximate Queries in Hybrid Storage Systems

Cloud computing applications face the challenges of dealing with a huge volume of data that needs the support of accurate and fast approximate queries to enhance system scalability and improve quality of service. Locality-sensitive hashing (LSH) can support the approximate queries that unfortunately suffer from imbalanced load and space inefficiency among distributed data servers, which severely limits the query accuracy and incurs long query latency between users and cloud servers. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme, called NEST, which offers easy-to-use and cost-effective approximate queries for cloud computing. The novelty of NEST is to leverage cuckoo-driven locality-sensitive hashing to find similar items that are further placed closely through cuckoo-driven method to obtain load-balancing buckets in hash tables. NEST hence carries out flat and manageable addressing in adjacent buckets, and obtains constant-scale query complexity even in the worst case. The benefits of NEST include the increments of space utilization and fast query response. Moreover, due to the salient property of flat addressing in NEST, we implement NEST design in a real hybrid storage system, which consists of DRAM, SSD, and hard disk. The flat addressing allows efficient operations in SSD to improve system performance. We argue that a proper “division of labor” among DRAM, SSD, and hard disk in the hybrid and heterogeneous storage hierarchy is desperately needed to strike an optimal balance to remove the indexing bottleneck. Theoretical analysis and extensive experiments (on LANL and Microsoft metadata) in a large-scale cloud testbed demonstrate the salient properties of NEST to meet the needs of approximate query service in cloud computing environments. We have offered open-source codes of NEST for public use.
Simulation of Raman enhancement in SERS-active substrates with Au layer considering different geometry of nanoparticles

This work, we study surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active substrates for the detection of Rhodamine 6G. To examine the electromagnetic enhancement, with different shape of nanoparticle, we apply the finite-difference timedomain (FDTD) algorithm to analyze the structures by solving a set of coupled Maxwell's equations in differential form. The field enhancements are investigated in the visible regime with the wavelength of 633 nm. In the experimental measurement, the surface enhanced Raman scattering signals from the surface of substrates with 12-hour hydrothermal treatment and without treatment are performed and compared. Through the three-dimensional (3D) FDTD calculation, the enhancements with different shape of nanoparticle are tested and obtained which are nanoparticle, gold nanocage and gold/silver alloy for spherical, cubic and pyramidical shapes. The results show that the enhancement of spherical and cubic shapes can be much improved by nanocage and gold/siliver alloy structures.
Beyond user interfaces in mobile accessibility: Not just skin deep

With the increasing popularity of mobile technologies, users today are able to access information from virtually anywhere. Examples include localization via the Global Positioning System (GPS), Internet access through cellular and WiFi networks, etc. Using assistive technologies, people with disabilities can live more independently than ever before. However, most of the current mobile applications are not developed with accessibility in mind. This paper uses mobile applications for public transit systems as a case study, and presents an extension of our prototype ABLE (Accessible Bussing through Location Estimation) Transit. Based on an estimate of the user's current location, ABLE Transit leverages the location services on mobile devices and public transit information to reveal schedule and route information in accessible formats. We derive four groups of personas that need to be addressed when designing accessible software. While the cross platform accessibility is preserved at the user interface level, we further investigated system level concerns and implemented two data storage strategies for large transit schedule data. We identify the tradeoffs of Web versus native applications, local versus remote data storage when developing assistive technology, and discovered that accessibility at system level is particularly challenging.
CEMENT BOND EVALUATION USING EARLY

The cement bond evaluation tool is a device used to examine the integrity of cement bonding to the casing. A conceptual tool operating between 80-200 kHz is considered here, with a transmitter and two receivers, oriented parallel to the axis of the borehole and next to the casing. The compressional head wave in the casing, excited by the transmitter, will be the first arrival to be measured by the two receivers in most situations. With both receivers on the same side of the transmitter, the attenuation of this wave in traveling between the two receivers is dependent on the properties of the medium immediately outside the casing. The radially layered borehole was modeled as a layered plane medium for large operating frequency. A spectral integral approach (complete wave synthesis) was used to compute the response at the receiver locations, which then provided attenuations. Different parameters, such as transducer separation (1-12 in), annulus thickness (0-6 in), annulus impedance (free pipe to good cement), casing thickness (0.25-0.45 in), standoff distance (0.5-1 in) and source frequency (80-200 kHz) were varied in the evaluation of the operation of the tool. The parameter studies based on the theoretical computations revealed that free pipe could be distinguished from the presence of cement in a variety of situations. Additionally, lower bounds on receiver separations are given for reliable operation of the tool.
Population genetics and phylogeography of endangered Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea and relatives: arctic‐alpine disjuncts in eastern North America

Fassett's locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea, Fabaceae) is an endangered perennial endemic to Wisconsin. Patterns of genetic variation within and among six remaining populations and their relationship to other members of the O. campestris complex were analysed using AFLPs from 140 accessions across northern North America. Within‐population measures of genetic diversity were high (mean expected heterozygosity HE = 0.16; mean nucleotide diversity π = 0.015) compared with other herbaceous plants. Estimates of among‐population differentiation were low (FST = 0.12; ΦST = 0.29), consistent with outcrossing. Genetic and geographical distances between populations were significantly correlated within Fassett's locoweed (r2 = 0.73, P < 0.002 for Mantel test) and O. campestris as a whole (r2 = 0.63, P < 0.0001). Individual and population‐based phylogenetic analyses showed that Fassett's locoweed is monophyletic and sister to O. campestris var. johannensis. Morphometric analyses revealed significant differences between Fassett's locoweed and populations of var. johannensis. The first chromosome count for Fassett's locoweed indicates that it is tetraploid (2n = 32), unlike hexaploid var. johannensis. High within‐population diversity and relatively low among‐population differentiation are consistent with populations of Fassett's locoweed being relicts of a more continuous Pleistocene distribution. Our data support the continued recognition of Fassett's locoweed and protection under federal and state regulations. High levels of genetic diversity within populations suggest that maintain‐ing the ecological conditions that favour the life cycle of this plant may be a more pressing concern than the erosion of genetic variation.