Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Writing effective use cases

which centres on responding to contingencies, there is no digression into languages for detecting contingencies-the reader will need to look to the alarm correlation literature, or to event monitoring frameworks such as the University of Cam-bridge's Cambridge Event Architecture (CEA) and Imperial College's Generalized Event Monitor (GEM), here. In order to integrate event detection with planning though, these event detectors will need extensions for event criticality, event probability , response utility determination and scheduling, and resource allocation. The final chapters of the book review some behaviour models , which characterize the underlying attitudes that may influence planning, such as anti-authorative, impulsive, macho, and liability conscious behavioural attitudes. The authors also explain how computer-generated plans may be used to validate human plans and, similarly, how a comparison to human plans may shed light on the suitability and accuracy of a particular computational approach. The target audience for this book is ambitiously described as software managers, higher level managers, project managers, executives, CIO's, managers, entrepreneurs, and software developers. However, the tone of the book is predominantly academic and theoretic in nature, with frequent excursions into mathematical formulae that are probably not of interest to practictioners. Firstly, the authors indulge in a long-winded literature survey of planning systems and provide proofs of necessity , consistency, and optimality of their framework, that practitioners will no doubt find tiresome as the book is given the flavour of a PhD thesis, albeit a thorough and rigorous one. While the book provides comprehensive coverage of planning approaches and prior research, the book tends to be repetitive and long-wlnded. The book's discussion of the Maruti real-time operating system, though applicable, is not likely to be of interest to the intended audience as Maruti is not a pervasive technology in industry. Finally, the use of academic parlance and frequent references to context free grammars, non-terminals, and NP-completeness is ill-suited to the target audience, who expect a straightforward, brief, and direct explanation of critical concepts, and who will find themselves frequently bored by the many tedious academic expositions. Whilst, as claimed in the book's blurb, the techniques described in the book could foreseeably apply to domains as diverse as web-based shopping assistants, the authors do not provide any practical illustrations of this, constraining their applications predominantly to a recurring examples from the aircraft flight planning domain. The enticing but elusive prospect of integrating real-time problem solving languages with existing Internet …
Excitatory-Inhibitory Networks with Dynamical Thresholds

We investigate feedback networks containing excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The couplings between the neurons follow a Hebbian rule in which the memory patterns are encoded as cell assemblies of the excitatory neurons. Using disjoint patterns, we study the attractors of this model and point out the importance of mixed states. The latter become dominant at temperatures above 0.25. We use both numerical simulations and an analytic approach for our investigation. The latter is based on differential equations for the activity of the different memory patterns in the network configuration. Allowing the excitatory thresholds to develop dynamic features which correspond to fatigue of individual neurons, we obtain motion in pattern space, the space of all memories. The attractors turn into transients leading to chaotic motion for appropriate values of the dynamical parameters. The motion can be guided by overlaps between patterns, resembling a process of free associative thinking in the absence of any input.
A Majorize-Minimize Subspace Approach for ℓ2-ℓ0 Image Regularization

In this work, we consider a class of differentiable criteria for sparse image computing problems, where a nonconvex regularization is applied to an arbitrary linear transform of the target image. As special cases, it includes edge-preserving measures or frame-analysis potentials commonly used in image processing. As shown by our asymptotic results, the l2-l0 penalties we consider may be employed to provide approximate solutions to l0-penalized optimization problems. One of the advantages of the proposed approach is that it allows us to derive an efficient Majorize-Minimize subspace algorithm. The convergence of the algorithm is investigated by using recent results in nonconvex optimization. The fast convergence properties of the proposed optimization method are illustrated through image processing examples. In particular, its effectiveness is demonstrated on several data recovery problems.
Design of Reversible Sequential Elements With Feasibility of Transistor Implementation

This paper presents the novel designs of reversible sequential circuits (latches and flip flops). The proposed reversible latches and flip flops are designed from reversible Fredkin, Feynman and Toffoli gates. Two new reversible gates called modified Fredkin gate (MFG) and modified Toffoli gate (MTG) are also proposed to design the optimized implementations. The proposed designs are better than the recently proposed ones in terms of number of reversible gates and garbage outputs. In order to reach towards the goal of transistor implementations of proposed reversible sequential circuits, transistor implementation of the existing Feynman gate, Fredkin gate, Toffoli gates as well as the proposed MTG and MFG are also proposed. The proposed transistor implementations are completely reversible in nature, i.e., suitable for both the forward and backward computation.
Neural adaptation and the ECAP response threshold: A pilot study

Abstract The electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) amplitude resulting from a train of pulses of finite duration (100 ms or 200 ms) was found to vary inversely to the stimulation rate (pulse rate), corroborating well with neural adaptation results from a previous study (Dillier et al., 2005). Amplitude growth functions based on these adapted responses yield thresholds (TNRT) that increase with increasing pulse rate, contrary to behavioural thresholds, which are known to vary inversely with the stimulation rate. Adaptation effects are therefore a confounding factor that must be accounted for when attempting to compare behavioural and objective measures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultra sensitive detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to detect Listeria monocytogenes in whole milk at a level of 0.1 cfu per 30 ml. This high degree of sensitivity has been achieved following enzymatic digestion, polysulphonone membrane filtration and amplification of a nucleotide sequence within the promoter region of hlyA. Key elements of the procedure are the absence of enrichment culture and a complete solubilization of the membrane filter, ensuring total nucleic acid recovery. The simplicity of the protocol coupled with high sample volumes and exquisite sensitivity extends the relevance of PCR within food and environmental microbiology.
IREX: IR & IE Evaluation Project in Japanese

We will report on the IREX (Information Retrieval and Extraction Exercise) project. It is an evaluation-based project for Information Retrieval and Information Extraction in Japanese. The project started in May 1998 and concluded in September 1999 with the IREX workshop held in Tokyo with more than 150 attendance (IREX Commettee, 1999). There is a homepage of the project at (IREX, Homepage) and anyone can download almost all the data and the tools produced by the project for free.
Impact of backside process on high aspect ratio via-middle Cu through silicon via reliability

For 3D chip stacking using via-middle Cu Through Silicon Via (TSV), the TSV liner/barrier reliability needs to be preserved during the whole backside process flow. In this paper, the impact of backside process on the via-middle TSV liner/barrier material reliability is investigated and a reliable liner/barrier implementation is proposed for high aspect ratio via-middle TSV integration process.
EFFECTS OF VOMITOXIN (DEOXYNIVALENOL) ON THE BINDING OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AP-1, NF-κB, AND NF-IL6 IN RAW 264.7 MACROPHAGE CELLS

The effects of vomitoxin (VT) on the binding activity of three transcription factors critical to pro-inflammatory cytokine regulation were assessed in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage model by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). When cells were treated with 100 to 250 ng/ml of VT, activator protein-1 (AP-1 binding) was increased after 2 and 8 h. This effect was potentiated when cells were coincubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (synchronous model) but not when preincubated with LPS (delayed synchronous model). Supershift EMSA revealed that VT preferentially induced JunB, JunD, phosphorylated c-Jun, c-Fos, and Fra-2 binding activities of the AP-1 family. Nuclear factor s B (NF- s B) binding was increased at 2 and 8 h in cells subjected to synchronous and delayed synchronous VT exposure in the presence of LPS. Supershift EMSA indicated that the p-50 and c-Rel subunits of NF- s B/ Rel were specifically affected. Nuclear factor-IL6 (NF-IL6) binding was increased at 2 and 8 h with or without LPS in synchronous and delayed synchronous VT-exposure models. Here, the C/EBP g subunit was primarily involved in enhanced NF-IL6 binding. The capacity of VT to elevate binding of AP-1, NF- s B, and NF-IL6 may contribute to the VT-mediated cytokine up-regulation in vitro and in vivo. The observations that VT was active in synchronous and delayed synchronous models suggest that macrophages activated simultaneously or prior to toxin exposure were vulnerable to the effects of this trichothecene.
Covalent cross-linking of the Phytophthora megasperma oligopeptide elicitor to its receptor in parsley membranes.

An oligopeptide elicitor from Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea (Pep-13) that induces phytoalexin accumulation in cultured parsley cells was radioiodinated and chemically cross-linked to its binding site in microsomal and plasma membrane preparations with each of three homobifunctional reagents. Analysis by SDS/PAGE and autoradiography of solubilized membrane proteins demonstrated labeling of a 91-kDa protein, regardless of which reagent was used. Cross-linking of this protein was prevented by addition of excess unlabeled Pep-13. The competitor concentration found to half-maximally reduce the intensity of the cross-linked band was 6 nM, which is in good agreement with the IC50 value of 4.7 nM, obtained from ligand binding assays. No crosslinking of 125I-labeled Pep-13 was observed by using microsomal membranes from three other plant species, indicating species-specific occurrence of the binding site. Coupling of 125I-Pep-13 to the parsley 91-kDa protein required the same structural elements within the ligand as was recently reported for binding of 125I-Pep-13 to parsley microsomes, elicitor-induced stimulation of ion fluxes across the plasma membrane, the oxidative burst, the expression of defense-related genes, and phytoalexin production. These findings suggest that the 91-kDa protein identified in parsley membranes is the oligopeptide elicitor receptor mediating activation of a multicomponent defense response.
Bayesian Inference for Gaussian Process Classifiers with Annealing and Pseudo-Marginal MCMC

Kernel methods have revolutionized the fields of pattern recognition and machine learning. Their success, however, critically depends on the choice of kernel parameters. Using Gaussian process (GP) classification as a working example, this paper focuses on Bayesian inference of covariance (kernel) parameters using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. The motivation is that, compared to standard optimization of kernel parameters, they have been systematically demonstrated to be superior in quantifying uncertainty in predictions. Recently, the Pseudo-Marginal MCMC approach has been proposed as a practical inference tool for GP models. In particular, it amounts in replacing the analytically intractable marginal likelihood by an unbiased estimate obtainable by approximate methods and importance sampling. After discussing the potential drawbacks in employing importance sampling, this paper proposes the application of annealed importance sampling. The results empirically demonstrate that compared to importance sampling, annealed importance sampling can reduce the variance of the estimate of the marginal likelihood exponentially in the number of data at a computational cost that scales only polynomially. The results on real data demonstrate that employing annealed importance sampling in the Pseudo-Marginal MCMC approach represents a step forward in the development of fully automated exact inference engines for GP models.
Fluoroscopic Technique of Subclavian Venous Puncture for Permanent Pacing: A Safer and Easier Approach

Infraclavicular subclavian puncture may be performed with fluoroscopic observation of the needle trajectory. In 92 patients so implanted between July 1985 and May 1987 uneventful venous access was achieved in 90, one was unsuccessful and one patient had subcutaneous emphysema, a complication rate of 2.2%.
Transcriptional profiling in Candida albicans reveals new adaptive responses to extracellular pH and functions for Rim101p

The human pathogen Candida albicans grows and colonizes sites that can vary markedly in pH. The pH response in C. albicans is governed in part by the Rim101p pathway. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rim101p promotes alkaline responses by repressing expression of NRG1, itself a transcriptional repressor. Our studies reveal that in C. albicans, Rim101p‐mediated alkaline adaptation is not through repression of CaNRG1. Furthermore, our studies suggest that Rim101p and Nrg1p act in parallel pathways to regulate hyphal morphogenesis, an important contributor to virulence. To determine the wild‐type C. albicans transcriptional response to acidic and alkaline pH, we utilized microarrays and identified 514 pH‐responsive genes. Of these, several genes involved in iron acquisition were upregulated at pH 8, suggesting that alkaline pH induces iron starvation. Microarray analysis of rim101–/– cells indicated that Rim101p does not govern transcriptional responses at acidic pH, but does regulate a subset of transcriptional responses at alkaline pH, including the iron acquisition genes. We found that rim101–/– cells are sensitive to iron starvation, which suggests that one important aspect of the Rim101p‐dependent alkaline pH response is to adapt to iron starvation conditions.
Drusen Detection based on Scale-space with Feature Stability

This paper proposes a novel segmentation technique for drusen detection in retinal fundus images based on the scale space approach endowed with feature stability. To select significant blobs representing drusen, the stability of the features of scale-space blobs is taken into account in addition to conventional blobs' lifetime. The algorithm was tested with over 20,000 blobs from 26 retinal images and the results show that the method can detect variable size and variable shape drusen efficiently with Positive Predictive Value over 95%.
Personal Email Spam Filtering with Minimal User Interaction

This thesis investigates ways to reduce or eliminate the necessity of user input to learning-based personal email spam filters. Personal spam filters have been shown in previous studies to yield superior effectiveness, at the cost of requiring extensive user training which may be burdensome or impossible. This work describes new approaches to solve the problem of building a personal spam filter that requires minimal user feedback. An initial study investigates how well a personal filter can learn from different sources of data, as opposed to user’s messages. Our initial studies show that inter-user training yields substantially inferior results to intra-user training using the best known methods. Moreover, contrary to previous literature, it is found that transfer learning degrades the performance of spam filters when the source of training and test sets belong to two different users or different times. We also adapt and modify a graph-based semi-supervising learning algorithm to build a filter that can classify an entire inbox trained on twenty or fewer user judgments. Our experiments show that this approach compares well with previous techniques when trained on as few as two training examples. We also present the toolkit we developed to perform privacy-preserving user studies on spam filters. This toolkit allows researchers to evaluate any spam filter that conforms to a standard interface defined by TREC, on real users’ email boxes. Researchers have access only to the TREC-style result file, and not to any content of a user’s email stream. To eliminate the necessity of feedback from the user, we build a personal auv tonomous filter that learns exclusively on the result of a global spam filter. Our laboratory experiments show that learning filters with no user input can substantially improve the results of open-source and industry-leading commercial filters that employ no user-specific training. We use our toolkit to validate the performance of the autonomous filter in a user study.
QoS Provision for Remote Sensing and Control in Heterogeneous Environments

In a heterogeneous wireless network environment, the network nodes are equipped with both wireless local area network (WLAN) and cellular interfaces. It is desirable to combine the higher bandwidth of a WLAN and the ubiquitous nature of cellular networks to provide the transport service for QoS demanding applications, such as remote sensing and control systems. Common solutions exploit the diversity of cellular channels by recruiting multiple WLAN peers to work as proxies for a MANET node that needs to communicate through the cellular network. One important problem when utilizing channel diversity in a heterogeneous wireless network environment is to balance the trade-off of channel diversity gains with MANET peer contentions. A greater number of proxies will inevitably increase the MANET contention and possibly QoS degrading of the cell, and fewer proxies may not be able to provide sufficient diversity. This paper aims to build a dynamic mechanism to determine the appropriate number of proxies to use. The mechanism uses the MAC layer retransmission rate as an indicator of the contention level in MANET. Simulation using cellular channel fading models and prevalent cell scheduling policies indicate the scheme can provide better QoS through channel diversity by using the appropriate number of proxies
Harder, better, faster … Yet stronger? Working conditions and self‐declaration of chronic diseases

The role played by working conditions in worker health status has been widely acknowledged in the literature in general but has received less attention in economics, due to the inherent statistical biases and lack of data available to determine the role of simultaneous and chronic exposures. This study aims to estimate the causal impact of detrimental working conditions on the self-declaration of chronic diseases in France. Using a rebuilt retrospective lifelong panel and defining indicators for physical and psychosocial strains, I implement a mixed econometric strategy that relies on difference-in-differences and matching methods to take into account for selection biases as well as unobserved heterogeneity. For men and women, I find deleterious effects of both types of working conditions on the declaration of chronic diseases after exposure, with varying patterns of impacts according to the nature and magnitude of the strains. These results provide insights into the debate on legal retirement age postponement and justify not only policies being enacted early in individuals' careers in order to prevent subsequent midcareer health repercussions, but also schemes that are more focused on psychosocial risk factors.
Differential Responses of Expressed Recombinant Human γ‐Aminobutyric AcidA Receptors to Neurosteroids

: Neuroactive steroids, in particular 3α‐hydroxypregnanes, are allosteric modulators of the γ‐aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor. Regionally selective expression of receptor subunit subtypes may account for differential responsiveness of tissues to GABAergic inhibition and ncurosteroid modulatory effects. the effect of 5α‐pregnan‐3α‐ol‐20‐one (epiallopregnanolone) on heterotropic cooperativity on the GABAA receptor complex has been studied in three subtypes of expressed recombinant human receptors and in cat brain and spinal cord. Steroid potentiation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding was greatest for the α1β1γ2 receptor complex, whereas α1β1γ2 and α2β1γ2 complexes showed < 100% enhancement in binding. Previous studies suggest that the spinal cord is devoid of α1, whereas cerebellum is rich in α1 subunits. Correspondingly, a differential enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding in spinal cord (51%) versus cerebellum (28%) was also observed. The structure of neuroactive steroids is important in determining the extent of neuromodulatory activity. The 5β‐pregnanes, 5β‐pregnan‐3α‐ol‐20‐one (epipregnanolone) and 5β‐pregnan‐3α,21‐diol‐20‐one (5β‐tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone), were both less potent than their corresponding 5α derivatives. A 3α‐hydroxyl group is essential for neuromodulatory activity in the expressed receptors, as demonstrated by the observation that 5α‐preg‐nan‐3β‐ol‐20‐one (allopregnanolone) and 4‐pregnen‐3,20‐dione (progesterone) were both inactive. The ability to screen synthetic molecules using expressed human receptors that selectively contain individual subunit subtype combinations may prove to be a powerful tool in the development of therapeutic agents that act as allosteric modulators of the GABAA receptor and other neurotransmitter receptors as well.
Adaptation in the pronunciation space for non-native speech recognition

We introduce a new technique to improve the recognition of non-native speech. The underlying assumption is that for each non-native pronunciation of a speech sound, there is at least one sound in the target language that has a similar native pronunciation. The adaptation is performed by HMM interpolation between adequate native acoustic models. The interpolation partners are determined automatically in a data-driven manner. Our experiments show that this technique is suitable for both the offline adaptation to a whole group of speakers as well as for the unsupervised online adaptation to a single speaker. Results are given both for spontaneous non-native English speech as well as for a set of read non-native German utterances.
Regular Path Queries on Massive Graphs

Regular Path Queries (RPQs) represent a powerful tool for querying graph databases and are of particular interest, because they form the building blocks of other query languages, and because they can be used in many theoretical or practical contexts for different purposes. In this paper we present a novel system for processing regular path queries on massive data graphs. As confirmed by an extensive experimental evaluation, our system scales linearly with the number of vertices and/or edges, and it can efficiently query graphs up to a billion vertices and 100 billion edges.
Familial Anaphylaxis after Silkworm Ingestion

Abstract Herein, we present a case of anaphylaxis in multiple family members after ingesting silkworms, an Asian delicacy. While food allergies, including anaphylaxis are unfortunately common, there are no previous reports of multiple family members suffering an anaphylactic reaction after eating silkworms. In addition, both family members required multiple doses of epinephrine and eventually an epinephrine infusion to improve their blood pressures. All interventions, including the epinephrine infusions, were started by emergency medical services (EMS) with on-line medical direction. Both the reaction and the required treatment are not extensively documented in the medical literature.